to think nearly all the mums I see are bottle feeding?

[newmumma2015]

Not judging those who can't breastfeed but when taking my new born out the past 3 months I've only seen one other mum breastfeeding. Are you all hiding?

FFS WHO THE FUCK CARES OR EVEN NOTICES HOW OTHERS FEED THEIR CHILDREN AND WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE A THREAD ABOUT IT EVERY OTHER FUCKING DAY?!?!

FEED YOUR CHILD. THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS.

And breathe...

Threads like this make me realise how self absorbed I am.

FFS! It is blindingly obvious to anyone with an ounce of sense who's actually read the OP's post that she is concerned about being the only one out there bfing and possibly being judged for it. I know that being around other mothers who fed in the same way as I did was a help to me, some people can be very unconfident if doing something differently from everyone else.

OP maybe ask your HV if there are any bf cafes around your way?

I fed expressed milk sometimes in public when I wasn't confident enough to bf.

I have been snarked at for FF and told I was weird to still be BF my 2 year old.
Clearly you are wrong whatever you do.
Just feed your fucking baby and stop with all the fucking analysis
So long as your child is growing and thriving do what the fuck you want

I'm in Scotland too, and I would say most people I saw out and about breastfed in my nearest small town. Maybe try and find a breastfeeding peer support group type thing, I found that really helped me in the first few weeks to get confident at feeding in front of other people, once I got the hang of it I really didn't give a shit though and fed my boys pretty much everywhere

I've breastfed four children.

nobody has ever seen me do so in public. lots of mums don't actually want to breastfeed in full view of assembled randomers.

op - there will be other breastfeeding mums but as someone upthread said, a baby being breastfed isn't necessarily obvious at a glance.

Also many shopping centres have feeding rooms these days. When I briefly breastfed I would opt to use one of those rather, imagine there will be a fair few who do the same.

andcake - don't be a dickhead.

lady i felt exactly the same with all 3 of my DC - tried to BF DC1 and failed so drastically we ended up back in hospital as he was severely dehydrated, then panicked with DC2 when I couldn't settle him on the first night so he went straight on formula and the tried again with DC3 and was more successful but only for about 3 months - just wasn't to be for me and simply couldn't express a drop either despite double pimping and taking loads of horrible supplements. So every time I was out and gave the DCs a bottle I felt horribly guilty and as though everyone was judging me just like the OP. I also got lots of comments on the school run from other mums who were quite shocked I wasn't ebf DC3. It was awful and made me feel like shit. Only I knew how hard I had tried. Wish people would just mind their own business.

Hahaha double pimping! Will press preview button next time.

Massive overreactions on this thread to a very innocuous OP

It's a valid question, to which I think the answer is just that it varies greatly by area. If you bf in an area where bf rates are low, yes, you can feel like a bit of a lone freak. I rarely saw anyone else bf-ing. I mostly don't care what anyone thinks of me, but even so, there were (not many, but some) times when I took myself off to feed in a public toilet because I didn't feel comfortable doing it openly.

Visibility of breastfeeding matters to some of us; it is important to me, wildly unpopular though that position might be on MN.

Are you the smug lady

Agree that breastfeeding support groups or breastfeeding baby cafe's are a good place to try breastfeeding in front of other people initially, until you're feeling a bit more comfortable with it.

"Massive overreactions on this thread to a very innocuous OP"

^^this

It never fails to amuse and sadden me how angry many mumsnetters are about any discussion of infant feeding which doesn't conform to the template: "do what you like, it doesn't matter"

OP - At most it's about 50% of babies over 6 weeks who are still breastfed, but in some parts of the UK only 1 in 4 babies between the age of 6 - 8 weeks is still breastfed.

Most of those over 6 weeks who are breastfed are mixed fed.

"It baffles me why what a baby is drinking is even on anyone other than it's parents' radar"

Because a lack of breastfeeding at a population level is a public health issue, especially in a country where there is socialised medicine.

"Visibility of breastfeeding matters to some of us; it is important to me, wildly unpopular though that position might be on MN."

You're not alone.

"Just feed your fucking baby and stop with all the fucking analysis
So long as your child is growing and thriving do what the fuck you want"

So the fact that we have some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe and the most defensive mothers isn't an issue that is fit for public discussion?

lots of breastfed babies where I am

my dd is not one of them, but that's cool. From what I've seen, breastfeeding can be quite a lonely experience, which is sad. Quite a few of my friends have said they feel awkward and alone. I'm sorry if you feel like that too OP

Nicole why is it an issue? Can you pick out who was breastfed and who wasn't? Until then I suggest we let women make their own decisions

Pontygirl, why would they be alone? Do non-breastfeeding mums shun those that are?

I can't believe people openly judge others for choosing not to breast feed.

What does it have to do with you? What made you the perfect parent?

I am BFing my eleven week old. I notice both breast and bottle feeding when I'm out and about, mainly because it prompts me to get going home as I've just remembered she's likely to start screaming for milk soon. I'm happy to feed in public but am
Mortified at my squirty boobs and the jets of milk that spray far and wide. I'd rather do it on the sofa. Watching Chicago Fire. That's not always possible though!

Can you pick out who was breastfed and who wasn't?

"Can you pick out who was breastfed and who wasn't?" No. Nor can I pick out those children whose mothers smoked all the way through their pregnancy, nor those children eating 5 times the recommended daily amount of sugar as most children doing this aren't fat or have rotten teeth.

To be honest, I find it odd that you'd even try to use such an unsophisticated argument to try to make a case that breastfeeding doesn't matter.

The bottom line is that the major health organisations see a lack of breastfeeding in both developed and developing countries as a public health issue linked to higher morbidity and mortality of babies and women, and hence put resources into both studying infant feeding and promoting breastfeeding.

And if it's considered a reasonable issue for the NHS and the WHO to put resources into I don't see why it's so outrageous that people outside these organisations should take an interest in the subject and want to discuss it.

"Until then I suggest we let women make their own decisions"

I think you'll find that we do. As it stands, no one has suggested that mothers forced to breastfeed. :-)

I am probably being unreasonable for being very provoked by this post. Sounds very judgemental to me.