Clive thinks I’m crazy for caring, but I really hope that new moms and future moms who are reading this breastfeed. It can be difficult at the beginning, but it’s so worth it in the end. I was a a breastfeeding meeting the other day and learned that in Nova Scotia about 90% of women try to breastfeed and within the first month or two the statistic falls to a mere 20% that stick with it. I nearly cried. Poor babies.
1 | Liz
I promise that if I ever have kids someday, I am going to do everything humanly possible to breastfeed at LEAST one year.
2 | typealice
Two years is my goal, but I commend any mom who chooses to BF after the first six months (I don’t know why anyone would switch to formula after that long of BF).
3 | J.
I share your sentiments. Where I live, I bet less than 10% of women even attempt to breastfeed. I wish I was joking. 
However, it’s going well for me and my son…less than 2 weeks till his first birthday, and the one-year breastfeeding milestone! I’m going to continue as long as he wants it, which hopefully is awhile yet. It’s so good for him, and we have such a great bond as a result.
4 | Laurie
I would never consider not trying. My mother breastfed and cloth diapered in the early ’80s when neither was in style, and she doesn’t understand why more women don’t nurse. “I never had to mix or heat up the formula–it was always the right temperature!” she said.
I was explaining to a friend that I haven’t gone for a (badly needed) breast reduction because I don’t want to affect my ability to breastfeed. It had never crossed his mind that a woman outside of the Third World would want to do such a thing.
5 | Laurie
Also, I think for most mothers it comes down to the need to go back to work. Pumping, refrigerating, and packaging milk for a day care provider takes a special level of dedication, and resources that many women simply don’t have.
6 | typealice
I suppose so. In Canada, however, where Maternity Leave is a year long and a lot of women take advantage of that (and the government money), there’s really no excuse.
7 | Laurie
Maternity leave here longer than a few weeks is rare here. Where it does last longer, it isn’t paid. The idea is so foreign to me!
9 | Jen
I agree with you wholeheartedly and am currently trying to find a LLL that I can start attending now, before the baby is even born so that if we have problems, I can go to them for guidance. That said, however, I think if a mom tries to breastfeed, and is unable to succeed for whatever reason, she needs to supported rather than looked upon as a failure to her child. There is already enough pressure to be the perfect mom and dad and make the perfect decisions for your child to have a perfect healthy life. The fact is that people have to do their best, and other moms need to concern themselves only with their own babies. I read a conversation on a forum the other day in which a band of moms circled the wagons around a frustrated mom who announced she just wasn’t able to BF anymore – the pain was too much and she was in agony and just couldn’t go on, and they pretty much cast her out and told her how horrible she was and how horrible she was being to her child. I’ve said it before and I am sure I will say it again: giving birth or fathering a child does not qualify one to tell others what to do and its amazing how many people feel that biologically being a parent makes one a parent. But I am preaching to the choir here so I will shut up! Have you considered volunteering for LLL?
10 | typealice
People who CAN’T BF are different than people who choose not to. I sympathize with women who can’t, who desperately tried and are still unable to. I have an online buddy who can’t stand to be in these types of conversations because of her PCOS that didn’t allow her to BF. She was devistated.
The LLL here only meets once a month, but I go to three other BF groups around the city when I can and talk to new and old moms about BF and lend advice when I’m asked for it. 
11 | Jen
Are the groups you go to a National organization at all, ones that might have a chapter here in BC? All I can come up with on searches around here is LLL and so far am having a hard time finding a group that works with my schedule. I am sure I will find some casual mom groups but was specifically looking for a BF group.
12 | Michelle
You know I’m a supporter! The saddest thing to me is that the majority of women who “can’t” BF really could – but things went south because of a lack of good support. Actually no, the saddest thing is our pathetic hospital here where the staff are horribly ignorant and worse, and they actually actively sabotage women who want to breastfeed. I swear, one day it’ll be the reason I quit attending hospital births because of burnout. Anyhoo. Yay boobages!
13 | Kris
Question for ya:
Is it possible to BF after having nipple piercings?
I only breastfed my son for two weeks… he refused to eat (sigh), so I had to switch to formula. I’ve beat myself up about it since. Anyway, the point is, the next time I have a baby, I want to try breastfeeding again… but I didn’t know if it’s safe if the girls have been pierced. What do you think?
14 | typealice
Most of the women that I know online had their nipples pierced (incl myself). It’s absolutely possible. It’s never been an issue for anyone, unless there’s an obscene amount of scar tissue (rare).
15 | Ada
Kris,
I too have had my nipples pierced. It hasn’t been a problem except for one side of the right nipple where there seems to be an elevated area after the piercing was taken out. It’s not that the nipples “doesn’t work” though – as your nipples are more “sprinkler-like” and has many avenues for flow. However, this raised bumpy bit took longer to acclimatize than any other area. So it was a little more sore for about a week longer. I learned to attach my baby a little differently each time to take the pressure off and it was fine.
16 | Sarah
Just a few days shy of 6.5 months breastfeeding here. I can’t imagine not breastfeeding. Our minimum goal is 1 year with our ideal goal being child led weaning. I love seeing blogs like this. It makes me feel more normal for expounding frequently on how much I put into breastfeeding. They tell you it’s hard, but I don’t think anyone really knows until they get there.
I think DD is just a few days younger than Ash.
17 | typealice
Good for you, Sarah! My goal has always been two years. I hope Ash wants to go past that, though! I believe it’s the best thing for your children. BF may be hard, but it’s SO worth it, and so wonderful. I also can’t imagine not doing it.
My sustainable accessories company Pip Robins keeps me busy in the evenings.
