As someone currently breast feeding. I couldn’t have worded this any better.
Everyone wants to feed my child and when cluster feeding they keep pressuring me to express and bottle feed (LO won’t take bottles or dummies) but these people are handing her straight back to me when she spits up, poos or when I’m soaking her stained baby grows in napisan. Don’t seem to see them then!
I tried to express so people could ‘help’ as I felt major pressure but unfortunately for them my milk only comes on demand (when baby is close) so couldn’t get enough for LO nor would they take the bottle. It did also affect my supply when I tried for a few weeks and LO was very fussy. It works for some, didn’t work for me.
I’ve also been told if I stopped BF I can leave my 12 week old and ‘wouldn’t it be nice to have a break’. A great break would be someone pegging out the washing and making me a brew!
We seem to have forgotten as a society that BF is a natural thing for mother and baby, it’s the only thing other people can’t do so they seem to obsess over being able to take over the feeding of the child. You’ll also probably receive comments that BF babies are clingier, fussier, you’re making a rod for your own back etc etc. Ignore - it’s jealousy I’ve found.
It’s so easy to be pressured into bottle feeding and leaving your baby with other people, stick to your gut and what works for you OP.
I finally have, I’ve told a few family members to FO 😂 now when I say I need to feed, I get no lip from any of them.