I have been reading the thread here on lactnet about the nursing covers  with 
much interest.  I must preface all of what I am about to say with the  
statement that I do sell these types of items and  do have a financial  interest in 
them.  My main concern with the thread is that I do not feel  that we are 
remembering where some of these women are in their lives.  I  remember quite 
strongly what it was like to breastfeed in public with my first  nursling.  I was 
petrified.  We were still learning from each  other.  I was still having 
anxiety coupled with perspiration, palpitations,  and a racing pulse any time my 
newborn would start crying when he was  hungry.  If  was in public I was so 
worried about getting him latched  on correctly without completely exposing my 
breast.  I do understand that  we should not have to worry about this.  I do 
understand that if I sell  these items I may be giving Moms the message that they 
should be covering  themselves up.  I do not want to give this message.  But, I 
do know  that to help a Mother you must meet her where she is in her life.  I 
 learned this in nursing school and never forgot it.  If you are not  
sensitive to a Mother's ideals and morals you can not truly help her,  IMHO.  If you 
expect a new Mother to go out in public and latch her baby on  while exposing 
her entire breast (which may be how she is doing it in the  beginning) while 
she is not comfortable with this, I think we run the risk of  causing this 
Mother to feel that BF is "not for her."  I think we simplify  things when we say 
that women should just BF in public with no  reservation.  Unfortunately, we 
don't live in a society that supports  this.  By all means a woman should be 
encouraged to BF in public and should  discuss her options on how to do this so 
SHE is comfortable.  I know some  of you must have steam coming out of your 
ears right now.  I just feel that  sometimes we who want to do so much for 
breastfeeding want to skip over the baby  steps that might be needed to making BF 
what it should be-free and open.   FYI- I never used a cover but my son and I 
did sweat buckets under blankets for  a few months.  That is what I needed to 
get through the time when I didn't  know if BF was for me.
 
Rebbecca  Rosen RN, BSN, CBC


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