Extended Breastfeeding and Parenting Judgement

Before I had a child, there were many things that I thought I would never do.  Bribing my child with biscuits to get them to sit in a pushchair, for one (clearly any child of mine was going to come running from the swings and willingly climb into the pushchair with nothing more than a wave and a “Darling, we’re off now! Don’t forget to say goodbye to Tristram and Phoenicia as you exit the park!”).  Many of these were of course based on ignorance of the reality of life with a toddler.  How was I, a childfree woman about town, to know that two year olds rarely ate stuffed vine leaves willingly and at times wouldn’t even consider a baked bean?  Apologies to anyone I may have judged for feeding their children chocolate cake and chips for lunch, for I was young(ish) and naive.

However, some of these Things I Would Never Do were borne not through ignorance of the reality of child-rearing, but out of cultural norms to which I gave far to much credence.

One of these was extended breastfeeding.

There is an early episode of Sex And the City called The Baby Shower, where the girls attend the baby shower of one of those supposed close friends who appears randomly out of nowhere, has their moment in the sun with an episode all about them, and then disappears into the ether, never to return, not even for any of their weddings (how rude).  Predictably, the baby shower isn’t much fun for any of the girls, with the possible exception of Charlotte, and Carrie and Miranda escape outside to bemoan the general lack of fun, alcohol and feminist solidarity.  At one point Miranda, ironically the one character who ends up breastfeeding in a future episode, remarks dryly, “There is a woman in there breastfeeding a child old enough to go to school.  You know what I feel about that?  If they are old enough to ask for it, they probably shouldn’t be having it.”

This episode taught me three things which I stored away for future reference in the area of my brain library marked “Life Lessons from Sex and the City.

1.) Don’t try and down a bottle of vodka whilst pregnant.  Give it up.  The party’s over.

2.) If you are ever in a position to hold a baby shower, there will be no party games and absolutely no squealing.  In fact, it won’t even be a baby shower, it will be an event called “let’s eat sandwiches and say goodbye to my social life forever.  All invited!”

3.) Breastfeeding: if they are old enough to ask for it, they probably shouldn’t be having it.

Well, two out of three ain’t bad.

I am now that woman breastfeeding a child who is old enough to ask for it.  And you know what, I don’t care what anyone thinks.  Not even Miranda.

For me, the question isn’t why am I still breastfeeding, but why would I not be?  My son is happy and well nourished, I can soothe him easily whenever the occasion demands it, it’s free and has health benefits for both of us.  What’s not to love?  That’s not to say that I think everyone should do as I do.  It’s not my place to tell anyone else how to live their lives based on my own completely subjective and unique experience.

I am the first to admit that where breastfeeding is concerned, I have been lucky.  We all know women whose relationship with breastfeeding is complicated, or non-existent.  Mine has been a relatively easy ride.  And you know what, I shouldn’t have to apologise for that, and neither should they.  I couldn’t care less how anyone else chooses to feed their baby.  Assuming it’s not with a lead bottle laced with arsenic, it’s no-one’s business but their own.  Personally, I chose to breastfeed, which is all well and good when you are the one being showered with free vitamins and told how well you’re doing in the early months, but it’s remarkable how the tone changes once you get past a certain prescribed point that society deems “acceptable.”  What that point is may vary slightly, but for me attitudes tended to roughly follow the timeline below.

Age 0-3 months

“You must breastfeed.  It’s essential that your baby gets the colostrum, otherwise he may be doomed to a lifetime of repeated diarrhoea infections.  It’s the best start in life, you know.  No, there’s no formula in the hospital.  We’re a baby friendly hospital.  What, he’s been asleep for three hours and you haven’t woken him for a feed?  I’m aghast.  What sort of mother are you?  Yes, it’s normal that he is feeding ever hour and a half for forty minutes each breast.  Completely standard.  Green poo?  Oh that’s normal.  No it isn’t.  It means the baby’s got gas.  No, it means their intestines haven’t formed properly yet.  What do you mean you think he has a tongue tie?  I can’t see one, but then it’s really impossible to tell without being seen by a specialist, and there’s only two in the entire country.  He looks all right to me.  No, hang on, he’s losing weight.  Are you sure your milk is enough?  Shall I pop out and get you some formula just in case?  You can’t be too careful.  The breastfeeding counsellor doesn’t have an appointment available for two weeks?  You might have given up by then!  Are you going to feed him in public?  What if someone says something?  You hear terrible stories in the media.  Here, have a breastfeeding cape.”

3-6 months

“Are you still breastfeeding?  Well done!  It’s so lovely to see a mother using her breasts as nature intended.  Such a fantastic bond.  Have some vitamins, we save these for the breastfeeding mothers.  Now, don’t forget no weaning until six months!  Are you sure that baby isn’t hungry?  You were weaned by his age.  How old is he now?  Four and a half months?  Are you sure you don’t want to try some baby rice?  Everyone else has started weaning their babies.  In my day it was four months.  They keep changing their minds.  Babies need solid food.  You need to give him a bottle or he’ll never take one.”

6-12 months

“Why isn’t he eating yet?  Babies need solid food.  Your milk doesn’t have enough vitamins.  If only you had started weaning him earlier.  In my day it was four months and most were off the bottle by three.  What happens when you go back to work?  He won’t drink from a cup!  You need to get him weaned or how will he go all day when he’s hardly eating anything?  You’re still breastfeeding?  Well done!  Fair play to you.”

12-24 months

“Well now he’s one, he can have proper milk.  I didn’t mean that your milk isn’t proper milk, it’s just that, well, it’s not normal is it?  Everyone else has given up.  I know you said the World Health Organisation says you should breastfeed until two, but they’re talking about the developing world, aren’t they?  There probably isn’t any food there so they basically have no choice.  Don’t get me wrong, I said it was good to carry on until one but, well, now you’re just doing it for yourself really.  I think you want to keep him a baby forever, completely dependent on you.  You’re doing it because you feel guilty about working.  It’s no wonder he can’t talk yet, what with you treating him like a baby.  I thought you said it would just be at night time?  It’s four ‘o clock in the afternoon!  They call it weaning for a reason, as in WEANING, cutting down milk feeds and replacing with food.  You’re supposed to be cutting down.  No wonder he doesn’t eat proper food.  He wouldn’t be so fussy if you weren’t feeding him all the time.  He’ll still be doing it when he goes to secondary school.  Have you seen that Little Britain sketch with the “bitty”?  That’s you, that is.  It’s not normal.  No one else is doing it.  No one I know anyway.  YOU NEED TO STOP BREASTFEEDING, YOU WEIRD HIPPY!””

And from the age of two onwards….Well, I’ll just have to see.  So far the calls to stop seem to be getting louder, which only strengthens my resolve to go on.  I’m happy, my son is happy.  Everyone else can keep their opinions to themselves.  Sorry not sorry.

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73 Comments Add yours

  1. I love this. I had so many of the same comments when I was breastfeeding. In the end he stopped after I buggered off with work for ten days. I still regret that’s the way it ended and he still asks for it and has the odd try (about six months later). Well done you for doing it so long, it’s normal and natural it’s such a shame people want to police our breasts! Big well done for not listening to the negativity! All that matters is if its working for you and your little one.

    1. Min says:

      Thanks. Fortunately I’m quite strong willed and have managed to shut out most of the negativity. Sometimes I think people are just looking for validation that their own choices were the right ones, and that affects how they respond to people who make different ones.

  2. Loved this! I’m fed up of hearing people’s opinions on the subject. Except for hours obviously.

    It makes me realise I haven’t watched sex and the city since having kids as that really jarred, having watched friends while doing nightfeeds I suddenly started noticing all the breastfeeding which was awesome. Shame on satc for that. And oh my god I know right HOW do they get invited to so much stuff when they never bother to invite their other friends out of even catch up with them?!

    1. Min says:

      That is the question isn’t it! They did get a bit better towards the end, when a few randoms from series 5 and 6 popped up in the film to attend Carrie’s wedding rehearsal dinner, but otherwise it seems that apart from those four and possibly Stanford and Anthony, friends are two a penny to be used and then dropped!

  3. I love this! There is so much angst when it comes to breastfeeding. It should just be down to the individiual mum and their child to decided what is best. Like you say it has so many benefits so why would you stop when you can continue. I don’t like the pro-breastfeeding headlines though. There was one at the weekend, that screamed “Breasfeed within an hour of birth, or baby has 90% chance of not surviving” (I’m sure the actual headline was far catchier but that was the gist!) I immediately panicked as both times I had to be whisked away from my babies to recovery so didn’t see them for a couple of hours. I actually properly panicked until I remembered that I had a very healthy 3 year old and 7 year old upstairs, in their beds, asleep! As for Sex and the City I am glad that I am not the only one applying their life rules. I still feel like a failure because I haven’t secured my book deal and I don’t have a walk in shoe closet. 🙂

    1. Min says:

      A walk in shoe closet is the ultimate #lifegoals. There’s so much ridiculousness going around about baby feeding, and those kinds of headlines feed right into our angst. We’ve all survived, and as much as I hate to quote my mother, she didn’t worry about all this half as much as I do!

  4. Ah such a good post Min! Can I add one personal thing which pisses me off?

    Health professional: Yep, so you just give her this medicine in her bottle.
    Me: She won’t take a bottle, she’s EBF.
    Health professional: Oh. Well, do you think you could try a bottle? Or some milk in a sippy cup?
    Me: She’s 8 weeks old, I don’t think a sippy cup is quite going to work.
    Health professional: Oh. About the dose, how much milk does she usually take?
    Me: I have no idea how much because my breasts aren’t Perspex.

    And so on!! #tribe xx

    1. Min says:

      OMG that is a ridiculous thing for a healthcare professional to say. You’d think they would know better!

  5. Oh, Min, yet again you have written this brilliantly – all the pro pro pro and then no no no – nuts isn’t it? And for that very reason you are within your total rights to do whatever you damn please! It’s a mother’s right – end of really – why the debate needs to go on for some is beyond me!

    1. Min says:

      I know-one minutes it’s all “you’re doing great,” and the next it’s “when are you going to give up?” If only everyone could just stop giving their opinions all the time!

  6. imatwinmama says:

    I found this a really interesting read, and something I hadn’t previously considered much as I lasted about a week breastfeeding my twins and gave up!

    I think you’re right that the “cut-off point” is culturally based and I probably wouldn’t bat an eyelid at breastfeeding up to about two years old. But I must admit that i would find it weird to see a tall, fully-talking child to be breastfeeding – that may make me wrong but I’m just admitting what I think would be a gut feeling only. But that’s probably to do with societal norms, the media (Yes, “bitty”) and what I know I wouldn’t do. I generally feel “each to their own” so I wouldn’t expect anyone to stop just because of how I feel. I guess a part of me thinks that the older the child gets, the more difficult it may be to wean them off. I’m also not sure there’s much point in doing beyond the point of nutritional benefit when they get what they need from food but again, that’s just me.

    So basically, good luck to you and well done for having the courage to stick to your convictions! It’s not really anyone else’s business, including mine lol.
    #bestandworst

    1. Min says:

      I imagine that twins must be hard work however they are fed-especially in those first few months. Yes, I am always being told about how if they’re older it will be more difficult to wean them. I’m not sure how true that is in practice, but obviously I haven’t experienced it yet so will have to let you know! Thanks for commenting.

  7. helen gandy says:

    Good for you, it is after all personal choice and I applaud anyone who is successful. I didn’t get on with breast feeding sadly, it wasn’t for me – the pressure to try and succeed is immense with my 2nd I realised it was more important for me to bond with baby through other ways than breastfeeding. Very much enjoyed reading your post and thanks so much for linking up #bestandworst

    1. Min says:

      Thanks for hosting and commenting. I was definitely lucky with my experience of it.

  8. Vanessa says:

    I found that when I got over two people just gave up trying to convince me to stop. I think they figured out I wasn’t listening. Or that I’d lost my mind.

    I’ve gone over two 4/5 times, and I promise they don’t stay latched until college.

    I loved this post, thanks for posting 🙂 The picture is adorable too!

    1. Min says:

      Thanks-I am relieved to hear they he be feeding forever! He’s happy and healthy so that’s all that matters.

  9. Ky says:

    Oh Min, it’s like you’ve taken the words right from me. I’ve heard most, if not all of those comments. Clem is now two and she is still a boob monster. Yes she asks for it but right now if she doesn’t want to stop then it’s ok. She eats a ridiculous amount of solid food, she’s healthy and happy. Surely that’s all that matters. x

    1. Min says:

      Absolutely. Piglet doesn’t eat much-or at least not much of the healthy food I would like him to eat-so I also feel that if I stopped breastfeeding I would be really worried about his diet as he’s so fussy with food.

  10. This is a brilliant post! It says it exactly how it is!! Stupid pressures and conflicting advice/opinions based stupid cultural norms. I breastfed my baby til 18 months – she self weaned and I was happy with how it ‘ended’ after stressing for months about if or how I should stop. The pressure to stop was there from as soon as she got teeth, especially from the older generation was unbelievable. In the end I just went with what made her happy and if we have another I’ll feed (hopefully)for as long as the baby wants it. X
    Found you from #theloveofBLOG

    1. Min says:

      Thank you. I’m glad you liked it. It’s amazing how much people have to say about it isn’t it! I’m glad your breastfeeding journey reached a happy ending. I’m hoping my son will self wean at some point too.

  11. Happy Wawa says:

    Oh this made me laugh heartily! I think if I wasn’t so lazy I would have given up by now, but *whispers* breastfeeding makes life so easy. Sends toddler straight back to sleep. Calms toddler when they’re overexcited. Stops toddler running off when you just want a cup of tea and a biscuit with a friend.

    I love the people who look at me, sigh, and say “but he doesn’t need it does he?” I like to say “well, that’s debatable, but it makes him so happy”.

    Brains exploding all over the place.

    1. Min says:

      Completely agreed. Breastfeeding might be an effort at first, but it pays off further down the line when it becomes the go-to solution to all of those toddler dramas! It is definitely the lazy mum’s perfect remedy!

  12. Caroline says:

    Fab post, I really struggled with breastfeeding, and had a very emotional journey with it. I finally managed more then a couple of weeks with my youngest and we got to around 9 months… however we had big weight problems so he was actually combi fed. I loved feeding him and I am so glad I managed how far I did. But even at just that age I got a few comments about stopping and near the end only actually fed over night when it was just us at home and no interfering eyes. #Bestandworst

    1. Min says:

      That’s what I do now. I used to be quite confident feeding in public up until my son was about 18 months, but now I only do it at home as I don’t want the hassle of people thinking I’m weird! Thank you for commenting.

  13. Great post! I breastfed my daughter until just before she was 1. I stopped because I was only doing the morning feed by that point and I couldn’t keep doing that when I returned to work. But by that point she was barely taking anything anyway.

    Despite that I’m ashamed to say at times early in my breastfeeding journey that I would wonder why mothers kept breastfeeding much longer than a year. I thought it was weird. But I got myself in check and reminded myself of a parenting ‘moral’ I have always lived by: “What other people do is their choice and none of my concern.”.

    I think your post sums that up so well. As mums you get so much conflicting advice. So ultimately you do what feels right for you and your child…two unique individuals with a unique relationship.

    Thank-you for sharing and I’m glad you still enjoy the experience with you child. It’s been 7 months since I stopped and I still miss that special time together a little.. Even though she’d probably kick me in the chest and deliberately ‘chomp’ now she’s got a mouth of pearly whites and insane leg strength!

    #fortheloveofBLOG

    1. Min says:

      Haha, yes, I live in fear of deliberate chomping and I do get kicked quite a lot! I know I’ll miss breastfeeding when it’s over too. Thank you for your lovely comment.

  14. Beta Mummy says:

    I love this! I thnk it’s brilliant that you are still feeding Piglet, and by talking about “extended” (we should really call it “full-term”, or just “breastfeeding”!) breastfeeding, you are helping to normalise it. FC#2 self-weaned in June at 2 years and 3 months. It was a gradual thing and completely un-traumatic for both of us, which is what I wanted. I don’t know how long I would have continued, if he still wanted it – to be honest I was well and truly ready for him to stop, though!
    #triballove #kcacols

    1. Min says:

      That’s good to hear. I’m hoping that when we finally stop, it will be on his timetable and we’ll both be ready for it. He’s showing no signs of stopping at the moment though!

  15. Love your fierceness!

    #KCACOLS

  16. Lovely post! I have breastfed my two kids until around 8 months, cos I was returning work… If I didn’t I would have carried on, but they’re already weaned that time so I didn’t worry that much. Every mum has different ways of feeding their babies, and I think there’s nothing wrong with that as long as baby is happy and well nourished, that’s the main thing. #KCACOLS

    1. Min says:

      Completely agree. Thanks for commenting!

  17. lianne says:

    So many of your witty points rang true with me. I did stop feeding my daughter in public when she was two because of the stares. The worst person by far though….the mother in law. She looked like she wanted to vomit whenever my daughter needed feeding. 100% well said! #kcacols

    1. Min says:

      Haha, sounds like my mother. I get a lot of disapproving looks from her.

  18. Themotherhub says:

    So true , it’s all breastfeed breastfeed breastfeed then STOP BREASTFEEDING. Bloody typical – you can’t win #kcacols

    1. Min says:

      Yep, we’re damned if we do, damned if we don’t!

  19. ERFmama says:

    Well done for posting this! 🙂
    I extended breast fed my youngest. He sadly weaned at 28 months while ill with chickenpox which he sadly got all in his mouth and down his throat – so he couldn’t swallow and ended up taking up a strike on BF – I did pump some and he had some in a glass but he didn’t get back to BF when he was well again until I was pretty much dried up…which I find very sad because now at almost 4 years old (he’s a month shy) he talks about it with so much love and he misses his ‘boo’ and he wishes that there was still milk there. He openly talks about it from time to time – it’s one of those beautiful moments we share. 🙂

    I don’t like to call us “lucky” though – because it’s not about luck – all women apart from a tiny 2% of the entire world’s population will produce milk for their young – what we are *unlucky* with how ever is the support system we receive in relation to breast feeding before and after birth. It is something we should all be given even before we actually give birth – because lets face it most of us will be more up to taking in information on breast feeding BEFORE the birth than the few hours AFTER we have just given birth – I don’t know about other’s but I was quite tiered when it came down to it – I was happy – but I was also tiered and I had a birth that was quite straight forward (if you look away from the aftermath of issues to myself) so just thinking about those who have births that are either very very hard on both mother and child or have other issues – to think that they should be expected to take in any knowledge of how to successfully breast feed so soon after birth is in my honest opinion very naive thinking.

    The support system is really lacking and statistically most women who have felt that they failed at breast feeding – had a very bad support system, let down either by the NHS or family or both. And that is very sad – because breast feeding is a learning process. It’s not something you wake up and know how to do. This goes for both mother AND baby. ALL babies are born KNOWING by instinct what to do – it’s all there it’s quite amazing to watch actually if you let them explore- and all women have instincts that also tell them – BUT in our society today? We’ve forgotten a lot of them and we let fear of not being successful at it come in the way of just letting nature work her magic – because if you relax and baby relax magic can happen. There are so many factors that you can take into account – but as a core process – it’s a skill that you learn. Breast feeding basics are imprinted in us because it was once what would ensure our survival as a species – but that’s not how it is any more. Today we have formula and far too many are very quick to start down that route or suggest that route as a simple solution instead of tackling the actual problems – which if support was better – wouldn’t be issues in the first place.

    Hope my comment makes any sense! lol

    #KACOLS

    1. Min says:

      Yes it definitely makes sense, and in my case I was lucky that I had that support. I attended a breastfeeding class through the NCT when I was pregnant which educated me on the theory behind it, and although one class before the baby arrives obviously can’t prepare you fully, it meant that I wasn’t completely clueless about how it was supposed to work when the time came. Also I was in hospital for 5 days after the birth, which wasn’t ideal in terms of the birth that I had, but the upside to it was that I was able to access support from medical personnel in the early days when it was most crucial. Thank you for your comment.

  20. Love this! Your list of comments by ages is spot on – I managed to breastfeed up to 12 months and I certainly heard all of them up to that point! I’m not sure I understand quite why people are so invested in how children feed – what business is it of anyone apart from the parents and the child? I think that Little Britain sketch has an awful lot to answer for! #KCACOLS

    1. Min says:

      It certainly does! All I hear these days is how Piglet will still be asking for “bitty” when he goes to university! Thanks for commenting.

  21. Kate Eccles says:

    I know the episode well, not that I was a SATC addict or anything 😉 Once my little boy hit one I couldn’t wait to stop, he had other ideas! I think we may have done another 2 months after that until pregnancy sickness with no3 put an end to it. If you are both happy then I don’t see there’s a problem 🙂 #KCACOLS

    1. Min says:

      Haha, I love SATC. Such a great show, but obviously I don’t let it define my life or anything…. Thanks for commenting!

  22. Fabulous post!! Thank you for sharing and well done you! My little one is two next month and he’s still feeding so I can completely relate! I wish more could just live and let live! #kcacols

    1. Min says:

      Well done to you too! Yes me too. I wish more of us did it, and then it wouldn’t be seen as so odd.

  23. Claire says:

    Mums just can’t win can we?! No one should be judged for how they feel their child, and a lot of people judging have never actually experienced it! #kcacols

    1. Min says:

      Quite! It’s very easy to judge things you don’t know about.

  24. I have never understood why sociaty deem milk intended for a baby cow more socially acceptable for our children than breast milk that is intended and tailored to little people. I breastfed all 3 of my girls the older 2 I fed till they was 6months and the youngest was 14months and I regret not feeding all of them for longer.
    #triballove

    1. Min says:

      I think there’s quite a lot of pressure to stop once they hit 6 months, and then again when they get to a year. It’s still working well for us, so I thought I may as well carry on!

  25. Pen says:

    So very true Min. Cygnet and I finished breastfeeding exactly a week ago today and a couple of days before his second birthday. We were only doing one feed a day just before bedtime and only 5/7 nights a week because he stays with his dad 2 nights a week. It felt like a dirty secret after he turned one and people were surprised when I revealed that I had been back at work full time 18 months but was still breastfeeding. I was also nervous about sex, with someone who wasn’t the father of my child and the fact that I was still feeding. I didn’t tell him and as it turned out it didn’t matter. Luckily giving up wasn’t too difficult. I felt by 2 he didn’t really need it any more. He seemed to be satisfied with ‘boobies have gone’ as an explanation. I am a little sad that my breastfeeding journey has ended, but for us it felt like the time had come. Pen x

    1. Min says:

      That’s good that it felt like it had come to a natural end. Piglet is still feeding a lot so doesn’t show signs of giving up any time soon, but I’m happy to continue for as long as he wants, at least for the time being.

  26. The Pramshed says:

    Hi Min, you need to do what’s right for you and Piglet, and ignore what other people think or say. You are giving him the best start in life, and maybe if I had carried on breastfeeding my daughter she wouldn’t be so ill as she is now! Breastfeeding is hard, and one that shouldn’t be mocked, you’ve worked so hard to get to where you are today. Well done for sticking with it. Thanks so much for sharing this with us at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x

    1. Min says:

      Thanks for hosting and commenting, and Piglet was ill all the time when he first started nursery too, as was I, getting ill with all the pestilences he brought home (I wrote a couple of posts about it way back when). Hopefully the little ‘un will build up a nice robust immune system soon. x

  27. Karen Wilson says:

    Hi, I just laughed out loud at your brilliant article. The quotes are all so true!!! I am a health professional and a breast feeding mum whose 6year old is just coming to the end of breast feeding. I was determined to exclusively breast feed even once I went back to work and so spent hours expressing,. By the time she was one and I could stop that and just feed her “for us” it was wonderful. Then it turns out she loved it and had no intention of stopping. I could never bring myself to tell her she couldn’t have what she describes as “the best taste in the world” and “liquid love.” Very slowly the feeds have tailed off and for about the last year have been a 30 second, very efficient slurp – just to reconnect. Now she hasn’t fed for several weeks and I am so delighted that I followed her lead – I was pretty sure she wasn’t going to go to university still feeding! We have an amazing relationship and I would encourage anyone who wants to, to just follow their child’s lead and don’t worry what anyone else thinks.
    I started off thinking that the appearance of teeth meant the end of breast feeding – how we learn along the way.

    1. Min says:

      Aww how lovely that she describes it that way! I know Piglet will stop feeding eventually too, and I hope it’s of his own accord when he’s ready. Thank you for commenting.

  28. Jo says:

    Stumbled acetic article via Huffington post…bloody brilliant – especially the age breakdown of comments! My little boy turned 1 last week – I’ve had a very easy, problem free breastfeeding journey and have absolutely no plans to stop while my little boy is content and enjoys his milk! Thanks for bringing humour to thus – especially as I feel like want to staple things to people’s heads when they say….”you’re STILL breastfeeding him?!” GRRRR!

    1. Min says:

      Tell me about it! I’ve been lucky that my journey has been relatively smooth sailing as well, so I’ve had no reason to stop!

  29. Emma says:

    Just popping back. Still loving this and the weird things people say about breastfeeding. Why does everyone thing that they are an expert? With regards to SAC life-rules. I went to visit brother-in-law in house that they have just renovated. They have a walk-in-closet with actual shelves for your shoes. I wanted to move into that room. Best of all they have an island in their kitchen, an island!! I equate island to your kitchen to have making it big time. #FridayFrolics

    1. Min says:

      A kitchen island is my ultimate life dream. It is what my students would probably call “bare hashtag life goals.” Or at least they would if they were as interested in other people’s kitchens as I am. And a walk in closet for shoes?! I want to live in that house.

  30. So well said. Everyone has their own journey with breastfeeding. It can positive, negative and both. None of us should be judging anyone else on the decisions they make. It’s a mother right to decide how they feed their baby and they should be able to do so without judgement. Thanks for linking up to #FridayFrolics

    1. Min says:

      Thanks for hosting and commenting. Totally agree!

  31. Silly Mummy says:

    Well said. It is funny how people switch over the months from ‘you must do it’ to ‘you must stop now’.

    Thanks so much for joining us on #FridayFrolics. Hope to see you next time

    1. Min says:

      Yes, that’s exactly how it is! Thanks for commenting.

  32. This is brilliantly written. I totally agree that it’s such a personal thing and no one should be judged. I genuinely didn’t give a toss what anyone thought of me when I breastfed beyond 1 year. #chucklemums

    1. Min says:

      Thanks. Same. It’s working fine for us, so who cares what anyone else’s opinion on it is?

  33. Sarah says:

    I’m inclined to say that if it’s about breastfeeding, it’s about someone else’s tits. You wouldn’t touch someone else’s tits without permission, so you don’t get to have opinions on them either! Which only really makes sense in my head. Sorry. Thanks for linking up with #chucklemums lovely xx

    1. Min says:

      That makes perfect sense to me! Thanks for hosting and commenting!

  34. You know your memory is going when it takes you three paragraphs to go ‘wait, been here before…’. Still love it. #chucklemums

  35. Really enjoyed reading this – I’m still feeding a two year old but I keep it to myself because I know most people would probably think I’m a weirdo😀😉but she’s happy, I’m happy and like you I feel lucky to have had no issues with breastfeeding either.

    1. Min says:

      Yay! Glad I’m not the only one. We’re still going strong at 3 years and 3 months and showing no signs of stopping.

  36. Shannon says:

    I regret not breastfeeding my now 2 year old longer. She really was distraught when we disconnected. She is still struggling with not breastfeeding. Oh man weaning was so hard on her I just feel so bad.

    I think this time I will go 2 years for the sake of not repeating this same kind of situation. I don’t care what anyone says it’s not about them or myself.

    1. Min says:

      Best of luck. xxxx

  37. A mother should never be made to feel guilty for the choices she makes. But saying that, I feel sorry for those who do not make informed decisions. I was one of them. I blindly followed whatever society saw as the norm. Now I swim upstream in most areas of my life. I use to get a lot of flack from family and friends, but now I try to surround myself with like-minded people. Do what you know is right for you and don’t let anyone ever make you feel bad about it.

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