Breastfeeding and Peer Pressure

FatVonD

fannyanna wrote: »

I'm not a Mum but I think it's such a shame that women are presured either way. I think it's outrageous for Mum's not comfortable breastfeeding to be made to feel guilty or inadequate. I find it ironic that breastfeeding Mum's are also pressured.

You're absolutely right, of course, sometimes us women are really hard on each other.

pinkshoes

I HATED breastfeeding to begin with, and could only describe it as agony!! I remember expressing some milk, and it was PINK due to my nipple bleeding so much!

But, I battled on, and 6 months later, my "little" boy weighs a whopping 22lbs.

Sounds like your friends are jealous that they didn't continue BF for longer...

Just go with your gut instinct, and get your boobs out in public with pride! And 3 months is WAY too young for food. I thought DS would want to be weaned early, so tried him on baby rice at around 4.5 months, but he just wasn't interested, so I didn't push it. It's only a week shy of 6 months that he's suddenly decided that food is quite nice!

freebiequennie

well done you for breastfeeding and donating some milk what a lovely thing to be able to do.

Breast feed for as long as you want.

People kept asking me how long you going to do it for - answer however long I can/baby wants/needs

I exclusively breastfed til 6mths then introduced solids and have now cut down to 3 breast feeds a day he is now 8 and 1/2 mths and we cut down to 3 feeds at 8mths otherwise he was demand feed had 4 good feeds a day plus lots of little snack feeds!!

We go to a breastfeeding cafe - a group run by a childrens centre and its great just to meet with other breast feeding mums - you dont have to need support or advise anyone who is breastfeeding can go - most of us now have babies 4-11mths old and in fact everyone has waited til babies are 23-26wks to introduce solids which is lovely.

we go to some other baby groups and have heard people saying they are giving baby rice at 12wks!!! despite health advice being 26wks and no sooner than 17wks at all and only before 26wks with health professional advice.

Carry on doing what is making you and your family happy.

freebiequennie

pinkshoes wrote: »

I HATED breastfeeding to begin with, and could only describe it as agony!! I remember expressing some milk, and it was PINK due to my nipple bleeding so much!

But, I battled on, and 6 months later, my "little" boy weighs a whopping 22lbs.

Sounds like your friends are jealous that they didn't continue BF for longer...

Just go with your gut instinct, and get your boobs out in public with pride! And 3 months is WAY too young for food. I thought DS would want to be weaned early, so tried him on baby rice at around 4.5 months, but he just wasn't interested, so I didn't push it. It's only a week shy of 6 months that he's suddenly decided that food is quite nice!

ooohhh rememeber the bleeding nipples - why oh why does no-one tell you this bit!! - I was soooo bloody minded and determined to breastfeed that I got over this but that agony I remember it so well - then had problems at 4wks where he refused left breast and never really has feed from it properly since but has done well on one breast. I too had a period of hating breastfeeding when I couldnt get him to take a bottle and felt like I had to do it but got over that and its the best thing I have ever done and am still doing

georgie262

I'm currently 6 months pregnant and due in August with my first baby. I have seen my friends snipe at each on both sides. Friend A who is actually a breast feeding support worker is still breastfeeding her 18month old and has actually said to me that she feels mothers who aren't breastfeeding are just too selfish. Friend B has a 7 week old and is currently exclusively breastfeeding but has told me that she is considering giving her LO formula for her night feeds to see if it fills her up better but has begged me not to tell friend A. Friend C has 2 children and has never breastfed and constantly feels criticsed by Friend A but also criticises her in return and is always encouraging Friend B to formula feed. :rotfl:

What a crazy little circle of friends I have!! My mind changes dramatically from one day to the next regarding what I want to do when I have my baby. It almost feels like picking my favourite friend - I'm sure I'll be criticised whatever I do

keelykat

It is completely up to you, if you want to breast or bottle feed. I wouldn't let friends comments put you off, just tell them how uncomfortable it is making you feel and to back off (in a polite way of course).

I failed at breastfeeding and wish i'd had more support and help so i could have carried on, luckily no one had told me to stop it was my decision. So if i were you-carry on with what you are doing-it sounds like you're doing an amazing job

onlyroz

georgie262 wrote: »

What a crazy little circle of friends I have!! My mind changes dramatically from one day to the next regarding what I want to do when I have my baby. It almost feels like picking my favourite friend - I'm sure I'll be criticised whatever I do

They all sound nuts. If you're unsure about breastfeeding then my advice is to at least give it a go. For some people it's a breeze. For others it's tough for a few weeks and then gets better. For the rare few it just doesn't work at all. But if you don't at least try then you'll never know.

hudgebadger

At the end of the day it is up to you how you decide the feeding regime for your baby.

I find it annoying that some health visitors/friends/family will try to scare breast feeding mums into giving bottle/ baby rice to bulk the baby up as they look undernourished/underwieght.

You are the mum and you know the baby better than anyone!

Finally with regards solids we followed baby lead weaning and started off with the banana test.
If our little one could hold the banana, and show interest in it as a piece of food, and then start to eat the banana (not all of it haha), then he was ready to start his journey into real food

Hope this helps

pinkclouds

Using formula is way more tiring - all the washing, cleaning, mixing, etc. When you're breastfeeding you can almost do the night feeds in your sleep! "Until one, food is for fun." Introduce solids whenever you feel is the right time, plus or minus a few weeks around the 6 month mark. And tell your friends that the most helpful thing you can do for each other is to support and respect each other's abilities and decisions. If they disagree, then I think you can do without "friends" like that.

Honestly... how would they take it if you started lecturing them on how to make up their formula bottles and that they ought to switch to soy-based formula because veggie diets are healthier? They'd rightly tell you that they are the ones doing the bottles and they know best and that you shouldn't meddle with babies' diets without consulting the doctor first. (Soy-based formula is usually for babies with allergies.)

threemuttleys

I have a 7month old, and I am still breast feeding, I got a lot of "when are you going to stop" "formula is easier" blah blah...great response to that is "opinions are like !!!!!!!s, everyone has one"

IMHO I dont see how ff is easier that bf (purely because I am lazy) boobs dont need sterilising, measuring, cooled boiled water, dont get forgotten, nor do they go off if you dont put them in the fridge