101 reasons to breastfeed your child

[mears]

cameacrossthisthismorning

In my limited experience I have not come across many mums who have not given breastfeeding a go. In my ante-natal group, 100% of mums tried it, 70% were still doing it at 3 mths and 40% were still breastfeeding at 6 mths.

My sil breastfed her dd for 2 years but only managed it for 2 weeks with her ds as she found it impossible to give her dd attention when she was constantly feeding. Both children are fine now.

I think that's unusual reethi, not sure what the national stats are but at my mother and baby group 1/4 of the mums had bottle fed from the start, and all except 2 (out of 12) had introduced a bottle by 2 weeks. all except the same 2 were exclusively bottle feeding by 8 weeks

Thanks for the link Mears, I found it useful and interesting. I am still breasfeeding my 19 mo dd twice a day, because she is so attached to it that I don't see why I should stop, even though I would quite like to.

Friends with younger babies than mine ask why I am still doing it and seem to think I am a bit loopy - they haven't said as much, but comments and expressions are enough. I never tell anyone I am still feeding, as it seems to be frowned upon in general. It was good to have a few more reasons to be able to offer up as to why it's so great for them.

Thanks again Mears.

Only 2 out of 13 Mums in my post natal group chose to bf. I personally really cherished the experience, but, apart from the medical profession and 2 friends and my super DH, found very little support. I had several harsh comments made to me, by people I love. Particularly parents age and older. Comments like "when are you going to feed you baby properly" (I fed exclusively for six months) and "don't you think it's a bit embarrassing for your brother" . I was always discreet, and in the end felt so embarrassed by adults that I used to sit on my own in the bedroom whilst round peoples house, in the back of the car, wherever. I found little support for bf in the real world. I am not anti-bottle feeding, and am currently expecting my second, and will definately express so my husband can help me more this time. It is nice to have somewhere to read about the benefits of bf.. as I had to grow a thick skin to do something which I am pleased came naturally to DS and I.

reason no 102:
it's easier to be on MN with dd bf'ing instead of being bottle-fed.

preggars - 'don't you think it is embarrssing for your brother?' is just outrageous. However, it is not unique. My mother - usually supportive of my bf - asked me not to bf in my own home in front of my grandmother, in case grandmother was embarrassed....after picking myself up off the floor I told her what I thought of that one!!

Oh ffs - I have truely cannot believe what I have been reading.

Mears posts a great link and certain people have to assume the nature of immature, arrogantand bitchy school girls. Personally I couldn't give a sod how anyone fed their babies - I breastfed mine because it is the natural and healthiest way (just my opinion? NO. Its FACT so get over it)

I couldn't give 2 hoots about anyones elses child but Gwenick in particular, you obviously have a severe chip on your shoulder for you to have BOTHERED to write replies to 101 reasons - its not just sad and utterly pathetic but arrogant and ignorant beyond belief. As i said, immature school girl behaviour trying to impress her 'friends'. PLEASE GET A LIFE Gwenick and stay off the threads where someone has just posted information that has no interest or value to you.

Breastfeeding isn't a conspiracy - no one is going to turn around in 10/20 years and say 'hell, yeah, actually it was all a con and we've known formula was better all alone - so just get over it and move on dear.

Message withdrawn

starry

Do we know you ??

There is absolutely no need to be so rude.
It is the norm around here these days for people to fall out on a regular basis.

But I think yours is probably the rudest put down I have seen.

starry, that was unnecesaarily rude of you.
i am quite bored of this topic by now , but thought i would like to see what gwenick could have possibly written that was so inflammatory, and the answer is, nothing.
she gave her opinion. something she has every right to do withougt having personal abuse piled on her. and she need not have a chip on her shoulder to type such a long reply. i dont know her but i do know that sometimes, when i am bored, or in some other mood,i will spend a great deal of time and effort on something that just isnt that important to me normally. if gwenick wants to write a long post, why are you stressed. its her time. dont read it and dont reply to it if thats how you feel

Just did a search.

You have been here quite a while, certainly long enough to know, that you really shouldn't speak to people like that.

here here

Apologies if this is the wrong place to put this - it is relevant but the may be a better thread for it.

Thank you for the link - it made very interesting reading. I breastfed ds as well as I was able (milk didn't come in until day 9, baby started therefore on formula whilst I was in intensive care, managed after much hard work to establish BF and have always had to mix-feed) and loved it, but words cannot convey how shattered, brainless and wrecked it made me feel. I don't regret my decision to BF for a minute, but I do feel that the way in which it is sometimes portrayed particularly by the antenatal classes as being an experience without any downsides at all is an issue, as in my experience quite a high proportion give up when they find they do find there are issues to take into consideration. I'm not suggesting that people are frightened off feeding, but a really realistic approach rather than the "it's totally wonderful" might persuade people to stick with it - I certainly wouldn't have done without my sister to assure me that feeling like a piece of chewed string was normal in the beginning.

I hope noone thinks I am attacking their views - I'm certainly not, and want to help as many other mums to feed happily as possible.

OMG, I have to say I am shocked. I read another thread first and it did seem a bit that tiktok was loosing patience, which I thought highly unusual for her. Now I understand why. Mears posted a really useful, encouraging and supportive link. And then a load of people seem to jump in there and pull it to pieces. Why? it was not saying you were wrong to bottle feed. She passed no comment. It was there if you wanted to read it and if it was relevant to you. How would you feel if someone came along and completely wrecked your thread? I'm not going to start on the whole breast/bottle feeding thing, other than to say that those breast feeding do need more support than bottle feeding mothers do. And perhaps if more recieved this support less would bottle feed. So please have a bit of respect.

pamina my friend was dx'd with breast cancer the week after the month after she stopped breastfeeding, she believes that thinking the lumps were part of her breast changes from feeding nearly killed her.
it's all relative in that scenario I think
I too can name a further 101 reasons why I breastfed my two and will b/f anymore I am lucky enough to have.
Thanks Mears was nice reading.

Very intelligent contribution Starry, thank you for that - NOT

ROFL!!!

FFS - Starry - why don't YOU get a life - and perhaps read some of my other threads and comments about breastfeeding.

NOWHERE - have I said the Breast isn't Best - NOWHERE have I said that bottlefeeding is 'better'.

FYI - (again for everyone elsE)

I BREASTFED - my 1st for 14 months
I bottlefed my 2nd from birth.

I am glad many of you liked the link. I really admired Gwenick's post too, read it with a smile.

It is just such a serious business isn't it? Can I close this thread now since it is mine

starry, if you're that comfortable about your own bfing stance, why do you feel the need to react so badly to someone who dares to have a different opinion? Gwenick makes sense, posts reasonably, seems sensible, and as far as I've seen hasn't tried to start a fight for the sake of it, unlike you.

And (please note here I'm only making a comment to starry NOT saying that bottle is better than breast) this 'natural' business is a load of rubbish. Yes its natural to breastfeed but that doesn't always make it right. It would have been natural for my severely jaundiced and GBS baby to die so I don't have a lot of patience with people getting on a high horse about the 'natural' way.

Breast IS best, undoubtedly. But it does not make you a worse mother to bottle feed and bf'ing does not give you the right to lord it over anyone.

me sensbile??? sorry think you've got the wrong person there

But I bottle fed so what do I know about anything sensible?

Gwenick - blimey - you need to get out more !

huh - get out? what do you mean - no time for getting out - got all those bottles to make up .........well I do get out 2 times a day to drop DS1 at nursery everyafternoon (YEAH!!! peace and quiet )

LOL, love the bit where they say baby cows wouldn't do very well on it!

BF was specifically designed for lazy old mares like me. Wake up, shove boob in, slurpy, slurpy, fall back asleep.......