Does anyone not use a cover in public? I have used one for the past few months, but LO is starting to get super fussy underneath there...the last few times it's made public nursing way more stressful. I'm nervous about not using one though, I don't often see moms nurse in public, but when I do, they always have a cover. Any advice on being more comfortable?
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I never use a cover. I just wear a tank underneath all my shirts. I pull the tank down, and the shirt up - nothing shows that way
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I didn't nurse with a cover because my son refused to have anything over his head! I was just careful with baby placement and always wore a nursing tank top so my belly was covered. Scarfs can be helpful to cover without covering the baby. I don't think I ever gave anyone a show while nursing lol. I usually turned to a wall or hid behind DH while we were latching.
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I never used a cover. I did the tank down shirt up pretty often but would also just whip em out if need be. I never got many looks.
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I stopped covering. At first it was kinda weird but I got over it fast!
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I stopped using a cover a long time ago. I think now that LO is bigger, she covers quite a lot of me up so not much is exposed, plus I'm so used to breastfeeding after all this time that I don't feel uncomfortable anymore, if that makes sense? I'm just more used to it. Mainly I pull my top down, sometimes I feed her in the Ergo, and that makes it hard for other people to tell what's going on.
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@grizz: this.
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@grizz: this.
@travelgirl1: how do you feed in the ergo? -
I have never used a cover. The key to getting past the nerves is just to keep doing it! Eventually it will be easy and normal for you.
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I do the same as mentioned above, she hates anything covering her head, I also nurse her in the carrier (becco gemini). I haven't flashed anyone as of yet
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I never used a cover. I agree with Arden that it gets easier the more you do it.
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I don't use a cover. The most anybody ever sees is some stomach flab and I'm ok with that.
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Eek. I really really want to stop using a cover, especially when we're just at family's homes (my parents, his parents...). I'm so nervous though about the reaction ill get.
I've never seen anyone nurse in public without a cover..at least not that I know of! I'd do the tank down, shirt up thing!
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@Arden: totally agree!
I stopped using a cover when she would flail all about and it was more of a spectacle with this cover over me and a baby kicking it all over the place. Once I stopped using a cover, I actually felt less conspicuous.
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@Running Elley: oh mama! Free yourself at your family's house! If anyone ever felt weird, they went somewhere else. Now I go in another room only because LO is so distractable and our nursing sessions are so quick.
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my advice is just do it! like many have said, tank down, shirt up. baby has a big enough head to cover most of you! I sometimes use a scarf to strategically drape if I need to. maybe that would be a good intermediate step. I don't put it over baby at all, more just to cover anything that might peek out on top or on the side.
I never used a cover, but I was still a little nervous my first time feeding in public. once I started, I realised no one cared! people didn't even look. to me a cover just screams "NURSING BABY OVER HERE!!!!" anyway.
good luck mama! it won't be as big of a deal as you think it will be, promise!
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I don't use a cover!!
My secret is the undercover mama tank tops.
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@Penny Lane: yeah, I sometimes employ the artfully draped scarf too, only really if we're in a small space or a fancy restaurant or something. But I have never used a cover!
Just go for it! It helped me to keep reminding myself that I wasn't doing anything wrong--like, if someone had said anything, I would have been pissed rather than apologetic (and I am a very apologetic person). And think of the women you see nursing with covers this way: maybe one of them is hoping to see another woman nursing without a cover, and once she sees you, she'll go for it!
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@grizz: yes!
Try starting in a discreet place like a corner in a cafe or a shady park bench. In no time, you will start feeling more comfortable. This is my second LO and I have never once had any sort of negative remark.
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R hated the cover but I was not comfortable nursing in public with out it. I always went in my car and covered up with a blanket.
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@Running Elley: I've hidden in the bedroom when anyone visits but everyone flees at the mention of time to feed the baby.
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I use a cover whenever my dad is around. Lo has a tendency to pop on and off and smile at me now. Whenever we are at his parents I use a cover. Usually in public I will because I teach and I don't want to run into one of my students like that. I teach 6th grade so it would be really awkward.
I say just do it. Our lactation club passed out laminated cards of the breast feeding laws in our state if anyone says anything to you.
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@Running Elley: @birdofafeather: gah! I'm the LEAST comfortable nursing around DH's & my family....is that weird? I'd much rather a stranger accidentally see my boob than my dad lol (I don't mind my mom seeing of course) I always just go in another room at someone else's house.
We almost never go anywhere where it matters in public....we are usually shopping at a store with no place to sit so it's just more convenient in the car. I don't use a cover in the car but my husband wishes I would (it's sweet & annoying, ha!) now that she's bigger (5months) I can hold her sitting in my lap facing me, get her latched & then move her to a comfy position so if need be, I think I could be pretty discreet.
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@Mrs. Sunshine: I'm way more comfortable around strangers than dh's make family members!
I go back and forth with using a cover or not. It can sometimes help when she is really distracted and trying to look around instead of nurse, but sometimes she just flails around and I don't use it. More often in public I don't use one.
For me it really helped to meet up with my mom friends for lunch or whatever. Since there were a bunch of us it was like solidarity and that really helped me feel more comfortable.
But I still go into another room with male friends or family.
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Nope, my dd will not tolerate covers. I'm with the others who have said they wear a tank underneath their shirt...tank down, shirt up, done. I also find my ring sling is great for nursing in public because it's so easy to adjust her up and down in it. When I nurse with her in the RS I'm pretty sure 99% of people can't even tell that's what's I'm doing.
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@Mrs. Sunshine: you know, now i feel that way (at 13.5 months) but when she was little and i was figuring stuff out, i couldn't have cared less!
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I don't generally need to nurse in public, but when I do I usually just employ the tank up, shirt down technique. I button front shirt helps cover you more too. I've also worn light scarves and just created a barrier from people next to me or whatever. Im fairly modest but with those methods, I've never felt uncomfortable.
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I feel like my boobs are too ginormous not to use a cover. Luckily DS doesn't seem to mind it. It can just be tricky getting him latched on and not exposing myself.
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@birdofafeather: @Mrs. Sunshine: Okay I think I'm going to try it!! I also feel most uncomfortable around DH's family. He has 4 brothers and a very tradition stepdad so I guess really I'm most scared of how they'll react. I do feel like trying to work the cover creates more of a spectacle though. We're going over there tonight. I think I'll give it a shot!
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@Running Elley: you can do it! i think you can do it discreetly without sitting at the dining room table, you know? i would always just go to the couch and if anyone walked over, they knew what was going on! when nursing sessions were taking 15-30 minutes, i didn't want to be locked up in the bedroom.
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I use to nurse with a cardigan, then i can drape it over LO if needed. I usually wear a tank and pull it down
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This is motivating me to go ahead and get rid of the cover. I don't mind but DH has other opinions. He doesn't want others to look and stare.
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I've never covered. Nursing requires enough hands without fussing with a cover! I do one shirt up and one shirt down. I usually keep the hand that isn't under his head ready so if he pops off I can just cover myself or pull my shirt down quick.
You could take DH and go to a park bench where there isn't many people around and get comfortable. I've never had anyone give me a bad look. They are all free to get up and move! Usually moms smile at me. I think it's good to try. It's good for people to see nursing women not hiding it!
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I never thought I would go without a cover before I had her. We were unable to use one in the beginning when we were learning and now she would pull it off. I was uncomfortable at first, but the more I did it the less I cared what anyone thought. The more you do it the more confident you will feel. Start by doing it in the car and work up to more public places. Now I think if they see my boob that is their problem. Bfing was so hard to establish that now I feel women should be encouraged to public nurse. Be proud. I also think it would help alleviate ppd if women could feel they could nurse freely.
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@singingbee: that is a great idea about the cards.
I think I am lucky because where I live I have never seen a mom USE a cover. Women nurse with full boob out here
self included.
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I use a cover in public but I don't bother when I'm around close friends and family.
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