Okay, some background. I am the only woman in my familiy who has ever bf'd past 3 months. There is this blanket ignorance roaming around that bf'ing is optional and that formula is just as good and that any amount of bf'ing is good (it is but that's not the point). So, I'm went home this weekend and was at my sister's house. Over there was my dad, my sis, my 30 year old niece (yes, strange), and my great-nieces (3, 6, 8) and my sister's daughter (3) and dh. Well, Naiah needed to nurse so I nursed and then I whipped out my manual pump to finish the job since I was getting engorged and dd wasn't as hungry as I would've liked. My 30 yr. old niece goes "so you'll just do that if front of everyone?". She wasn't being snotty b/c I'm the leader of the pack but she was truly wondering. She wasn't appalled or anything just shocked. I wasn't offended. To the contrary I took this moment to teach...so I just said "Of course, why not. She's hungry she deserves to eat here and now." She went on to me that whenever she did it she covered. I told her that I see no need to do that, this is what they're intended for. Even my little sister piped in and defended a bit. We began discussing bf'ing and I made a point to let them know that I was planning on bf'ing into the first year at least (here on MDC that might not be long but in my family it's ancient) and that formula is BAD for babies.
I started offering a taste of the bm. Everyone thought this was so funny but I kept it up. I told them that me and dh tried it and it's sweet. The kids got really intrigued and my youngest niece asked for some. I looked at her mom and she was like "no, nuh-uh. That's personal." I said no it's not, people donate milk to milk banks, other people nurse other peoples babies all the time. and that it's better for her than french fries which she eats at least 2 times a week...Ya da ya da...so eventually, while everyone watched in awe, my niece was allowed to taste it. Then the 8 year old asked for some, her mother also consented and she tasted it. The 8 year old thought it was gross, but my 3 yo niece loved it! Hee hee...
I told them that it tasted like sugar water...to me it has no flavor but it is definitely sweet. Amariah ended up drinking about 1 1/2 ounces!! It was hilarious! I love that this moment happened. For these kids, bf'ing isn't something wierd or gross, it's how babies eat. I'm still laughing inside.
I started offering a taste of the bm. Everyone thought this was so funny but I kept it up. I told them that me and dh tried it and it's sweet. The kids got really intrigued and my youngest niece asked for some. I looked at her mom and she was like "no, nuh-uh. That's personal." I said no it's not, people donate milk to milk banks, other people nurse other peoples babies all the time. and that it's better for her than french fries which she eats at least 2 times a week...Ya da ya da...so eventually, while everyone watched in awe, my niece was allowed to taste it. Then the 8 year old asked for some, her mother also consented and she tasted it. The 8 year old thought it was gross, but my 3 yo niece loved it! Hee hee...
I told them that it tasted like sugar water...to me it has no flavor but it is definitely sweet. Amariah ended up drinking about 1 1/2 ounces!! It was hilarious! I love that this moment happened. For these kids, bf'ing isn't something wierd or gross, it's how babies eat. I'm still laughing inside.
She BF her oldest till she was 8 mons she would have gone longer but my niece went on what my sis identifies now as a nursing strike but at the time thought she was weaning herself. She fed her youngest till she was 10 mons but couldn't take my nieces ferocious appetite and aggressive eating style and weaned her.
