To think less women breastfed

[bbyno2]

Stats are out that at 8 weeks of age almost 50% (49.3%) of babies are being breastfed. The way threads go and people talk around breastfeeding on mumsnet and my peer groups aibu to think it would be a lot less.I thought like 30% max as those who breastfeed seem to act like they are a minority (I guess they are by 0.7%?)

Data: www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/breastfeeding#breastfeeding-of-infants

You don’t have to stop drinking if you’re breastfeeding

I never get approached with questions towards statistics. Makes me wonder where they get these figures

It seems they collect that data from women who visited a HV during that time. It's quite unusual where I lived with my children, not to breastfeed, but quite a lot of my peers had private medical care and wouldn't have visited a HV. I wonder if that's where the disparity is?

Anyway, if you look at the graph, breastfeeding rates are fairly flat. I think we push breastfeeding enough though TBH.

If you'd read this thread this see why that's a hugely misleading statistic. Most breastfeeding mums don't fall into that 1% as a single mouthful of formula or food by 6m will throw your out of it, even if it's not a regular part of the babies diet.

I think some of those early formula supplements where women then go on to breastfeed exclusively should be viewed as medicinal interventions and that would help both the statistics and the maternal guilt. It can be very hard to accept supplements when ‘a single mouthful’ is presented as failure and when you are made to feel it is somehow harmful for your baby instead of potentially life-saving. Counting it as a medical intervention that had no moral significance would make so much more sense.

I’m still breastfeeding my 1 year old but I’ve found I get so much support and there’s so much online and groups and communities on Instagram and Facebook

I think it’s quite common I’ve had a bf a few awkward places (a packed train during rush hour or restaurant) and people have always been very considerate and I’ve had a few women talk to me about their breastfeeding experiences out of the blue which is always nice

some people are curious and do look but I’ve never thought anyone was being weird just something you don’t see everyday.

the only slightly negative remarks which are more recently as my baby is now a toddler have been more about how long you intend to breastfeed nothing too bad but people saying that they had stopped by now and their experiences

over all I think it’s a great time to breastfeed though I feel like it’s been really normalized and would breastfeed practically anywhere (although I am conscious my toddler is quite tall and I may start getting judged)

I breastfed Ds until he was 20 months. But from about 12 months only at home in the morning and bed for bed. So a lot of people would never know. I think that’s fairly common with older children who are still bf

Fewer.

I’m surprised. In my family and friendship groups I would say 90% breastfed.

Your choice 100% but have a look at the evidence rather than the scare stories.

Not everyone finds breastfeeding stressful, painful or difficult. The right support early on can sort out latch issues etc. you can also hand express colostrum to give via syringe if you want.

You won't be judged for formula feeding through. As you can see from the stats, it's the norm in this country.

The statistics are incomplete in the OP's study. Many areas aren't included due to issues collecting the data.

However there are other and older studies that show more clearly that ethnicity, age and socioeconomic factors play into whether you breast feed or not, and how long you breast feed for.

So some of the excuses about just being from a low income background means you will not breast feed aren't strictly true as if you are from an ethnic minority and/or you are an older mother you more likely to breast feed.

Still going strong at 11 months 🥰 my most proudest achievement

I think it depends on the circles you mix in, you tend to find women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds do not tend to initiate breastfeeding. I've no idea why as it's far cheaper to breastfeed, it makes no sense.

🤗

@ItsTimeToWine

You tend to also find groups of middle class women putting insane amounts of pressure on themselves to BF and then getting upset or depressed if it doesn’t work out. They’re the ones who feel like they don’t measure up if it goes a tits up. The ones who do just go straight to bottle feeding can save themselves all that potential bother, and don’t really feel like failures. That’s not to say people shouldn’t try it’s just an observation.

This is exactly why I formula feed from birth too.

Especially not wanting to be the only one responsible for feeds, just the thought of it made me feel completely overwhelmed.

I also knew that I'd probably have a short maternity leave and had no interest in expressing.

I just really, really didn't want to and reading studies like the sibling one made me feel like it wasn't worth it.

@Chilloutsnow definitely luck. Feeding doesn't determine how well a baby sleeps. My sons breastfed and slept through since 11 weeks. Did 5/6 hour stretches before that

@SouthLondonMum22

I can relate. Certain people do look at you like you have two heads when you explain to them you just simply never wanted to breastfeed. No excuses, no buts, no uneducated preconceptions, just a “no thank you it wasn’t for me”.

@Emmamoo89

Possibly, however I certainly never engaged in any cluster feeding or long periods of time feeding my baby. Feeds were generally quick.

Or babies that should have said. All three slept for long periods of time and by 7-8 weeks me and my husband were having full nights again.

It's personal choice but definitely agree with depends on who is around and the influence that gives.

My area is largely bf til 6 months I've bf both of mine DS2 is still going strong at 13 months.

I think there is also a lot of misinformation as well the whole baby sleeps better with formula is rubbish. But I've also had medical professionals when asking if medication is suitable for bf tell me their is no benefit past 6 months which is absolute rubbish!

Women should have the choice but also be able to access the right support for all from bottle feeding to combi to bf and get the right info!

@Chilloutsnow Absolutely. You get judged too if anyone finds out, it's more 'acceptable' to at least try.

Thank goodness Mn wasn’t around when I had my DC’s - no one was interested that I used formula from day one. No one to criticise you for being a substandard parent!

@SouthLondonMum22

I honestly never gave a crap if anyone judged or not. I do think there’s something in the sleeping longer though although I’m sure someone will prove me wrong on that. It’s just at playgroups it seemed like every other BF mum was sleep deprived and I was always embarrassed to admit I’d slept fine.

I never wanted to come across as that mum and had empathy for my fellow sleep deprived friends at the time but now they’re all older I can tell them my dirty secret 😂. Plus having this set up three times over would have came across as bullshit, except it wasn’t. I genuinely never woke up to feed any of them past 7-8 weeks. The odd time if they were poorly they would wake but it was pretty much plain sailing from that point. I certainly wasn’t going to upset that apple cart by attempting to BF subsequent babies.

I have a feeling we live in a similar area of S London. I had to bottle feed as my daughter had health issues- 99% of the time I was the only one not breastfeeding.