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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Breastfeeding scarf

20 replies

Floellabella · 03/06/2017 16:45

So I am hoping to breastfeed if possible but I am quite shy about people seeing my boobs in public. There seem to be a million choices for scarves - I could just use a normal scarf (?), or get one specially for breastfeeding... and if the latter some have neck bits, others have other fancy selling points, others are just large pieces of fabric. I haven't a clue. Can anyone tell me what they found easiest/best? Thanks!

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AssassinatedBeauty · 03/06/2017 16:48

A large muslin will do the job. You can tuck a corner under your bra strap and then the rest will cover you as you get the baby latched.

ScarlettFreestone · 03/06/2017 16:51

Any scarf will do but I breast fed twins for 18 months this wasn't an issue at all really. No one sees your boobs when you are feeding. 9 times out of 10 no one even notices what you are doing.

The method I found most comfortable was to wear a vest under my tshirt. Pull the tshirt up and the vest down and the baby covers the bit in between!

The bit I didn't like exposing was my midriff rather than my breast - the baby covers that.

Neither of my two would feed with anything over their heads tbh.

OuchBollocks · 03/06/2017 16:54

Yet another thing muslins are great for, though I did use a nice black chiffon scarf when I went to an Irish Catholic funeral and was conscious that the widow might have an issue with me breastfeeding. But honestly with a very little bit of practise most people will barely notice. I too find the midriff far more embarrassing than anything else.

fanfrickintastic · 03/06/2017 21:03

I used it as an excuse to buy new scarves. Just normal ones. The specific breast feeding ones just draw more attention.

If you do one up one down (so a t-shirt you pull up and a vest top underneath that you pull down) very little of your breast is exposed.

LittleWingSoul · 03/06/2017 21:06

I think the specific breastfeeding ones are a bit of a con, tbh. And draw attention as well. An extra large muslin is perfect... tk maxx have always got sets of really nice ones.

Original poster

Floellabella · 03/06/2017 21:17

Thanks for this advice everyone. Looks like the vest/top combo plus maybe either a normal scarf or a big muslin is going to work. I'll defo check out TK maxx for muslins plus they have loads of normal scarves too. Now I need to think about nursing bras... It's a brave new world!

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OuchBollocks · 03/06/2017 21:22

The great thing about using a muslin is that you then have a muslin on hand to wipe up any sick, you wouldn't want to use a £££ scarf for that, plus muslins dry in about half an hour once washed.

katemeister · 03/06/2017 21:32

Whilst there isn't much on show, I actually found a cover quite useful at first while my boobs were enormous, my baby was small and we were both still a bit awkward. It helped us get to grips with feeding out and about early on and build up confidence which is not something everyone will have from day one. I had an apron thingy I bought cheaply on eBay then moved on to scarves/muslins.

ASqueakingInTheShrubbery · 03/06/2017 21:37

Gaudy BF covers demand attention. A muslin will do, but the most discreet way is to just do it. There's very little on show once the baby is attached. Most people won't even notice.

littledinaco · 03/06/2017 21:46

Join the Facebook group 'can i breastfeed in it' loads of great clothes ideas on there for discrete feeding. You'll see pictures of mum's feeding their babies in the clothes so you can see what it looks like and how covered you will be, etc.

Pixie2015 · 03/06/2017 21:51

Frugi and jojomamanbebe have ideal clothes for discrete nursing - any normal scarf if perfect

Original poster

Floellabella · 05/06/2017 05:15

Great, thanks guys

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annlee3817 · 05/06/2017 08:00

Aden and Anais Muslims are lovely and big, I used them a lot, mainly for swaddling, but also for putting in between my Dd and I when feeding on a hot day and they used to cover us both nicely when I was in a place where I was more self conscious with feeding. You do get more confident with it and skillful at whipping it out and latching baby in a blink of an eye. The aden and Anais ones are usually in tk max, pricier than others but great quality and worth it.

annlee3817 · 05/06/2017 08:00

*muslins
Sorry, bloody autocorrect

Sweetpotatoaddict · 05/06/2017 08:06

Absolute advocate for the two tops. Feeding vest top from h&m and another top over. Spent a fortune on feeding tops from Jo Jo first time, ended up dribbled on every feed, and not at all discreet. IMHO.
Never really bothered with Muslins, and I was definitely discreet as a few folk came over to coo over baby and did a double take when they got close and realised they were feeding all I ever had was positive comments. People couldn't be more positive about breastfeeding in my experience.

starsinyourpies · 05/06/2017 08:06

The Facebook group above is great, H&M also have good, cheap nursing clothes. I use a stretchy vest under a top and pull the top up. Nothing to see! Wrap dresses/tops also very handy with just a scarf over or wear a crop top under neath and pull it up. Good luck and ask for help if you need it!

yikesanotherbooboo · 05/06/2017 08:31

I would suggest that you don't buy 'stuff' until you actually need it.
Online ordering can bring anything to your door within a day or two and if you are more than likely to be able to get out to shops to choose what you need within days of your baby's birth.
It's such an expensive business all round and most of it is second guessing until you are settled in... just buy essentials... a handful of babygros... car seat..... vests... something for the baby to sleep with n( maybe) and expand as and when needed
Best of luck

EyeDrops · 05/06/2017 08:57

I'm another who found a nursing cover indispensable while we built confidence up - they may draw attention but at least everything was hidden under it, as my DD was one who unlatched frequently to cough and splutter everywhere!

Mine had a 'hoop' at the top so I could still see baby clearly and it helped airflow.

Toddlerteaplease · 05/06/2017 10:02

I once sat opposite my colleague breastfeeding for an hour and didn't even notice. The lady a couple of tables away had a huge breastfeeding cover up cape thing. It practically screamed to the entire restaurant that she was breastfeeding. So don't get anything to big!

LorelaiVictoriaGilmore · 05/06/2017 12:48

I loved my Bebe au Lait nursing cover-up. I has a hoop at the top so you can look down and see the baby - essential as I had to help my ds re-latch every 30 seconds in the early days of breastfeeding.

DS is still breastfeeding at 22 months but has never, ever been discreet! It's like feeding an angry eel and I would end up flashing both my boobs at everyone in the near vicinity if I didn't use a cover-up. My favourite moment was when he managed to pull my whole bra off and then shouted 'Mummy, there's two!' to general hilarity.

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