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AIBU?

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My mum would talk about wanting to breastfeed my baby

68 replies

medoww · 24/08/2024 19:38

Just want to know if I'm overreacting or not?! When I was breastfeeding my son (breastfed until 16 months he's now 3) my mum used to make comments about breastfeeding him!
She would say things like "Oh I know your hungry nanny would give you her milk if I could" and when he would do the looking for milk thing at the breast area that all babies do (he even would do this to my husband) if my mum was holding him she would say "Oh look he wants milk from me" not just that he's hungry. I can't even explain the rage I would feel inside from this. She never even breasted herself with me or my siblings so I find it even more odd. I'm due my 2nd baby soon so it brought these memories back and I'm dreading these comments again. AIBU to feel this way?

OP posts:
sesquipedalian · 24/08/2024 20:16

OP, I think you need to take your mother’s remarks as “banter” - all she’s really saying is that she loves her DGS and would feed him if she could. I know it can be a sensitive subject - my DGS (4 months) was rooting, and I said no good looking at Grandma: nothing here, and my daughter said, “That’s just so wrong on so many levels” so I have taken care never to say anything like that again - but I didn’t mean anything by it! I think for some mothers, though, it can be a sensitive subject, so maybe next time, just tell your DM that you find it inappropriate.

Izzymoon · 24/08/2024 20:15

Are you sure the doesn’t just mean it in the literal sense? Like “I would give you milk if I could” as in, if you took a bottle I would feed you but you need to give mummy a minute to finish what she’s doing and then she can feed you?
From those 2 comments alone I think it’s very weird to be angry for 3 years about some notion that she was desperate to breastfeed her grandchild.

HamHook · 24/08/2024 20:13

The best response is the simplest.

Look her straight in the face and say 'what an utterly odd thing to say'. Pause for a moment with a look that says 'have you gone mad'.

Take your baby and walk out.

HeySummerWhereAreYou · 24/08/2024 20:13

That is majorly weird sorry @medoww I'd be giving her a very wide berth/cutting down visits. Who the F says this?! Confused

Pommes · 24/08/2024 20:10

I breastfed all of my children, my mum would say things like this all the time. The joke somehow even jokier because she'd had a double mastectomy.

In the kindest way, I think you're being too sensitive, but I was too when I was pregnant (and still am now, half a decade later). All the best with the rest of your pregnancy.

TheKeatingFive · 24/08/2024 20:09

SadieDadie · 24/08/2024 20:03

Having rage about it sounds OTT.

Post partum hormones are mental, in fairness.

OP, if she genuinely meant it, I'd think she was being massively inappropriate, but from what you've said, they're just silly comments. I would try not to get annoyed (though it's a tough time, I get that).

olivecapes · 24/08/2024 20:06

Surprised by the comments here. You're taking her very literally, unless you're about to drip feed that she unstrapped her bra and tried latching him on it just sounds like light hearted comments to me. You're reading way too much into it but assume something else is going on.

GivingitToGod · 24/08/2024 20:04

PolePrince55 · 24/08/2024 19:59

YANBU
Tho I don't think it is intentional , more that she wishes she did or could again.

Agree with this but you need to tell your mum that you'd prefer her not to make these comments

SadieDadie · 24/08/2024 20:03

Having rage about it sounds OTT.

SadieDadie · 24/08/2024 20:02

It's jokey comments she doesn't mean it clearly.

MagAmberson · 24/08/2024 20:02

My mother would make similar comments but I always took it as a light hearted observation not some sort of competitive thing? If she was holding the baby I would see them root and it was sign that they were hungry. What's your relationship like? I honestly think it's weird this would give you 'rage' unless there's a backstory

PolePrince55 · 24/08/2024 19:59

YANBU
Tho I don't think it is intentional , more that she wishes she did or could again.

Irridescantshimmmer · 24/08/2024 19:59

Yeah it's repulsive and the only milk your baby needs is yours.

The thing is, if you tell her to stop being nauseous and to stop the cringe, she may get the message or cause issues such as behaving like she's spoilt at being pulled up.

So, if I was you, I would just wait and see what she does and if you see her making an 'attempt' to breast feed your baby, then go hell for leather at her as if she did this, it woukd be 100 red flags and would be massively over stepping the mark.

Of course, it's up to what you choose to do.

RaspberryWhirls · 24/08/2024 19:59

I'd ask her if she was a pervert with a breastfeeding fetish & then watch her reaction.

IgoogledYOLO · 24/08/2024 19:56

I'm going to go against the grain, it sounds like a stupid comment, I wouldn't read that far into it.

It does sound like she's over stating her position though... As if the baby has chosen her. She needs to get a grip, it's just how baby shows they are hungry. I'd shut that down with a "oh, baby did that to the lad in Tesco yesterday who held her while I found my purse" or some such ridiculous person.

You know her best and her intentions.

Yellowbananasarebetterthangreen · 24/08/2024 19:52

YANBU
I think I would say to her "Actually mum I know you think you are being kind/cute etc but when you say things like that I think its highly inappropriate and it makes me feel deeply uncomfortable. Please could you stop, thanks!" and then move by saying something like "How about a cup of tea/biscuit?" Be firm but fair.

TransformerZ · 24/08/2024 19:52

She's a weirdo.

AnneLovesGilbert · 24/08/2024 19:49

You feel angry because they’re aren’t many things more intimate than breastfeeding your baby and it sounds like you felt she wanted to intrude on the relationship you had with him through it and take something from you. I wonder if she’s got some long-standing regrets about not breastfeeding her own children? Has she ever said so?

When mine have gone rooting around my mum when hungry or just being fans of boobs she’s said “nothing here for you, let’s pass you to mummy”. I know she loved feeding all of us and is glad it’s gone well for me and I feel respected by her generally and so her approach is consistent with that.

My stepmum on the other hand never passed up an opportunity to tell me I was feeding too often, for too long, gripe, bitch, moan and criticise, it’s been fucking exhausting. I’m sure she’s met a bf baby before but you wouldn’t know it.