How are you all doing NIP?

[kathteach]

I'm having a hard time nursing in public. In fact I have not been going places or trying to go when I think he won't be hungry so I won't have to deal with it.
On the flip side, I went to a family party where my aunt told me I should nurse in another room because it might make people uncomfortable and the kids might ask what was going on. I didn't like that either.

I know it sounds weird, but I am just positive people can see the nipple shield and are thinking eww what's on her breast?

I just want to get over it already.


What have all of your experiences been like so far?

[lisalulu]

I haven't left the house yet with this baby but I had a hard time nip with ds1. We were on a nipple shield for a couple months and it really hindered me nip. I felt like it took too long to get on and the whole world would be gawking at me fumbling to get it on with my boob hanging out. I think I ended up nursing a lot in the car or just going to friends houses where I didn't care. FWIW, I don't think they're noticeable once they're on.

[Kontessa]

I have NO issues NIP. I do not cover up and chances are seeing I have HUGE boobs I flash more people then I should. I was sitting in a church committe meeting tonight and had baby at breast almost the whole time and there where lots of men there even of many ages and kids coming and going. I act like it is no big deal and everyone else seems to as well.

Funny thing happened. I was at home feeding baby and then right up with a friend to go out and stopped to get gas. Pumping gas when the guy on the other side of the pump I notice mezmerized by my beauty. I turn and see in the window, my shirt is still unbottoned. My friend had not even noticed as my chest is nothing new these days I guess. And of course she has to tell everyone now. LOL

Mondays are shopping days. Today I just topped baby off in the van before going in. Finding places to sit and feed baby can be a pain and I will not sit in a bathroom.

Breastfeeding is hard enough without worry about someone choosing to look at me and choosing to have issues with the way God/nature made me.


(((((((hugs))))))) To those having issues.

[scheelimama]

Kimmy. How embarrassing!

NIP is no problem here either. But this babe has a great latch and has been a great nurser since day 1. That makes a huge difference! I avoided NIP as much as possible when I had to use a nipple shield with dd1. I have a good friend that had to use one for almost the first 3 months. She's finally rid of it and so happy about that.

Now nursing in the sling, while walking around shopping, that's not happening yet. For one, I have only one nursing top and I don't like pulling my shirt up and bearing all that tummy skin while I'm walking around. But, I also am just not that coordinated.

[sorteep]

I will be discrete if/ when poss but also have no prob nIP naywhere everywhere... I don't do it on purpose (KWIM) to make a statement or show more of me than i have to I just do what I need to do with confisence and calmly and go about my biz.. I have NIP three and nobody has EVER said anything .. except my MIL who told me I should go upstairs to nurse evan on xmas BC everyone was at my house (he was 4 days ols and I had 3rd deg lac .. ummm stairs carrying a NB.. umm no..) I told her if they come into my house expect it not to be too clean and to see my boobs.. if not OK with that ,don't come! (she very proudle announces that her last three kids never even SMELLED BM... and they are "fine"... I keep quiet but what part of bad allergies and significantly overweight do you not see in two of the three?? (not my DH, he is healthy)

this goes for my son and friends who were all ten with DS2 and now 16/17... they are FINE with it.. as long as I am OK with it so are they.. no prob

I think the thing is you will project how you feel about it to others and they will reflect it back to you, does that make sense...?? so stick to what you are comfy with and slowly expand your NIP as you are comfortable and it will work out..hugs

[sandiegokristi]

NIP has never bothered me and I have never had anyone say anything to me before. I just usually nurse while wearing DS in a sling. I nurse while grocery shopping, going for a walk while pushing a stroller etc. Having a sling has really helped because no one can see anything and it allows me to have a free hand for DS1 while DS2 nurses. Have you tried practicing latching on at home in front of the mirror? You will have a better idea of what people are or are not seeing then? Good luck!

[renaissanceed]

I NIP with Silas all the time with no issues, but certainly wasn't doing it with DD until she was about 2 months old.

Haven't made it to nursing in the sling yet at home or in public because although we love the sling and use it a lot, I swear my boobs are in the wrong place for that (they are also in the wrong place for any nursing wear I've ever tried).

Now, as for NIP with DD who is 22 months - that is a whole other ball of wax. We do it on occasion if she's fallen down and hurt herself but by and large I try to offer her food/water or distract her. Although in some ways her determination to nurse all the time makes her very calm and focused when she is nursing so it just looks like we are cuddling.

[GinaRae]

I can see how putting on a nipple shield might make things even harder. I have a "gimpy" arm (shoulder dystocia when I was born) that makes fumbling for a breast hard, so sometimes if hubby is there I ask for help. Like on the Christmas tree lot... we hid among the trees while he groped me to get my right breast out

I fed successfully at a restaurant yesterday, in front of my dad, no less! I used a blanket to cover us. I've used blankets and the ring sling to cover me even though I think you should be able to whip it out anywhere.. I use them because I have SUCH large, floppy breasts, it's just easier than trying to be tactful.

I've nursed in the car a few times but mostly because we were leaving a store and he got hungry. I've nursed in the ring sling in public twice - once covered with a spare blanket for warmth and once in Old Navy using justthe ring sling tail to cover.

[GinaRae]

Originally Posted by scheelimama

Now nursing in the sling, while walking around shopping, that's not happening yet. For one, I have only one nursing top and I don't like pulling my shirt up and bearing all that tummy skin while I'm walking around. But, I also am just not that coordinated.

Somehow I did it without showing skin, but it wasn't easy! I was told to wear a tank top underneath so you pull the top shirt up, the tank down and that way your belly is covered.

I have to agree that NIP with a sling is a lesson in coordination!

[pixiedust]

I've NIP quite a few times already.. of course most of those times were at church LOL. However, i do use a nursing cover.. always have always will LOL.. I just don't feel comfortable nursing otherwise. I love the hooter hider style of covers (although I make my own) because you can still see the baby while covered

[brooklyn_warbler]

nak

i have only nip once so far and i covered myself with a hoodie because we weren't so coordinated yet.

i really want to be like kimmy but i wonder if i will get self conscious. my breasts are still pretty small &manageable though so i really don't think anyone would see much.

[*Lindsey*]

I NIP a lot under a blanket. My biggest issue is that I cannot tandem nurse them in public, so one is usually fussing and sucking a binky waiting her turn. *sigh*

[Momma Aimee]

uhhhhhh not going in public?

Actually I have a lot LESS worries about NIP than I do handleing a 2 yo and a new born

Honestly though, the Ped office is the only place we've been -- DH went with us -- 2 week and 2 year appt at the same time.

We are just home. Again, more worried about chaseing a 2 yo than the boobs

I went to a family party where my aunt told me I should nurse in another room because it might make people uncomfortable and the kids might ask what was going on. I didn't like that either.

No one has EVER had the BALLS to try to say something like this to me ... but turst me ... if they did I would nurse in front of them every single chance i got for the next 3 years, and i would show as much boob as possible .............i am not one you want to f-with I will nurse a child who is NOT cueing to be fed if i think there is the slightest hint that someone doesn't WANT me to do it

Honestly, I would confront he Aunt, tell her to deal or she can leave, she is not going to dictate how you parent and if you careing for your child is a prblem for her, she can remove herself. I had to tell BIL and SIL that when Theo was 8 months old ... BIL was complaing about everything, i final said "F he is our child, we will parent him, he come before anything and everything else, yo are an adultif you don't like it youa re free to not be here"

I have nurseing, in or out of a sling, everywhere -- evey church service, wedding, the Freedom Trail in Boston, planes, trains........

1. you will feel better with more pratice

2. you just gotta get an attidue that says "don't get me started"

............ I think a lot of it ---NOT all, a lot ---- is how you present yourself / carry yourself. do people feel thay can bully you? in 2 year of nurseing I have had NO negitive comments, none. I think it is almost a kin to looking like a victim or not ... bullys know who they can and can not approcah ....

I remember when i had to sit to nurse Theo, then one day finally got the groove and nursed walking around a store -- it just takes time

I agree with Kimmy -- you got to a point you are so used to boobs hanging out, you don't notice when they are out for a visit without a baby attached Happnes to us all ...

Personally I am waiting with joy for my first TN expereince with my 2 yo

Aimee

[saimeiyu]

I just nurse DD any which way... mostly she's in my ring sling or my Moby wrap, but sometimes she REALLY hates having her head actually inside the sling so her body ends up in the sling and I end up walking around (grocery shopping, usu.) with her head in one hand... I think it's because in order for the sling to hold her high enough to nurse comfortably, her face sometimes gets squished into my ginormous boob and she can't breathe.
Honestly, I don't think it's POSSIBLE for me to NIP discretely... DD just won't have it, plus my boobs are freaking HUGE. I can't find nursing bras that fit me right-- probably gonna have to make some, I think. because I don't have the money to spend 40-50 bucks on one bra, and I don't fit into anything I can find locally. (I live in hawaii and I *think* i'm in a G cup, but it might be an H? I don't even know.) ... So instead I wear lots of those shelfie tanks, and... well, let's just say it's a good thing I generally wear button-up shirts over them, because they're really only good for keeping them from dropping to the ground and keeping the nursing pads mostly over my nipples. So... No discreteness here. If I'm nursing, the WHOLE THING is out, and *maybe* half of it is covered in sling.
I've never had a problem, though. Sometimes I get a double take, and a couple of times, when walking around or waiting someplace, a nice person offers to get me some water.

[lisalulu]

I wanted to come back and add to my post that I don't think it was good for my mental state to stay home just because of the nipple shield. They can need those things for months and I think it made me feel a bit isolated. So just wanted to say that I wasn't advocating staying at home but I totally know how you feel.

[mittendrin]

Me and my baby have no problems NIP. I am discreet but not paranoid My boobs are big and I have major problems with any bra. How do you close it back up? Do you reach in from the top or bottom of your shirt?
I had a horrible nursing relationship with my first and couldn't NIP, heck even nursing at home was stressful. Luckily my other two were/are wonderful nursers and latch on anyhwere.
I am not sure how I'd do with a nipple shield tho. I hope over time you get more secure and comfortable with NIP.

[Isaac'sMa]

Originally Posted by Kontessa

I have NO issues NIP. I do not cover up and chances are seeing I have HUGE boobs I flash more people then I should. I act like it is no big deal and everyone else seems to as well.

Breastfeeding is hard enough without worry about someone choosing to look at me and choosing to have issues with the way God/nature made me.

: except my boobs aren't too big! I could care less what pp think, though I can see how hard it might be to coordinate a shield, baby and shirt and not feel totally exposed while NIP. What about one of these things to get you through the awkward time with the shield? http://www.modestmommycover.com/ I don't think you should avoid going in public because getting out of the house is what many of us need to do to preserve our sanity!

[mommabear207]

At first I avoided NIP but now I don't have a problem with it. After all my baby is hungry and he has a right to eat and we have the right to breastfeed. I try to be discreet about it and I like to have baby all lined up before pulling my nipple out and I like to wear a tank w/ a shirt over it so when i do nurse i don't leave alot exposed. i find if you just act like nothings doing then other people do too. as for kids well what better way to show them nursing is natural and not something to be ashamed about. remembering other people i saw NIP when i was little helped me to feel more comfortable NIP now as an adult. plus when baby is latched on there really isn't much to see and if people do well hey its natural everyones got nipples and you can see that and more just by turning onthe tv. good luck and remember its your right and its actually against the law for anyone to ask you not to.

[kathteach]

Thanks for all the replies. I don't know why I am having such problems. I am proud of breastfeeding and mentally I do feel like Kimmy but when I'm in the actual situation it's as if I turn into this meek person and I feel embarrassed and actually ashamed! No one in my family has bf'ed except one aunt--the one who told me to use another room, oddly enough, and I'm actually really close to her. I know she said that out of care for me because she was probably made to feel badly back in the day and I think she didn't want me to have to deal with comments from other family members.

[Momma Aimee]

I do so feel bad for teh c%^p older moms who Bf had to p[ut up with -- like your aunt -- i think that is my why i am so IN YOUR FACE about it -- I will be darned if my DIL (since i have no daughters) are gonna have to face this BS

I know -- in the heat of the moment you feel trapped in frogger the old game and get flustered and so on .........

it gets better with time, now i don't even think about it