NIP

I thought I was pretty good at all the acronyms on message boards.  I knew what "I POAS 8dp3dt, BFN" meant without a second thought. (Literal translation: I peed on a stick eight days post a day 3 transfer, big fat nothing.  Actual translation: F@*#)  But now I have to learn new lingo.  CIO, DC, EI, PIS, SBS.  Most of them I figured out.  Crying it out, dear child, early intervention, pump in style, side by side.  Who knew CD was not just cycle day but also cloth diaper?  The one I couldn't figure out was NIP.  Apparently that's Nursing In Public.

I didn't realize this was a controversial subject.  I never gave it a second thought, either before pregnancy or now.  Baby's hungry, feed it.  I'll feed them anywhere, any time.  I do have a Hooter Hider, but I typically only wear it around my father who gets weirded out by the whole thing.  Or when I'm wearing a shirt that won't adequately conceal my belly.  I don't care about the breast, I don't want to show my twin skin. 

Then a magazine had a cover that showed a baby nursing, and, gasp, a breast.  And some people were outraged and disgusted.  I read some letters to the editor about it and people were really truly offended.  Some likened it to pornography (which is just absolutely ridiculous in my opinion).  I just don't get it. 

The other day we were in a store (buying a refrigerator, I had my mad bargaining skillz [and I do think they are good enough to be skillz with a z] and we got one for about $1000 less than the original retail price) and William was hungry.  We were back by the bathrooms, but I am not feeding them in a bathroom.  That seems pretty gross to me.  Plus where would I sit?  On the toilet?  I don't eat on the toilet and I'm certainly not going to make him do it.  They had some chairs in the hallway so I sat there and nursed him.  It was the first time we had been out in public and nursing in front of Dave.  I think he was more nervous than I was.  He kept making sure I was properly covered.  Not that I was baring it all for the world to see.  But it got me thinking.  What does the Internet at large think about it?

Create Free Polls

Comments

[Bunny]

I know that there is all kinds of controversy, like you have said. I was very nervous when I was a first time mother, making sure I was well covered and not disturbing anyone. But I don't think I have ever offended anyone and certainly no one has ever said anything to me. Is it just me or is the whole controversy a lot of hype? Trying to get people worked up over nothing?

[Claude Call]

"NIP" never bugged me; it is what it is. The acronym is an interesting coincidence, though.

Incidentally, when I saw the post's headline at Blogtimore my mind went to eBay and I wondered what you'd bought "New In Package".

I saw the BabyTalk magazine cover and thought it was a cool photo. Especially the look in the kid's eyes, looking up at Mom's face. The photographer captured trust and bonding and a little bit of "thanks for the meal." Fantastic picture!

[Mermaidgrrrl]

I'm sorry to say that I'm probably going to be one of those people making everyone else uncomfortable by whipping out a giant boob every now and then!

[thalia]

I think this is yet another proof that you americans are just weird. The level of discomfort with bodies is extraordinary - the idea that breastfeeding is somehow sexual just boggles my mind. Similar to the issue on circumcision, I have to say.

So I'm glad you're doing what works for you and the babes. Long may that continue.

[Lori]

I'm not really sure how I feel about it. It doesn't bother me to see others do it but I'm not sure how I'll manage it myself. I can kind of understand the discomfort of others - just because the breast is a food source for your children, it's still a body part that is regularly covered in our society to the rest of the people.

[Emmie (Better Make It A Double)]

NIP - no problem. Did it all the time, in church, outside, inside, everywhere. Tandem feeding in public on the giant flotation device/twin nursing pillow? No thanks. But even that, we did in front of f&f. We live in a small house with one couch, and the folks coming over just kind of had to deal. I like to think we broke everyone in for my now-pregnant SIL. Can't think of any more acronyms...

[sunShine]

In the year that I breastfed my son I usually found a restroom or dressing room or I took him out to the car to breastfeed him. To each his own, I was just not comfortable with other people looking at me breastfeed my child. Also my son did not want his head covered while he ate, so it was hard to conceal.

[Jenni]

Along the lines of NIP and the idea that one should go to a bathroom to do it - I agree - GROSS! I travel everywhere with my pump and the few times I've had to ask for a place to do that, I am inevitably sent to a bathroom. I have an all day spa thing with the girls next weekend and need to call today to make sure they can either give me a decent space with a plug, or leave room in between appointments for me to go to the car and do it.

[Christie]

I don't think there is anything wrong with breastfeeding in public. I do think that you need to make sure you breast are not in public view. Blanket, shirt etc. Too me it is showing other men your breast no matter how we look at it. We look at it as feeding our children. A lot of men look as it as a sneek peek of a womens boob. I wouldn't like my husband starring at a womens breast no matter if they are breastfeeding or just barely covering them with a piece of clothing(the slut type of women(non breastfeeding)). I was never able to breastfeed my kids but if I was then I would have covered just out of respect.

[Christie]

But I do think that there needs to be a place everywhere for a woment to breastfeed their child and not the bathroom.
Especially work places so you can pump.