Proud BF Mummy

[SarahSteedman82]

Many of my friends didn't or couldn't so don't quite understand but I'm so proud to have got to 4 years of breastfeeding, our 4 year old stopped when his little sister came along 2 years ago and she has now been 3 days without following on from my 4 year boobversay a week ago :)

Now I have my boobs back lol

@gottakeeponmovin

I don't get this at all. I find bf toddlers a bit yuck

The WHO recommend to bf to at least 2 years old.

@gottakeeponmovin

I don't get this at all. I find bf toddlers a bit yuck

Why?

They think that breasts are on our body for mens pleasure and not to feed our children.

@catsjammies

Massive congratulations!!! I'm coming up to 5 years straight (3y with my 1st, 9m of which was tandem) and REALLY can't wait to have my body back to myself one day!

What an achievement. I never thought too much about it and always joked I BF my kids because I was tight and didn't want to pay for formula, until a friend said 'breastfeeding is only free if a woman's time is worthless' and DAMN if that didn't hit home hard. You absolute queen 👸🏻

Wow your friend is wise! I’ve never considered the time spent on breastfeeding before, dd could go for hours and I fed her for 3yrs 9 months, add that to the sleepless nights, bleeding nipples and lack of time off and I’m even prouder Mind you, all that sterilising of bottles and boiling water for formula must be so labour intensive and time consuming too. Frankly I’m proud I’ve successfully brought them to mid childhood without breaking either of them.

@TheVolturi

They think that breasts are on our body for mens pleasure and not to feed our children.

What the fuck?

@gottakeeponmovin

I don't get this at all. I find bf toddlers a bit yuck

I find your comment a bit yuck tbh

Congratulations OP that's an amazing achievement!
(From a FF mum of 2 who is confident in her feeding choice so doesn't need to tear another woman who made the other choice down).

Enjoy the jewellery! I certainly wouldn't turn it down!

Well done op! I think that is something to be proud of! I love breastfeeding but it's a commitment and some days I feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of it. I definitely have days (and nights!!!) where I wish I could hand it over to my dh and I definitely miss just wearing whatever I want without having to worry about boob access! Managed a year with my first and hoping for longer with my second.

I’m 7.5 years into almost breastfeeding my three kids without much of a break in between
Christ knows how many hours that is

@SarahSteedman82
Really well done

Boobversary sounds more like an anniversary for when you first got your boobs tbh. Or your first bra.

What makes you think your friends wouldn't get it?

OP, this was never going to go down well here. It’s a sore subject for many (& I include myself in that) but I completely understand why you feel proud. Well done

DC1 - couldn’t bf for one day, wouldn’t latch. I was devastated & really upset. I was very bitter when id see a BF mum & probably would have rolled my eyes at this thread & thought you should get a grip. I also thought bfing a toddler to be weird.
DC2 - BF until they were 3yr 3mo. Extremely proud of myself & that journey. Had to force weaning as they were obsessed!
DC3 - currently bf at 11 weeks & planning to until they want to stop.

I AM proud of myself & pp may find that weird but there’s nowhere really to stay that (unless you join a BF Facebook group but some of them are so sanctimonious & won’t even discuss a hint of a dummy so I avoid).

It’s fine to be proud & you should be but unfortunately you can’t shout about it. I think if we could shout about it & it was normalised then less people would think bf a toddler to be ‘icky’. It’s the most natural thing in the world & absolutely not ‘for the mother’ 🤣

Damn it I breast fed for over two years and didn't get anything. I definitely deserved a bloody (diamond) medal as my ds was a nightmare at the beginning. Well done you, if it was easy everyone would do it so you have every right to feel proud.

@SarahSteedman82
Hi, massive well done by the way
Hope you don't me hijacking for advice I'm currently going 2 years + and beginning to absolutely detest it.
I am also pregnant so doesn't help.
If you wouldn't mind sharing

1. how did you deal with sensitive sore nipples when breastfeeding DC1
2. Did DC1 naturally stop after DC2 arrival or did you have get involved? I'm really struggling. TIA x

Well done OP, that's amazing and a huge achievement. There is nothing smug about your post. You've done an incredible thing and the health benefits to your children will go on into their adulthood. I'm feeding my 6 month old (fed my first DS for two years and hope to do the same second time round) and I'm really proud of myself as the sacrifices have been huge.

Well done OP!! You should be very proud of yourself!

@gottakeeponmovin

I don't get this at all. I find bf toddlers a bit yuck

Not really a thread for you then....

Not a dog at the op - well done btw. I wish bf could be discussed without some apology for mentioning it.

Bf deserves praise it's bloody hard work.

Op a friend of mine has had a ring made with a tiny drop of bm im so jealous I wish I'd got one. I fed a year and 18 months at a time.

Well done OP! I’ve been breastfeeding for nearly six months and I am proud of myself so think you have every right to too! I don’t get why breastfeeding moms have to feel guilty to be proud of feeding. Like others have said either is best as long as baby is fed. But I feel we can’t talk about it to moms who FF (which is absolutely fine) or praise ourselves. It is really hard especially when you feel exhausted, suffering from blocked ducts, mastitis, lots of overnight feeds and husband can’t help because who can’t pump or express much, cracked and sore nipples, poor latch, feeding in public for the first time. We should be proud for preserving through all these problems that a lot of BF moms come across.

Also OP I think it’s lovely your husband buying you jewellery. I guess it might be emotional too if you are at the end of your breastfeeding journey. I know I will be sad because it’s a lovely thing between the two of you.

[quote Br3style]@SarahSteedman82
Hi, massive well done by the way
Hope you don't me hijacking for advice I'm currently going 2 years + and beginning to absolutely detest it.
I am also pregnant so doesn't help.
If you wouldn't mind sharing

1. how did you deal with sensitive sore nipples when breastfeeding DC1
2. Did DC1 naturally stop after DC2 arrival or did you have get involved? I'm really struggling. TIA x[/quote] Hiya, huge congrats first of all :) I'll keep it brief for obvious reasons, I didn't really find I had that sensitive nipples to be honest but when it did happen I used cabbage leaves direct from the fridge, I thought it sounded mad with my first when my DH found it online when I mentioned needing something but I found it really helped.

I found that when DC2 came along DC1 got bored of waiting for his turn and DH made up some toddler friendly milk smoothie things before work and left in the fridge for me to grab for him :)

Try not to be hard on yourself, it will get easier and DC1 will find the right moment to stop.

@SarahSteedman82
Thank you so much for replying made me feel a bit more relieved at the thought of two! Really appreciate it xx

[quote Br3style]@SarahSteedman82
Thank you so much for replying made me feel a bit more relieved at the thought of two! Really appreciate it xx[/quote]
You are welcome, we all just do our best so stay strong lovely :) pm is open if you need a chat x

Massive congratulations @SarahSteedman82 - that’s a wonderful achievement and experience. What a lovely, thoughtful husband you have too!

I’m at around two years of breastfeeding too, and pregnant with my second! I really hope I make it to at least two years with both, as the WHO recommend. Who knows how the new baby (and me) will be with breastfeeding though!

Well done again, OP. Enjoy your thoughtful gifts!

I’m glad this is generally a supportive thread. It’s lovely to want to celebrate this. I weaned my third child recently aged 2.5. At that time I’d been continuously pregnant and/or breastfeeding for nearly nine years. So it felt quite weird and emotional but I don’t like to say anything to anyone in real life as it might not come across well so I just felt chuffed in secret alone :)

I did five years of breastfeeding for my two DC. I didn't ask for medals, diamonds, anything really.

It's just something one does if it's easy. I have the most respect for women who do five weeks whilst every suck is killing them. That's the bastard. The fucker.