Breast feeding

[ExhaustedDad]

I'd be over the moon if all he had going for him was a minor illness. Poor lad is on his 2nd open heart surgery and more in future and hes only 5. However birth defects have shit to do with breastfeeding, so my point is moot. But does explain WHY I detest seeing resources wasted on those who don't need it. Admission back to hospital for help with breast feeding is bullshit when there are babies in the next bed suffering with real illness.

Theres no way the other mum was acting in her kids best interest trying to force breastfeeding. She was practically starving her own child being too stubborn to give a bottle. I thought when you had kids you put then first not ridiculous social ideals.

This is why people need to keep their opinions to themselves, you never know peoples circumstances.

Toppsie, so sorry to hear about your lad's condition. I wish him a successful and speedy recovery.

 

[Sln2404]

When you stand in the school playground you can’t tell how any child was fed as a baby.

 

[Travelhappy]

Whats shocking is that you have been dwelling so long on a flippant comment made by a stranger on Tattle. And whether I , or anyone, chooses to breastfeed or not should be of no real concern to you. Frankly Im amazed by the time you have invested tonight arguing with me about this. And yes I agree you should be sleeping, or maybe spending time with your child.

Flippant to you yet damaging to me and lots of other breastfeeding mums. Maybe a lesson. For you.
Child in bed and I'm away to join him - yes we co sleep I'm sure you will be DELIGHTED to hear. Good night.

 

[ClaireBear117]

Formula feeding raises the risk of sids? Literally never heard that ever anywhere? Where have you read this?

The NHS, Lullaby Trust, it’s common knowledge. It’s often said that breastfeeding lowers the risk, but it’s scientifically inaccurate to say that really. As an extrinsic risk factor formula feeding isn’t the biological norm, it’s a risk factor not a protective factor.

The NHS, Lullaby Trust, it’s common knowledge. It’s often said that breastfeeding lowers the risk, but it’s scientifically inaccurate to say that really. As an extrinsic risk factor formula feeding isn’t the biological norm, it’s a risk factor not a protective factor.

 

[SmartieQueen]

Well, the ridiculous poor me photo would have made me feel better if I’d seen it at 3 weeks post partum and I was on my 4th bout of mastitis. It would have made me feel a little less alone. I also got plenty of ‘just give a bottle’ comments which are pretty shitty when you’re dealing with horrible pain but you’re gritting your teeth and battling on as you know it’ll get easy soon. It did get easy, thankfully, and I hope it does for her too.

I didn’t breastfeed my eldest, I combi fed my middle so I’ve done it all different ways.

 

[KateESJ]

Thank you xx

It’s all scaremongering. For a few moments I believed it and almost broke down at the thought of being the one to have caused his death but then I remembered I was in a Facebook mums group surrounded by ‘perfect’ parents who do nothing wrong. Those groups are poison. Ironically that comment came from the same group that thinks using a forward facing car seat from 6 months old is 100% safe.

 

[Krumblies]

Mine was based on letting my husband have a more active role. I never really wanted to bf but also couldn’t say why I didn’t want to... just didn’t want 2

So refreshing reading this. Your baby your choice, nice to read some honesty behind the decision making.

Im really pro breastfeeding - fed my daughter until she was 2 and 13 months in with my son. What no one really tells you is the total exhaustion you will suffer feeding a new born baby every 2 hours around the clock. What I find really frustrating is the number of women I’ve met who seemingly just use “I didn’t produce enough milk” as an excuse. It’s supply and demand - the more you feed/express the more milk you make. Honestly in real life I’ve not even met a single mum who has actually been honest and has said I just didn’t want to breast feed as it’s always veiled with an excuse.

The statistics for women who physically can't breastfeed (inverted nipples, medication, mastectomy, supply issue) is ridiculously small, round 2% I believe)

I personally I do feel alot of mums are not supported to breastfeed and due to this may feel their supply isn't good enough.

Add to that lack of education relating to cluster feeding which makes you feel like baby isn't getting enough milk.

Then baby may not gain as much weight as his formula fed peer....more mummy doubt.

So many factors lead to breastfeeding not being established in those early days, and to those mummies I feel so sad for.

I do agree far too many mums will say I didn't produce enough milk so formula fed just to ease the judgement of others/ease their guilt/appear as though it wasnt their choice.

Breastfeeding is fucking hard work.

 

[JsMama2019]

As 2 Unlimited wisely once said, no no no no no no no no no no no no.

Verifying Device

At that point, she's getting more out of it than her kids are.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with breastfeeding a child to whatever age they wean. You’d think during a pandemic people would be more welcoming and supportive for breastfeeding seeing the benefits provide the child with antibodies as well as statistically putting less strain on the health service in general. Imagine getting annoyed at a child for feeding. Imagine getting annoyed at a mother for feeding her child.

Children who have been breastfed are far less likely to develop common childhood conditions and infections, as well as protective against vomiting and diarrhoea, childhood cancers like leukaemia, SIDS, obesity and even less likely to develop cardiovascular disease as an adult.

It doesn’t stop at the child either. Mum benefits too with it being statistically less likely she will develop ovarian and breast cancer, osteoporosis, obesity and also less likely to develop cardiovascular disease.


it’s not about fed being best. Fed is not an option. It’s a requirement of life.

Support is best. Support for all the mums whether they breastfeed for 1 feed, for 1 day, or as far as 7 years. Support for all the mums who chose not the breastfeed. Support for all the mums who wanted to breastfeed but couldn’t. It takes a village to raise a child, and if we don’t support the child’s primary care giver then we’re neglecting to support the child too.

Breastfeeding is much more than a nutritional fulfilment. Research shows us that breastfeeding actually helps relieve pain in babies, it encourages skin to skin, it supports the healthy development of the structures of the mouth. Breastfeeding is found to increase brain growth by 20-30%. It’s been found that breastfeeding has improved cognitive abilities, facilitated brain development, and a reduced risk for antisocial behaviors and atypical social development including ASD.The benefits of breastfeeding are still being researched - the funding is so few and far between that we’ll probably still be finding out new benefits to breastfeeding in years to come.

I'm sorry, but a lot of that is lactivist bullshit. Please don't spread ignorant facts, because there's nothing to back it up.

 

[Definitelyme]

You can say that about anything.
You can also understand other people's view on something, while still doing your thing.
I never said women should not breasfeed. No one said that. You're ignoring 90% of what is being said.

Also, it is not a matter of "supporting it". Breast feeding is not an idea or a project. It just happens, and you have to accept it.
We're talking about it being ok for someone to not being comfortable with seeing that. It does not mean that that person will say or do something about it.

I also understand that there are subjects where not everyone is entitled to have an opinion. But here, although, once again, I do not have a problem seeing it. But I do understand that some people still feel that way – it's part of the journey towards a world where everyone will just see it as something completely normal to run into.

yes I understand that people have differing opinions, but again they don’t have to be voiced when that opinion means nothing. Your opinion on other people breastfeeding means nothing. My opinion on other people breastfeeding means nothing. The only opinion that matters is that of the mother and baby.

And yes it is something you can support. Gay marriage isn’t an idea or a project, you can still support that It’s about supporting a mother to feel comfortable in her parenting decisions, which doesn’t just apply to feeding, but all decisions. And if that means keeping opinions to yourself, that’s what you do.

I honestly don’t understand how this is even being discussed. A woman chooses when and where and how to feed her baby and that’s it

ETA: I’m delighted that you personally are someone who supports breastfeeding

 

[Eltonjohnsflorist]

There is nothing wrong with breastfeeding longer term - I only fed mine for a year, but I get the impression lots of women feed a lot longer and just don’t talk about it. It’s quite hard to get a baby off the breast, they just love it. So I can easily see some children want to carry on when they’re 4,5.

However there is a particular type of woman who seems obsessed with childbirth and breastfeeding, often stretching out the brief obsession you have when your own are tiny for many years after their children have grown up- frequently these women train as breastfeeding councillors or hypnobirthing trainers, or something centred around that birth experience. They’ll often enthusiastically longer term feed.

These are the women who you’ll see arguing on mumsnet about weaning and virgin gut theory even though their children are teenagers.
And that is exactly the type of woman who would go to the daily mirror to do a story on breastfeeding her children in the playground

Whilst I’m really grateful that these women use their obsessions to do things like train as a BF counsellor, the other end of the stick is that I do think they can cause anxiety to new mums with the ie hysterical weaning debates

 

[Notgonnalie]

At that point, she's getting more out of it than her kids are.



I'm sorry, but a lot of that is lactivist bullshit. Please don't spread ignorant facts, because there's nothing to back it up.

There are scientific studies to back up everything I said. If you don’t like breastfeeding it’s quite simple, don’t look no one is forcing you to.

I’ll link to a webpage which links to many resources of where a lot of my facts can be backed up my science.

Breastfeeding Past Infancy: Fact Sheet - KellyMom.com

Breastfeeding children benefit NUTRITIONALLY Although there has been little research done on children who breastfeed beyond the age of two, the available information indicates that breastfeeding continues to be a valuable source of nutrition and disease protection for as long as breastfeeding...

kellymom.com

 

[Notgonnalie]

I don’t argue about breastfeeding with anyone and don’t foresee anyone as being “too thick to do research” what an odd statement to make. I support mums with whatever way they feed their babys. I posted the links because i was told the benefits I listed about breastfeeding were bullshit. Nothing to do with breastfeeding counsellor training.

You sound very angry and I’m not sure why you keep trying to have a go at me I haven’t done anything wrong. You disagree with my posts, I have no desire in convincing you that I’m right, you’re entitled to your opinions.
Let’s leave it there.

 

[Travelhappy]

Rubbish. I felt relieved my baby was fed and happy. If she was putting her childs need first she would have given him.a bottle. Do you think it would know the difference or care?? And the only time I ever felt bad was when some earth mother like you made me ashamed that I didnt breast feed my babies.

Earth mother - thanks that's a huge compliment!
I have no issue and actually a lot of sympathy with mums who tried but couldn't feed their babies for whatever reason. It would break my heart.
I do have a problem with the lack of support for breastfeeding mums - people complaining about crying in a hospital ward or who have opinions on when babies should be weaned when it's nothing to do with them and they have no clue about breastfeeding.

If you actually read the research comparing breastfed and bottle-fed babies in the developed world… almost all of it finds the health benefits of breastfeeding to be non-existent, marginal, or impossible to disentangle from other aspects of a baby’s life

I'd be interested to read this research. Can you link it?

 

[Duchesspink]

The average what is 7? 7 isn’t an average age to breastfeed anywhere, if that’s what you mean

I’m very pro breastfeeding but you *know* BF until 7 isn’t common anywhere

It might not be common but there are still some children who are still feeding at 7. Some even beyond
Its natural term breastfeeding. Some finish their journeys much earlier and others later. The front milk teeth fall out between 6 and 7 and that tends to be the end of a natural latch.

 

[SheWereActuallyInCar]

I’m very wise to breastfeeding thank you, seeing as I’ve done it

Likewise, only stopped last week after 15 months. Breastfeeding is not classed as dairy, only the milk of other mammals is.

Back to Hinch...

 

[Prodcon21]

My boy had breast milk (pumped because he wouldn’t latch, which caused huge distress for us both, at one point he screamed as soon as he saw me because he associated me with being forced to try and latch) for 9 weeks, when yes, I stopped. Because I was exhausted and had began to actually dislike my own newborn. And guess what. He’s had nothing but colds, he’s had croup, he’s had rashes. Now considering even COLOSTRUM alone is supposed to help their immune system, why did 9 weeks worth of mother milk make absolutely sod all difference to his health?

 

[erin182]

I agree. I don’t think people actually have a problem with BF. It’s completely normal.

However I really find it uncomfortable when women post pics of them BF or do it in public. It’s awkward. I don’t want to see a strangers big veiny boob being flopped out. And I think that’s how others feel. It’s not that they think BF is wrong it’s the fact they don’t want to see it.

You quite clearly have a problem with breastfeeding

 

[Death2unicorns]

I had this discussion with a health visitor, breastfeeding is very under reported. I know from personal experience I was never asked if I was still breastfeeding at the 2 year check, and in fact they ticked no each time without even checking. I was still breastfeeding past the age of 2. Breastfeeding older children carries a lot of stigma, fear of being reported to social services (which has happened to people) or just noone asking the questions. I was part of the la leche league for a few years and there were a lot of mums still breastfeeding at 4 or 5 years. It.would be good to get more accurate figures.

well I know my 2 year old is absolutely nowhere near ready to self wean, she might surprise me one day but at the moment she is a little boob monster, her little face lights up with happiness when I start lifting up my top! She hasn’t had her two year check yet but the HV didn’t bother asking at her one year check, I will admit I’ve started ‘going underground’ with the breastfeeding now as I’ve started to get a few questions from family and friends about when I’m going to stop and I just can’t be arsed trying to explain to them how the breastfeeding relationship is so much more then food, I can’t believe anyone would report to social services!! Just goes to show how little is understood about bf and how far away from the biological norm our society has moved.

 

[RubyShoe]

So it's your opinion that as soon as a baby gets teeth it's primary and the best source of nutrition on this planet for him should be removed and replaced with a below par alternative??
Educate yourself.



You are of course entitled to your own opinion but this one is probably best kept to yourself, it's embarrassing.

Bore off Hun xx

So it's your opinion that as soon as a baby gets teeth it's primary and the best source of nutrition on this planet for him should be removed and replaced with a below par alternative??
Educate yourself.



You are of course entitled to your own opinion but this one is probably best kept to yourself, it's embarrassing.

And its quite embarassing that you lecture anyone whose opinion differs from your own too. I bet you are feeding more to suit your own needs than the childs. Do you believe in co sleeping till the child is 14 too?.

 

[chocolate choux]

so I usually just read this thread and don’t post & this may be a little long so sorry in advance!!!
so, my friend had a baby 2 weeks after me my little one will be 5months on Sunday so hers is around 4&half month
Her baby can’t sit up on his own but she started to wean him around 5-6 weeks ago, she keeps sending snapchats of her feeding him he seemed to be pushing porridge out with his tongue and turning his head away from the spoon and not opening his mouth when the spoon was being given too him & generally showing no interest in it so I suggested he maybe wasn’t ready for it yet but she made a fuss saying he definitely is and was told so by the midwife and he’s just turning away because the TV was on, she just sent another snapchat of her feeding him a rusk, I thought these were meant to be crushed and mixed with milk? But she’s giving it to him just as the whole biscuit and keeps smacking his hand away when he’s trying to push it out his mouth, so I again I said he doesn’t seem interested in it and should probably just have his milk but if she really wants to try it then mix it with his milk and she’s adamant that’s not what you do She then sent another of him with the ellas kitchen melty puffs and said he’s just had 3 full ones all by himself which to me he hasn’t at all since hes not holding things properly yet
I really don’t think he’s ready for food I know it’s not up to me but I just feel so bad for him

I know it is frustrating but you can’t do much about it. You are correct about the rusks - they are supposed to be mushed up with milk as a first food, then recommended as a finger food at about 10 months when he is weaned and can feed himself . It is a concern that he will choke, especially as he is not cooperating. The only thing you can really do is advise her to check the rusk packaging (the guidance is on there). You could send her some information about why weaning is recommended at 6 months and the risks associated with doing it earlier - choking, digestive problems, malnourishment etc. A Google search will bring up plenty of advice and research. Chances are she won’t listen as she hasn’t so far and apparently has a professional supporting her

It used to bother me a lot too but it’s unproductive. If she doesn’t agree then you just have to get on with it, focus on doing what you think is right by your own baby