Positive NIP Stories!

[Ambystoma]

My little family was visiting our extended family for a birthday/graduation/vacation at the beach. We went to a semi-fancy restaurant one evening and of course, my 3.5 mo DS wanted to eat. (It doesn't matter if I feed him right before, if I am eating something, he wants to. I guess he's a social eater? )

My family is getting used to NIP, and are mostly curious, although my dad did complain a little that I was going to feed him. My Grandpa was asking me about what I did for feeding when I taught my classes (pumping, obviously) and I was saying that DS hated the bottle, though, so we limited it as much as possible, when the manager walked by and paused to look at me curiously. I thought, "oh crap, here's where I get told to cover my squirmy LO", but instead she smiled and said "that's because he knows mama is much better! I nursed all 3 of my kids and they never got a drop of formula. Keep it up! It's so much better for him."

I thanked her and I think it was a great moment for my faith in humanity and a better learning moment for my dad's family, who is still getting used to NIP. Any other positive NIP stories lately? Feel free to use this thread. I'd love to hear them!

***Oops, I meant to put this in the general breastfeeding forum--if someone could move it, that would be awesome. Thanks!****

[Happiestever]

That's great to get positive feedback. I don't think anyone has ever said anything to me, I'm not even sure I have seen a stink eye. But I am usually too busy looking at my nursling and holding my boob up LOL.

[rlmueller]

Positive NIP

Only twice in 5 months has anyone been disturbed by my feeding (one was my LPN sister who was breastfed) and I'll still happily whip 'em out for Laura.

Nearly no one young or old has ever said anything except okay ma'am when I asked for a table instead of a booth 'cause it's easier to nurse. Nearly no one has looked down around or sideways at me when I feed her anywhere and everywhere.

A German woman in line at the grocery store did ask if I was nursing and ADAMANTLY assured me that I should continue to do so and stay away from that 'chemical crap' she called it (moderator notice she said it). Oh and she helped me unload my grocery cart

Granted, we have a long NIP relationship still to come but so far so good!

[corysmilk]

when ds was a baby, oh about 2 months or so I was nursing in the food court at the local mall. a man with a shopping cart purposly headed our way. I was thinking oh crap, but he stopped and said, my wife breastfed all of ours. it so nice to see a mom doing it, I never see any moms nursing, and then asked a few other questions, I can't remember now.\but he was so nice and just kept smiling.

[Calee]

I nurse everywhere! Waiting rooms, restaurants, church, friend's houses, etc. No one has EVER said anything rude or looked at me weird.

One time someone I didn't know very well (I was at her house amongst a crowd) asked me if I wanted a room to nurse in. I said "it doesn't bother me to do it here if it doesn't bother you" and she said "no way! I just didn't know you well enough to know if YOU wanted to go away somewhere! We don't care!"

An older lady in a waiting room saw my DS start to fuss and me start nursing. She said (to her friend), "that baby is breastfeeding! Isn't that great? you hardly ever see that anymore!" and then she told me to keep it up!

[coldandsleepy]

Yes! We nurse everywhere in public. I was SO nervous about it initially because I have huge boobs and am very self conscious... then the first time my little guy cried for food in public, that all went out the window and I was ripping my shirt off like Superman.

No one's ever hassled me, though I am lucky to live in a very breastfeeding friendly town!

[kcstar]

Around the end of April, we got to church a few minutes late and I sat next to an older woman. My 2.5 year-old wanted to nurse, so I let him. I was doing my best to be as discrete as I could in a t-shirt and with no blanket. When she saw how nervous I was, the woman said how nice it was to see him breastfeeding.

[MamaJenese]

DS was a littel over two (and looked more like 4) he had a melt down at the library playgroup so I nursed him. This little girl maybe 3ish walks up and says "mommy look at that big boy nursing" The mom looks over and says "you nursed until two weeks ago!" Then asked me if she could hold my infant daughter for me to help!

[KristyDi]

The one time anyone ever said anything negative about me NIP in my hearing is also my favorite positive NIP story.

After DD's 9 month Dr. appt. which dd had cried though and in which the DR had given me crap about dd supposedly not gaining enough (whole other post DD was fine). I stopped at a family restaurant to grab some lunch. DD was ok through ordering and waiting on the food, but soon after the food came she was finished and ready for a nap. I was trying to nurse her down and eat and she was having some trouble settling. As I was switching sides a couple was seated at the table behind us. As I was latching dd on the woman exclaimed in a loud, snide voice, "Well that's not something you see everyday!" I chose to ignore her since dd was finally seeming to settle down and I wasn't risking disturbing her.

I looked up to see the waitress, who had been very friendly and seemed taken w/ dd, hurrying straight toward me. I just knew I was going to be asked to stop nursing or cover up and was gearing up to politely resist. Then the waitress smiled and, in a low voice designed not to disturb a sleeping baby,asked if dd was doing ok and if I needed anything. She then told me that her dd was nursing her grandson and she was so glad.

Then she went to greet the table w/ the complainer. Again in a loud, rude voice the woman said, "Do you realize she's nursing that child!?" The word "nursing" was hissed in a shocked stage whisper. The waitress became my new favorite person when she said, "Yes, isn't it wonderful."

[ramama]

Once, at a pizza joint, I started nursing DD1 (not entirely sure how old she was, but definitely a toddler) and the waitress said "I am so happy to see that I'm not the only one nursing a toddler!" she seemed genuinely relieved to not be a "freak."

Another time, I was sitting on the airport floor nursing DD1, who was about 18 months, and was quite pregnant with DD2. A woman comes tearing across the terminal. I was terrified that she was going to berate me for nursing in public, and I was already emotionally fragile because I missed my connecting flight and was number 10 on the standby list for the last flight of the day, plus I was pregnant LOL. She was coming for me and she said "That is the best thing for your baby and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!!" She said it in all-caps LOL. It was still kinda scary, but ...

...and I DID end up spending the night on the airport floor, and as I woke in the morning after DD had nursed to sleep, I noticed my boob was hanging out like it would have been at home LOL. Since I slept at the bottom of the escalator (to the side, I'm not stupid!) and the airport was filling with morning travelers, I'm sure at least 100 people got an eye-full. Not a positive experience per se, but I consider it a miracle that no one said anything.

[77sugaree]

Lovin' this thread...

I was at an outdoor craft festival and had sat down on a little rock ledge behind a house to nurse DS1. An older couple sitting in the gazebo looked at me then got up to leave. I thought "Oh great, I've disturbed them." but they walked over to me and said "Honey, why don't you come in here to do that, it's a lot more comfortable." They were so sweet and told me they nursed all of theirs and that I was doing a good job which was music to my new mom ears.