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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think breastfeeding covers that look like giant shopping bags are a bit odd

132 replies

Muse84 · 28/05/2018 20:51

That's it really. Always draw the eye. It's like they've put the baby in a giant IKEA bag and hung it around their neck!

Just a light hearted observation. I am FTM who breast feeds and I always found that two tops and an occasional strategically placed small muslin do the job perfectly. Nobody sees a thing, even when nosy baby looks around.

I'm not judging anyone here, I struggled at the beginning too. I just wonder who invented these bags then sold them to poor women who may not realise how much they stand out.

Maybe they feel super happy and confident using them, in which case I'll shut up and support them

OP posts:
10yearslater · 28/05/2018 20:55

Biscuit mind your own and let them feed their child however they feel comfortable.

hiyahen · 28/05/2018 20:57

If they didn't feel super confident and happy in them then surely they wouldn't be using them, given all the other options out there?

SoyDora · 28/05/2018 21:00

I’ve got massive boobs so the double top thing didn’t work for me. I know the covers are conspicuous, but TBH I didn’t care if people knew that I was BF-ing, I just cared that my whole massive breast wasn’t out 🤷🏻‍♀️

SoyDora · 28/05/2018 21:00

Oh and I wasn’t a ‘poor woman’ by any stretch, just made the choice that suited me best.

QueenAravisOfArchenland · 28/05/2018 21:03

I use a cover to stop my fucking nosy baby from getting distracted and encourage him to have a proper meal. I couldn't care less who sees my boob at this point.

Fruitcorner123 · 28/05/2018 21:05

I've never even seen them but assume they would rather stand out for that reason than have their boobs on display. Its a pity we live in a world where we are forced to be embarrassed about our breasts doing what our breasts are meant for but have to walk around and see men with their chests hanging out because the sun came out for half an hour. But hey.. it's a man's world.

MynameisJune · 28/05/2018 21:06

I had to use a nipple shield for the whole 13 months of feeding DD. She could never latch onto my nipple alone, from a week old she just stopped no matter what I tried. So I had one of those covers, because putting a shield on when out and about isn’t easy. I don’t give a shit what anyone thinks and I certainly didn’t feel like a’poor women’ just didn’t want to sit in the middle of Costa or wherever showing my boob whilst I fiddled with a bloody nipple shield.

Bambamber · 28/05/2018 21:07

They're handy when you have a fast let down. Stops you accidentally spraying other people every single time baby unlatches to have a look around.

WineCheeseSleep · 28/05/2018 21:08

I had one like this and found it great for my first DC but didn't use it so much for my second DC because I got a bit more confident and mastered the two tops method. I do see what you mean but I just wanted to cover my chest, I didn't necessarily want to hide what I was doing IYSWIM. Also, DS was always pulling off and looking around so it helped with that too.

Camomila · 28/05/2018 21:09

DS would get annoyed by anything covering or touching him, even a bit of top using the 2 top method. I'd just yank my top down/boob out Grin

SoyDora · 28/05/2018 21:11

Oh yeah and the fast let down thing. I was a squirter. Didn’t fancy squirting the person opposite me in the M&S cafe with breast milk.

SoyDora · 28/05/2018 21:12

But really I don’t think people who use them want to hide the fact that they’re breastfeeding. They just, for various reasons, find it easier with a cover.

Butterflykissess · 28/05/2018 21:12

I don't like the two top method simply becAuse I don't want to wear 2 tops! I use to feed in the sling when my baby was young simply as it was easier

MumofBoysx2 · 28/05/2018 21:17

I haven't seen bag ones, do they literally put the baby in them then? I had a cover from Jojos that went around my neck, then around the baby. It was great!

Birdsgottafly · 28/05/2018 21:23

I hadn't seen them, so googled them. They can be used for different purposes, so I can see the appeal.

My GD (10 months) is at the nosy stage, she grips my DD's nipple with her teeth and tries to look around, when she lets go, anyone in the vicinity gets sprayed.

I know it's lighthearted, but it seems now that Women are feeling more confident about public feeding, straight away they are being told that they are doing it wrong.

SleepingInYourFlowerbed · 28/05/2018 21:28

I used them and thought they were great. I didn't give a crap that it meant people knew I was breastfeeding, why would I? I just have big boobs and nipples so couldn't feed without people seeing stuff I didn't want them to see.

Different strokes for different folks 🤷. Doesn't make me a 'poor woman'

twinkydink · 28/05/2018 21:30

They were exactly what I wanted and needed. I never mastered the 2 top thing and I didn't care that people knew I was breastfeeding when I was using it. It was how I felt the most comfortable and surely that's the point of them. If you don't want to use them don't! I don't think any woman using one would think they are some invisibility cloak that hides what they are doing!

ThePug · 28/05/2018 21:37

My DM bought me one of these before I had my firstborn - I never used it as thought it made me more conspicuous. Instead I invested in several breastfeeding specific tops (JoJo ones are great) and even had friends sat opposite me in a cafe asking if I was feeding or just cuddling DS as made it so discreet.

SoyDora · 28/05/2018 21:38

ThePug I have 30K boobs, nothing made it discreet Grin

Thissameearth · 28/05/2018 21:50

I bf my 8 month old and I don’t use a cover personally. I have only noticed one person ever use a cover (it was my friend and she was telling me about it as she put it on). I think this is a shitty judgmental post. Even as a “lighthearted” one. You need to comprehend that people who do things differently from you aren’t necessarily wrong or poor unenlightened women. Don’t concern yourself or criticise other women lovingly caring for their babies.

Rinceoir · 28/05/2018 21:53

My daughter was born in the summer of 2014. It was very hot for most of the summer. I didn’t want to wear two tops!

Rinceoir · 28/05/2018 21:54

Posted too soon- so I found breastfeeding tops (which are generally panned on here) pretty useful, as well as a cover once in a while.

Lethaldrizzle · 28/05/2018 21:56

I think they are ridiculous and a backward step

MynameisJune · 28/05/2018 22:08

@lethaldrizzle how is it a backwards step? Many women just don’t feel comfortable feeding without a cover. And it’s the thought of feeding in public that makes many women formula feed (not that that’s wrong). If this makes women comfortable and let’s them carry on breastfeeding then what’s so wrong with them?

I know I’d have either been housebound or started formula feeding DD without my cover.

LaurieMarlow · 28/05/2018 22:09

I admit I don't like seeing them. I'd hate women to feel pressurised to use them.

Generally two tops/breastfeeding tops work well for most people and these options are more effective in normalising bf.

However, if it makes women more comfortable then I guess they have a role. I know what it's like to have a strong let down and that can be tough to handle in public.