One of the first times I fed my baby outside the house, he was nine days old.
We went to a sushi train - one of those booth-style restaurants where you’re quite close to everyone around you. I was wearing a button-down dress. Great for access. Not great for discretion.
He needed to feed while we were there, and although we were getting better with the latch by then, it still wasn’t second nature. I had a muslin cloth, a burp cloth, and my hands all trying to do different things at once - cover myself, position him, help him latch.
In the process, the latch wasn’t great, milk went everywhere, and I just felt awkward.
I remember thinking, if this is what feeding out of the house is like, I can see why people just stay home.
And honestly, that feeling followed me for a while.
It wasn’t just public places. Even having visitors at home felt strange at first. Before having a baby, getting your breasts out in front of family members isn’t something you’re used to — no matter how natural breastfeeding is. It takes time to adjust to that shift.
Often, it felt easier to step into another room to feed. Or later, when we started venturing out more — barbecues, catch-ups with friends - I’d find myself feeding in the car or in a quiet room.
Not because anyone made me feel uncomfortable.
But because I still was.
What I found hardest wasn’t the feeding itself - it was missing out.
You finally get out of the house with a new baby, hoping for a bit of adult conversation and connection… and then you end up sitting alone somewhere quiet, feeding.
Even simple things like running errands felt harder than they needed to be. Babies feed when they need to feed - especially while you’re still finding your rhythm - and finding a parents’ room or a private space isn’t always convenient, or even possible.
Over time, confidence does grow. Experience helps. Things feel easier.
But something I’ve learned - from my own experience and from speaking to so many other mums - is that wanting privacy while you’re still finding your feet is completely normal.
Some women feel comfortable feeding uncovered anywhere from day one. That’s wonderful.
And if you don’t - that’s just as normal.
Wanting discretion doesn’t mean you’re ashamed.
It doesn’t mean you lack confidence.
And it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
Sometimes it simply means you want feeding to feel calm, intimate, and comfortable.
Second time around, I realised how much easier feeding felt when I had something that helped me feel a little more comfortable in those situations - not to hide, but to give myself space.
That’s ultimately why I created the Cowrie.
I wanted something that offered easy, breathable privacy while feeding - especially in moments where I felt exposed or distracted - without feeling hot, restrictive, or disconnected from my baby. Something that allowed me to stay present, keep my baby settled, and still feel like myself in public spaces.
Because for me, feeding was never really about confidence alone.
It was about comfort.
And when I felt more comfortable - whether that was at a café, around visitors, or out with friends - confidence followed naturally.
Not because I forced it.
But because feeding felt calmer, simpler, and more supported.
If you’ve ever found yourself stepping away to feed, missing conversations, or feeling awkward while you’re still figuring things out, know this: wanting support doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. Sometimes, it’s just about removing a little friction so you can stay connected - to your baby, and to the world around you.
If you’re navigating feeding in public and want something that offers comfort without restriction, the Cowrie was created from lived experience. Discover the Cowrie →
