Family making me uncomfortable with breastfeedingas

[Cheekylittlenumber]

Spent some time with both my family and DH's siblings last weekend.

Firstly my dad asked me if I wanted to go to the toilet to feed DD (4 months) I just said breezily no thanks and fed her. He's in his early 80's so I just thought best to ignore it really. I've fed many times in front of my mum and brothers but don't always spend very long with my dad.

We then went to see my DH's sisters who are 13 and 22. The whole time I was with them I got endless inane comments. I was asked twice if I was embarrassed feeding in public. First time I said no and carried on getting the latch right etc. Second time baby was overtired and was crying and fussing and I said 'I'm not embarrassed as it's the most natural thing in the world'. I was probably a bit snappy as I was stressed.

I often feed DD to sleep or just stick a boob in for comfort and I was constantly asked 'Youre feeding AGAIN?!'

It was so fucking dull and for the first time made me feel really self conscious. The 13 year old I can understand but the 22 year old works in a nursery so should know a bit about infant feeding?!

I guess they haven't been exposed to breastfeeding with their own family but it made me feel really uncomfortable being bombarded with questions all the time. That coupled with them asking every nano second to hold her when she was moany.

AIBU to have a generous gap before our next meet up or leave DH to it?

I do think as part of biology or sex ed lessons the benefits of breastfeeding should be discussed as if young women don't have family or role models who bf they might not attempt it or feel strong enough to give it a go.

Including breastfeeding in schools would be great idea but you're absolutely doing the right thing feeding on demand wherever you are. BF needs to be so normal that it's not even a topic worthy of such discussion.

There's no agenda. BF is the biological norm, the way babies are designed to be fed and the job breasts were meant to do.

Well done you for educating your nieces! (And definitely feed to sleep and shove a boob in with every squeak!)

Why an agenda? It's feeding a child! BF is perfect when on the go as well- no need to worry about sterilizing and preparation.

Also unless you are sitting topless on the sofa there's no much to see.
I remember BFing my 15 month old in hospital while a doctor was examining him. The doctor asked me to lie toddler on the bed and was shocked when he realised that I was nursing- he hadn't even noticed!

I think some people just aren't used to it because of circumstance - never being around it. The more people (bf mums, previous bfers, partners etc) talk about it in a normal way, have confidence to feed and answer questions, the more normal it is. Just be confident (even if they seem annoying!)

Dont worry - you are raising there awareness in how breastfeeding really is that it is not just feeding it is about comfort as well and it can be relentless in the first few months - but yes comments can make you feel a bit 😑 but it is because everyone is familiar with the routine of formula fed babies

Well done for putting up with it - I think you should give yourself a pat on the back for having educated them. I can understand it must have been massively irritating.

My eldest fed to sleep all the time - I couldn’t stop her - she pretty much always doses off at the end of a feed. The youngest not so much but definitely sometimes. My kids are amazing sleepers - have been since 12 and 18 months - don’t reckon the feeding to sleep did any harm.