I nurse in public. If we’re near the car, I may jump in there, but I’ve never nursed in a bathroom. I figured, I wouldn’t eat in a public bathroom, so I won’t make them. So, for 13 months with my son, and now 3 1/2 months with my daughter, I do it publicly. To be frank, I’m more concerned with having my shirt up and my “flub” showing, so I still wear belly bands to cover that (nursing tank tops aren’t long enough for my torso, and the flub still can escape.) Usually, I can block the boob enough with my shirt ( I mean, if people REALLY want to see, I’m sure they could, but really, the girls are not impressive!) But, if we’re somewhere where there’s children I’ll drape a blanket over my shoulder. I have a cape, and for the life of me, I can’t figure it out. With my son I cared less, because I could go off a bit out of the way for privacy, but now that he’s two and I may have to run after him, I have to find a sturdier cover than just a blanket that can fall easily. I’ll keep practicing with that cape, too. Anyhow, welcome to the club! =-) Good luck

Good Job, Roni! I am happy that you found something that works. I have a bebe au lait nursing cover that I love. My son is 9 months old now so it is getting more challenging to nurse in public, but when he needs to nurse he needs to nurse. There is a lot of kicking and hand waving (over the top of the cover) and when he is done he wants to sit up right away so it makes it difficult to hide the ladies fast enough. Luckily I live in San Diego where there is a lot of support for breast feeding. I don’t think I would have made it this far in my native New Jersey.

I nursed in public and didn’t even use a cover and never had a problem. My shirt covered things well enough. I never used bottles so I just got comfortable with nursing anywhere from Target to the park to a plane. I was discreet, people never said a thing and gave me privacy when I needed it. I’m always sad to hear when someone is made to feel unwelcome or wrong for breast feeding anywhere. That’s so unnecessary. Good for you for finding a way to make it comfortable for yourself!

I liked booths at fast food places for nursing my daughter because I could slouch a little and she nursed with a “football” position with no one the wiser, generally. Never used a cover because my giant breasts DID smother her once, so I just tried to be sneaky and nonchalant. It also helped to know that I had the legal right to nurse any place I wanted here in MN. Glad you’re liking the cover!

I nurse in public. I don’t cover up and I don’t give a damn if my boob is just hanging around for a bit while we get latched, have a mid-feed burp, whatever. I’m really pleased that you found a way to make yourself feel comfortable but, for your own convenience, I’d encourage you to try nursing without the cover. I have a friend who used to cover up and now, after almost six months of public nursing, she’s just as comfortable as I am.

Happy nursing to you, anway.

Good for you Roni! Nursing in public is a big step – but once you get the hang of it, the world is your oyster! I did a bunch of nursing in public, sometimes with a cover (normally when I thought others may be uncomfortable with it), sometimes with a blanket (before I got my cover), and sometimes, with a good nursing top and a big sun hat on my little one. This last one, was fantastic for those warm days in the park – when you yourself are so warm the last thing you want is another layer on you when you are already warm and don’t want yet another thing to make you stuffy… I encourage you to invest in some good nursing tops – which will help with the discreatness of nursing. After a little while, you will be an old pro with having the baby latch (and, even better – he will eventually just latch himself with no help) and you will find that it is a really quick transition from unhooking your bra strap, pulling up the nursing top and him latching on… then his head (and the hat, if you decide to go that way) are coverage enough. The hat I had (but in the girl version) was this one http://www.amazon.com/iPlay-Brim-Light-Blue-Months/dp/B002COIXFG/ref=sr_1_13?s=apparel&qlEnable=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1302869055&sr=1-13
Good luck and congrats on the big accomplishment!

A weight must feel lifted. Fit Bloggin is going to be so much more comfortable! I used to nurse wherever also but with the blanket and there were times I was uncomfortable with the flimsiness of it. Good for you!

I nurse in public with a nursing cover that my mom bought be from Etsy.com when my first child was born. I am “well endowed” (DDD or larger at times) so I would be completely exposed when getting it out. I don’t feel comfortable with that. The nursing cover gives me the privacy to get her on. Then, while nursing she exposes me at times because she plays with the cover. I’ve had to come to accept that, but it’s not the nipple showing, just the skin. People see more on the front of a magazine cover.

I also use Undercover Mama shirts. For the one person who said that nursing tanks were not long enough, these totally are, and they offer an extra long one. http://www.undercovermama.com You can often find them on the deal sites such as babysteals and zulily. Just be aware, they sell out FAST. They are like tanks without the straps and have a hook that hooks on to your nursing bra. They keep your “flab” covered while being able to access the boob. LOVE THEM!

I LOVE my nursing cover! I have an “UdderCover”, but just like you describe. It really does free you to nurse without feeling overly self-conscious. I’ve nursed just about everywhere with my cover. Even at home, if we had guests I could comfortably nurse in the living room, be a part of the action and not have to hide in the bedroom. Sure some people are very comfortable nursing without a cover, but for me this was the way to go. Another plus, my daughter was so used to the cover when we were out that as she got older I found it helped to focus her and remove distractions when it was time to nurse.

I think Nik brings up a good point about blankets and covers. As I said, I don’t use one myself, and I’ve never had a problem with people staring. In fact, most of the time people don’t notice that I’m nursing at all. I’ve even managed to stealth nurse him while browsing in shops, and I’m not small in the boob department, so they are pretty out there. The rest of the time, people honestly don’t care. The only comments that I’ve ever received are positive ones (like, ‘Look how big and strong you’re making him, you must be so proud.’) or expressions of surprise (like, ‘ Oh! Are you nursing? I’m sorry, I didn’t realise’). So, although I don’t go out of my way too be discreet, by just getting on and doing it I kind of an anyway.
I can’t help but feel that a cover would have the opposite effect by being a nursing beacon, if you like. At the same time as it advertises the fact that you’re nursing, it provides reinforcement of the idea that nursing should be hidden and is unfit fit the public eye. I hate to say it but, do you think that covers are perhaps more a part of the problem than of the solution? Not meaning this as an attack on cover users. (I know what a sensitive issue this is!) Nik’s comment just got me thinking.

Whatever you can do to make yourself feel comfortable in public, I say go for it. I actually went backwards on this issue, I used to never care and would just whip it out anywhere- I had this thing that I felt like my boobs were totally NOT boobs but feeding machines so I became totally desensitized to the rest of the world–I know that’s not very respectful to others, but that’s how I felt at the time. This time around, I’ve been more aware of the exposure and have been using the bebe au lait more often. I also need two hands (mostly due to the heft of the girls) and now Fuzz is in that stage where he gets distracted by anything and everything so I often have to fight to keep covered. Sometimes I ditch it, depending on where I am. Also wearing two tank tops can help because you can pull one up and the other one down so only the small breast area is exposed- my sister taught me that trick- a great flub hider!

So glad you’ve moved on from bathrooms!

Ohh I’m glad you expressed it! It gave me something to ponder as well!

:)

-Roni

Oh geez! It’s not like I take my shirt off or anything. I lift my tee and drop the flap of my nursing tank, or I unbutton my dress just far enough to get baby to boob. The fact that nobody has ever spoken to me, or even openly stared, makes me think that, no, it’s not a problem. Maybe I’m wrong but, to be honest, my attitude is that they can look away if it is. I don’t get up on a podium, take all my clothes off and shout, “it’s ok! I’m just nursing now, people.” I unbutton and just get on with it. Nursing is pretty discreet by nature, but it’s also nothing to hide. We’re just caring for our babies, after all. I’m going to put this divide in opinions down to cultural difference. I thought that I lived in a conservative little city, but maybe Australians are just a lot more relaxed about biology. *shrugs* Either way, cover up as much as you like, but please don’t ask me to.

I recently flew back east to visit my in-laws with our baby and used my new nursing pillow on the airplane, and it was amazing. It has a built-in nursing cover, integrated right into the nursing pillow. I was comfortable, my baby slept, nursed, and was shielded from on-lookers, and overhead cabin lights the entire trip. It was a gift given to me at my baby shower and I don’t go ANYWHERE without it. Nursing in public will NEVER be an issue EVER again. It’s new and eco-friendly. It’s called San Diego Bebe Nursing Pillow. http://doubleblessings.com/sdbbp.html Check it out, and keep on nursin’!!