Breastfeeding and SN

[Jenkeywoo]

I'm breastfeeding dd2 who is 15 months and has hemiplegia (CP affecting her right side). I feel that her SN has deeply affected how I feel about breastfeeding, I have always enjoyed it and she clearly adores it! but now I feel that I have commited to breastfeeding long term as her life is hard enough and breastfeeding is such a comfort to her. Somehow when she's snuggled at the breast it's like her hemiplegia doesn't matter and it's one of the few things she can do as well as any other child her age. Which is why it's so hard when I get the usual 'are you STILL breastfeeding?' questions! Why do they not get how very precious breastfeeding is to both of us? I think the very good thing is that as she isn't yet walking or crawling at least in public people think she is younger than she is so I don't get too many funny looks. .

My DS has spastic diplegia, I know how you feel re breastfeeding, he is 8 now, and when I used to get comments I would just tell them to Bug*r off because its none of their business to comment on your child, (as it is also none of my buisness to comment on theirs. The shock and grief you feel about having a special needs child need to be worked through and for you breastfeeding is helping that, your DD loves the comfort of mummy as do all children no matter what.

you are doing the best for your child. i really wanted to bf dd1 but with her numerous health problems she wasn't able to bf and she was put onto infatrini and now has a gastrostomy in. when dd2 arrived 11 weeks early the determination was even stronger as i missed out with dd1, she's 11 months old and is still bf.

jenkeywoo, you are doing a great job

I was obsessed about breastfeeding dd2 - I felt it was one of the biggest things I could do for her - it wasn't always easy and some health professionals clearly thought I was mad.

I was bereft when she weaned herself as a result of a nursing strike at 15 months.

good on you riven - i cannot believe people can be like that!

well done Jenkeywoo - I b/f my dd who has down syndrome until she was 21mths when she self weaned. I didnt get any funny looks, i think probably because she was tiny and looked like a newborn baby ;)
x

Jenkey,what a lovely touching post.
Brings tears to my eyes (and sooo not in a patronising 'poor you' fashion.) You are doing a bloody sterling job.Keep at it girl and I suggest a bright smile and a brisk 'Snout out!' to anyone who dares presume to comment.

You keep it up for as long as YOU think is necessary, nothing to do with anyone else. I bf my ds1 untill he was about 8 months, he has a right sided hemiplegia and it used to take ages to give him a feed!. I would have gone on for longer but each feed was taking about three-quarters to one hour!, so sleep won in the end. There is nothing wrong with b-feeding at 15 months. You will know when the time is right to give up, don't feel dictated to by society. When you have a sn child, your whole life is filled with comments, stares and disapproving glances. You have to be strong and stick to your guns. Lift your head up high. You are doing a wonderful, natural thing for your child and you enjoy it for as long as it lasts .