A Breastfeeding Story: Megan

Everyone Meet MEGAN!

She is hilarious. And scares the living daylights out of me. She’s the kind of friend that is awesome to have on your side. She’ll put people in their place for you. (Speaking of that: Megan we still need to make that park date at the “mean lady park” by me 😉 )

 

 

1. Tell us about your personal breastfeeding experience with your children:

 

 

When I had my first child I was the only person that I knew who had a baby. I was totally on my own. He was a big kid at nearly 10 pounds and even though I was determined to let no bottle near him, I fell for the crap the hospital handed me about supplementing until he gained weight. I got a ton of pressure from the nurses and my husband (first time dad fell for the nurses BS and wanted to do what was best for the baby) so they gave him a bottle the last day at the hospital and finally let me go home. I KNEW it was a bad idea and I cried every time he had a bottle until I finally got him off supplementing and 100% on the boob by day six. I was one of the lucky ones. I breastfed my son until he was 17 months old, when he self weaned. I encouraged it because I was about 6 months pregnant with my second baby and the doctor was concerned that the nursing could cause contractions. This would not be the first or the last of bad info by the doctor.

 

 

2. What is your view of breastfeeding in public, and why?

 

Um…that it is a non-issue. As somebody who has always had huge boobs and rarely covered them up for any reason, I can assure you that nobody ever complained about them before I had kids. And, before you say “you weren’t whipping them out back then”…think againJ

But, even I, the brazen hussy, was prone to covering up at the park and other places until one magical moment.

I was at the park with my moms group and we had a new member from England. While everybody (including several dads) chatted and tended to children, this glorious Brit whipped out het tatas! NO Hooter Hider, no blankly…nothing!

I could feel the awkward vibes pulsating from a few people and, you know what? It didn’t even faze her! She just kept talking with her boobs out like she was at tea with the Queen! I never covered up again.

 

 

3. What is your view of sustained breastfeeding, and why?

My view is just that…mine. I think everybody makes their own cut off and for their own reasons. For me I thought it would be around two. And, at a few months after two it happened, but on it’s own, with a gentle nudge. Would I go four or five years? Nope. Does anybody else have my blessing to do so?

Here is the great part………wait for it…… THEY DON”T NEED MY BLESSING! It is THEIR kid. None of my business. It is NOT child abuse, and it is their family’s decision to make.

 

 

4. What is your view of adoptive breastfeeding, and why?

I don’t think that a blanket answer can be made. Every situation is so different. If it is in a healthy, mutually happy situation, than why wouldn’t you? When you adopt you are saying that this child is yours now, and if that is true and you would nurse your bio child of the same age, situation, etc, then of course!

 

5. Is there anything you find unique about your breastfeeding story with your children?

Well, getting my son off supplementing on my own as a first time mom is pretty unique. Also, the freak show that was my first six month BFing my daughter was unique! You see, River was fine giving up the boob to drink, but he still loved to hold it for comfort. So anytime I fed Lilly, River would cuddle up and hold the boob she was using! Yep! This was a special treat for onlookers who were already mortified!

 

6. Is there anything you wish you did differently?

YES!! I wouldn’t have weaned River for another few months.

I also would NEVER have given him formula for those first few days!

 

7. Is there anything you would like to add? Feel free to answer questions you feel readers would like to know from breastfeeding moms.

I would only like to say that babies are meant to breastfeed. It IS the best food for them. This cannot be denied. It is a fact.

However, I am irritated to no end by self righteous people who see fit to condemn another mother for her choice/situation. At best, a formula mother could be somebody who tried with everything she had and could not breastfeed. And at worst, could be a woman who is making a bad choice out of ignorance or selfishness. And, in between, is a whole spectrum of reasons and situations. Regardless of why or how she has come to feed her baby this way, it is her damned choice and nobody’s business!