Cover Yourself: Why I Nurse Uncovered

2018 was the first time in history that it was legal to breastfeed in public in all 50 states. Crazy right? Apparently, the idea that you would need to feed your child outside of your home didn't resonate with legislators. I am a proud public nurser. I feed my child anywhere and welcome anyone to have a problem with it, but I wasn't always this bold.

Actually, when I first had my daughter and had to feed her in public I was scared out of my mind. I was worried about everyone else other than the tiny human who just wanted her "milkies." Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with women covering themselves while nursing. I want women to be able to do whatever makes THEM comfortable, not what makes other people comfortable. So, how did I go from a mild panic attack before nursing to where am I now?

I tried the "Two-Shirt Method"

The Two-Shirt Method is a way to nurse in public that leaves your stomach and breasts covered without having to put a blanket or nursing cover over you and the baby. To do the Two-Shirt Method you put a tank top on underneath the shirt that you're wearing. When it's time to nurse, you lift up the top shirt, (exposing the tank top), pull down the top of the tank top, and wha-la!

The Two-Shirt Method

So, what's the problem? I got hot. Putting on two shirts and walking around with them made me hot and uncomfortable. When it was time to nurse, I felt like I was just pulling back layer after layer. It was more work than I wanted to do.

I tried packing bottles

My next option, was to pack bottles to take when we would leave the house. I learned quickly that this option was not going to work for me. I love breastfeeding and have loved the experience so far, but I HATE pumping. In order to maintain your supply, you have to pump/nurse consistently. At least every 2-3 hours. When my daughter is not at daycare, I just nurse on demand (whenever she wants). If I was to give her a bottle when we’re home or out, that means I would be nursing AND pumping to make sure we have milk for the bottles. Let’s be real, that’s way more work than I want to do.

I tried using a nursing cover

Remember how I mentioned worrying about other people’s feelings? I’ll never forget the first time I used a nursing cover. We were with family and my husband brought the baby to me so I could feed her. I looked at a family member and said “do you mind if I feed her?” Yes, you read that correctly, I was ASKING to feed my child. The reason why I was asking is because my nephew was in the room. I could have used that moment to normalize breastfeeding to him. We could have talked about it, I could have answered his questions, and we could have moved on because kids only make a big deal out of things if the adults do.

Anyway, she said yes, but only if I used a cover. So I put the cover over my daughter and I nursed. Listen, I was sweating, my daughter was sweating. It was not a good time. By the time we finished nursing, we were both drenched...in February!

That moment was the last straw for me. I tried, I really really tried, but it just wasn’t for me and that’s okay. If you choose to cover because it makes YOU comfortable I’m here for it. I will encourage and support you. I’ll buy you personalized nursing covers. I’m all for it, sis. But for me, it’s just not going to work and that’s perfectly fine.

Society has sexualized breasts so much that we forget that this is what they are for. My body produces milk so that I can feed my baby. When I nurse uncovered you’re either going to see my stomach, (because I have lifted up my shirt) or the top of breast (because I have pulled down my shirt). At no time will I be sitting in a restaurant exposing my nipple to the table next to me.

In fact, if I were to wear a low cut shirt, you would see the same amount of my breast as you would when I feed my child.

So, I have to do what’s easiest and what works for my family and I. What’s easiest for us is mommy feeding her baby whenever and wherever we are. If using a cover makes you more comfortable, that’s okay too. Nurse on, mamas!