Modesty and NIP

[hollyvangogh]

I'm ALL for NIP! I don't think any mama who doesn't want to cover should ever be made to feel bad about it. There's nothing wrong with feeding a baby! But I am curious to hear from nursing moms who come from very modest cultures (for example, I'm LDS). I guess I'm just trying to figure out how I feel about things for when my LO is born. I think I'm of the opinion that it's not immodest to show some breast if it's for the purpose of feeding a babe. At the same time I might personally feel a little uncomfortable if someone other than hubby got a look (though that's probably going to be unavoidable at one point or another). Also, I think I'd like to find some tops that are easy to just pull down for nursing but are there any out there that aren't low cut (maybe really stretchy or something)? Any thoughts?

Not sure if this belonged in the BF Challenges forum or here...

[MilkTrance]

Once they get big enough, you can't see anything anyway. (I use a blanket to cover my FLAB)

[Sandi13]

I bought some nursing tanks from Target. I usually wear them under another shirt. The top shirt becomes my "cover" for the top part of the breast. Then my midrift is still covered by the bottom of the tank.

[mags]

I agree with the other poster. You really can't see all that much. When you first start to BF, yes, it can feel very awkward. However, honestly, once you get the hang of it, you really can't see anything. If you have never been around women who BF, I highly suggest you attend a local LLL mtg. www.llli.org Not only will you get some great info and insight from other moms, but you will see, as other moms nurse, that NIP really isn't a big deal and you don't see much of anything, b/c the baby hides the view.

I have known very few women to just, "let it all hang out." I can only think of one women, who kind of showed a little bit more breast, then I think she could have had to (but I also noticed she was not using a nursing bra, so I believe that was why that happened), but this was during a mother's group and not really a very big deal at all. II mean, we all have breasts, we all know what a nipple looks like and we all knew she needed to feed her baby. If you feel uncomfortable at the beginning, you can always use a blanket for latch on and off, which are the times where ppl, *might* see something. However, for the most part, ppl who are minding their business shouldn't really be sitting there starring at your breasts anyway, kwim? If they are, then they are just creeps.

[stockingup99]

[QUOTE=hollyvangogh;11267727]Also, I think I'd like to find some tops that are easy to just pull down for nursing but are there any out there that aren't low cut (maybe really stretchy or something)? Any thoughts?
QUOTE]

Most of the women I know, pull their tops up. If you have a loose T shirt or blouse there is enough room to pull the top up and nurse. A common thing is to wear a shirt underneath with holes so that your belly is covered. We worry more about the belly showing than the boobs. :

If you search, I've seen other threads about LDS. Some wards are very family friendly, others, not so much. God made breasts for feeding children.

[hipmummy]

Originally Posted by MilkTrance

Once they get big enough, you can't see anything anyway. (I use a blanket to cover my FLAB)

: I could care less about my breasts, it is my flab I worry aboutPLus here in New England you just get plain old cold when your are all out in the breeze

[lacysmommy]

I'm LDS, too, and I don't worry about any skin showing, because more often than not, none is. The shirt covers the top of the breast, and the baby covers the bottom. I never cover with a blanket because my babes don't like it, though sometimes I'll nurse in a sling which covers even more. I freely nurse wherever I happen to be, at least during infancy and partially into toddlerhood.

[rolenta]

I'm LDS as well and I just cover up with a light blanket. It's no big deal so far because DD doesn't mind. Of course, LDS or not, I just don't want people seeing my boobs or my belly or any naked skin other than what I know just wearing what I usually wear.

[FoxintheSnow]

What I do to cover my belly is pull my pants or skirt up really high so that the waistline is just below my bra line right before Im about to sit down to nurse.

[elanorh]

I think every woman finds a "groove" which feels most comfortable and right for them, in re: how the nurse in public. And many of us travel a continuum to find that place.

What works for mom and babe, is what is best. NOT what makes those around them 'comfortable,' but what makes babe and mom comfortable.

I'd consider myself a quite modest person (and grew up in a community with a lot of LDS so I know where you're coming from) -- I'd say, be open to options and see what works best for you.

Personally, I've hit the point where I usually wear just a regular top and pull it up to nurse -- although I have and do use nursing tops, too. They were really convenient for me, when I was pumping at work. A few good sources for those are:
expressiva.com
motherwear.com
conursingwear.com (zip openings, I have some of the jackets for NIP in the fall/spring when it's cold - very handy! )

[Bekka]

I'm LDS and I've found that different people have different rxns. I don't usually nurse in sacrament meeting but my last 2 kids have been very wiggly and distracted. I nurse in the mom's lounge (dd is almost 2 ) or if that's full I find a classroom with the loudspeaker coming in.

I nurse younger babies everywhere though, including RS, and activities, and when I am VTing. At this point dd is so distractable that she nurses a lot *at home* and at LLL meetings.

Have you seen the LDS Mamas and Papas in Spirituality yet?

[hollyvangogh]

Originally Posted by Bekka

I

Have you seen the LDS Mamas and Papas in Spirituality yet?

Oh my gosh! I haven't! Thanks for pointing that out!

And thanks to everyone. I think I just needed an extra reminder that it's no big deal.

[Mandynee22]

Originally Posted by hollyvangogh

I'm ALL for NIP! I don't think any mama who doesn't want to cover should ever be made to feel bad about it. There's nothing wrong with feeding a baby! But I am curious to hear from nursing moms who come from very modest cultures (for example, I'm LDS). I guess I'm just trying to figure out how I feel about things for when my LO is born. I think I'm of the opinion that it's not immodest to show some breast if it's for the purpose of feeding a babe. At the same time I might personally feel a little uncomfortable if someone other than hubby got a look (though that's probably going to be unavoidable at one point or another). Also, I think I'd like to find some tops that are easy to just pull down for nursing but are there any out there that aren't low cut (maybe really stretchy or something)? Any thoughts?

Not sure if this belonged in the BF Challenges forum or here...

You can just use any ole tshirt and pull it up. You could also use a tank with boob cut outs underneath- then there will be no belly and no boob (the tshirt you can pull down over the boob)

I'm not from a modest culture but I get it that some moms aren't into a peep show and that's great for them. It only makes me angry when they try to tell other moms THEY should cover (I nursed three kids and never NIP or showed anything- or whatever)

[moderngal]

Before I really got the hang of NIP, I found a lot of comfort in nursing clothes. I felt covered and it was still easy to manage with a wiggly baby. My DS hated being covered by a blanket, so the tops made me feel more confident. Expressiva.com has nice tops. I think Motherhood sells them, too.

[shanti1]

I use a blanket to cover....my flab. I don't mind a bit of boob showing...but don't like my flabby sides hanging out.

[angelpie545]

This is an interesting thread! I'm all for NIP too-but as a modest mama I always found it somewhat difficult to stay covered. I'm curious as to how Muslim mamas do it as well, and stay within their religious requirements?

[Sugermama]

Here is a site that sells frum nursing clothing, so even in Jewish cultures NIP is supported. http://www.yanaeverywhere.com/

[Staciemao]

I'm mostly fairly modest (baby covers almost everything) but every once in a while you can see a little bit of nipple while Faith latches on. So a couple months ago I was nursing at my parents' house and my 23 year old brother comes in, sees a teeny flash of nipple, and FREAKS OUT.

I just said "Oh, T! You are 23 years old and have really never seen a boob before? That's so sad!"

But seriously, folks, God made boobs to nourish babies. It's ironic, but it's only in America that we are uncomfortable with breasts in anything BUT a sexual context.

[Bekka]

Oh, I was going to say in the "stretchy clothes" department, I know there was one line of nursing tube things or like, tube tops or something that you could layer under other clothes to cover your middle, then you pull your top up and the tube top thing down, and voila, you have a nursing top that covers your middle. Or something like that.

[robertandenith]

I am VERY self conscious about my body, so yes, I do cover up my breasts and flabs like you guys call it lol! plus I do come from a very modest culture so I feel like I need to cover up or just breastfeed discreetly. What works the best are carriers. Carriers or slings help me breastfeed discreetly specially when they get older, I just put them in my ergo and viola! You don't see a thing!