Are you Covering Up? - Page 2

[rhiOrion]

I think you see a lot of women wearing covers because they're really obvious, and frequently not covering is discrete. But I do think that covering isn't about hiding the fact that you're BFing, but rather hiding your boobs.

I do a sort of half cover with either the carrier I'm using or a prefold. I don't cover her head, but rather cover up to about her chin. It doesn't REALLY hide anything, but it makes it look like I'm trying to cover, even if I'm not.

Mostly I don't cover. But I have small boobs, and she does a good job of covering me. I do sometimes sort of drape a prefold over my tummy if it is exposed!

I think if you want to cover you should, and if you dont' want to you shouldn't. Along with the right to not cover comes the right to cover.

[prothyraia]

I've never bothered with a cover. I don't think there's really a strong expectation that women use them when nursing (at least not yet).

I think we're seeing more of them because there are more women nursing (good!) and more women nursing in public (good!) and some of them are not entirely comfortable with the potential breast/nipple exposure that's sometimes involved. If you're not bothered by it, then there's no reason for you to use one

[Sharlla]

Never use a cover but I do not pop out the top so the top of my breast is covered with my shirt

[To-Fu]

I never cover up, unless there are special cirumstances and I don't feel safe or whatever. I might also have done it if I had easily distractible babies and they nursed more easily with a cover blocking out external stimulation.

I think that NOT covering up sends an empowering message to other nursing mamas who might be hesitant to NIP. I also think it says that there's nothing to be ashamed of and that it is right and normal and natural--not special or weird or wrong--to simply breastfeed a hungry baby wherever/whenever. Yes, even--GASP!--in public.

I do usually wear nursing clothes, though. A nursing tank and shirt over it, or a regular bra with a cami and shirt. This ensures I have one layer covering my belly and another covering the top of my chest. It's just for my comfort, though.

[KristyDi]

I almost never used any separate cover. My shirt and nursing tank kept me modestly covered. When I was wearing a fitted shirt that didn't stretch enough to pull up and cover me well I'd use an extra prefold or the tail of my sling to cover the top of my breast, but not DD's head.

In the beginning I tried to use a blanket to cover once, but it was such a PITA that I fiqured there had to be a better way.

[octobermom]

sometimes but not often its too darn hot right now for one but I'll sometimes use a bit to get her latched on the no drives DH batty but oh well...

Deanna

[princesstutu]

I don't just let it all hang out, but I don't cover with a blanket or one of those over-priced nursing cover things, either. I simply cover as much as I can with my shirt. Sometimes she moves the fabric away from her face. I guess she doesn't want it touching her while she eats and I can't blame her. At those times my boob is showing but I just remind myself of what passes for advertising these days and get over it. Besides, ppl usually turn their heads if they don't want to see.

I once knew a woman who would pop out her entire boob to nurse her dd in public. I always admired that about her.

[jessafina]

Never. I do wear clothes that are easy to nurse in, but my breast has been seen by more people than I care to imagine. DS pops off constantly and when he does I just cover my nipple with my hand, but this is as much to keep milk from going everywhere as it is to cover my nipple.
My sis does cover up and it always gives her a chuckle when she's sees me nusing my LO absolutely anywhere. I've always been the more open and of the two, so it's not surprising. She's more at ease it she's covered... I just happen to be the opposite.

[EmTheWife]

I use one when I don't want to expose my breast , especially in close quarters or with unfamiliar men, and at church. However, I am practicing being discrete w/o a cover. ds is 3.5 months, and I don't have any role models to watch, so I've a steep learning curve on nip (I'm a nursing EE, pre-preg b to c, so lots of adjusting in general). I think it's great when mothers don't use a cover, and I'd like to be so bold (and organized) one day too

[KristyDi]

Originally Posted by EmTheWife

I use one when I don't want to expose my breast , especially in close quarters or with unfamiliar men, and at church. However, I am practicing being discrete w/o a cover. ds is 3.5 months, and I don't have any role models to watch, so I've a steep learning curve on nip (I'm a nursing EE, pre-preg b to c, so lots of adjusting in general). I think it's great when mothers don't use a cover, and I'd like to be so bold (and organized) one day too

Here's a video I made of how DD and I NIP. I'm a G cup so maybe it'll help.

[rightkindofme]

Originally Posted by KristyDi

Here's a video I made of how DD and I NIP. I'm a G cup so maybe it'll help.

I'm always thrilled when you post at video.

I'm not shy in the slightest. I don't particularly care if my flabby belly shows either. I don't have 'proper nursing attire'. I mostly wear t-shirts and I just pull them up. Layered shirts bug the heck out of me so I don't wear them. If I've ever been given a dirty look I totally missed it. No one seems to care. I nurse *everywhere*. I still nurse my 26 month old anywhere/everywhere she wants to be nursed even around my huge pregnant belly. (Although I do prefer having drape necked shirts/dresses on these days because pulling up a maternity shirt is overwhelming.)

[MsVyky]

Originally Posted by lazzybee

I have no idea how you all are so discrete! Please share!

I'm nursing my baby in my photo right there
<----------------

I wear little shelf bras (I'm not big chested, 30DD) and mostly just plain t-shirts. I lift them both up to nurse. If she pops off (and she does), I lean forward a bit, so my nipple is hidden behind her head until she latches back on. If she does it frequently, I take it as a hint that she'd not 100% interested in nursing, and we stop and try again later.

[crunchy_mommy]

We used a cover when DS was a newborn -- we had some serious difficulties and I would have felt way too on display without the cover, since it took some interesting maneuvers to get & keep him latched. But once we got better at BF'ing I ditched the cover (or... uh... DS ditched it!) and have been nursing cover-free ever since. It's a thousand times more convenient, and still no one sees my breasts.

I think more people are BF'ing that may have chosen not to before? And having a cover makes them feel more comfortable NIP?

Oh also if I'm wearing a bathing suit I have to pull the top down to nurse (I usually pull my shirt up) so then I will cover the top of my breast with a towel or something. Actually I hate wearing a bathing suit, I always feel so on display (way more than when I'm nursing, ironically!), I wish I could just wear a towel the whole time I'm swimming lol

[branbran54]

I use a blanket to cover up. I feel more comfortable doing it and I could not care less what someone else thinks. I don't care if they know I am breastfeeding. I am not trying to hide it.

[EmTheWife]

Originally Posted by KristyDi

Here's a video I made of how DD and I NIP. I'm a G cup so maybe it'll help.

ooh, thanks! I love those tanks! I'm inspired to keep on trying.

[Summersquash]

I also started off using a cover (my mom found a pattern online and sewed it for me) and then as DD got older I stopped using it. When she was little a cover helped me feel more confident about NIP (For example attending a baseball game with my in-laws). Also, when she was tiny, if she happened to fall asleep nursing when we were out in public, being covered definitely helped her extend that sleep, keeping it nice and dark and sound a bit more muffled.

As she got older, I was a lot more confident. DD didn't enjoy the cover as much and almost never fell asleep when something interesting was going on. So we kind of phased it out - I think we weren't really using it by 7 or 8 months.

[~Demeter~]

No. I do not cover up. I'm 27 weeks pregnant and still nursing my 3 year old. I think I covered up with my first nursling in the very early days... but I found it to be more of a distraction than anything. Totally not worth it!

[Purple Sage]

I do not use a cover and have never used one in the 10+ total years I've nursed my children. I feel comfortable NIP and don't think I've ever offended anyone else.

[Casha'sMommy]

I've been nursing babes on and off for about 18 years and haven't ever really felt the need to cover my breasts. (I'm just a C/D cup though) When wearing something like a tank top I have used my ring sling to cover my side where a rather large amount of skin shows. I have also used a blanket when I know I'm around folks that are less than receptive to NIP.
I've never had to nurse in "close quarters" like on an airplane or at a sporting event as a pp mentioned so I'm not certain how I'd feel in that situation.

[Nicole730]

I used to cover up more, but it's been way too hot this summer. And I'm glad because I am now a lot more comfortable nursing without a cover. If I pull down my shirt to nurse and more of my breast is exposed, I do try to cover it, but usually that is not an issue.

Most moms here do cover up. But I do notice the occasional person not doing so.