NHS breastfeeding DVD freaked me out!

Believe me, there's a lot of things I'd like to tell them... but I keep schtum. A couple are not voluntarily childless and it'd just be mean shoving my luck under their nose.

Ah, then yes, listening and then ignoring them is the best policy. 

everyone's given great advice here.

just wanted to back up the statement that the first few weeks will suck goat balls, but just plough through. it's worth it. my beastie is rapidly approaching two and is still on the boob (mostly for comfort feedings when falling asleep). yep, i know--i'm a freak.

you can do it! 

everyone's given great advice here.

just wanted to back up the statement that the first few weeks will suck goat balls, but just plough through. it's worth it. my beastie is rapidly approaching two and is still on the boob (mostly for comfort feedings when falling asleep). yep, i know--i'm a freak.

you can do it! 

You're not a freak.  I intended to go to 2yrs, but finished at 18 mos due to DD self-weaning and me just getting sick of it.  I intended to supplement with formula to 2, but she weaned herself off about a month and a half before her 2nd birthday and now hardly drinks any milk, but takes it in from other dairy sources throughout the day.   

You're not a freak.  I intended to go to 2yrs, but finished at 18 mos due to DD self-weaning and me just getting sick of it.  I intended to supplement with formula to 2, but she weaned herself off about a month and a half before her 2nd birthday and now hardly drinks any milk, but takes it in from other dairy sources throughout the day.   

Definitely not a freak! I'm gonna let Oliver self-wean. He's 14 months old now and clearly nowhere near done. I love it when he runs to me saying "mum-mum", lifts my shirt up or pulls it down from the top and goes on the boob ♥

everyone's given great advice here.

just wanted to back up the statement that the first few weeks will suck goat balls, but just plough through. it's worth it. my beastie is rapidly approaching two and is still on the boob (mostly for comfort feedings when falling asleep). yep, i know--i'm a freak.

you can do it! 

You are not a freak! I wasn't sure when I would be stopping, but didn't see us stopping before he was two as he was in love with the Mommy's milk!  He actually self weaned a few weeks ago at 19 months.

So glad to see all of you saying this. Just made the decision to let Lucie self wean after agonizing and facing loads of pressure from friends and family to wean her at a year.  It's a shame that toddler feeding isn't more widely accepted, especially since the WHO recommends it until age 2! 

DS was 2, and had no interest in self weaning.  I had to phase him off the boob.  DD2 is 18 months now and still going.  I'm hoping she will give it up on her own, because I find it really hard to cut them off. 

I actually had a health visitor tell me that my son shouldn't have still been BF at 8 months!  She thought it was totally out of order.  Freak!

I'm hoping she will give it up on her own, because I find it really hard to cut them off. 

I agree!

I am so incredibly grateful that my little guy weaned at 17 months with no issues whatsoever. I have a close friend who is trying to go through the process with her near 3 year old, and it is not going well at all---for mum or child.

Back to the original topic, though. I recall reading a lot of information and viewing videos that surely freaked me out about breastfeeding.  You never know how it's going to go until you get in there and start the process. Patience is key. The payoff doesn't seem apparent at first when you're sleep-deprived and in pain, but in the end it is SO MUCH easier to nurse than make a bottle at 3am.

The payoff doesn't seem apparent at first when you're sleep-deprived and in pain, but in the end it is SO MUCH easier to nurse than make a bottle at 3am.

Very true!! It's a lot easier too to go out with the baby. I just grab the baby, the diaper bag, and go! No need to prepare bottles, or worry about where to reheat them, or if the formula will go bad, or whatever. I nurse everywhere. I was a bit shy and uncomfortable at first, but now I really don't care. My baby comes first.

Also, a good tip for those who need to nurse in public, if you're afraid that something will show while trying to get the baby on the breast, practice in front of a mirror. That's very helpful

Mirror practicing is a great technique, as is dressing in layers! I think I wore tons of tanktop/t-shirt combos (tank, down---t-shirt, up)when I knew I'd be nursing in public. I certainly didn't want to give anyone a show of the tummy rolls!

Also, a good tip for those who need to nurse in public, if you're afraid that something will show while trying to get the baby on the breast, practice in front of a mirror. That's very helpful

Is it not practical to just pop a light blanket or towel or something over your shoulder and covering the baby's head so that no one can see? That's kind of what I was thinking of doing.

Is it not practical to just pop a light blanket or towel or something over your shoulder and covering the baby's head so that no one can see? That's kind of what I was thinking of doing.

The trouble with a light blanket is that you can't see the baby and the baby doesn't like having it lying on top of them or will fall asleep... if I'm lucky enough to have another I'm planning on using one that my friend got - called *hate the name* "hooter hider"

it holds the blanket away from your chest so that you can look down and adjust and baby can see your face while nursing.

http://shop.bebeaulait.com/Hooter-Hiders-New;jsessionid=0a01034d1f4357969b4980954703a09ba8ed46266157.e3eSbNmTb3mTe34Pa38Ta38SaN90

The trouble with a light blanket is that you can't see the baby and the baby doesn't like having it lying on top of them or will fall asleep... if I'm lucky enough to have another I'm planning on using one that my friend got - called *hate the name* "hooter hider"

it holds the blanket away from your chest so that you can look down and adjust and baby can see your face while nursing.

http://shop.bebeaulait.com/Hooter-Hiders-New;jsessionid=0a01034d1f4357969b4980954703a09ba8ed46266157.e3eSbNmTb3mTe34Pa38Ta38SaN90

Gah, I agree what a horrible name!  I don't think I'd ever buy one of those as (IMO) it would just seem to draw more attention to you with it having a rigid frame sticking out causing people to stop and gawk (especially in this country where more roadside accidents are caused by people rubber goosenecking it at other accidents).   

I had 2 ponchos / Nursing Shawls with DD that I intend to reuse with baby #2.  The neck on it's big enough to be able to keep airflow through to baby and keep an eye from the neck without drawing undue attention to yourself.  DH & I both loved using them to throw over DDs rear-facing carseat in light rain / sunny days when getting it in and out of the car and it made a great lightweight blanket too.   

My son hated being covered up while nursing, so the "Hooter-Hider" (gotta luv the name..) type devices never served us well, nor did a regular ole blanket.

To be honest, I was a bit chicken  :-\\\\when it came to nursing in public. I would schedule outings around feedings, or learn to travel with a bottle of pumped milk all the time.