Breastfeeding till the age of 4 - what do you think?

[lisalisa]

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You'd think so, Im sure that they all must have the same guigelines, but I suppose its down to the individuals on the 'shop floor'.

They should, Serah, but it's about how important midwives feel supporting breastfeeding is (and to the women who stop sooner than they wished, it's v important, IMO). The impression I got in the hospital I had DS was that they weren't interested in supporting women to breastfeed (even the head of midwifery said "But there are lots of posters up" - and thought that was all the support new mums needed!).

Many other women I know who have had babies in the same hospital said the same - the midwives were more interested in getting the babies to have a bottle if breastfeeding didn't work the first time. I was left to get on with it, had no idea what I was doing, had a hospital worker (not a midwife, not a nurse - not sure who they were!) shove my boob in DS's mouth (imagine trying to fold your ear into a letterbox - similar effect...!) and say "That's how you do it" then walk off. Totally useless. And a far, far lower percentage of women left that hospital breastfeeding than the national average (think it was just over 50% as opposed to 70-something).

WWB, they allow these people onto the actual wards!

WWB! That's appalling (but sadly unsurprising...)

I often have to take DD to our local hospital with asthma, and because I breastfeed her, I get free meals. I'm not sure if this is a good or a bad thing , but it does show that the hospital supports breastfeeding.

I don't ever have a problem with any of the hospital staff, and they are usually very complimentary.

Ah, thinking about it, I bet the hospital then gets free formula.

Yep, on the actual ward 6 hours after she gave birth.

I was ready to give them a smack round the ear if they'd come into the hospital where I had dd, but the hospital didn't allow it.

WWB, I'd have followed him down the corridor shouting at him! Then complained to everyone who'd listen! And some who wouldn't too!

I think she was a bit too knackered to bother - and too surprised as well.

mmh, I think you're probably right - I'll bet the hospital did get free formula out of it. Which is an even more cynical marketing ploy.

Cynical marketing is a shame on the formula companies.

I had all the help in the world - every midwife on the ward tried to help me for 6 days. In that respect, I have nothing but praise for the amount of time and effort they put in.

I think I would have cracked open the bottle of formula on day one, had someone directed me to a poster on the wall HM. That is a shame.

Tipex, I've heard this kind of thing recently too. I can't understand how there is such a difference between this country and one of the Scandinavian countries where breastfeeding rates are almost at 100% but I think that fear of ridicule or abuse is a large part of it. Thing is, the majority of people don't mind seeing breastfeeding - and loads of people are positively pleased to see it!

I know what you mean about wanting to go up to women breastfeeding!

Maybe I'll write to EastEnders to see if I can get an extra role bfeeding DB once he or she is here! Not in the Vic though - wouldn't want to be near Dot Cotton's stinky smoke! In the cafe, perhaps?!

I was in the waiting room with my ds when he was 4 months old and I got chatting with another woman who was bottle feeding her 5 month old.

My ds started to fuss a bit so I put him on the breast and carried on chatting. Without breaking from the conversation, the woman stopped bottle feeding and put her baby on the breast.

I wonder, perhaps she'd been shy before but felt there was strength in numbers.

I see very few people breastfeeding and when I went to a baby massage group when my little one was 4 months old I was the only one out of ten women still breastfeeding.

So I avoid normal toddler groups and things now because I find it quite stressful to be among lots of mothers who have not breastfed their babies for months and I just go to the Baby Bistro, and NCT groups and I've made lots of great friends. Plenty of whom are bottlefeeding but we're in about equal numbers now so its comfortable.

I don't have a problem with people bottle feeding, just with the fact that our whole culture is based around it. I do think they should start to change greetings cards and things because although they're only a small part of the picture they still have an effect.

It's strange because I am very self concious about many things. Some of them really petty. But I'm not at all self concious about feeding a baby or even a toddler in public. I never have been. I think I just feel so supremely confident about it that if anyone said anything I'd think, 'Ah! The poor confused person hasn't got a clue', and ignore them.

Went away to Germany for nine days, came back today and cannot believe that this thread is still going! And I also cannot believe some of the posts on here! Good thing I wasn't here then, I would have completely neglected my children while being outraged and posting furiously!

Right, heres something to throw into the pot.... (and I know, this thread has lost its original stance somewhat)
What do you think to the idea that breastfeeders "imagine" negative responses to them breastfeeding in public. We all know we are our own worst enemies sometimes. I felt embarressed bottle feeding to start with!!! At that time, I felt I would have been far more comfortable putting him to my breast.

I know there are examples of mad old baggages showing their dismay at the sight of smidgeon of breast flesh on MNet, but is it that (and you know I'm generalising) a breastfeeder feels even the tiniest bit self conscious about revealing their breast or part thereof (albeit discreetly) and feels people are judging/sexualising/whatever it is people do or people imagine they do. What do people think?

woah.. slow to type.. that may have been out of context with "inbetween" messages

3 out of 4 pieces of literature my HV has left me is something that is printed by the company that makes SMA. I am wondering if the council or whoever pays hv's in my area cannot do without it.