Product Review: Udder Covers

Photo taken from www.uddercovers.com

I promised a review of my free-plus-shipping Udder Covers, and here it is.

Please note, I received my Udder Covers for free by using a promo code posted on someone else's blogger (don't remember who) the first time I ordered, and by using a promo code Udder Covers emailed out to, I'm guessing, their entire e-mail list, the second time I ordered. Udder Covers has not, as of yet, provided me with any free product in exchange for a mention on my blog, a product review, or anything else that might give them a little publicity. I love their product, and choose to blog about it, unbeknownst to them.

I bought scored my first {free} Udder Cover many months ago. I don't remember when, exactly. I tried to look it up on PayPal, but I must not have used PayPal to pay for the first one's shipping. Anyway, I ordered my first one back when they offered solid colors. I ordered a light blue solid. I was delighted when I received it in the mail. I was even more delighted when I used it the first time.

Ya know, breastfeeding your first child is hard the first couple of months. It's clumsy, it hurts, and innocent bystanders are apt to get a surprise view of Mama's Tatas if you're not careful, or if the baby moves, or if.......

Anyway, I found it really hard those first few months to nurse my son in public (meaning outside of our house, or outside of the bedroom if we had company). I wanted to nurse my son on demand, but I wanted to retain my modesty and dignity. I didn't want my brothers-in-law getting flashed in the process. One of my grandfathers wasn't bothered in the least by my nursing in the same room as him (as long as I tried to keep some modesty about it all), while the other preferred for me to go into another room, even if I covered up.

Strangers in the grocery store all had their own opinion, and I had them voiced to me more than once. (Thankfully for them I only got the good-for-you-I-nursed-my-babies-too-and-at-least-you're-modest-enough-to-cover-up-in-public, and not anyone who tried to convince me to nurse my child in a bathroom stall.) I always covered up if someone was uncomfortable by my nursing (family members - mostly the males) or if I was out in public. This was difficult because my baby was born in the middle of June. In Alabama. Do you have any idea how hot it is in Alabama in the middle of June? (Not quite as hot as it usually is in August in Alabama, but close enough for discomfort.)

I worried that the blanket, even receiving blankets, made him too hot. They trapped carbon dioxide. I had read that researchers now believe this to be a contributor of SIDS. My baby liked to fall asleep while nursing if you didn't watch him. Blankets had to be held in place if you or the baby were moving around. I couldn't grocery shop, carry the baby in my front carrier, hold my boob in his mouth, and hold a blanket up (while juggling shopping list, coupon book, copy of our menu plan, etc. etc. etc.). I was new at this Mommy stuff. I hadn't yet developed the ability to juggle five things at once while holding baby and nursing while retaining my "modest blanket".

Enter the Udder Cover. I had seen similar items on the internet, and even tutorials for making your own. I liked the idea (I have a couple of totes full of fabric-by-the-yard-or-five). I have a sewing machine. What I didn't have was time in my busy day to sit down, cut out one or a dozen, and sew them all up. I didn't have time to sleep hardly. (At least it felt that way, with the baby needing sustenance every 2-3 hours.)

The Udder Cover is a large piece of fabric, big enough to cover a nursing baby from your collar bone to your hips. It has a long, thin, piece of fabric at the top, and two D-rings. You thread the long piece of fabric around the back of your neck and through the D-rings. Ta-da! The cover stays in place. The top edge has a rigid neckline, which makes it stand out away from you slightly, allowing you to peek in on your little nursing cherub.

This product is simply amazing. I love it so much I have already ordered and received a second cover. I just ordered a gift set for myself. I want to try out the breast pads. If they are anything as good as the Udder Cover itself is, I'll be ordering quite a few of them the next time we get crazy and decide to breed (another) spawn.

I have used my Udder cover everywhere. Wal-mart during grocery shopping? Check. My hands stayed free for buggy pushing, item grabbing, list marking, and coupon culling. Christmas with our families (times three)? Check. No male family member was made to look at my boobies. Pumping breast milk in the car (not while driving, but while riding shotgun) or at work? Check. Co-workers and other people on the road were not shocked by the sudden sight of two stark-white boobs. Nursing our son in the living room, and unexpected company shows up? Got it under control. Throw this on and we're good to go.

This thing has lived in my diaper bag, my work bag, on the back of the couch.... I usually kept my strap ran through my D-rings and loose enough that I can slip it on over my head if need be. Then I could just throw it on the back of the couch behind me, and if company showed up I could grab it and throw it on without getting up or disturbing my son. That was handy.

I am hoping to order a few Gift Sets and a few Udder Covers to keep on hand for gifts. I think every breastfeeding mother should own one when they first start out. It would have made my life so much easier in the beginning.

I do have one complaint, but it is minor (to me). This cover wrinkles pretty easily. I am somewhat lacking in housewife skills, so mine usually sits in the dryer and the laundry basket for a while before being folded, so maybe it's just me. I'm sure if I took it out while still warm and folded it, it would not be near as wrinkled. It could also be ironed, if one was so inclined. (I own an iron. Somewhere in my house. Maybe on the shelf above my dryer? I haven't used it in forever, but that's where I think it is.) However, the trade-off is the fact that it is made out of a very lightweight, very breathable cotton fabric. Great for summertime. It wasn't too unbearably hot underneath it, unlike receiving blankets. Add in the convenience of the strap and the rigid neckline, and this is a great product. The fact that the prints are beautiful is a bonus. There should be a style for everybody.

****I have not received any direct compensation from Udder Covers. I did receive both of my Udder Covers for free (plus shipping charges), however, I received them for free using a promo code open to everyone who wished to use that code. Udder Covers has not, directly or indirectly, compensated me in any way for blogging about their awesome product. If they wish to do so, I would be more than happy to take some free stuff off their hands. {Wink, wink!}

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Promo Code - Udder Covers

I received this code in my email, and I thought I would post it here in case anyone is interested and sees them. Be advised, though, that all Udder Covers are on back order until September 15, 2010. This is not a big deal for me, as I'm keeping mine for myself (I want to try out the reusable nursing pads - could save a TON of money with our next child just by using these instead of disposables, plus be eco-friendly about it and all that).

You can get a free Udder Cover (retail value is $32) or an Udder Cover Gift Set for $5 (retail is $37). These are very nice nursing covers. They have six beautiful colors to choose from. I already own two Udder Covers (one solid light blue, which they no longer offer, and one "Jones", a cream color with a beautiful light blue pattern), and have just ordered myself a Gift Set in "Elsa". My total for each Udder Cover I already own was $9.95 (which is the total shipping cost, as each of my Udder Covers was absolutely FREE!). My total for my Gift Set I just ordered in $14.95.

OK, for the good stuff: The promo code is "Breastfeeding". I'm not sure how long it is valid for, so you may want to hurry. Rush on over to http://www.uddercovers.com/ right NOW! This code can be used more than once, but you will have to open a new browser window and pay the $9.95 shipping for each item ordered. Meaning, each item ordered has to be a completely separate order. Pain in the but, I know. I promise if you're pregnant and planning to breastfeed, or know who someone is, or just haven't bought one for yourself/someone else yet, then it is definately worth the $$$ in shipping charges for one or more of these.

The Udder Cover Gift Set includes one Udder Cover in the color of your choice, a color-coordinating MilkBands bracelet, and a pack of 4 reusable UdderCovers breast pads.

Look for my separate post, a review of my Udder Covers, if you'd like my totally unbiased, not-paid-for-in-any-way-except-my-two-free-plus-shipping-Udder-Covers opinion. (The only reason I got them for free is because I happened to stumble across a code like the one I'm giving on someone's blog. Now that I've ordered from them before, I get codes emailed to me periodically. This means if you don't wanna buy one today, that's OK because I get these codes emailed to me every month or two, so there will be more.)

****I have not received any direct compensation from Udder Covers. I did receive both of my Udder Covers for free (plus shipping charges), however, I received them for free using a promo code open to everyone who wished to use that code. Udder Covers has not, directly or indirectly, compensated me in any way for blogging about their awesome product. If the wish to do so, I would be more than happy to take soem free stuff off their hands.

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Lactation legislation included in the Healthcare Reform Bill

Before I begin my post, let me preface it with this disclaimer:


I care not if you breastfeed or chose formula for your child. Your child, your boobs, your decision. I made mine, and you are entitled to yours.

I care not your political beliefs, and I don't want to hear them. This is not a blog about politics. I am entitled to my own political beliefs (and also to keep them private if I so wish). You are entitled the same consideration. So is everyone else reading this.


I do not care if you like our Presidents, Congressmen, or Senators. I don't like some of them either. They were elected. Now deal with it until the next election. If you don't like a bill they are considering, write them. If you are against one political party and in favor of another, volunteer during the next campaign season.



I am posting this simply to enlighten lactating mothers of their rights, as included in the recently passed "Healthcare Reform Bill". I don't care if you supported passage of this bill or not. I don't care if you are a Tea-partyer or not. I don't care about your political, ethical, or moral beliefs in the least. We are all entitled to our own. I DO, however, care about MY rights, and as an extension, YOUR rights.


Any inappropriate comments left here, or elsewhere on my blog, will be removed. If you've linked to this post, please feel free to leave me a note saying so. Any comment along the lines of "Stupid Senate, Stupid Congress, Stupid Healthcare Reform," etc. will be deleted. So will comments arguing breast vs. bottle, Republican vs. Democrat, etc.



I just found out about this tiny little feature of the recently passed, much-debated Healthcare Reform Bill recently passed. I don't care whether you were for or against this piece of legislation. I couldn't care less if you like it or not. I just wanna get these fact out there so that those who need them have them. If this interests you or someone you know, please link to this. I didn't know about it. I'm sure there are other women out there who are lactating, working mothers who really could use this information.

The below passage comes from HR 3590 (AKA the Healthcare Reform Bill passed by the U.S. Senate on December 24, 2009 and the U.S. House of Representatives on March 21, 2010. President Obama signed this act into law on March 23, 2010. This is now Federal Public Law 111-148.) Section 4207. I have copied and pasted it from here.



SEC. 4207. REASONABLE BREAK TIME FOR NURSING MOTHERS. Section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938

(29 U.S.C. 207) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(r)(1) An employer shall provide— ‘‘(A) a reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk; and ‘‘(B) a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk. ‘‘(2) An employer shall not be required to compensate an employee receiving reasonable break time under paragraph (1) for any work time spent for such purpose. ‘‘(3) An employer that employs less than 50 employees shall not be subject to the requirements of this subsection, if such requirements would impose an undue hardship by causing the employer significant difficulty or expense when considered in relation to the size, financial resources, nature, or structure of the employer’s business.
‘‘(4) Nothing in this subsection shall preempt a State law that provides greater protections to employees than the protections provided for under this subsection.’’.



This is great news for lactating women. You are now guaranteed under Federal law (as long as your employer has at least 50 employees) unpaid breaks and a private room for expressing breastmilk. You no longer have to pump in a dirty bathroom. Your lactation room must now be free from view AND intrusion from coworkers and the public. This means you are entitled to a door that locks, to maintain your privacy and dignity while expressing breastmilk.

This is a step up in recognizing the importance of breastfeeding our children. This is a step up in recognizing a mother's right to breastfeed even after returning to work. This is Federal Law recognizing our children's right to be comforted by breastmilk even after the first two or six or eight weeks of life. This is Federal Law recognizing that I chose to breastfeed my son until he is ready to wean, and I have the right to expect to not lose my milk supply after I return to work.

Please pass this news on. Feel free to pass on the link to this blog. Let's get the word out that a new Federal law is giving this to those mothers who choose to breastfeed their children.

Also, please know that I am posting this exact same entry on my other blog, also.

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CNN: Mom says pumping at work caused her to lose her job

This is just shameful. And to think that the Ohio State Supreme Court didn't see this as discrimination? When other employees were allowed to take more breaks to smoke than she was to pump? This is outrageous. Sadly, it occurs far more often than I would hope.

Mom says pumping at work cost her a job

I have many thoughts about this. First, kudos to Campbell Brown (a nursing mother) and CNN for covering this story. Kudos to Campbell Brown and all other nursing women out there who are publicly working to help knock down the barriers so many nursing mothers face every day.

Now, for me to get on my soapbox for a while.

Here's an idea. Since the president wants so badly to enact healthcare reform (I am not commenting one way or the other, nor trying to start this debate, just saying, he's set deadlines for his ideal timeline and everything because he wants it to happen so badly), why don't we start at the true beginning: enact federal laws protecting lactating mothers from any form of discrimination. How about laws protecting my right to express my breastmilk at work for my child? How about better maternity leave? Paternity leave, even. Family sick leave.

I'm talking about laws separate from those currently proposed regarding healthcare reform or any other bill currently being proposed or considered. We need to stand up and have our voices be heard. We need a bill, today, that will make it to be signed into law that says, "You know what? Our children are our top priority. They are our future, and we need them to be healthy. Women (and men) deserve the right to longer time off from work.Women deserve more paid time off. Better short-term disability plans. The right to pump at work if they so desire. The right to breastfeed their children anywhere. The right to no longer hide in their cars, or bathroom talls, or dressing rooms just because their child is hungry."

How about requiring companies to provide facilities other than bathrooms for lactating mothers to pump in? I'm not talking about high-class, fancy-pants facilities. Just a private room, with a few comfortable chairs or couch, a couple of tables neat the chairs or couches to set up pumping equipment, a lockable door, a small sink, refrigerator, good lighting, maybe a telephone for people who have a job like mine and must be reachable no matter what they're doing. Maybe a couple of sets of lockers or filing cabinets or somethign that lock individually of each other, for lactating mothers to store items like nursing pads, extra milk storage bags, extra pump bottles, bottle brushes for cleaning their pumping equipment, etc.

What is so wrong with this country that women have to beg for these things? Why should I have to beg for time to express breastmilk in a tiny, dirty bathroom just so I can give my baby the very best nutrition I can? I guarantee all the bosses who give their workers hard times over pumping at work, and then force them to use bathrooms, wouldn't dare eat food prepared for them in a filthy, nasty bathroom. Why should our children?

What gives a grown man (or woman) the right to tell me that I have to prepare my child's food (or feed my child) in a filthy restroom, when they wouldn't even consider eating their meals in a restroom or dressing room. What right does anyone have to tell me that I must take my child to my car, in the parking lot, through the heat, cold, wind, rain, and sun to feed him?

I'm not saying we should all run out and expose our bare breasts to society. I do believe in having a little decency and respect for others. You might not want your 12-year-old son looking at my breasts while I feed my son. But we have to stop making mothers feel ashamed and afraid in public, or at work, for doing what they feel is right for their children.

If you feel this way, please contact your state representatives, Congressmen, and Senators. Email the President. Do something to help educate people on these issues. I don't care if you're a nursing mother, a former nursing mother, a grandmother, a father, a grandfather, a CEO, a stay at home mom, a pediatrician, an OB-GYN, a midwife, a CRNW, an aunt, a best friend.... A child even. If your life has been touched by a lactating woman, her child, or if you or a loved one hope to be a breastfeeding mother someday, please let our lawmakers know how you feel. It's the only way to get our voices heard. There is currently legislation in committee before the Senate to help some working, nursing mothers out. It's called the Breastfeeding Promotion Act. Please, take the time to read this piece of legislation. Then, email your Senators, as well as those on the committee currently reviewing this legislation. Let them know what you think.

To find out more information on this bill, like who is on the committee reviewing it, and where it is in the process, click here.

If you've stayed this long, then thank you. I know this got really long, really quick. I'll get off my soapbox now.

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Recomended reading - great blog post - 10 Tips to breastfeeding for a year

I recently read a great blog post regarding breastfeeding. It's a very well-written entry with very good tips for a new mother who is trying to learn to nurse her child. I wish I had read it before the birth of Colt. It is very well-written, and packed full of good info and encouragement. I recommend you read this, no matter if you are pregnant, currently beginning to nurse a newborn, or have been nursing for a while. I've been doing this for 5.5 months (by no means an expert), and it has helped me to just read it and think, "Now why didn't someone tell me that five months ago?"

10 tips to breastfeeding for a year

Some of the tips included I've already read elsewhere, but the depth given to each hint here is incredibly helpful. It's also highly encouraging, and makes me believe just that much more that I can and will nurse my son for at least his first year.

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