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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Positive, non-weirdy opinions about extended breast feeding from my lovely GP - had to share

20 replies

popsycal · 17/08/2007 20:02

Thought twice about sharing this as I REALLY don't want to debate the whole ff/bf/extended bf issue. But I am going to share as I was really encouraged.

Went to GP today with boys in tow (5 and 2.5) as I thought I had mastitis (I do).

Doc asked what made me think I had the symptoms so I explained my symptoms and that I had had it before and was breastfeeding too.

He looked at ds2 and said: 'And are you the lucky laddy?'. DS1 piped up: 'He has feeds at bedtime'. Then the doctor raved on about what a fabulous thing I had done for ds2 and how important it is for older children, particularly boys in our region like ds1, to see women in general breastfeeding as partner support is such an important thing and it will teach them and normalise it.

I came away with anti-biotics and a bit of faith in what many unfortunately think of as 'weird'.

OP posts:
Pruners · 17/08/2007 20:04

Message withdrawn

Quootiepie · 17/08/2007 20:06

That's great My GP was miffed when I was still feeding my DS at 9 months

callmeovercautious · 17/08/2007 20:06

I feel all warm and fuzzy now
And it was a man?!

Perhaps his wife is a MNetter!

Original poster
popsycal · 17/08/2007 20:07

You know that crossed my mind....he refers to the children and littleladdy1 and littleladdy2......

OP posts:
Original poster
popsycal · 17/08/2007 20:10

And just to add the second amusing breast feeding thing...

ds1 was at swimming today and the (20 something, tall, hunky, chewable shoulders) instructor announced they would be practising breast stroke. DS1 loudly piped up 'Is that going to be a bit like breastfeeding then?'. Instructor said: 'Crikey I'm hoping not!!'

OP posts:
meandmy · 17/08/2007 20:10

its always nice to have your gp's support.

policywonk · 17/08/2007 20:11

My new GP is the same - took DS2 to see him so that the GP could confirm that DS2's rash was eczema, and of course DS2 (who's two and a half) decided he wanted a feed there and then. The GP immediately piped up 'I'm very glad to see you're still feeding him - that's the best thing you could be doing'. And we really don't live in a lentil-weaving area.

Original poster
popsycal · 17/08/2007 20:12

Policywonk - same here on non-lentil-weavery area. Infact, the exact area where the surgery is is as far from lentil-weavery as it is porbably possible to be.

OP posts:
determination · 17/08/2007 20:21

Great news.. im happily starting my friday night reading this positive "happy" thread and toasting my glass of red to celebrate. Well Done i love you GP! If only he could speak to the UKs population of HVs

Wallace · 17/08/2007 20:24

Hooray!

And pmsl at "breaststroke"

policywonk · 17/08/2007 20:24

I'm really astonished that a GP would be negative about BFing a child of ANY age. I mean, did they go to medical school?

HVs - well, as we all know, they're really only there to weigh babies, and sometimes to measure them as well

beansprout · 17/08/2007 20:37

Oh fab. Good to hear this, thanks for posting it.

Ds ended up in A&E a few months ago (he would have been 2.5 or so) following a v nasty stomach bug. I was commended on b/feeding him and told to carry on as it was the "best possible thing for him" while he was ill, which was very reassuring!!

MarsLady · 17/08/2007 20:39

That's lovely! More power to his elbow!

tassisssss · 17/08/2007 20:41

good story!

i recently had to get antibiotics and mentioned that I was still BFing...had 11 month old dd on my knee (realise this isn't really extended BFing)...and doctor said something lovely about how well I'd done. left me feeling all warm and encouraged...why oh why is it so hard for HVs to be similarly encouraging??

kitsandbits · 17/08/2007 20:41

I only breastfed both my children for a few days, and i think its wonderful Not sure I know where to draw the line, but I wouldnt discourage something thats good for a child!

Good Gp

mangojuice · 18/08/2007 20:30

So nice to see that there are good GP's out there. I went to mine a few weeks ago with mastitis. He asked how old my ds was (10months)and then frowned and said "well how long are you going to feed him for?" I replied that I didn't know really, as long as he wanted to, and he told me that "you need to stop feeding. Not today, but soon. You've done six months so now it's time to stop." I was so shocked I just stared at him openmouthed!

Original poster
popsycal · 18/08/2007 20:34

what a tit
him
not yours
;)

OP posts:
choolie · 18/08/2007 21:06

just to add a positive BF & HVs story...i didn't realise until i came on MN how lucky i am with my HV. She BF all 3 daughters and even rang me at 8pm one night from home and left her home no. with DH as I'd left her a message at work that day saying I wasn't sure if I had mastitis developing and she'd wanted to check i was ok as hadn't got the message till after 5pm. she also shares stories of how she was still feeding her DD1 till 2.5, every 2 hours at night whilst co-sleeping.

love the swimming tale!

NAB3 · 18/08/2007 21:09

That is so great but I wish I hadn't stopped at 9 months now.

Pixiefish · 18/08/2007 21:10

I took my dd with me to the locum doctor when she'd hqave been about 2 and when i told him i was still bfing- so he knew as regards what medicine he gave me- he asked me where the baby was- so I said no I was feeding dd- and then he asked me where the baby was.. mad old goat

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