You know how posters have said people like me put them off bfing (usually mythical babies they've no intention of having in the future, I think it's just something to say, but still)

[NotReallyHereHunker]

I'd like a head count of people I and others like me have helped to breastfeed, please.

Not just me. My part's small and insignificant compared to people like Tiktok and Mears, I realise that.

So go on - is posting about bfing in general as opposed to specific issues helping or hindering people?

Real people who are having real babies in the future, please, for preference, not those who aren't having any more and just like having a go at me for posting about this. You know who you are

twofalls, if it's hard to get it right in RL, when the person is there, then it's even harder on an internet talkboard!

Fio - I don't want to come back at you hard, but you cannot judge, and even a quick reading of the mumsnet boards should have taught you that

I have no idea whether people 'really' tried, or if they are 'ridiculous' in giving up, or if they stopped 'too early', and nor have you, and in any case, people have their own, sometimes very personal, agendas and priorities.

yeah I worry about the men tbh (I "teach" bf to women int he third trimester) and I try to acknowledge the impossibility of their situation.
my dh said to me when I was weeping wtih pain and tiredness and frustration if you want to give up I won't let the bf police get you
and now I am the bf police

Fio? Is that you?

No, absolutely not

I may, on occasion, want to refer you back to your post though

When are you due Fio - cant be too far off now, can it?

I'm still feeding DS at 2.1 - and because of MN it doesn't feel extended yet

yes, you've all given me the courage to keep trying too - nine months so far

It's cyclical though, because of MN I know enough now to be a bf demonstrator at my local midwife unit.

Blardy hell - only 6 weeks?

So, will you be b/feeding?

You know, you really really wont be able to give up after just a couple of days now, dont you?

But you will of course, always get loads of help and support

Haven't read the thread so I hope it's not kicked off into something completely different but...

Me. It has been invaluable to have access to all this support and myth-busting information.

It's also allowed me to offer some informed support to friends in rl who have been subjected to so much misinformation by the health professionals that should have been helping them and the family that should have been supporting them.

No, you made bog all difference to me.

But I'd already gone through my stubborn come-hell-or-high-water-I'm-bfing-this-child with DS1. (He lost 2lbs in his first week or so. But he was over 10 to start with.) I suspect I would have found it rather less traumatic and with less "I'm failing!" sobs if I'd had MN then though.

Just being nosy, Cod, why did your Mum tell you to stop bfing ds2?

Hands up from me. I found a lot of TikTok's up to date advice really, really helpful.

I think it has been a drip, drip effect. Particularly with DS1, I assimilated a lot of wisdom that helped, purely because I read the BF threads every day, IYSWIM.

CHEERS LADIES!!

DS1 - BF for 18 months
DS2 - 10mo and still going strong!

Would add that the generally positive attitude to bf here is imp (and rare) - I wanted to try bfing but my mum told me not to expect to succeed as she hadn't and neither had my sister (gave up at 6 weeks). The idea seemed be that is was probably a good idea to try but the failure rate was high. As it happened, DS took to it really well, but if I'd been pessimistic I'd probably have considered giving up or mix feeding when he was feeding every couple of hours day and night - MN reassured me that htis was normal and he was fine

I was determined to BF to 6m anyway but am now continuing and will allow DD to self wean thanks to the support on here. Not just questions I have asked but by reading other peoples threads.
Have been so inspired I am going to train as an ABM Mother supporter (and might go on to do councelling if I have the time), that way I can know I am giving good advice rather than just sharing my experience as I do now.

Message withdrawn