Much Ado About Public Nursing.

If you didn't already hear, ABC's series What Would You Do? is airing an episode tonight that tackles the public's reaction to breastfeeding in public. The show sets up a scenario in a Brooklyn cafe -- a Mom comes in, purchases some things, and sits down to nurse her baby. The (actor) cafe manager begins to harass her, and there are a varied stack of reactions from witnesses to the harassment.

During a discussion of the show on The View today, Elisabeth Hasselbeck mentioned how great Hooter Hiders and the like are for nursing in public.

Yes, they do make ones that cover me up (and I am well-endowed), but I get so frustrated because when my baby wants to eat, he does not want to have cloth over his head. I find I spend more time wrestling his squirmy little arms from lifting the cover and exposing me than actually concentrating on feeding him.

I only use the cover because of my own bodily insecurities-- my breasts are big so I have to lift my shirts up rather than pull them down (I'd stretch my shirts out otherwise), and the stretch marks on my stomach from pregnancy are dreadful-- like a tiger walked up to me and carved my stomach with his claws bad (not lying!). I am not comfortable without some sort of coverage.

That being said, you have already read above that using the nursing cover with Gabe is annoying-- lately I just drape it loosely over the top of me and wrap it around to cover my stomach, leaving Gabe's head totally uncovered. I've decided if someone can see my nipple with this set up they are looking too close to act offended anyway.

And on top of all of this cover-up business, I want to be clear I support all public breastfeeding ladies no matter what coverage is there. I wish I was confident enough to go totally coverless like those who do. In most states, the law is behind you, girls! If someone harasses you, you can call the police.

Check out specific breastfeeding statutes by state here.

**And don't forget, Health Care Reform now requires workplaces of 50 employees or more to allow mothers pumping breaks in rooms with outlets other than bathrooms for at least the first year of baby's life. This reform does not downgrade any state laws that offer greater protection to nursing Moms.**