Project #8 - Nursing Cover / Nursing in Public

My next project was the nursing cover. I followed this tutorial, very simple instructions by the way, and it turned out great, but this was a whole new concept for me.

With Jackson, I never nursed in public. I was never comfortable breastfeeding where others would see me. A big reason for this was because I never became a "graceful nurser". I always felt clumsy when I "pulled it out" and put him to my breast. Plus, when I was at home with my husband I would never wear anything that would conceal the feeding. So attempting to fumble around beneath a cloth just didn't appeal to me. So, never the less - I would also bring an expressed bottle if we in public, or would excuse myself to an empty room if we were at someone else's house.

I began thinking lately about how it always seemed to take me an hour and half just to get ready to leave the house, no matter where I was going. When Jax was an infant, my preparation for a trip out would begin with breastfeeding him at home, then taking another 30+ mins to hand pump for a full bottle to take along. Then I had to restock the diaper bag with fresh burp cloths, bibs, diapers etc. Then I would change him and finally we would leave the house. So this lead me to think - is it really going to be like that again with our daughter? Only this time - I will have an impatient toddler begging for us to JUST LEAVE ALREADY!

When I wasn't feeding or holding Jackson (infancy again here), it was an opportunity for me to pump and store milk. Whether that milk would be used for a trip out of the house, to be used with cereal/baby food or just stored in the freezer, it didn't matter. I spent way too much time HAND pumping with my son. Remember this photo?

My reasoning behind that was I wanted my milk to carry him along until he could take whole milk. I didn't want to first breastfeed, then convert to formula, and finally transition to whole milk. But I had never breastfed before and I didn't know how long I would handle doing it or how long my supple would last. So I pumped as much as possible while I knew my supply was good and strong.

Well, this time I am armed with a good 10 months of experience. I had conquered the initial 2 weeks of cracked and bleeding nipples, lots of tears from feelings of failed mothering and countless clogged ducts included one bout with mastitis. So this time I know what I am capable of. I was thankful that I had pumped and stored all that milk, but I also realize now that I don't need to be that obsessive about it. With this new baby, I don't want to take EVERY opportunity I have to pump and store - rather I want to take EVERY opportunity I have to play with my son.

And so comes the need for - the nursing cover. I feel as though I will be more comfortable to nurse in public this time around. This way I won't have to spend so much time pumping for a bottle just to leave the house. Don't get me wrong - I will still be pumping and storing, just not to the extent as I did with my son.

Then I took a little bit fo the extra fabric and make a newborn head band.