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

Where has there been FF shaming on this thread? Seems to me like OPs success has made you feel inadequate. But that says more about your feelings of self not what the OP said about others FF (because she didn't, neither did anyone else, except FF parents)

Clearly I’m inadequate at BF because I didn’t get a stunning amethyst and diamond necklace as a boobversary present. 😭

Tbh it’s the breastfeeding lobby who have created this situation.

If women weren’t shamed for FF then they wouldn’t feel ashamed. Very simple. It’s the omnipresent and absolutely relentless “breast is best” stuff that’s fucked it up for everyone including people like OP who now feel like they can’t celebrate something they want to. You did this to yourselves, it’s not formula companies or formula feeding mothers who are responsible.

@JeanClaudeVanDammit

Tbh it’s the breastfeeding lobby who have created this situation.

If women weren’t shamed for FF then they wouldn’t feel ashamed. Very simple. It’s the omnipresent and absolutely relentless “breast is best” stuff that’s fucked it up for everyone including people like OP who now feel like they can’t celebrate something they want to. You did this to yourselves, it’s not formula companies or formula feeding mothers who are responsible.

This.

And I did bf for longer than the op.

But I’m made to feel inadequate because I didn’t have a diamond necklace and a boobversary

The post should be in infant feeding anyway.

Just because someone can't do something.(whatever the reason) doesn't mean that something they can't do wouldn't have been the best. And just because they can't do it doesn't mean there is any shade. It is just an unfortunate very emotive fact.

Clearly I’m inadequate at BF because I didn’t get a stunning amethyst and diamond necklace as a boobversary present spend the GoFundMe money on a necklace if it'll help

@Myxisaprat

Clearly I’m inadequate at BF because I didn’t get a stunning amethyst and diamond necklace as a boobversary present. 😭

Her partner bought that for her. Maybe request someone in your life buy you a gift to say thanks for everything you've done. Or treat yourself. I don't have one either. But I don't feel my boobs are inadequate. Maybe you have larger issues with your breasts?

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

Clearly I’m inadequate at BF because I didn’t get a stunning amethyst and diamond necklace as a boobversary present spend the GoFundMe money on a necklace if it'll help

My email address is

[email protected]

@Myxisaprat

Well, they are.

And the op came across as smug. Which has upset me. And I’m not talking about the striking amethyst and diamond necklace.

No one would know looking at my adult children which one wasn’t BF. It really isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of child rearing. And the idea of a boobversary makes me cringe. I don’t even know when mine was.

Can you specify where FF has been judged?

I have no idea why you would allow what you perceive as smugness to upset you, most people would find that mildly irritating rather than upsetting. Not to mention that your feeling upset by the post isn’t automatically a good reason for it to not be posted or to be posted elsewhere. Particularly as you seem to be doing your best to upset OP.

And of course me being told I need counselling isn’t upsetting at all.

You know that was a joke,right?!

Hardly. But nice try on the backtrack and gaslighting.

@JeanClaudeVanDammit

Tbh it’s the breastfeeding lobby who have created this situation.

If women weren’t shamed for FF then they wouldn’t feel ashamed. Very simple. It’s the omnipresent and absolutely relentless “breast is best” stuff that’s fucked it up for everyone including people like OP who now feel like they can’t celebrate something they want to. You did this to yourselves, it’s not formula companies or formula feeding mothers who are responsible.

Nor did breastfeeding mothers.

No back tracking, I was joking hence the smiley face, sorry it got 'lost in translation.' Read back again, it was in defence of you being called ' not a nice person.'

You know what? I breast fed longer than the op. With two children same as her. And I never have felt the need to put a smug post on social media about it.

That’s the exact sort of post that leads to FF mother’s feeling judged and inadequate. All the breast is best stuff.

It shouldn’t be hard to be considerate of other people. If you want to boast, there’s infant feeding for that.

Breast is best which is why FF parents feel judged and shamed when they aren't being.

@Myxisaprat, Are you OK? You have been so grumpy throughout this thread, to put it mildly. You are taking everything personally. You do know the OP/thread is about someone else's experiences and not aimed at you?

Also, you have successfully breastfed and formula fed; an expert at both. You literally have no reason to be feeling judged or inferior or whatever else you claim to be feeling.

Breast is not always best. It’s an asinine slogan

Breast milk is always better than formula. However if breastfeeding isn't working for whatever reason then fed is best.

@AnonAnom940

Breast milk is always better than formula. However if breastfeeding isn't working for whatever reason then fed is best.

Not always. There are food allergies and the like that mean children can’t have breast milk for example if they’re severely lactose intolerant which is what was the issue with my baby

Unless you think a child losing weight and having diarrhoea is acceptable? Crying all the time?

(And yes. I did an exclusion diet)

This thread had a title that was about as unambiguous as it gets. Should the OP have asked for a trigger warning as well?

You literally can’t mention breastfeeding on mumsnet without at least one poster acting like you’ve walked into their house, smacked the bottle of formula out of their hand and screamed in their face that they’re an unfit parent

Breastfeeding can be a hard journey. It takes commitment. It can put a lot of pressure on the nursing parent. There is absolutely nothing wrong with celebrating that journey, and it has absolutely nothing to do with another woman’s completely valid decision to do what is right for her and / or her kids by formula feeding.

@Myxisaprat I said "However if breastfeeding isn't working for whatever reason then fed is best." This includes what you tried to refute me with.

I just came on to point that out too @AnonAnom940! That poster is arguing for arguing's sake and is tripping herself up in her haste.

It shouldn’t be hard to be considerate of other people. If you want to boast, there’s infant feeding for that.

Not sure you’ve thought that through. The infant feeding board is predominantly made up of women going through difficult periods with feeding (breast and formula) and looking for advice and support. I doubt this post would be considered helpful in a forum specifically for people struggling with feeding.

Much better in parenting, since it’s discussing a celebration of one part of the parenting journey. It seems daft to suggest there’s nowhere on mumsnet that you can express pride in extended breastfeeding, and I think this board is as good a place as any and better than many other boards.