To think my baby is absolutely not too old to be breastfeeding

[NoCapes]

I know what you're thinking, this is going to be about somebody breastfeeding a toddler or pre-schooler and there will be a bit of a debate ...
Well, my baby is 12 fucking weeks old!

Having tea and a scone in M&S cafe this afternoon when an older lady walking past, not realising he was feeding, stopped to coo at him and when she realised he was fucking about and absolutely not feeding feeding she looked disgusted, tutted and walked away saying to her husband (presumably) that "that baby was far too old to be doing that I mean, really!" Causing a few people around to look over and see what I was doing to my baby

I was shocked and alone at the time (mum was in the queue) and I didn't say anything, just sunk into my chair a little bit
Telling DP when I got in and I'm actually ashamed to say that I had a little cry, and now I'm annoyed that I was upset about it
Stupid woman

AIBU to think - what the fuckity fuck, he is absolutely no where near 'too old' and to be really fucking annoyed with myself that I didn't say anything and that I let her upset me?

On mothers Fish, it was that aspect which saw me switch to formula. It's a choice I am comfortable with but it would be nice to see that side acknowledged in future, alongside the physical side of breastfeeding.

Flat
Have only just got back to the thread.

I am aware that many women would not have chosen to persevere with BF with the issues I had and I would fully support anyone choosing to FF or mix feed (and have done so on many occasions both in my personal life and professionally as a trained nanny). Although I do not agree, following much research since, that it was essential for DD to be given formula top ups by bottle in neo natal I am very grateful for the care she received and that we live in a society where there is a healthy alternative to BF when it is wished or required.

However our feeding issues were not caused by any major problems with BF, she had a good latch but was a bit sleepy and I just needed to get my supply in line with her after forced 3 hourly feeds in hospital. Our issues were made worse by poor, narrowly focused, advice that did not take into account our specific situation. It is this that concerns me regarding our country's low BF rate. Not women like yourself who choose to FF.

I am very happy with my decision to persevere. Once I stopped feeling I had to do it the way HCP said at around 9 weeks things improved dramatically and DD and I both enjoy our times feeding. I found FF a huge hassle and hated all the extra paraphernalia it required. I am lucky that DD was able to come to work with me when I returned (she was 4-months-old) and BF was much less intrusive to my work. Whatever I was doing with the children I look after I was able to quickly latch her on and continue.

Personally I believe if I had not continued BF that I would regret my decision and be thinking about it years later. My DM has said she wishes she had better support to continue (70s/80s regimented feeding in hospital after a CS and being embarrassed to feed in public). I do not think DD will be superior in any way to her FF/mix fed peers, but I would feel I had missed out on an experience I always looked forward to having and that I instinctively knew we could get back on track after our rocky start.

I don't find all of the pro BF arguments relevant to this discussion. Women have the right to feed their babies where and when they want and for as long as they want, with no shame and no requirement to be 'discreet'. I don't think women need to make excuses or justify their decision by citing health or economic benefits. Women should be trusted to do what they consider to be the best thing for their babies, whether or not it saves the NHS £.

So what if it's comforting as a mother to breastfeed our child past some arbitrary age, I loved breastfeeding, it's the one time in my life I didn't need mental health medication because of all the lovely hormones it produced.

So maybe I continued longer than was entirely necessary, because it wasn't detrimental to the baby and it was great for me. Babies and toddlers need milk, whether they get it from mum or from formula or from a bleeding cow once they are old enough, none of that should be considered wrong, and no one should have any right to comment on your choice.

Breastfeeding in public is protected by law, so no matter what anyone thinks, feel free to do so until whatever point you wish to stop. Be discreet if you like, but don't feel you have to be. Everyone else will just have to deal with it and fuck off.

In the second year, 448 mL of breastmilk provides: 29% of energy requirements, 43% of protein requirements, 36% of calcium requirements, 75% of vitamin A requirements, 76% of folate requirements, 94% of vitamin BB12 requirements & 60% of vitamin C requirements (Dewey 2001).

Nursing toddlers between the ages of 16 and 30 months have been found to have fewer illnesses and illnesses of shorter duration than their non-nursing peers (Gulick 1986).
"Antibodies are abundant in human milk throughout lactation"
(Hamosh 1991; p. 134). In fact, some of the immune factors in breastmilk increase in concentration during the second year and also during the weaning process (Goldman 1983, Goldman & Goldblum 1983, Hamosh 1991).

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer. Studies have found a significant inverse association between duration of lactation and breast cancer risk.
• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of ovarian cancer.
• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of uterine cancer.
• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of endometrial cancer.

^^ all of that is pointless, yeah flat?

DD is 17 months and still feeds regularly. Often in public. You might even see a flash of my other boob, as she likes to twiddle. I genuinely couldn't care less if it offends your sensibilities.

Flat

I'm a fancy city of London worker myself (oooo ahhh) DS just turned one and he has a good old snaffle first and last thing, and will continue to do so until he chooses. I'm hoping we make it to 2yo, my partner said the other day he'd like DS to feed to 4 "if it's good enough for the Swedish".
DS has had a rotten cold this last week and on my days off has been asking for BM continuously, because of the antibodies in breast milk and because this is how our bodies have evolved, and he knows this instinctively. Doesn't matter what you think, it doesn't change science.

She is a sad, strange little woman and she has my pity.

That stupid woman would have a heart attack if she'd encountered DS2 running up to me yelling 'I want some Mummy milk from your BOOBIES!' - as DS2 has done to me recently (he is 3.5)...

I never anticipated breastfeeding for this long, indeed I stopped at 22m with DS1 as he wasn't fussed any more. But the more I try to stop, the more boob obsessed DS2 gets! He is currently quite upset as he tells me there is hardly any milk left at all now - he does a proper lip wobble when he tells me this, it's very cute. I don't feed him in public any more though, because he generally never asks. He has clearly noticed and internalised that it is not the done thing once past a certain age, with the exception of his recent demand.

12 weeks old I most certainly not too old to be breastfeeding!

Maybe she came up for a coo and got flustered at seeing a bit of boob. She shouldn't have said what she did but maybe it was her trying to hide her embarrassment. Silly old bat, please don't let her stop you.