[Sunnycat]

Did your attitude toward breastfeeding change once you had a baby?

I will admit mine did. Before having DS my breasts were for sexual purposes. I couldn't imagine breastfeeding and wasn't even sure I was going to. I was one of these ****wits who thought extended breastfeeding was weird and vowed never to breastfeed in public.

Of course then I had DS and I learned that feeding DS felt nothing like when my breasts had been used sexually, that it's not always possible to avoid breastfeeding in public and that extended breastfeeding isn't always a choice as it can be mighty hard to wean a reluctant baby.

As someone mentioned in another thread, I had no problem with breasts, it was the suckling of breasts that made it hard for me to separate it from a sexual act (if that makes sense?)

Of course now that I have had DS breastfeeding isnt anything like what I thought it would be.

My mum never breastfed us and I never knew anyone with babies prior to having DS. Funny though because DH's mum breastfed and DH has always been pro breastfeeding.

My attitude certainly has changed and I'm ashamed of some of the judgements and conversations I probably used to have.

So just wondering if anyone else's attitude changed after having kids?

[Escapin]

I certainly expected to breastfeed, and was looking foward to it. I did think though, that I would stop at 12 months, and that anyone who still breastfeeding their kid when they could walk and talk was a bit of a hippy. Cut to present day, DD is 21mo and we're still going strong! LOL. So I am a hippy after all

[JuniorSpies]

Not so much when I had a baby (although actual experience did demonstrate to me just how hard breastfeeding can be, how unpredictable a babies needs can be, how difficult motherhood is all round and how it is nigh on impossible to breastfeed under a cover past 3 or 4 months) but moreso as I matured.

In my early 20's I definitely thought women should go to a parents room, pump and bottle feed or use a cover and the sight of breastfeeding made me uncomfortable. Like you, my mother did not breast feed any of her children, nor did any of my aunts etc. Certainly nobody fed past 2 or so months.

My attitudes had definitely liberalised by the time I fell pregnant and thanks to threads on EB I was at least semi prepared for the experience.

[Mama8]

I guess being farm raised I always saw breastfeeding as the norm.
The cows did it the sheep and every other mammal on the place did it so it was just the given thing when I had my first.
It wasn't as easy as the sheep and cows made it look and a colicky baby had me in tears for weeks but I struggled along through blocked ducts and cracked nipples and we eventually we got it and didn't look back.
I then fed all my other babies and I loved it.
So portable and easy, camping trips were a breeze as was anything else hubby and I did they just fitted into our lifestyle


Eta: not comparing bfing mums to cows or sheep

This post has been edited by Mama8: 21/01/2013, 06:07 PM

[LittleC]

I grew up in a 1 parent family, raised by my Father. Breastfeeding never crossed my thoughts until my SIL had her first child, it was literally the first time I'd ever seen anyone do it. The whole concept was pretty foreign to me all my life.

[Jemstar]

I never really had any issues with others breastfeeding or extended breastfeeding etch never thought it was weird, horrible or anything. What I couldn't imagine was myself doing it! Once I had my first child though it seemed entirely natural, so I guess my attitude did change in that regard.

With my first child I thought I would probably feed for 12 months, we didn't quite make it to 12 months, much to my disappointment. With my 2nd and 3rd child I fed them for 16 months and to 30 months.

This post has been edited by Jemstar: 21/01/2013, 06:15 PM

[ImpatientAnna]

Like you, I was not brought up around breast feeding so I really had no opinion either way until we started trying for a child. Admittedly at this point I was probably a bit ill informed in that I thought breast feeding was just a source of nourishment. I did not realise that breasts were mighty good pillows, provided comfort, aided in getting a baby to sleep, and that they learn to suckle without biting your boob off.

I did know that breast milk was vastly superior nutritionally, and intended to breast feed for at least 6 months. I had no idea why anyone would feed a toddler, because they can eat solids right? But I never judged anyone for their choice to do so. I also never judged anyone for feeding however they chose in public. Despite my naïveté, I did realise that a breast's main function was to feed a child and didn't see it as something that should be covered.

Now, I am feeding a toddler because it provides all the additional benefits listed above, and wouldn't dream of weaning him until he is ready. My little guy is so confident and independent, and I think it's because the comfort of his boobies are always there to come back to whenever he needs them.

I am so sad about the events over the last few days because I think that parent's should be able to feed their children without judgement or shame, however they see best! It doesn't matter if that is with a bottle of formula in a parent's room, a 'discrete' breast with cover in the corner of a cafe, or 'flopping a tit out' in the middle of a crowded shopping centre.

[cinnabubble]

I thought I'd have a stab at it and give up at six months. My older daughter fed for 2.25 years and the younger is two years and ten months old and still breastfed.

I think it's safe to say my position has changed.

[Ianthe]

No. I was pretty adamant I would breastfeed, did not want to use formula. I did use formula with my eldest (who is now 16) at 5 months who then weaned himself off the breast I always had a 12 month goal in mind. I fed my second for 13 months, my third for 12 months (he was a real sticky beak and was a total pita to feed), my fourth for 20 months and my fifth for over 2 years.

[JuniorSpies]

I had actually thought I'd breastfeed longer. I had a goal of 12 months in mind.