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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Your experience of nursing/breastfeeding covers/shawls

141 replies

Cocacolathanks · 27/08/2020 22:33

Hello,

Are you currently using nursing covers/breastfeeding shawls? Or have you used them in the past?

Are they any good? Would you recommend to other mums? Also, is there anything annoying/negative about them?

I've not used them before but want to know if they're useful to other mums.

Thank you! :)

OP posts:
MrsMaglev · 28/08/2020 17:03

Hi OP - I'm wondering if there's something similar you could get for these newly breastfeeding mums (vouchers for Seraphine or basic breastfeeding tips etc) which minimise exposure while breastfeeding. I found shawls really inconvenient but will go out of my way to find clothes which help me flash as little boob as possible (even if that's the classic vest and baggy T-shirt combo!)

pinknsparkly · 28/08/2020 17:33

3 of the 8 girls in my antenatal group choose to use them as they feel uncomfortable /exposed when breastfeeding in public. At least two of us (myself included) thought we'd probably need or want one but have preferred freely whipping our boobs out instead. For what it's worth, the three girls who do cover up all use "nursing aprons" which loop round their neck and stick out in front so that they can see baby. They all got them from Amazon and love them!

Waveysnail · 28/08/2020 17:49

I used couple of light pashemena's (not sure of spelling). Just wore the like scarves then draped when I wanted to feed. I liked a bit of cover

tootiredtothinkofanewname · 28/08/2020 17:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dorisdaydream2 · 28/08/2020 18:35

I always used a Muslim square and then I had it handy for any mop ups that were needed.

Dorisdaydream2 · 28/08/2020 18:36

Sorry!! Bloody predictive text, that should obviously say muslin square!!!!!

Feetupteashot · 28/08/2020 18:42

My baby used to wave the cover like a flag. This drew everyone's attention and then obviously flashed my boob.

One up one down is the way ahead!

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 28/08/2020 18:43

I did cover up when a DC needed feeding in some places - church for example. I just used a muslin. No need for anything special.

DappledThings · 28/08/2020 18:53

3 of the 8 girls in my antenatal group choose to use them as they feel uncomfortable /exposed when breastfeeding
I find that quite worrying. That's a lot of people feeling uncomfortable about something that is completely normal to do and doesn't actually expose anything anyway for more than a second. And the more women use these covers the more the covers become normalised and then more women feel they ought to cover up.

I did cover up when a DC needed feeding in some places - church for example
Not a requirement in church!

Sanjii · 28/08/2020 18:58

I never used them. I was breastfeeding, not nipple flashing. I don't eat with a shawl over my head so why would I do put my baby under a piece of fabric whilst eating.

randomsabreuse · 28/08/2020 19:05

Hot, irritating, faffy.

One of my friends used with a very distractible nosy child because when they gawp around without letting go it is very very painful!!!

If you're close enough to know clothes sizes a nice nursing hoody is great for avoiding unpleasant draughts when feeding, plus snuggly and comfortable to wear. I can't remember the nice brand with the vertical zips, but either way worked! I was a lot more bothered about showing less flesh with my November baby (2nd) than my August born first, purely for my own physical comfort! 1st I was dealing with a heatwave!

Itisbetter · 28/08/2020 19:08

the more the covers become normalised and then more women feel they ought to cover up. or perhaps the more they can choose? There is nothing intrinsically wrong with wanting to cover yourself when feeds. It’s not superior to “not mind”.

Capsulate · 28/08/2020 19:13

Dc1 liked ours. Dc2 HATED it, so I never used it with him. I am quite large of boob, which made discreet breastfeeding impossible. I know, everyone will say, "why do you need to be discreet?", and I quote agree. But I remember a man with his pretty wife and child giving me a totally disgusted look in Starbucks when I accidentally flashed him my whole boob when feeding dc1. Now I'm older and wiser I might have asked him what his problem was. But at the time, I was a young ish first time mum and didn't have a clue what I was doing and just felt a bit shamed by him, which is terrible.

Totally different story when I fed dc2 right in the middle of a cafe, where there were no corner tables etc and it was so busy, I had to feed him in a very open space with toddler dc1 having her lunch beside us. I happily fed him while little children turned round to gawp at me. Couldn't have cared less and smiled at them. A lady made a point of chatting to me. It was really sweet. So, good and bad experiences with the whole bfing in very public spaces thing.

june2007 · 28/08/2020 19:19

Never used one. I think I used a muslin or a cover like when on a plane. But they are a faff, get in the way of bf lacth and children pull them off.

apric0t · 28/08/2020 19:22

Total faff, I felt more flustered trying to sort out the cover and get baby on, for me they were a total waste,

MrsAvocet · 28/08/2020 19:32

These seem to have got a lot more popular than when my children were babies (late 90s to mid 00s), as do breastfeeding clothes. I never had anything bf specific except bras and can't help but feel that a lot of this stuff is unnecessary, and just a money making thing.
The first time I saw a nursing cover was on an American website and I honestly thought it was a spoof making fun of people who objected to women breastfeeding outside of their homes. The language was so judgemental - praising "modest" and "discreet" women (not like those hussies who don't buy the product of courseHmm) - but then the covers themselves were hideous, garish things that were in no shape or form unobtrusive. On what planet is donning a tent made out of 1970s curtain material deemed "discreet"?! It was just short of a neon flashing light and a siren to make sure that everyone within a 5 mile radius would stare at the wearer.
I have very mixed feelings. On one hand I can see that they might be useful in some circumstances like with a very fussy baby, and I do believe that women have the choice to wear whatever they do or don't want. But on the other hand, they don't solve the underlying problem, which is society's attitude. In fact they probably contribute further to it. Whatever the motivation or intent behind wearing a cover, there's a strong risk of it being interpreted as meaning that breastfeeding is something that is best hidden. Hopefully they have at least improved in the fashion stakes though, as a lot of the ones I have seen in the past seem to be quite a contradiction in terms. They simultaneously say "Something a bit shameful is going on here, it needs to be hidden" and "LOOK EVERYONE!!"
I would never buy one as a gift unless the recipent had very specifically asked for one, and probably said exactly which one they wanted. It would be very easy to get that wrong.

KitMarlowesCodpieceOfthigh · 28/08/2020 19:36

@DappledThings

3 of the 8 girls in my antenatal group choose to use them as they feel uncomfortable /exposed when breastfeeding I find that quite worrying. That's a lot of people feeling uncomfortable about something that is completely normal to do and doesn't actually expose anything anyway for more than a second. And the more women use these covers the more the covers become normalised and then more women feel they ought to cover up.

I did cover up when a DC needed feeding in some places - church for example
Not a requirement in church!

I breastfed in church. I'm Catholic - Pope Francis has said explicitly that breastfeeding is fine in church!
Capsulate · 28/08/2020 19:41

I have also breastfed in church. I moved to the back of the church, as it was family service and therefore chaotic. Again, a lovely woman who is heavily involved with the church made a point of marching up to the back of the church for a chat.

cupofdecaf · 28/08/2020 19:56

Try b-shirts instead they're very discreet to feed in.

Mosschopz · 28/08/2020 20:25

No! I kind of judged women who used them when I was BF’ing...kinda prudish, looked like such a faff and was a big physical announcement that you were feeding your baby, not discreet at all.

Capsulate · 28/08/2020 20:31

Meh, mine was quite discreet. It was navy with teeny whit polka dots. All my smaller boobed friends managed without, but with dc1, I liked it and so did she. We snuggled up under there and had a wee feed. Nice to know you were judging me though @Mosschopz. You announce it so proudly Hmm. Well done you, you lovely woman Star.

DappledThings · 28/08/2020 20:35

I breastfed in church. I'm Catholic - Pope Francis has said explicitly that breastfeeding is fine in church!

Just to clarify I did mean a cover is not a requirement. Not that breastfeeding is not a requirement! I fed plenty of times in church too quite happily and without moving off my pew.

EmilySpinach · 28/08/2020 20:40

@Mosschopz

No! I kind of judged women who used them when I was BF’ing...kinda prudish, looked like such a faff and was a big physical announcement that you were feeding your baby, not discreet at all.
Fuck me, what a thing to admit to. Your medal’s in the post.
DappledThings · 28/08/2020 20:43

Fuck me, what a thing to admit to. Your medal’s in the post.

What's the big overreaction? They do look prudish and faffy and they do draw more attention to the fact you are breastfeeding that doing it without. Unless you're actually going over and telling strangers your thoughts I don't see what's wrong with thinking it or that thinking it is anything terrible to "admit" to.

Achilleus · 28/08/2020 20:44

Thank you @OwlinaTree, I really hope it's a success this time.

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