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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Where are the 99%?!

148 replies

Popplemama · 09/10/2015 01:20

Just a (fairly) light hearted query but, after six months of EBF I was quite proud of myself for making the 1%.

However according to MN I seem to now be the odd one out for making it this far and for now thinking that enough might be enough?! To make it worse my lovely DD has had bottles, has now had formula (it was our wedding anniversary and I fancied a night off!) and I'm even fantasising about being able to stop (and wear normal bras and drink white wine...)

AIBU in thinking that MN is where the 1% congregate or are the BF surveys a bit skewed?!

OP posts:

Sazbird · 09/10/2015 02:03

I congratulate you on before for so long. I have 4dc and only manage 2 weeks with the first 3 and 5 weeks with the only girl. Your dedication inspires me to encourage and support my dil to ebf my first gs in December despite my desire to give a feed xx

CultureSucksDownWords · 09/10/2015 02:04

I don't really understand what you're asking, sorry! But, I bfed past 6 months, to around 16 months when DS self weaned. I thought that was fairly common on MN, no?

Although, I wouldn't actually count in the 1% as DS was given some formula in the first few weeks out of necessity until bfeeding could be properly established. Despite me feeding exclusively from then till 16 months!

Sazbird · 09/10/2015 02:04

*breastfeeding not before, lol

Senpai · 09/10/2015 02:16

This 99%-er barely lasted 3 days before saying "Fuck that noise" and going to formula.

There's some BF threads where quite a bit of MNers gather they might be able to give you advice and encouragement if you want to keep going at it.

I can only offer encouragement and congrats for making it 6 months. :)

manicinsomniac · 09/10/2015 02:43

I never even tried.

Well done.

LovelyFriend · 09/10/2015 02:43

I guess I'm part of the 1% as I EBF x 2. I never knew that was the figure or that there was a club

I found keeping going worked really well for me. Especially once I returned to work and babies were weaned. I loved the morning and evening feeds (your milk seems to settle into the new routine fairly quickly) and it really helped me as a FT working parent. it seemed to be by far the easiest option.

Also one of mine slept through practically from birth, but one didn't so BF really helped with those night feeds.

FoxesSitOnBoxes · 09/10/2015 02:54

I was wondering this too. Not particularly scientific but I know a good handful of people who BF for 6 months out of probably 20 babies. Way more that 1 in 100 and it does seem more common than that in mumsnet land too. Is it a socioeconomic thing? Or I was wondering if there's an error in the data collection? looking in their red books and breastfeeding data hasn't been recorded for either of mine at 6 months; isn't this where they get their data from?

Topseyt · 09/10/2015 02:58

I am a 99%er and proud of it.

I didn't want to breastfeed and regret that I was ever even persuaded to try. It was not for me, and completely ruined my first few days with my DD1.

Who really cares anyway.

blibblobblub · 09/10/2015 03:36

I think there are pockets of the country where breastfeeding is not the norm at all. I think it really does depend on where you live and what those around you are doing.

Like for me, I'm bfing and have sought out a little network, so I know more mums who bf than not. But then when I go to baby groups outside this network I'm definitely in the minority. Round here bfing is not the norm, and of those that do I don't think many get to 6mo.

EnglishExpatUSA · 09/10/2015 04:00

I am a 1%er too and proud of it. Well done you!

Childhood cancer rates are lowered by EBF for at least six months. So that made it the easiest decision in the world for me. Absolute no-brainer.

mathanxiety · 09/10/2015 04:14

I am another 1%er (who is surprised it is only 1%). I did extended BFing, without ever planning to. It's not something I shared with many people at the time though. I got the impression people were startled by the idea.

If you don't want to continue and if you are happy to stop -- don't feel you have to keep going for any reason.

Otoh, if you want to keep going and your DD is keen, keep at it.

Senpai · 09/10/2015 04:17

think there are pockets of the country where breastfeeding is not the norm at all. I think it really does depend on where you live and what those around you are doing.

I live in a particularly "crunchy" part of the country so I see lots of BF moms especially at children-centric places like the zoo or kid's museums. A good chunk undo all the extra health benefits by not vaccinating their children

But if I lived in a Bible Belt state, you'd be shunned for even thinking of exposing your sinful nipples.

TheNewStatesman · 09/10/2015 04:44

The definition of EBF is really strict. There are a lot of people who actually come very close but don't count because they gave formula once or twice in hospital, supplement occasionally, or introduced a bit of food earlier than six months.

I started solids at 4.5 months so I don't count.

Sighing · 09/10/2015 05:48

I did exclusively breast feed two children for a year each. It's only on MN I've come in for a minibashing because what I did was not the guidelines (1 year, stopping by themselves over the 2 years). I had no idea there's a 1% club. Based on MN on this subject, I wont be 'joining'

Sighing · 09/10/2015 05:49

It is (to me) not relevant. Baby fed? Check, move on.

StealthPolarBear · 09/10/2015 05:54

I suspect the 1% figure came from the infant feeding survey.

SquareStarfish · 09/10/2015 05:59

I'd be very surprised if all those claiming to be in the 1% club didn't give their DC a taste of any food before 6 months. I started mine on baby porridge at 5 months so I'm out.

Only know one other mum who breastfed/feeds at all. I get looked at like an alien if people find out DD is almost 2 and still feeds.

Stillwishihadabs · 09/10/2015 06:11

99er here. D's had solids and formula from 4.5 months, but wouldn't take a bottle soon dd was mix fed from 10 days as I was returning to work when she was 5 months and I needed her to take a bottle. Well done for managing it.

Stillwishihadabs · 09/10/2015 06:12

Sorry that should read sooo dd was mix fed

PunkrockerGirl · 09/10/2015 06:20

What Topseyt said.
Another proud 99%er here. Just very angry that I let myself be persuaded to persist with bf for the first couple of days which led to a very unhappy baby and a spiral into pnd for me.
Stuck to my guns with ds2 and ff from the start. The two experiences were poles apart, sadly.

lotrben17 · 09/10/2015 06:24

I ebf dd2 for 7 mos and while dd1 was longer (10)as she wouldn't be persuaded to stop, I'm pleased I did it, wasn't easy. In both cases ft return to work meant baby lost interest, I had to travel w dd2. No proper evidence extended ebf does any long term good (of course not harmful either). I hear you I wanted small boobs and to be able to relax with a glass of wine, you've had enough at some point!

lotrben17 · 09/10/2015 06:25

Oh I see no I didn't e bf for that time, they both had food from 5.5 mos! Guess I'm out then!

SoupDragon · 09/10/2015 06:33

When my first two were babies, the recommendations were to introduce solids at 16 weeks.

Exactly what does this 1% refer to?

SevenSeconds · 09/10/2015 06:45

Mine didn't have formula before 6 months, but they did have solids at around 5 months. Does that mean I'm part of the 99%? Darn it!

Sparrowlegs248 · 09/10/2015 06:49

I assumed bf was common place at leastvin the first few months. Since having DS 11wks wks ago I have been surprised at through amount of people who assume that I ff. Even at the bf group, i am the only one who has ebf so far.

So I can't say I'm surprised at the 1% figure I expect i will have given some food before 6months so probably won't be in the 'club'

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