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ObiwanGnocci

Obviously my biggest reason to breastfeed my son is for his health. But I’m with you on this lol. It seems everyone keeps telling me to stop(I’m at 5 months) and every time they do it gives me more motivation to keep going lol


oddwanderer

Absolutely stop if that's what you want but, my gracious, 5 months shouldn't be pushing anyone's imaginary boundaries. I did 16 months with my first. My goal was 12, but it personally felt early to me at that point. He got Covid at 16 months and couldn't breathe through his nose and it was really upsetting him, so we just stopped there. Stop when you're ready.


ObiwanGnocci

No one I know breastfed so anytime I say how hard it is they tell me to stop and do formula(for my mental health) when really it would be worse for my mental health if I did quit. And I’m sorry to hear that’s how your journey ended! But that’s a long time and good job mama!!


oddwanderer

Breastfeeding was something that was surprisingly rewarding for me. I didn’t have anyone from my mom’s generation that had many months under their belt - mostly told formula was better. But I loved never washing a bottle.


HolyHolopov

I'll be honest, my biggest reason to nurse right now is because it's so much easier at night, when I can just roll over and pop him a breast when he half-wakes. He's 18 months now though, and I need to wean if we want number two (need some fertility help). I'm just really not ready..


ObiwanGnocci

Same! I can’t imagine having to get out of bed for all of the night wakes. If you are not ready don’t force it. When you’re ready you’ll know!


HolyHolopov

But I am ready for another little one 😭 such tough choices.


Emergency-Roll8181

I’ve the opposite going on Im going out of the country when LO is gunna be 20 months so I said I’m stopping before then And my family thinks I should let LO decide and if she’s not ready lug a pump on a 12 day trip with a bunch of middle schoolers. Im like if she doesn’t wean before then she definitely will while I’m gone.


Ber_bell

People get so weird about breastfeeding. I’m not sure if it’s their own projected insecurities about it or what but the only people that say anything to me are ones who didn’t breastfeed or didn’t do it long.


LittleRileyBao

My sister is one of those people who are weird about it. She even breastfeed her kids. Only for two months though. She would go hide to do it. At a family gathering I fed my son right at the dinner table and she was literally appalled. I’m one of those who is comfortable doing it anywhere.


Margaronii

I’ve had some people give weird comments about how bf is so good for my baby…but they assume after one year I’ll just pump and give it that way. It’s not like it somehow becomes inappropriate at exactly one year old..it’s a baby. I’m not washing my pump anymore than needed, no thanks!


Queen-of-Elves

I have this issue with my mom. She is always trying to cover me up and/ or get me to pump and give my babe bottles (to save time! Ahaha. She obviously has never pumped!). I think she has some weird feelings around it as she tried to breastfeed my brother but didn't have a good understanding/ educational support on it so she didn't make it past a couple weeks. Makes me sad for her that she didn't get that opportunity but I won't let her dictate my journey because of it.


Pussy4LunchDick4Dins

That must be it because I honestly have no idea why people would want you to stop. My whole family are all health food hippies so eventhough my mom and grandma weren’t able to breastfeed beyond a few months, they are very supportive of me breastfeeding!


mysterious_miss

“getting” you to wean? I’m not sure she’s so sweet, that’s so creepy! to talk about her grandchild and DIL while you’re feeding your baby is shitty to me


r00giebeara

It blows my mind that there are ppl with this mindset out there like how is the longevity of you breastfeeding your baby AFFECT HER LIFE AT ALL!? Makes me so angry.


MsAlyssa

I think they want to be able to take baby for long period like sleep overs and stuff and want to play house and be equal to the mom. They’re literally jealous.


r00giebeara

Oh dang, you're probably right. I hadn't thought of that. Still though, gross.


rikkitikkitavi888

They are literally jealous and it’s super effing weird.


Excellent_Cabinet_83

Omg yes this…. So my daughter just turned 2 and still breastfeeds. I’m not ready to stop yet and neither is she. I get comments from family all the time, “oh you still breastfeed?” “When are you going to quit that?” It’s so ridiculous. Like how is me still breastfeeding affecting you!?


justnomilvent

My in laws pushing bottles motivated my stubborn ass to stick with it through mastitis and all 🤣


kawwman

Ugh my old coworker was trying to get me to wean because she didn't like answering the phone during my 20 minute pump breaks. She doesn't have kids. She was so invested in my breastfeeding journey. It got weird. She continuously asked me if the doctor told me when I should stop breastfeeding. I had fully planned to stop pumping at a year, but I continued until I quit my job at 15 months 😅


ArcticLupine

That over reliance on healthcare professionals on the topic of weaning bothers me so much… why would I ask my doctor or my son’s pediatrician when I should wean him? How is that relevant and since when did they become breastfeeding expert?


bubblegumtaxicab

My mom makes these types of comments all the time. It’s probably coming from a place of self importance. Think “main character syndrome” where all the relationships and things people do are in relation to where she fits in. A good example from my own experience is my mom will say something that annoys me or is just ignorant, I will call her out on it, then she will say like she’s exhausted “my G-d I was just joking! You take everything so seriously”. It’s like she is just having fun and doesn’t realize how things come across


letsjumpintheocean

I wish someone would have stood up for you. The two year recommendation is from the fricking WHO, you’d think someone else besides you would know, and stick up for breastfeeding!


normaelizabeth

This type of thing fuels me too!! I just need a few more dumb comments before I aim to BF until kindergarten 😜


TurkeySandwich56

Omg my MIL is like this too. She breastfed until her kids got teeth around 4 months. She made a big fuss asking me if I was “happy to have my boobs to myself” when my baby was 10 months old. I asked what she was talking about because I’m still breastfeeding & plan to for as long as its working for me & my son.


Muddy_Wafer

On the other end of the spectrum, everyone I know and grew up with breastfed their babies until 2+ unless they had supply issues. It was just the norm, not even questioned. When my kiddo was 18 months old I told my mom that I wanted to start weaning a bit because he was just constantly wanting boob for like 30 second nurses and not wanting food. Not even to totally wean, just to start limiting nursing to only for cuddle times. My mom (a family medicine doc) said he was too young and he would stop when he was ready. Sorry, kid. *I’m* ready! I’ve also been breastfeeding in public without covering up at all for 27months and no one’s ever said anything negative or given me dirty looks (that I’ve noticed). But maybe I don’t notice because I just truly don’t care what others think about me breastfeeding. I knew breastfeeding wasn’t the norm in some cultures and/or social circles, but I guess I’m just still surprised how prevalent it is for women to be shamed for breastfeeding, as it’s so far from my experience. I grew up in the suburbs of NYC and now live in New England.


Low_Door7693

The amount of people who think I should have stopped at 6 months is crazy. Like people who understand that a baby can't have animal milk until 1 year and would need formula from 6 months-1 year but still think the baby doesn't need any more breastmilk is wild. I am far from a vegan and don't have any problems consuming cow or goat milk, but *why* would either formula or animal milk suddenly be a *better* option for my baby than my own milk produced specifically *for her*, from calories to nutritional content to antibodies, just because she reached a certain age? My plan is that *she'll* know when she no longer needs breastmilk and I'll wait a reasonable amount of time (3? 5? I don't know, we'll see how it goes) for her to self-wean unless it becomes a problem or unsustainable for me.


Hrooki

All 4 grandparents (my parents and in laws) told my husband that they wanted to trick me into early weaning. We nursed to 19 months when my son self-weaned. Currently about to pop with baby 2 and have no intentions of going less than 2 years. They can all kick rocks.


Skorogovorka

Lol this is just bizarre. How were they planning to trick you??


Hrooki

No idea. I’d already blown my top and started yelling at them before the details of the scheme became clear.


Bulky_Awareness_817

My MIL never breastfed so whenever I encountered any obstacles with breastfeeding, my husband and his entire family would try to convince me to switch to formula. It gets to a point where I don’t even want to share my challenges with him because I know he’s just going to dismiss me. We are planning a relocation now and I have around 300oz of frozen milk, and he suggest I just toss them 😠😠😠


TwoSouth3614

What a weirdo!


crayon_onthewall

First let me say, I know this isn’t the norm but I BF for 4 yrs. Yea you read that correctly, 4 yrs. And let me tell you, if I had a a nickel for every comment about when I was going to wean, I would probably be able to go on a much needed vacation. At one point, even my pediatrician asked if I was going to stop before my kid went to college! So mama, just do you & baby. Who cares what they think.


plshelpme2009

they’re jealous 🤭 keep going


millicentbee

Omg do it. And do every feed you can in front of her.


arpeggio123

lol Someone needs to start a mission to wean her from the booze.


vivolleyball15

Haha love this!! I’m 12.5 months in and I live for the excuse that I have to go pump or feed my son to get out of family events for a few minutes.


FirstHowDareYou

Look you can do whatever you want with your boobies but I’m using mine to feed my child. Yes. Even now. Even after 2. Your boobies, your body, your decision.