BFing DD 15m and the worst thing has happenned

[callmeoverchristmas]

A good friend (or so I thought) said to me a few nights ago (at Dinner) - "are you still BFing - when will you stop?" I resisted the old line of "well I have, she went to bed at 7" and said that as I have said before she would be self weaning.

Friend then said - "If you are still BFing at 5 years I may have to shoot you"

We were with some other friends who all BF for as long as they could but long work hours and TTC no2 etc took it's toll. I could tell they were a bit shocked and one even touched my leg under the table as if to say "ignore her" but I have been festering about it and I can't let it go!
I have known this woman for years and she knows my feelings on BFing if possible and I even helped her when she was struggling to BF her DS.

Why is there a "glass ceiling" of a year on BFing? I even felt so bad I gave DD rice cakes instead of Milk in a cafe today. I was worried others would start judging me. I am usually so proud to still be BFing her. I am usually on here telling others to keep going!

Sorry just needed a rant - feel better now!

I thought still bf at 15 months is considered normal and that people tend to get a bit funny from after 2. Ignoire her comments you are doing really well. I bf till 14 months and only stopped as had to go on some strong medication

Bumper: I recently weaned my 2yo DS. it was hard. during the day was no probs but nights there were a lot of tears. i think thgouh that because he was older i could talk to him about it. tell him that mommy and daddy loved him more than anything but that 'guppa' had gone away. it took a couple of (sleepless) nights but he's ok.

on another note: when ds was 9mo DH asked how long i thought i would BF for. I ssaid until he was 2. to say he looked a bit shocked would be an understatement but i think that at the time you can't even imagine your child being that BIG never mind BFing him at that age.

thing is that as your child grows he/she is still your baby. so it never seems 'weird' and it never feels like you are BFing a full grown child IYSWIM, it's just your baby. I think it's only when other people comment or look and point that you start questioning yourself. But there's nothing to question. It's natural and normal to BF.

Sometimes hard, sometimes fab - that's just called having children isn't it?

DD2 very fast feeder though . And oddly feeds far less than dd1 did at the same age. I now have two talking feeding children small one shouts"this" while signing milk and tapping my breast and the larger one asks "can I have some Mummy milkie please".

Extra nutrition great but really it is a fabulous comfort, snuggle, closeness combined with immunity boosting illness curing, fixer for all bumps and bashes.

I have no idea how I would have got this far without it.

Not to mention the calm/quiet when you are trying to have a chat with a friend if the wee one wants fed. .

Thanks for the replies to my hijack!

callmeovercautious, I'm sorry you are facing these comments. I've already started getting similar comments and dd is only 6mo! but because i haven't fixed a date when i want to wean and issued eveyone else with itinerary they are starting to panic that i might be one of "those people who feeds their child when it goes to school!"

another hijack question actually (cmoc you don't mind do you? since we are all on this thread...) dh's other fear is that a child will get bullied for telling their friends that they still bf. what are your experiences with this?

QUOTE I thought still bf at 15 months is considered normal

It is . But I have had comments since DD has been 7 months old on the "Are you still feeding her variety'

Last week, I joined a local doctors and part of my new patient bit, she was asking about my health, my DD and she asked if I had managed to breastfeed and I replied Yes. She asked how long I breastfed for and I said we still are. She looked at me in shock "Now !!!"

I was tempted to look down at my chest and say "Well, not at this very moment" but decided to just say "Yes"

And as for the HCA at the unsupportive breastfeeding group has took it as a personal insult that I didn't wean at 4 months as she ordered suggested to me.

So the concept of 'normal' varies depending on who you talk to and how long they breastfed for.

Bumper -- I'd be very surprised if DS has even mentioned to his friends that he still breastfeeds (although, actually, he's more-or-less self-weaned now). It's not the sort of thing that tends to come up in toddler conversation. In any event he just calls it "feed" so would be unlikely to attract attention even if he did mention it for some reason.

only read op but ignore silly friend,do whats right for you and your dc!i couldnt bf after 5-6 weeks and recieved litle help so gave up.be proud of yourself,ignore silly comments.

Thanks moljam! And everyone else

And hijack away, anything that creates discussion and highlights these issues is great!

I can think of worse things tbh

was shuddering on opening this wondering what I'd see

just tell her to fark orf (2nd time today for very similar advice )

Very down to earth response - thanks I would usually but I was with some friends for a Christmas do so felt I should let it go. I think that's why I am narked! If I had put her in her place there and then it would have been forgotten by now.