Is breastfeeding “weird”

[Sunnyx]

I totally don’t think it is and I ebf my 5 month old but apparently only 1% of women breastfeed by 6 months.

I guess I just worry what people think too much. Apart from breastfeeding groups, I kind of feel like the odd one one and a bit awkward when breastfeeding around other bottle feeding mums.

I never really know what to do...when I’m in the company of my family/extended family I feel awkward feeding in their presence but then I think why should I go to another room. I worry that people think it’s ‘odd’ to breastfeed as it feels quite rare to find other mums who do.

What are people’s opinions?

I truly exclusively breastfed DD2 & didn't start weaning until after 6 months.

Presumably DD1 doesn't count 'officially' as I started weaning around 5 months - under pressure from the professionals - even though I used breastmilk for everything (including rice, custard etc) and she had no dairy or cows milk until after her 1st birthday.

Statistics can be misleading.

I breastfed in lots of places; shopping centres, service stations, beach, church, back of primary school assembly, hotel bar (having met up with work colleagues for lunch)... never had any problems/negative comments.

Ah well, good to know that I would have failed to be included in the stats for exclusive breast feeding. Which irks a bit, because I had no choice about the formula, and cut it out as soon as possible. And then went on to breastfeed for more than a year after that, and only introduced solids at 6 months.

never had any problems/negative comments.
Apart from my gp when I had mastitis when DD2 was 18 months and still pissed off that I had to pay for antibiotics

I didn’t breastfeed because the thought of it made me feel actually ill. My ex mil said I was less of a mother because I didn’t but it was my choice. At the time there were very few mothers in various groups I attended that did! It’s not weird and each to their own!

Is it weird?.......er.....no.

Lots bf, but most women that I know who do, wouldn't be included in the stats either because they had on at least one occasion given some formula, or because they started weaning before 6 months. The criteria is far too strict, and portrays bf as much rarer in the UK than it is.

A survey definition does not change what you did. It is the WHO definition, so I guess the infant feeding surveys have to follow it.

I debated as to whether to even explain the survey in case it came across wrong or caused unintended upset. This is always such an emotive topic.

Relax. DS2 had a few bottles of formula early on when I had a really bad week so technically he is not counted in that stat despite being bf 99% of feeds to age one and bfing alongside cows milk until 20 months. Also most people stop bf because it's hard not because they think it's weird

Don't worry be proud. I admire anyone that breastfeeds that shit is hard

It’s the most natural thing in the world and is most definitely not weird.

I was rubbish at being pregnant but loved breastfeeding and breastfed both of my kids till they were 2 ❤️

Oh and I was diabetic in pregnancy with DS, he was topped up with formular to begin with, please don’t beat yourself up

Not everything that a minority does is 'weird'. That's a bit of a simplistic way of thinking about things - but it's obviously something you've picked up one way or another from people around you.

The UK's bf rates are dreadful, for probably a number of reasons. In other countries you might still be in the minority, but in a much more sizeable one.

I fed my eldest exclusively to 6.5 months (although he did have formula top-ups in his first four weeks, so prob wouldn't count in the excl bf statistic) and carried on for 4.5 years,. The middle and youngest ones never had formula, and both were bf exclusively to 6 months. Dc2 fed to 3 years, dc3 is 2 and still going.

DS never tasted formula and I bf him up to 19 months (by which time I was 4 months pregnant), but we wouldn't count in the 1% as we started solids a few days before 26 weeks because we were on holiday and wanted his dad to share a few of his first meals. Will probably be the same for DD as she'll be 6 months a few days after Christmas.

In my day (gimmer alert) 6 months paid mat leave was the absolute max, there was talk of mythical companies that would pay up to 9 months but I never saw sight nor sound of them when all round here was fields. I always thought that accounted for the 1% at 6 months stat, bit sad that it hasn't gone up with longer mat leave...

I think people who find it weird are the weird ones, it's completely natural and amazing.

I think people who find it weird are the weird ones, it's completely natural and amazing.

Sorry for annoying double-post

I made a mess of bf due to having to add gaviscon for reflux, ended up mix feeding and eventually solely bottle feeding. I regret it as wanted to bf. I'm the only mum I know who bottle feeds and I feel embarrassed by that! For whatever reason there's shame/ guilt/!embarrassment all around for being a mum. Bf is most definitely not weird, statistics for low ebf rates are down to lack of support, information, varying health and circumstances of baby and mother. And it's bloody hard work at first! I wish I'd known it would get easier.

JaneBanks giving gaviscon to a breastfed baby is pretty horrific so I'd go easy on yourself!

Exactly, just giving a single bottle or taste of food any time (even just ONE occasion) takes a baby out of the EBF to six month statistics so imho not surprising it's 1%. Even if after the baby goes back to bm only. So a baby that had a few bottles because the mums milk came in late, but then went on to be breastfed only to six months, would not be counted in the surveys as ebf for six mo. Ditto a baby that got one taste of food at 4 months then the Mum decided not to do any more until 6mo, would be counted as ebf for 4mo only not 6mo. So the survey methods are artificially very strict. I don't think it means a lot. I think 34% babies are getting some bm at 6mo which is a more meaningful statistic.

Does it matter? I mean, just do what you do. Both mine were breastfed exclusively, one to 18 months when she self weaned and the other to 3 years. Can't speak for #3 yet as he is only 6 days old but all well so far. But I never experienced any negativity, nor did I receive much support. Amongst my friends/broader circle most have breastfed, some in a mixed feeding way, some exclusively. A couple didn't at all, a couple only did for the first couple of feeds. In real life I have never seen anyone have any interest in feeding method.

My baby wouldn't be in the 1% because I had some medical issues after birth and the baby was given one single 20ml cup feed of formula (according to DH very little of it was swallowed). After that ebf and not given any solids til after 6 months.

Thanks @TabbyTurmoil

It's not weird. BFing is as old as humanity. Our society's attitudes to it are what's weird.

Don't be embarrassed
Holly McNish says it better than I ever could, this is great.

JaneBanks, sorry that you had such a rough time. Bottle feeding doesn't make you a any less of a good mother. You have to do what's best for both you and baby in the circumstances you find yourself in. If you started BF, even for only a short while then you gave your baby a really good start.

It's ok to feel sad that you had to stop but you certainly shouldn't feel guilty or embarrassed.