Question for those of you who NIP without a cover.

Tmgs2013 · March 2014

So DS just hit 4 months and we still aren't perfect with breastfeeding (he didn't actually start nursing until 11 weeks) but we are starting to venture out more. I always have hubby with me when we go out (we only have 1 car right now and I have horrible anxiety about going out alone) well last time I had to NIP DS was so hot and sweaty and I'm not to sure I am comfortable not using a cover. I know I need to get over that, but how do you guys do it without showing to much skin? I try to layer with a button down and nursing tank, or wear a tank that I can just pull down. I have looked at us in the mirror and I guess you can't see much, but I'm still nervous. Using a cover just makes him way too hot and I feel badly for him. Suggestions on NIP without exposing much skin? And also when he pops off how to discreetly put everything back in place? Sorry total FTM questions!

Laurakat81 · March 2014

I totally understand where you're coming from! I do NIP a lot and still occasionally find myself really uncomfortable or nervous. I always wear a nursing tank under my regular shirt. Then I pull up my shirt on the side I'm going to nurse from, open the nursing tank, get her to latch, then pull my shirt down to cover any exposed boob (I'm a H cup so I definitely know about feeling exposed!) but without it covering her. Keep practicing in a mirror, from a few different angles. I also find if I just do it and don't look around to see who may or not be watching me I never get nervous. People look because they see a cute baby so it feels like I've always got eyes on me but I can't let that stop me from feeding her so I just don't look around first. Every now and again, I ask to DH to stand in front of me briefly or hold up a blanket just long enough to get situated, but that's usually just when I'm wearing something a little unusual (can't even think of any examples offhand though). Our biggest thing now (7 mo) is that she is easily distracted and comes flying off to look and I'm left with my nipple pointing out! I just have learned to be prepared for it and hold her really tight and close. She can come unlatched but unless someone was standing over us they still wouldn't see a thing. Once she is unlatched I just reach under her and pull the nursing tank flap back up, pull my shirt down, get her situated and then snap my nursing tank after. The more you do it the more confident you'll be and you'll figure out what's easiest for you! But a good nursing tank is key IMO!

ncbelle · March 2014

Just takes practice! I typically wear a nursing tank or a nursing bra with a regular tank and a regular shirt over that. Pull up the regular shirt, unhook, tank and pop baby on. Honestly I show less skin than many women show in a v-neck shirt

I mean sure if you are totally staring at me you might catch a nipple as baby latches, but baby's head is going to block that from all but the most obnoxious staring person. And at that point, it's their problem for rudely staring and not mine!

If you practice at home in front of a mirror you'll see that it's really less obvious what you are doing than using a cover

PineApple85 · March 2014

Same as PPs: I wear a nursing tank under a loose-ish shirt and pull the over-shirt up. DS is a distracted nurser so he's constantly on and off so I keep my hand on my shirt right next to his face for quick cover-ups when he pulls off to look at whatever caught his attention. I also never look around to see who's looking and it's kind of a "ignorance is bliss" existence.

I found that the more I did it, them more comfortable I got with it. And I started at "friendly" places - LLL meetings, then homes of friends or family, then worked my way up from there to sparsely populated restaurants or shops with a chair in the corner and so on.

Tmgs2013 · March 2014

Thanks ladies! Practice makes perfect right!?!

Wyn · March 2014

I never pulled anything down...when I layed my tanks under button down shirts, I pulled up my tanks with babe laying across my belly and then she latched on. The botton down covered the sides and the extra fabric from the tank covered the boob.

linzeek44 · March 2014

I prefer a nursing tank and a cardigan. I sort of drape the cardigan over the top part of my chest and slip my breast out of the nursing tank. If I'm in a new place and feel a little nervous about it, I just talk to my baby/toddler. Keeps us both pleasantly distracted.

If he is a little bit jittery and I think he might pop off, I place one hand under my breast on the nursing tank flap and just flip it up. I don't necessarily focus on re-snapping it; I just focus on pulling it up to cover my breast quickly.

TheDairyQueenx3 · March 2014

I love my cupcake cover tops for NIP. I wear it with a deep V neck and then I can pull the cover top up and pull the v neck to the side and I'm pretty much unexposed. I have used them with all of my children and love them. My twins like to pop on and off a lot and these are easy to move down quickly if needed.

skidderdo · March 2014

Agree with PP... I was sooooo nervous to nurse without my cover, but seriously that thing sucks in the heat. I have had awesome success with a nursing tank and an over shirt... so the tank folds down, quickly latch, and then let the over short cover most of your upper boob (baby's head is covering the rest. Sometimes I keep a burp cloth in my free hand for unexpected unlatching... so I can quickly cover my boob. Like PP said it just takes practice to feel more comfortable

chemily8 · March 2014

Have a light receiving blanket draped over your shoulder for quick access when latching on and for if baby pops off exposing you. That way you can loosely cover up while you get adjusted. That's what I do.

acbfreire · March 2014

chemily8 said:

Have a light receiving blanket draped over your shoulder for quick access when latching on and for if baby pops off exposing you. That way you can loosely cover up while you get adjusted. That's what I do.

I did that when DD was younger. I honestly think that the cover makes it more obvious that you are nursing. I also had a top from Motherhood that slipped to the side while the top of the tank didn't move, so it was impossible to see anything.
It gets easier the more you do it!

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