Did your mom or MIL Breastfeed? - Page 6

[BetsyS]

y mom breastfed both me and my brother, for about 9 months each. She is very proud of that length of time, and she weaned us straight to a cup for milk.

My MIL breastfed all 4 of her kids, for about the same time. I have 3 SILs, with 8 kids between them. All breastfed.

But, the old advice is pretty funny. My mom gave me the washcloth advice, too, and she was told to wipe off her nipples with sterilized water before each feeding. And, she had to give 1 ounce of water after each feeding. She's always shocked when I just stop and nurse anywhere, without a big production. And MIL told me all about the best advice she ever got was to have dh eating 3 meals ( meaning breastmilk) a day by the time he was 2 months old. : She's kind of a food nazi anyway, so I was able to easily blow off that advice.

[Max'sMama]

Originally Posted by hipcoolmama

Did your mom/MIL breastfeed their children and did that influence or not influence you?

Sadly both, yet for different reasons I am influenced.
My mother nursed as did her sister, SIL, mother, grandmother...apparently my whole maternal line nursed.

My mil did not nurse any of her children and was very negative about nursing baby....I wouldn't make it, wouldn't have enough, what would I do in public, etc. etc.

Because of my mom, I knew that I would nurse, because of MIL I was adament to be successful at nursing.

[WNB]

I got the "prepare your nipples" advice from my grandmother as well. She just said to rub 'em around and get used to lots of contact to "toughen them up". I don't think the "toughening" happens ever, but the version of the advice I got didn't seem to be harmful either. And it was inspiring to get support from my grandmother, honestly, even if the advice was a little wacky. Gram raised my Mum all by herself for over a year because Grampa was over in Europe fighting World War II -- knowing that she was able to nurse and take care of mom all by herself was pretty empowering, and makes me feel like I'm part of a line of strong women who do what is best for their babies.

[ophelia2002]

My mom didn't and I had an uphill battle explaining to her why I want to.

My MIL did- she breastfed all her kids and cloth diapered them all, too, so we get on just fine!

[Miasmamma]

Originally Posted by hipcoolmama

Kudos to your mom for bf-ing 5! Wow, your SIL said you were being selfish to not let her feed a bottle?? Yes, I hear you about MIL. My mother in law asks when I'll wean so baby can stay over night at Grandma's.

My MIL and FIL say the same thing.: My DH was BF in the beginning but started on cereal at 10 days b/c "he wasn't getting enough". I haven't asked yet if she was nursing on demand or trying to schedule him. It was the 70's so I'm not sure what the going advice was. I was FF, but my parents are very supportive. They know that DD won't be staying overnight anywhere that me and DH are not since we bed share. My mom was nervous about it at first, but now that she sees how well adjusted we all are she's ok with it.

[Selesai]

I would love to read this whole thread but I'm at work, so I'll just answer.
My mom BF me and my brother and sister (twins born at 32 wks I think). When my brother was in the NICU for a bit after birth, she pumped for him, and got up to 1/2 -1 gallon a day!! Then used the SNS until he was strong enough to feed from the breast.
However, she did try to start cereal at 2 mos because that was the advice then-- we didn't like it, so she waited. We then weaned ourselves before a year as I recall her saying.
My MIL bf all of her 5 children (after having them naturally-- and this was the 60s) until self-wean, when they went straight to the cup. I don't know when she started solids.

Oh, and it didn't influence me-- I was already determined to bf, but the support was really important, especially in those first weeks after my milk came in.
Ok, reading the thread-- i did nurse my dolls as a kid, so i bet my mom's nursing had a big effect on me, even if I don't realize it.

[nikisager]

My mother nursed my 3 younger sisters, I was the only one she didnt. She had such a hard time money wise that most the time I got kool aid, and she vowed she would never do that to any more of her kids. I have always wondered if that isnt the reason my teeth were totally rotted out by the age of 22. Yes, she was an inspiration for me to nurse, it is what I had always seen, what I new, but I am the only one out of her 4 girls that breastfeeds, the other ones do not "want to be tied down":

[jbmill2]

my mom BF both my brother and I, she was the only one of her family who did so, and my brother and I were healthy as horses . MIL has one excuse after another...she says her milk never came in (well it often doesn't if you don't try), her milk was poisonous due to the stress of her long labor (seriously), blah blah. Pumping was "torture", and she hated to feed my husband every 3 hours becasue she "needs her sleep". Poor DH!

[Isamama]

My birthmother breast fed me for the 3 days she had me. I know, she has the best heart! She BF'd the rest of her children (3 more) for at least a year (maybe more) and she didn't start any solids until 6 months. Pretty progressive for the 70's (heck--even now!).

My adoptive mother did not breastfeed her biological children. When I asked her about whether or not she BF'd she said something like, "No way, I never intended to."

MIL BF'd DS #1 for 6 weeks. She spoke very negatively about her experience of BFing while I was pregnant. She didn't BF my DH (her DS #2) at all because she thought it would be too difficult to run around after her fist son and BF. She did express some feelings of guilt about not BFing DH.

All that being said, everyone (in my family) has been very supportive of my breastfeeding. My mom (adoptive) suggested that I attend BF support groups. MIL is horribly uninformed re: Breast milk (she kept trying to get us to give DD water and has said other silly things), however is supportive of me BFing. It's actually stunning to me how uninformed people in general are of Breastmilk. We educate, We educate!

What influenced me to BF? I just always thought if I ever had a baby I would BF. In fact, I thought that was one of the bonuses of having a baby. I have always had a romantic view of breastfeeding. What could be more cool than to nurture a whole other human from your breast?