Breast feeding- were any of you actively discouraged from BF?

I breastfed all 5 of mine for up to a year with no negative comments from anyone. Fortunately had no problems. Both daughters have bf theirs - again no negativity, despite Ireland being even worse than UK for bf rates.
But a friend's daughter who had twins a few years ago was told in maternity hospital when she said she was going to breastfeed them "but you have twins!". Midwives and doctor were not supportive and she got a private lactation consultant when she got home and successfully fed them for over a year.

Obviously experiences can vary a lot.

I’d agree that the longer stay in hospital helped. With Daughter (born 1995) I stayed in 5 days - even the ward orderly knew how to get a baby to latch on! With son (1997), less than 24 hours and you were out, whether first time mother or otherwise. I was dazed and confused enough even after recent experience, I do question how a new mother coped.
My babies were my focus for the first three months of their lives and I happily fed on demand. Now mums want to be out within days - perhaps some just haven’t the time?

I breastfed my 3 children in the 1970's and enjoyed it. My mother had breastfed me but I don't know for how long. MIL kept asking when I was going to stop. I was very modest and would leave the room if my dad or fil were around. I was a little surprised when dil breastfed while visiting with me and DH in living room. She mostly was covered up but DH seemed a little embarrassed at first but overall he was fine with it. DD and DILs pumped and left bottles in the fridge or freezer bags when they returned to work so that helped me and childcare workers.

My first child was a very difficult birth, 1984 and breast feeding was quite difficult to begin with. But the hospital staff were wonderful and very patient with me and my baby. It took a good week or so to really get established. 2nd baby 1986 was an easy birth and bf was a doddle.

I too took the view that I would not feed my baby in public toilets ....why would anyone eat in a lavatory. 😂 I fed my babies anywhere and everywhere. I was very discreet and always made sure I had a shawl I could drape to protect my modesty.

I was once stuck in an overcrowded surgery for over an hr, (standing room only, luckily I was seated). Baby (my first) started fussing, wanting to be fed. Being an anxious first time mum and shy about feeding in public, I turned my chair around and faced the wall, trying to avoid embarrassment.

Next to me was an elderly retired army colonel who had quite a reputation for being a bit of a curmudgeon. I was dreading him saying something nasty. Instead he gently patted my shoulder, and told me I was wonderful, not to feel ashamed or embarrassed, that I was doing the best and most natural thing in the world for my child.

Support often came from the most unlikely places.

It was my FIL who was the most uncomfortable at first until his daughter, my SIL, had her baby a few weeks later. Then he relaxed and was full of encouragement for both of us.

I breastfed both mine (1979 & 1981) for about a year, despite having had caesarean sections for each of them, including an emergency one for the firstborn. Staff were very supportive and encouraging and several mothers breast-fed; this was in a Midlands hospital.

It seemed to vary, depending on the hospital. Being in hospital for 10 days helped immensely. Now, new mothers are sent home much sooner where they can potentially be influenced by well-meaning relatives.

I dare say that decades ago, some people thought that formula (scientifically prepared!) - that you had to pay for, had to be better than what was there for nowt.

I do remember that after the birth of dd2, a slightly older friend, with children a few years older, told me she could never even have thought of breastfeeding - she actually shuddered as she said it!
I found that very odd - the mere thought evidently disgusted her.
Must admit that my choice of BFing back then was not primarily for health reasons - I just though it’d be a lot less of a faff than bottles and sterilising etc., particularly as with my first, I was taking her back at 6 weeks to Oman, where western style shops were still relatively few and supplies of formula (among other things) might not be reliable.

Fleurpepper

Thanks for all who commented.

My intention was not to open yet another Breast versus Bottle debate.

But to find out if any of you, or DDs, colleagues, friends, etc- in the past, currently or anywhere in between- were actually DISCOURAGED from Breast Feeding, and by whom, with reasons stated or not.

Zoejory, I truly do not think it is genetic. But expectations leading to advice, comments, support or not, etc.

In the cases of younger colleagues, living in extended families, the MIL encouraged Bottle feeding as a method of control, on both DIL, son and baby. OH also had several similar cases.

I have quite up to date info about some.

No, no one was discouraged. But medical staff do nto have as much time to put to this as they would like.

Things though are wrong in the Uk, as apparently, the Uk is literally the worst country in the world for the amount of breastfed babies. Apparently.

I had 10 days in hospital too. The babies were all in a nursery together and brought to the wards for ( bottle) feeding.

MY 2 Children born mid 70s. Cottage hospital. Think I was the only one there who breast fed, the rest bottle fed. I remember the staff being surprised I wasn’t going along with the rest of the mothers.
I stopped after 6 weeks as it was so painful.

My first child was born in 1965.We had ten days in hospital in those days and the nurses were most helpful and encouraging in teaching us to breastfeed.One mother a few days in decided it wasn’t for her and her breasts were bound quite tightly.

Thanks for all who commented.

My intention was not to open yet another Breast versus Bottle debate.

But to find out if any of you, or DDs, colleagues, friends, etc- in the past, currently or anywhere in between- were actually DISCOURAGED from Breast Feeding, and by whom, with reasons stated or not.

Zoejory, I truly do not think it is genetic. But expectations leading to advice, comments, support or not, etc.

In the cases of younger colleagues, living in extended families, the MIL encouraged Bottle feeding as a method of control, on both DIL, son and baby. OH also had several similar cases.

Actively discouraged from breastfeeding first, Mother said bottle feeding best and breastfeeding was disgusting.

Tried with my second but traumatic birth meant no milk.

Third and fourth till six months.

With my 5th, I decided I wasn't going to be treated like it was something shameful any more. Mother and stepfather would make me leave the room in my own house.

A friend walked into the living room and deliberately breastfed in front of them... they left the room. I laughed and thought, actually it's their problem not mine

I shared a picture of myself breastfeeding in Facebook ( you couldn't see any breast anyway) stating that with my last baby, I would be breastfeeding wherever and whenever and would no longer be hiding in bedrooms and baby changing rooms.

Mother and stepfather after seeing the positive responses... did a full 180

Lol

BF first child for 10 days in hospital and several painful weeks at home, encouraged by hospital and health visitor. When she failed to gain weight and was fretful, I was advised to try formula.
Second child, I was better prepared, but with the same outcome, though only in hospital for 24 hours. Reassured by health visitor that if I’d only fed baby for a few days I’d given her a good start.
In hospital first time, about 50% of mums Bf baby.

My first baby (b.1969)in maternity hospital where senior consultant INSISTED THAT ALL FIRST TIME MUMS breastfed. I went in with an open mind, but on being told I HAD to - I immediately opted not to. So bottle fed. Always felt gulty about this and rest ofbabies were breast fed, including my twins. Trained as an NCT B.Feeding Counsellor and was available on the phone 24/7. Helped to jointly write the first NCT lealet on breast feeding twins.

When I had my twins an agency nurse at the hospital 'caught' me feeding them on demand and insisted on telling me that if I kept on feeding my babies as and when they needed it I would 'run out' of milk. Such an incorrect and dangerous thing to say.

My MiL detested it when I b.fed and would not stay in the same room as me. She could never understand why I did it,

All my daughters were brought up knowing that breast was best, but found that the professional Health Care people were not really helpful or encouraging .

New baby weight growth charts were geared toward formula fed babies and that often caused incorrect and damaging advice to be given. New parents (particularl with first baby) are so scared and want to helped and adviced correctly.

My eldest daughter's partner was told by visiing midwife, when baby was six days old to 'go out immediately to get formular and bottles'. This due to baby not gaining much weight. This was in the middle of a heatwave, that 'baby' - now 19years old still loses her appitite in hot weather!!!! My very self-confident and NHS Professional rang me in tears that day. Was also told to take baby that day to GP. So fortunate that lovely lady GP examined baby - congratulated Mum, told her how healthy Baby was and stated ' Assume you are breast-feeding'. With that, and my help that continued for several months - even when daughter returned to work with expressed milk in bottles.

Whereas no-one should be forced to b-feed if they really do not want to, there is no doubt that breast is best both for babies and Mothers. Expressed milk in bottles can still give dads, etc a chance to feed baby. And, at least when breast feeding Mum HAS to sit down and relax and bond.

Theer are still far too many fallacies out there. The formular manufacturers perpetuated some of these deliberately when wishing to break into the markets in Africa, Asia, etc. The milk from a different species of Mammal cannot be as good as that from humans to small babies.

Also, breast feeding once established is so much less work. When I had my twins, my older three were 2 yrs, 4 yrs & 5 yrs. No way would I have found time to make upto 12 bottles every day. So much easier to sit down with two babies, feed them together, change them and put them back to rest - and during the day often had 2-year old sitting with me whilst I did this so i could read a book toher.

Yes

My dh had the mistake of listening to his mother and insinuate my first kid did nor have enough nutrients and needed formula - their judgement is something that has not been forgotten

He only mentioned it once, if looks could kill

He quickly learned not to give unsolicited advice from his parents after
several incidents of very very outdated and dangerous advice from his mother

No, you do not give turmeric to a baby so her/his skin is lighter
No, water intake is dangerous for a newborn
Etc

NotAGran55

It never occurred to me to not breast feed my two in the 1990’s.
I did it everywhere, restaurants, church, trains, relatives homes, park benches…
The first was for 18 months and the second for 2 years, roughly in line with the WHO recommendations at the time.
Never had any adverse comments . If I had had any comments I would have told them in no uncertain terms what they could do!

Same here. Even when I went back to work when they were three months old, I expressed milk so that whoever was looking after them could continue to give them my milk.

I breastfed both mine, not exactly with support, but no discouragement from the professionals. But then, I had an older sister who breastfed, my siblings and I were breastfed and my partner's mother breastfed her children. She was a bit sniffy about mothers who breastfed in public, but not discouraging.

OTOH, I was an NCT breastfeeding counsellor for a while and there were women who came under pressure from their mothers to give up if they had problems. The mothers usually prevailed...

Looking at statistics for England (which are incomplete) it seems that the percentage of babies totally or partially fed at 6 - 8 weeks is about 56%, but looking at the regional statistics it is noticeable that the further south one goes, and particularly in the Home Counties the rate is far higher than in the North of England, where it tends to be less than 50%; in some cases, much less.

I couldn't find anything about babies breastfed to 6 months, which is, I believe, now the recommended period. I suspect it is a much lower percentage.

It never occurred to me to not breast feed my two in the 1990’s.
I did it everywhere, restaurants, church, trains, relatives homes, park benches…
The first was for 18 months and the second for 2 years, roughly in line with the WHO recommendations at the time.
Never had any adverse comments . If I had had any comments I would have told them in no uncertain terms what they could do!

Norah

It's personal, each to their own.

I fed all 4 of our daughters, I knew no different. Mum said she breastfed, my sisters nursed, I never considered not. Easy and free.

I wonder why MILs care (if they indeed do care).

Totally agree. All mine were bottle fed. My mother never wanted to breast feed either, My daughter bottle fed her. My daughters in law bottle fed theirs. Maybe it's genetic!

It's personal, each to their own.

I fed all 4 of our daughters, I knew no different. Mum said she breastfed, my sisters nursed, I never considered not. Easy and free.

I wonder why MILs care (if they indeed do care).

My children were born 1971, 1973. In Bracknell New Town where we lived then, we were all positively encouraged to breast feed and I was the pride and joy of the health visitors because I was the only mother who did breast food.

Mind you, the gilt did come off the gingerbread a bit because my breast fed only baby was also the biggest and fattest baby in the clinic!

Fleurpepper

1973 and 2009. Many of my younger colleagues too, but over-powering MILs activelly promoting bottle feeding, buying bottles and formula and even feeding themselves , without permission (extended families, married to oldest son).

That's a huge age difference between your AC (DDs?) @ Fleurpepper ' or are you referring to one of your DGC

I was in hospital throughout my first pregnancy in 1987 because of constant sickness and blood pressure. I was told I was not going to be able to breast feed because of my colouring pale skin hair etc. What a ridiculous thing to say to a new mum I was determined to breast feed and I did.
Breast feeding was also not encouraged because our babies were put in a side ward in cots. I had to go and get my son in order to feed him. I should have been allowed to have my son at my bedside but wasn’t.

Didn’t attend NCT classes. Definitely didn’t want to breastfeed. No pressure to do so from anyone. Son thrived. No regrets.

1978 and 1982. Actively encouraged to breast feed.by NCT classes.as were my friends.