It's odd, I can see both sides of the feeding debates as I loved feeding ds1, was an annoying breast is best, it's wonderful, everyone should do it type person for a while started NCT training as bfeeding counsellor but realised that wasn't for me as I couldn't be as evangelical and blinkered about it as the women on the course were. Not saying all NCT counsellors are like that but they were.
Then I had ds2, had a horrible time, ended up mixed feeding, bfed because I thought I should, felt guilty about the bottles and guilty about wanting to stop but resented doing it (felt guilty about that too) generally had a horrible time.
This time it's wonderful again, struggled with thrush for about 6 wks early on but got through it, I love the closeness and the convenience, as am far too lazy for making bottles etc. I can't think of anything more special than this (I'm sat feeding writing this)
So why is it such a big deal? Why do we take so much interest in how others feed their babies? For my part, with ds1, I was so enjoying feeding him and feeling that I was doing the absolute best I could for my baby that I wanted everyone else to feel the same way and couldn't understand why everyone else didn't share my enthusiasm. I think that sometimes those that have or are bfeeding can get so caught up in the benefits and positives of it that they forget that not everyone's the same.
With ds2 I expected to bfeed, he had probs and I was bullied into formula in hospital I then kept getting mastitis and the one time I did phone a councellor and she did was tell me that all my baby needed was my milk for 6mths and tell me off for giving bottles. Since having ds3 I have realised that my probs were probably caused by his tongue tie which I had been told couldn't possibly be the problem, strange that when trying to convince people that I had thrush this time they all thought it must be a problem with his latch due to his tongue tie ! [rolls eyes] even though I knew this time his latch was good and I did have thrush.
The one thing I have to admit is I don't get people that don't even try to bfeed, even if the benefits for baby don't make them want to try, the hassle of sterilising etc and cost of formula, having to carry bottles and warm them, I just don't get it, boobs are portable and fairly instant, if you are like me and will whip one out and feed anywhere But not everyone does and I for one can live with that, not everyone's dh/p is as supportive of it as mine, if I'd listened to my mil I wouldn't have lasted past the first few days with ds1 and wouldn't have even tried with ds2 or 3.
I'm sorry this was such a long waffle and not the best english in the world typing with squirmy 5mthold on boob is not my strong point but I was thinking about it whilst considering sitting in the corner and crying because he has got his first tooth and keeps nipping me with it and it hurts but I really don't want to give up for a long time yet. I generally keep out of feeding debates and I might of upset all sorts of people but I've written it now so here it is
BTW I buy organic meat and veg all the time, take my children to Mcdonalds oncw or twice a year and........ they like sausage rolls
(goes and hides in corner and wonders what she was thinking)