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Infant feeding

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Original poster

How to celebrate EBF for six months?

157 replies

FreelanceMama · 13/07/2012 21:22

Yesterday I had an email from someone congratulating me for having breastfed my baby for six months (come 25th July). I hadn't thought about it much until then but actually it's pretty mind-blowing that my little boy has eaten/drunk nothing but breastmilk for half a year. It's not always been easy but I do think I've been lucky compared to some of my friends' experiences.

It didn't occur to me to celebrate it until the email came and now I'm wondering what would be an appropriate way to do so? We'll be starting baby-led weaning soon so I'll be carrying on for the foreseeable future but I'm always up for some form of self-indulgence Smile. Especially as I'm practically teetotal and limiting caffeine while breastfeeding!

Any ideas? Either genuine or comic. So far, I've thought that my partner and baby should feed me for a day - breakfast in bed, lunch out, takeaway...

OP posts:
Chubfuddler · 13/07/2012 22:39

I'm kind of a bit with black swan on this - maybe I am revoltingly English and repressed but part of me just thinks - someone emailed you about this? Really?

ginhag · 13/07/2012 22:46

Probably best that I don't attempt a clear and concise breakdown of both 'sides' that could be seen on this thread.

Original poster
FreelanceMama · 13/07/2012 22:47

Thanks for the suggestions. And support. And sorry if I have rubbed any sore points. I do think parents should congratulate themselves though. The Mums and Dads I have among my friends are quietly extraordinary in different ways.

OP posts:
twonker · 13/07/2012 22:47

slimjimbra you definitely get a medal.

Original poster
FreelanceMama · 13/07/2012 22:50

perhaps I should have said who sent the email. It was a midwife, if that makes any difference?

OP posts:
peacefuleasyfeeling · 13/07/2012 22:52

Congratulations and well done! I think it is lovely that you are looking for a way to celebrate this, and I think I'm congratulating you for sharing your sense of achievement as much as the breastfeeding. I love to hear people acknowledge their accomplishments, whether it is losing weight, giving up smoking, running a marathon or whatever, it really cheers me up and that rosy glow rubs off a little.
And there is no denying that it is worth celebrating, after all, every last bit of your boy has grown because of you and your milk -wow!
What could you do though? How about asking your partner or a friend to take some gorgeous photographs capturing you and ds in your lovely bf bubble and capture the moment for posterity? Or buy some nice new nursing bras (if you're planning on continuing bfing beyond this point) with matching knickers?
Good luck!

jenny373 · 13/07/2012 22:57

Well done you!
Before I had my 1st I had the whole idea of ebf for first 6 months...lasted 11 weeks, and with 2nd I got to 5! Its bloody hard work so good on u, and dont let unsupportive posts make u feel any less proud
I think food for the day sounds like a great idea
oh and well done to u for staying off the caffeine...that is a challenge all by itself :-)

Belmo · 13/07/2012 22:58

Well done Grin

missjackson · 13/07/2012 22:59

It is a real achievement to have fed your baby all by yourself for half a year - no-one else to hand the baby over to for a bottle, or if you expressed, that's hard work too. Hard work too to ignore all the 'advice' you get from mothers/ MILs/ other mums/ HVs about introducing solids earlier than 6 months too. It's still RARE for babies to reach 6 months ebf and that's because it is hard work. So well done you.

NoComet · 13/07/2012 22:59

Congratulations OP! It is something to be proud of and something I didn't quite manage.

I'd of wanted a reward if I'd ever managed to EBF DD1, she was utterly impossible.

DD2 didn't give me any choice, despite the consultant saying "You are a very daft baby, you have fallen off the bottom of the graph. Please drink this bottle".

She said "NO!"

Well actually she screamed very loudly at anyone approaching her with a bottle.

In consequence we managed 5+ months before she was allowed to munch yoghurt and happily put on weight.

She also continued to BF for a very very very long time.

NoLogo · 13/07/2012 23:02

I remember struggling and whining about the difficulties with EBF is the early days with DS1. One HV did say to me mothers in the developing world have to do it in the end, it is a matter of survival (for the baby) as formula and nice sterile bottles aren't available to them.

By this token, I would suggest a donation to Oxfam, WaterAid or somesuch.

We have it good here.

I am sure a coffee wouldn't hurt your baby either. Is this another "competitive abstinence" thing?

thebighouse · 13/07/2012 23:06

You've done well, I think it's a lovely feeling when you look at that chubby six month old and think - wow - my body did all THAT!

Women often hate their bodies - it's great to celebrate the marvellous things they can do. Well done you. :)

I like the idea of people feeding you! It's funny and sweet! xx

spammertime · 13/07/2012 23:20

What a lovely idea NoLogo

Original poster
FreelanceMama · 13/07/2012 23:20

nologo that's a fabulous suggestion, thank you. What is competitive abstinence though? I was told to limit my caffeine intake while breastfeeding. Damn. I could have done with double espressos a couple of weeks ago. If medals are being distributed I think they should go to parents who manage to stick to their guns when relatives try to persuade them to do things their way - not had too much of that myself so far, but know friends who have.

OP posts:
mumnosbest · 13/07/2012 23:21

well done you! you should be proud. you have fed and cared for your baby for 6 months the way you wanted. 6 months is a milestone to all mums so well done all (bf or ff), we're half way to a year already!

i'll be joining in the celebrations soon, 6 months ebf on 31st july. several cups of coffee a day and lansinoh, nipple shields and toe curling, teeth clenching are now a distant memory. i think ill celebrate by binning these and spashng out not literally i hope on a new bra and breast pads Grin

NoLogo · 13/07/2012 23:22

Ta, well done though OP. I had plenty of people saying "Just give him a bottle" and that HV's words just kept coming back to me....

domesticslattern · 13/07/2012 23:38

You could celebrate by dropping a note to anyone who helped you bf in the early stages eg a bf counsellor, to let them know the outcome of their effort and to thank them?

Original poster
FreelanceMama · 13/07/2012 23:49

Well done mumnosbest - and everyone else who's nearing/at their baby's half birthday.

BTW just the word lansinoh makes me flinch a bit!

Other things worth celebrating:
getting to Xx months without dropping your baby
The first time you manage a nappy change on the backseat of a car
Getting your baby's birth registered - no more dithering over names
The first time you travel with a baby by train

All small things but worth recognising them I think.

OP posts:
Original poster
FreelanceMama · 13/07/2012 23:55

domesticslattern That's a really thoughtful suggestion, thanks. I had amazing support at 8am one grim Sunday morning from a lovely NCT breastfeeding counsellor. And from women in my Due in January group.

OP posts:
StetsonsAreCool · 14/07/2012 00:01

Well done op. I found the first couple of months bfing really hard and was very proud of myself when I made it to 6 months. I thought about marking the occasion but forgot in the end.

How about treating yourself to a nice new bra. Either a fancy nursing one, or a 'normal' one for special occasions? I bought myself a posh bra to celebrate finishing bf last month when dd was 2.

Like the idea of being pampered too mind, I think all parents should get this at 6 months regardless Grin It's the biggest 6 months of any parents life!

CrazyRandomHappenstance · 14/07/2012 08:37

Hello OP Congratulations i'm at 3 months and just starting to love it, this lady makes teething and nursing necklaces and is soon going to start making them with beads that denote birth stones so people can celebrate 12 months of BF i think its a lovely idea and will be getting one if i make it that far.

EauRouge · 14/07/2012 09:16

Congrats, OP, it is an achievement and it's nice to celebrate when you've reached a milestone like this. I would second (or third) the suggestions for a nice lunch out with a glass of wine Grin Caffeine and alcohol are safe in moderation.

I can't believe some of the nasty posts on this thread Angry The OP worked hard and is pleased with getting to one of her goals- what's wrong with being proud of that? Or is it just because it's breastfeeding? There really was no need for the attacks.

showtunesgirl · 14/07/2012 09:32

OP ignore the nasty comments, especially from Blackswan who has been unpleasant without due cause before.

And have that espresso if you want, an occassional one should be olk!

Pastabee · 14/07/2012 10:08

I'd get a MamaJewel necklace as your little one will ramp up the hair pulling if DD is anything to go by. My necklace has helped a bit!

www.mamajewels.co.uk/

Well done!

RachelWalsh · 14/07/2012 11:24

www.etsy.com/listing/76337849/merit-badge-for-breastfeeding

How about one of these?!

Well done, I remember looking at my older ds when he was 6 moths and thinking how mind blowing it was that my body had grown him from a few cells to that size! Even just looking at my month old little one and how he's chubbed up in the last few weeks is very special.