Demographic

[ailbhe]

It's odd how many recently or hugely pregnant people I know, suddenly - I never did before I was pregnant myself. It's all a big conspiracy!

One by one, my family are asking me "What, you're not still breastfeeding her, are you? Why?" It's an effort to tell the truth - "Why not?" rather than come up with rational justifications along the lines of "WHO guidelines... NHS guidelines... The global average is over 3 years you know..." and, worst of all, "Because of her dairy intolerance." What am I doing, justifying myself like this? Feeding my baby is normal. Formula feeders don't have to suddenly justify why they haven't changed to something else at 9 months. Why is formula feeding more "grown up"? Why is breastfeeding only for young babies? What's wrong here?

Hi, choir.

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Re: Demographic

[k425.livejournal.com]

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<ljuser="k425sbug"> got his first teeth at 7 months. At 16 months he's still breastfeeding. He has bitten on occasion - in general it happens when he is simultaneously teething and snuffly and tired. I pull him into the breast so he can't breathe and has to let go, and I tell him that biting isn't on. If he does it twice the feeding session is over. For at least a minute, after which I can't bear it if he's still crying.