Beastfeeding - how long for?

[Scarlet]

if they can verbally ask for it then its not for me


LOL very funny WG

[gilly]

dont know if any of you watch but all i can think of is Little Brittan when the man keeps asking for "bitty" HA HA

so when they can ask i would stop
Gxxx

[winegirl]

Oh yeah, that bit of little britain freaks me out! That and the one where the old dear wets herself in the shops!

[flobob]

Hello Sarah
Well done you for not being pressured into doing what your family say. You have done the right thing by doing what is right for you and your little one.

I read through your posts this morning and just wanted to say I was surprised that your HV told you to just give water in the day. I gave water in a bottle once on a very hot day and told the HV - I was going to a breastfeeding group they run locally - and she said that breastmilk will adapt depending on need ... so if the baby is after nourishment the milk will be good and thick and if the baby just wants a drink then it will be more watery. I don't think she meant it adapts during a feed, but just regulates itself during the day, so maybe the morning feed would be thicker than the daytime one.

I breastfed for a year (and a day!), but gradually dropped a feed during the day and replaced it with a cup from about 9 months. So for 3 months he was getting used to not having breastmilk. Ended up with just the bedtime feed and we both found that so comforting He got a feed and would feel sleepy and I got a cuddle

All the best
FloBob x

[stevensmummy]

Hi flobob,

Lifes been very hectic and rather stressful so I've not been about much. We're gettin on fine and I agree with what you said in the end there, stuart gets sleepy and I get a cuddle, my time with just him and me. I find it a time when I can relax and get that bonding time. My eldest is hard wok just now and emands alot of attention so I feel like evening feed is the time for me and stuart. He likes the comfort and to be honest I'm not sure I want to lose that part of it just yet.

My eldest landed in hosp and we were possibly having to stayall night. I was concerned about him and then suddenly I thought, What abot stuart! The thought of not getting to feed him myslef worried me, and that just proved to myself that its still what I want. I have to admit that made me feel alot better.

Now I keep thinking to myself, well we are both happy. He is still a little one and if anyone else has a problem with it thats thier problem. I never was one to hide away to feed and would happily discretly feed in public, and lately when people have looked at me I have just smiled and said hello. It tends to make people look a little silly and most turn thier head quickly. However, one old lady did come over and say well done. She was a lovely woman, she came and said, well done my dear, you are doing a wonderful job for your own and your babies health. I love to see a proud mother doing her best and not being afraid to show it. I have to admit it did make me smile and made me feel all the less concious!

Thanks guys, you always help wonders xxx

[Veritee]

I am glad you have come to a conclusion that suits you and your baby Sarah ..

As for me it is what suits you and your baby that matters, not anyone else.

I was one of those who breast fed for a long time - until Caja was nearly 3, for lots of reasons.

I will say I wanted to stop a long time before she did actually, but it was hard to achieve this, I had to wean her off in a bit of a strange way that i have described elsewhere!!!! and yes she did ask for 'titty' and in once in public!!!

I did not appreciate this, but once they can speak they are old enough to understand that their are places you do not ask for some things - well it worked for me!

But while that did not suit me - that she asked in public once she was old enough to speak - I was never worried by breast feeding in public by others comments.

I did however make it clear to her by the time she was about 15 months and no longer reliant on the breast for substinance and could drink out of a cup and other drinks - that breast was only for home and she did not get it when we were out.

But in the early days I breast fed anywhere it was necessary - I did get adverse reactions, was chucked out of both a pub and a cafe and yet I never did it indiscreetly.

I wore baggie tops that she could feed under in a way that unless you have a 'thing' about it and was looking for it, you would never have noticed and I did not do in public beyond when she was quite a young baby, about 11/12 months - and she was very small, only as big as a 7 month old baby at 11 months so she did not look as old as this , she did not walk until she was over 12 months!! - and her very small size was one of the reasons I breast fed for so long anyway...........

After this I would just give her a cup of cows milk or something else after that which she learned that was what she got while out....

So when I was 'ejected' for breast feeding this was with a very young breast fed baby, younger than 6 months. And I did not take this lying down as it was they that were wrong

Once I was told to do it in the toilet if I had to do it and replied ' would you like to eat your dinner in a public toilet' and 'would you want to wait until you get home in three hours to have something to eat?' etc . Had a bit of an argument and they left me alone that time .

But this was all nearly 19 years ago as Caja is now nearly 19 - I hope it has changed.

But I too did have some very positive comments too, as you did from the older lady.

And I could very well have been that lady

As now when I see women breast feeding in public I try to give them words of encouragement as long as it would be appropriate and not draw attention to it or embarrass them.

As if they are breast feeding in public they have already made their decision that to breast feed is 'right' for them - and neither a bottle or breast fed baby will take kindly to having to wait for their food until not in a public place, not is it right to feed in toilets etc - so I like to show women who breast feed when out thats its OK!

Just in case they have had any adverse reactions as I did

So just go with your heart
I think you will know when it is right for you both to stop

Love Veritee XX

[stevensmummy]

Thankyou very much Veritee. You guys are all so amazing, I dont know what I'd do without your support and advice.

Re, your words of support to ladies feeding. I think thats so lovely of you. I know I was really touched by that old lady that came up to me. I'm sure everyone else who you have commended will feel exactly the same.

I feel so much easier about this now. It is my decision, and I want to carry on, and my baby wants me to carry on. I'm going to stop when we are ready. If other people have a problem with that, thats their problem, not mine! xxx

[winegirl]

Hi Sarah

You still going on with it now hun? How is it going?

Glad you stuck to your guns mate - well done you!!!

Love

WG x

[flobob]

Hello Sarah
Sorry to hear your eldest was in hospital. Is he alright now?

But it sounds like that evening when you had to be apart from Stuart brought it home to you that breastfeeding is what you wanted to do, so that's good.

Well done again.
FloBob