How to deal with breastfeeding judgement

[louloufaisy]

I breastfed DD1 for 5 months and stopped because I felt pressure from boyf/ family. Nothing huge but just little comments. I didn't have the confidence to continue.

Soon to start trying for DC2 and plan to bf for up to 2 years (if I can). I want to mentally prepare myself for negative comments / judgements so that I can be confident enough to continue on for that long.

Any tips/ tools/ advice/ positive stories would be a massive help?

Thanks

X

I'm sorry that you felt pressured to stop breastfeeding. And I hope the second time around goes well for you.

Like others have said joining some breastfeeding groups will help because it normalises it, and normalises it being hard too, so you automatically have that support.
I also did lots of research on the benefits - so things like it reducing my Cancer risk, lowering risk or diabetes, SIDs etc and that the WHO recommendation is 2 years and beyond. I have a friend who would literally repeat the WHO advice whenever questioned. And if people challenged it she would ask why they thought they knew better than a global health body with loads of research behind them.

Please join La Leche League. https://llli.org/ or if you are in the UK, https://www.laleche.org.uk/

It is recognised by the World Health Organisation as the world's leading authority on breastfeeding advice.

You'll get lots of positive support, and tips from other breastfeeding mothers and the group's leader, expert advice, access to medically-approved literature by world experts, and it is fun. Many groups run father-to-father meetings, couple's meetings, as well as the usual mother-to-mother meetings.

La Leche League offers advice and there is no pressure. You adapt the ideas to suit your family.

My son is 11 months old. When somebody asks how long I'm going to breastfeed him for, my reply is ALWAYS "for as long as both of us want to". It shows that you're nor prepared to make a timescale to suit them.

What's the issue feeding to 2? 3? Why is pressure put on mums to give their children milk from another species (ie cow) and not human milk for a checks notes human baby?

THIS THIS THIS.

I've heard parents refer to breastfeeding a 2 year old as "disgusting" and yet happy to fill them full of milk from a cow?!?

MAKE IT MAKE SENSE

I'm sorry, but this is just ridiculous!

Why is it so difficult to carry a scarf so your boobs aren't out in the open?
I did breastfeed in public, and it is definitely possible to do it in a way that it doesn't make people uncomfortable.