Yes.. I agree with Michele. Breastfeeding IS hard. I remember the first two weeks nursing Lauren was a living hell. It wasn't even the nightmarish hours (which didn't help), or having to pump to make sure David had bottles to feed her with (which was also a nightmare- though I never had to do 45 min. per side, thank God!! I'm sure that is hell!). I can remember being chapped as all get-out, and even the thought of Lauren latching on hurt like a bitch. I nursed that kid til she was around 9 months old. I wanted to go the full 12 months with her, but I got myself knocked up when she was 7-8 months old, and my supply dwindled.. and she wasn't happy. Neither of us were. But I didn't have to worry about people giving me crap for nursing- I wasn't around people who found it weird, nor was I "whipping a tit" out in public for others to see. I was always modest about it, and covered up. Even when it was friggin' hot as hell out. (Lauren went half naked most of the time anyway, and I used to blow cool air on her, to make her as comfy as possible). I'd go to a family restroom, sit out in the car, go wherever, because I didn't want to offend others.. nor did I really care for people to see my breasts. LOL
With Matthew, I was around people- David's family- who found nursing a bit odd. I honestly felt irritated by having to excuse myself every two hours to feed him.. going up to an empty bedroom upstairs, so I wouldn't weird anyone out. I could have been like some of my relatives, who would just lift up a shirt (no modesty AT ALL), and maybe that would have been my right? (As they felt it was theirs) But I just couldn't. I also pumped, but Matthew absolutely refused to drink from a bottle. Ever. He went right from breast to straw! I remember my sister-in-law's wedding, where the only place to feed him was in the restroom- standing up in a stall. Isn't that sad? I could have gone out to the car, I guess... not sure why I didn't think of that at the time. Maybe cuz it was a weird place, and I didn't want to get mugged. LOL Anyway, Matthew was a fussy baby, and there were many times when it was suggested that my milk was the problem- that it was "bad". But I nursed him til he was about 17 months (at some point we started milk, food, etc.. he just took a while to wean off the breast). A bit longer than I had planned, but I was not about to give into pressure - not even by people who I generally really care about- to quit feeding him the way I wanted to feed him.
Did I breastfeed to make a point to anybody? No. It's just something I wanted to do. Do I honestly care how other women feed their children? Not really. It's not my place to say how they raise or feed them. Nor would I want anybody to tell me that breastfeeding is a disgusting, sexual act. Or that 1.) I am a horrible mother for not nursing Lauren long enough, and that 2.) I'm a sicko for nursing Matthew too long. And why is it anybody else's business any how?
Lauren, almost a month old. Notice she's flipping off the camera? That's my girl! ;)
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