GP's ignorance of natural term bf

[TheBigZing]

At docs today for back problem. GP recommends ibuprofen.

Me: I'm breastfeeding. Is it ok to take ibuprofen?
GP: how old is your daughter now?
Me: she's two.
GP: [eyes widen] really?
Me: yes
GP: And you're still breastfeeding?
Me: yes
GP: so has it just become habit or ... [trails off]
Me: I decided to go for natural term breast feeding.
GP: [blank]
me: it means that you allow the child to wean when they feel ready, rather than making them stop at a certain time. Most of them stop at 3 or 4 apparently.
GP: but is she eating enough food? A normal diet?
Me: oh yes, she eats perfectly normally.
GP: solid food?
Me: yes
GP: well, as long as she's putting on weight ... that's fine.
Me: so can I take ibuprofen?
GP: yes

Poor bloke. He probably thinks I'm a lentil-weaving hippy now. Or, with any luck, next time he comes across a natural term bf-er he'll come over a little less ... erm ... ignorant.

LOL I find Kellymom more useful than my GP for bf related queries.

When I went to see a GP for alopecia - he said 'I'll have to google that' and he did!

Crikey Wonderstuff, I wonder what he'd have done before the age of google?!

Do bottle fed toddlers stop having milk at 2?

Taking this to its conclusion he should be checking that all 2 year olds are not having too much cows milk as well. I doubt he does

He was only about 12 bless him.

Was watching that Giles and Sue do the Good Life last night - 'back in the 1970's if we wanted to know something we went to the library - now we just google and libraries are where weridos go to keep warm'

I went to see my gp for some antibiotics when dd was 2.10 ish. He's nearing retirement and very old fashioned (but I like him very much). I explained I was still bfing dd (who was sitting on the floor doing a jigsaw) and waited for the "What?!" comments. His response? How brilliant. I love to see natural term feeders. It's so good for them isn't it? And such a rarity. Well done.

I must have looked like an idiot because I just couldn't formulate a response. Put me right in my place.

ShowOfHands I would have loved that response. He sounds like a fabulous GP.

I asked about some medication (can't even remember what it was) being compatible with breastfeeding, and the doc asked how old ds1 was. He was around 3.5 at the time, so when I told her this, she burst out laughing.

If I hadn't been so ill, I would have asked her why it was so funny. But, thinking about it now, it was probably one of those times where the laughter wasn't because she thought it was funny, more that she was surprised, or didn't know what to say.

Mawbroon I'm for you. How hideously unprofessional. I hope she apologised.

big zing - have you never had ibuprofen in the 2 years you have been breast feeding?

you must have a very high pain threshold!!

Aaaw showofhands can we all come to your GP? How wonderful (although sad that it is rare enough to be remarked upon).

The last time I had a smear, the awkward small talk somehow veered into bf-ing and the nurse said she had fed 5 dcs, the last 3 natural term weaning, I had started off on a a big defensive tangent re still feeding dd then had to tail off sheepishly!

Makes a nice change from hearing about the GPs who have a problem with it.

I met my new GP this week. She was asking me if I had any long-standing medical problems or medication. I said that I am bf my 3 1/2 yo and she said "well that's natural isn't it. Well done".

She's actually the 3rd young lady GP I've met in the last year with the same attitude, so we are getting there

I guess most GPs don't come across 2yos being b/f very often.

I remember taking dd as a toddler to see the GP before google was invented with a rather odd red patch on her shoulder that had been there ages. He got out a big text book and started leafing through the photos while asking me my opinion on which photo I thought was the closest match. He gave me some cream which didn't work, I never bothered going back. It went by itself after a couple of years.

Amijee - my painkiller of choice is paracetomol. I've had plenty of those in the last 2 years! GP recommended ibuprofen for its anti inflammatory properties I think.

DD3 was in hospital recently with bronchiolitis/viral induced wheeze/asthma/whatever and I was speaking to the consultant paediatrician about trying to get more weight on DD3 as cons. said she had FTT.

Me 'She has as many feeds as she likes a day'
Paed 'Have you got enough milk, you could have dried up'
Me 'Well my nearly 3 y/o also has 1 feed a day so I've obviously got enough milk'
Paed 'When will you wean your 3 y/o?
Me 'When she self weans'
Paed 'She doesn't eat solids?????'
Me 'Of course she does. I'm just letting decided when she no longer wishes to bf'
Paed 'But how will that happen?'
Cue me explaining natural weaning age (thanks Kathy Dettwyler), loss of latching ability, the loss of peristaltic tongue movement in bf children, etc, etc

How do you get to be a Paediatrics Consultant and not be aware that children can continue to bf past the introduction of solids And, yes the only food my nearly 3 y/o has is one bf a day

Very luckily DD3's regular paed. is vvvv pro-bfing and thinks DD3 is going great guns - she put on 200g in one month even with 2 bouts of 'whatever' chest problem!