Do you think it's improper to NIP (nurse in public)?

There's a poll on the homepage of the TNews today asking people this question and so far 51 percent are saying YES and 49 percent are saying NO.

Jump on and vote, ladies! The results will be published on page 2A of tomorrow's paper.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/

And while we're talking NIP, share your NIP experiences here!

I was sooo nervous to NIP when Jack was born. I'll never forget the first time I did it. Jack was 2 months old and I was sitting in an outdoor cafe with my MIL and some other female members of DH's family. And I was discreet and covered up with a receiving blanket and it was just so awesome when I actually did it and realized I could.
After that, I did it everywhere - planes, malls, amusement parks, zoos, restaurants, stores....LOL. I always covered up. And no one ever said anything negative to me in the 13 months I bf'd.

THANK you Kristi for posting this ... off to cast my vote now!

It is just wrong that sooooo many people think women shouldn't be allowed to feed their children in public, just b/c the are BF. Noone has a problem with bottle-feeding, so why BF? Our bottles are just attached to our chest! It is sooooo frustrating. I never got to actually BF, had to pump, but if I had been BF and someone would have said something to me, you can bet I would have had a few words for them too! Ok, off my soapbox now.

First, I must say I am no good at this "NIP, DH, DD, and so on thing" so thanks so much for writing it out. Yes, new to the blogger world, I do apologize . I think NIP is 100% acceptable! I agree with Ronalds Mom no one has a problem with bottle feeding so why have a problem with breast feeding? I have actually never done it because we do not breast feed a whole lot anymore but I can imagine it would be a wonderful experience and one I may have to embark on.

I agree - nothing wrong with it at all. I've BF'ed just about everywhere, always discreetly covered up.

I had someone once ask me why I didn't take my dd to the bathroom to feed her (instead of feeding her in a booth at a restaurant). Hmm ... how about you have your lunch sitting on a toilet in a smelly public restroom!! Seriously, people have no common sense.

As an aside, anyone looking for a discreet place while shopping, who doesn't feel comfortable NIP but who wants to avoid the nasty bathrooms, I've used fitting rooms in stores many times.

Side note:
Ashley, check out the list of acronyms in the general forum if you are ever stumped. It's in a sticky at the top for quick reference. You can also click at the bottom where it says "forum glossary."
I remember being lost at first too. Now it's kind of fun to type in shorthand. I have my favorites that I use a lot, but I still don't know a lot of them either
HTH (hope that helps!)

Kristi, I think I'm basically down with the forum lingo, but I'm not sure about the acronym NIP! That might be a little too much.
Reading this thread reminded me of an opinion piece published soon after the enactment of the law protecting a mother's right to BF in public. Here's a link.
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20060521/NEWS/605210432

I think that NIP is completely acceptable and I hate to see that so many ppl feel that it isn't appropriate.

On a revearse note.. I wasn't able to BF. DD spent 8 days in NICU and was fed with a bottle the entire time, after that she refused to latch on. I met with various lactation consultants and did everything i could but it just wasn't working, so I pumped for 4 months. Well one day We were in a book store and I sat down to give her a bottle (of breast milk) and a woman walked up to me and said "its to bad you aren't breastfeeding it would be so much better for her, i hate seeing that so many new mothers are just using formula because it is easier". As you can imagine i was furious, I couldn't even speak, i just got Olivia and walked off.

I guess what I am saying is that there are negative views on both sides. It's too bad we can't just support each other as mother's without passing on judgement.

I know exactly what you mean Livismom - none of mine latched on - even after meeting with consultants - so I pumped with all three. I just figured that as long as they were getting breastmilk it really didn't matter that it was from a bottle and not the boob.

I can't believe that someone actually walked up to you and said that though. She had no idea of your situation or what was going on. I'm afraid that I wouldn't have remained as calm as you did!

I have no problem with NIP as long as it is discreet.

I don't think there is anything wrong with NIP. People bottle feed in public, don't they? As long as it's done discreetly, I don't see the difference. Women show more skin everyday on billboards, magazine covers, beaches, etc than the average mother NIP ever would!

However, I don't NIP, because it makes me feel uncomfortable. I know that's something I need to get over... I do nurse in the car in parking lots pretty often, though. I guess that is technically NIP, since I am surrounded by windows, but for some reason it feels more private to me. But it's starting to get hot out and with the price of gas now, I hate to sit in the car with the engine and AC running.

LivisMom- I'm w/ GoodGolly...I don't think I would have been able to keep from saying something back to that rude woman either! I mostly pumped to feed my LO in the first few weeks till we got all the issues with his latch and tongue-tie worked out. If someone had made a comment like that to me I would have been very offended.

OMG--I almost voted "yes". I clicked the yes button and was about to click "vote" when I noticed that it said "improper"... not "proper".

I was not able to breastfeed for very long, so I never got the chance. But, I personally would feel very uncomfortable breastfeeding in public. Mainly because Aidan HATED having his head covered up when he nursed, so I wouldn't be able to cover and be discreet.

LivisMom and GG, my Lo wouldn't latch back on after having to go to the NICU either. I pumped for 5 1/2 months before I got a bad stomach virus and my milk dried up. I tried with the LC's and even waited a couple of weeks and tried again, with no luck. I felt kind of robbed. But I did the best I could and pumped and pumped.

The results of yesterday's poll....

51% said yes, it is improper to breastfeed in public

49% said no, it is not.

UGH.

I saw a man urinating on the side of the road on campus last week.....wonder if a poll on public peeing would yield more supportive results than public BFing. ?!?!