EBF mummahs. You are so powerful 🫡

Let me be clear, ALL of us mummy’s are fantastic. After not being able to breastfeed as I intended, I pumped until lb was 12 weeks. When I stopped and moved onto formula I had such a guilty relief that it was ending. But for those mummahs still up all hours that were lucky enough to take part on that incredible journey, I salute you! It takes such resilience I’m not sure I could muster.

Also now our babies are all a little older and stronger (and ultimately happy) there’s not as much stigma about whether you breast or formula fed our little ones, it feels a safer space now (hopefully 🫣) just to give you a round of applause 👏🏻

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I feel like the stigma goes the other way the older my LG gets. At first I had no end of praise but now people keep asking me when I'll stop and if she's "too old" for breastmilk now!

Ahh you absolute warrior. Congratulations on going this long! I can’t only imagine how tired and drained you must feel at times. But for such a wonderful reason 👏🏻. I wish it could’ve been my story! You’ve got this. 💪🏻

oh wow really?! That’s crazy. I’d say if anything it’s even harder, you’ve been running on empty for longer! Let’s not even mention teeth! Definitely still bossing it in my opinion!

I've had the same. My baby is 10.5m EBF and now I keep on being asked when I'll stop or give formula. I keep persisting to breastfeed until she's 1.

Well done for pumping for so long 👏 I found pumping so difficult I just gave up and continued to breastfeed as normal. But I agree with so many people are surprised my 9.5 month old is still EBF

Oh @menna and that really surprises me! You guys are the silent superstars. Well I couldn’t even imagine the “x sleep regression” if I was also feeding. I’m already on my knees half the time with my little one 🙃

Thank you Menna. Personally I would have loved to have breastfed but after a tricky birth it wasn’t on my cards. Think it would’ve created a lovely special bond you all have made.💕

It was a tough journey indeed but now I really enjoy it! But it is still hard, bf several times a night still and the commitment, not ever having time for self, not ever being away for longer than a couple hours, bf when working (WFH), giving up alcohol…

I also get asked or get looks when bf my 9.5 mo. I want to let him self wean 🤞🏼 (but hoping won’t be older than 2yo when he does 😅)

Thank you for your kind comment and praise! It really does go a long way ❤️ and props to you for pumping for so long; I have to pump when baby is at nursery and honestly hate it! I would not be able to exclusively pump for that long specially at the beginning when they feed constantly! 🫶🏼

I feel the same, I really hate it at times but I keep pushing on to get to that 12 month mark. I'm really looking forward to stopping even though I think it will bring it's own challenges

I appreciate it but honestly I found and find breastfeeding incredibly easy and enjoyable. I have never had to get up in the night unlike some of my friends because I just reach over and pull her onto my boob. I'm one of the best slept mums I know! And it's much cheaper haha. It's also such a precious snuggle time, I still love every moment of it and will breastfeed until she is ready to stop. I love the closeness and the skin to skin, it's such a beautiful bond and it will end all too soon. I feel lucky ✨️

I actually think pumping is the hardest job, I do pump occasionally and the faff is unbelievable! All the bottle sterilising, its the worst of both worlds imo. I would rather pump or use donor milk then formula but my god I don't envy exclusive pumpers. That's heroic effort imo haha.

in our community

Can someone pls help i keep making this post and nobody is responding

My boyfriend booked a trip for us to go to mexico for a week as my push present. I have severe anxiety leaving my 7 month old with my mom. I know she will be in good hands but she’s exclusively breast fed for the most part but accepts bottles just fine. i have all my pumping parts packed and will pump when baby normally eats but i don’t want baby to forget me or have latch issues when i return!! any mommas ever experience this?

Postpartum

I’m only 3 days postpartum (FTM) and already have extremely bad anxiety. I’m crying every night, as I think of another night of no sleep. My baby will not settle in his cot, he cries every moment we put him down unless in his chair rocker. So me and my partner are having to alternate after 3/4 hours of being awake with him downstairs. I’m trying everything to get him to settle. It’s a load of overwhelming stress. I’m 23, I was desperate for a baby and now I have one and feel completely useless. I miss it just being me and my partner.

When does it get better?

I was crying on the phone with the perinatal mental health team today and the lovely lady, bless her, kept assuring me that it gets better. I kept telling her I hope so because people have been saying that since having my LO and it just feels like it keeps getting worse. She assured me it gets better....

Night time routine

Heya, my 3 week old daughter is currently exclusively breastfed and I’m not pumping. Can anyone recommend the best way to share the load with my partner? At the moment I’m doing all the feeds/burbs/settling and my partner is sleeping through which obviously isn’t sustainable, I’m trying to work out the best way to get him involved. Any advice very much appreciated!

Rant/WWYD

My sister (youngest, 24) has two kids, 4 & 1, and i (oldest, 30) just have my one who’s 6mo old right now, so i ask her for advice or call her to vent about things sometimes. Well im tired of her turning around and telling my other family members that I’m “losing my sh*t.” Literally have not lost my sh*t nor have i ever freaked out to her about my baby, i just call her to talk and tell her what stage my baby is in or talk through how im feeling, but she chooses to tell people that im like a complete nutcase or something which worries me that my family is going to start being judgmental about me as a mother or looking at me funny like I’m some fragile ticking time bomb.

What would you do in this situation? I’m already pretty much decided that I’ll stop telling her anything about my struggles, but I’m almost at the point where i feel like it should be confronted because she, of all people, should understand what I’m going through.

Can someone speak on drug screening and c section?

I smoked all through my first pregnancy and tested positive didn’t have any issues a social worker came in and spoke to me and hubby and that was it but this time I’m having an elective c section and wondering did they drug test you there?