One of the greatest downsides I have discovered in becoming a parent has been the politics of it. The choices start around the time of conception it seems, and one of the greatest parenting wars wages around formula feeding versus breast feeding. Once a mother has decided to breastfeed, the war wages on: should she nurse in public? Should she cover up or should she bare all?
Breastfeeding covers are yet another controversial issue that face new mothers today.
Feeding covers are either loved or hated. And in each camp there are at least two opposing reasons for it. One school feels that women shouldn’t have to cover up at all and that covering up is a feminist issue, while the other feels that covering up actually draws attention to the fact that feeding is taking place, thereby promoting it. Some think that’s great and others think it’s terrible. And then you get the moral camp. It can go on and on.
In my view it’s a choice every woman should make for herself.
Whether I cover up or not is entirely down to my personal comfort at the time – sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t – but in the early days, I found having a cover useful for those fumbling moments when my daughter and I were both learning to breastfeed.
Even now I sometimes use a cover to lessen the distractions for her, otherwise she pops on and off like it’s a lollipop!
In honour of Breastfeeding Awareness Week, Keira from Mamascarf has offered Diary of a First Child readers the chance to win one of her fabulous feeding scarves. For those who like to cover up, the Mamascarf offers discreet feeding, while still allowing eye contact between baby and mother and keeping baby free of distractions.
The Mamascarf can be worn as a scarf and then used as required or can be folded up and kept in a handbag, and being 100% cotton it is machine-washable at 30 degrees.
It is an ideal gift for breastfeeding or pregnant women, especially since one size fits all and Mamascarf are happy to count such celebrities as Melanie C and Leah Wood as fans.
To enter to win your own Mamascarf, head on over to the website and choose your favourite colour then leave a comment here to let me know which colour you would prefer if you won. I will then draw a random winner using random.org. The competition closes on 2 July at 12 noon and the winner will be announced here on 3 July.
For more information on breastfeeding and more competitions relating to breastfeeding, please see Breastfeeding Awareness Week.
Diary of a First Child is a blog on learning about natural parenting. If you like what you see here, please subscribe to my RSS Feed or become a friend on Google Friend Connect (sidebar on the right). I would love to hear from you, so please feel free to contact me by email on diaryofafirstchild @ googlemail.com or on twitter @diaryfirstchild. I look forward to chatting to you!
Small print:
Please leave an email address/blog address/twitter name where I can contact the winner. If I am unable to make contact within one week I will select a new winner and the previously selected winner will have no recourse to the prize.
Prizes are sent out by sponsors directly. Please get in touch if you do not receive your prize within four weeks of the closing date.
And the winner is:
A big thank you to Mamascarf for sponsoring this giveaway.
You can purchase a Mamascarf for £17.99 plus p&p from their website.
Thank you to everyone who entered!