little support please

[FinalFurlong]

I have been exclusively bfing my 4 month old dd. However, my family are not around, my mother lives in egypt and only have DH's family around. MIL did not even give breastfeeding a go at all, and FIL has suggested i go and breastfeed in a separate room before now, and often asks 'how long i intend on doing it for'..
I would love to BF for atleast a year, and i know plenty of mothers on here have done that with no problems at all. But i cant help but feel a lttle disheartened by everyone thinking its just plain weird to even considering doing it beyond 6 months.
DH is supportive of my feeding which is something atleast.
however I am only 21 and i know no one else who has breastfed their child, shocking i know.
I am worried i will feel presured into stopping before i actually want to.

[bythepowerofgreyskull]

Hold you head up high and do what you feel is right for your family unit. ie you Dh and your baby.
They can and will have opinions about decisions you make all through the childs life, you can't stop them from having opinions, HOWEVER, that is what they are, opinions, you don't need to agree with them.
You are doing a brilliant job feeding your little one.
When they ask how long you are going to do it for, the answer is, I don't exactly know - I don't have a particular time in mind.

The pressures surrounding how to bring up a child are immense, it is great that you and your DH are standing together on this.

[kiskideesameanoldmother]

Find a new network of friends who will be more supportive - and more with it than your PILs.

Does your Surestart or hospital have a bf support group?
Google 'babycafe' also NCT and LLL.

They have quite a few groups countrywide.

You already have a lot of knowledge to pass on to new mums who are in their first few weeks of feeding. Just bfing with them will them will be a boost to them. This is all on top of finding somewhere else to be instead of PIL's who are just bringing you down.

[kiskideesameanoldmother]

ANd the main thing is, taking part in activities like this will make what your are doing and make you feel valued.

[kiskideesameanoldmother]

you are a star

here is a site for other young mums like yourself who are bfing.

[FinalFurlong]

God mumsnets amazing - suppost like this in mere minutes! thank you so much!
I believe there is a babycafe that meets on mondays, so i think i shall give that a go. I can be a tad shy you see..

[FinalFurlong]

*support even

[ismellofbabysick]

Hold your head high and carry on.

Don't feel presurised by PIL's, it's fantastic your DH supports you.
Is he aware how your PIL's have made you feel, can he have a word with them?
Is there a post-natal support group in your area?

The main thing is that YOU are happy doing what you are doing.

[Bucharest]

You know you're doing the right thing for you and by extension, for your child. Everyone else can go jump. Look after yourself and stick to your guns......Sending you lots of strongwill vibes and good wishes.xx

[justkeepswimming]

before you know it your PILs will be telling their friends how wonderful you are for 'still' feeding your LO, mine were the same to start with and i fed ds1 for a year (planning the same with ds2).
the main reason my mil wants me to stop is so she can 'have' the baby to look after - frustrated not enough kids woman methinks

keep going, you're doing brilliantly, and def try the cafe group, i have fab friends from my bf group.

[talilac]

Congrats on the great start so far!

baby Cafe good idea.

The NCT have local postnatal groups which organise tea round other mums houses - that can be good for support and a chat.

Ignore the ILs, our parents generation didnt have access to as much good info as we do. My MIL, who did BF says everyone thought she was mad for doing it. My mother was discouraged from BFing after a month or so by her Doc! So they can't help their bad advice really, having been on the receiving end of it themselves..