I listened to a particularly odious rant on my local radio station about breastfeeding the other day. Yes Radio Solent I’m looking at you.
Widely quoted across the press were the comments regarding the breastfeeding habits of two types of breastfeeding mothers: the ‘librarian types…earth mothers’ and the ‘classy…yummy mummies’.
This is obviously an extreme example but we can all be guilty of pigeonholing people. We can all sometimes forget that every person we meet is a complex, multifaceted individual.
So in a bid to remember my very own multi-facetedness (not a word), here are the ten types of breastfeeding mother I was:
1. The ‘I Hate It’ breastfeeder
I do, I hate it! Am I doing it right? It’s painful, it’s tiring, it’s stressful.
2. The Proud breastfeeder
My body can do THIS. Wow. I love it.
3. The One Position breastfeeder
Oh, this is harder than I thought. It would seem I can only successfully breastfeed my baby lying down .
Forget feeding in public, I’ll do well to feed in my living room.
4. The Going Out On The Town breastfeeder
Yes I’m going out!
Make up on, hair done. Heels ready by front door. LBD on after bedtime feed (learnt that the hard way).
Travel no more than 15 minutes away as slim chance baby will wake hungry, thirsty, sad.
5. The Self Conscious breastfeeder
I will tie this scarf around myself and my baby fourteen times if it means noone will see me. I am invisible now aren’t I?
No?
No. The café clientele are puzzled about the bizarre acrobatics I am making my baby do, until my head emerges triumphantly from the scarf-den and I loudly declare ‘yes, he’s on!’.
Cue kindly congratulations from fellow café inhabitants.
Thank you, thank you very much.
6. The Confident breastfeeder
I’m on a train and the baby needs a feed? No problem.
What’s that? The train has arrived in London Victoria and we need to disembark? Umm… No problem…! Walking feeds are so me.
7. The Organic, Healthy Living breastfeeder
Cabbage leaves down my bra, oats on my breakfast. Vitamins, manuka honey, the works.
8. The Sod it I Need a Glass of Wine breastfeeder
Sod it, I need a glass of wine. Oh and a takeaway. And a gin and tonic.
9. The ‘Will My Baby Ever Stop Breastfeeding?’ breastfeeder
What!? My baby will still need breastfeeding after six months? After twelve months? I did not know this.
Will my baby/toddler ever stop breastfeeding?
10. The Ex-breastfeeder
Oh.
Yes he will stop breastfeeding. They all stop eventually. He has stopped breastfeeding.
Bye bye breastfeeding.
Just happy memories of a hard, complicated, beautiful relationship left now.
So you see it’s never straightforward, I was never just one type of breastfeeder. In exactly the same way I’m not just one type of mother or one type of person. I’m lots, all at once sometimes. Like everyone else. Phew, think I need a lie down.
The radio programme that ‘inspired’ this post has received numerous complaints and the presenter is currently suspended. It was such incredibly irresponsible broadcasting and disappointing on so many levels, not least because Southampton (which is where Radio Solent reside) can be a great place to breastfeed:
Southampton is part of the nationwide Breastfeeding Welcome scheme:
www.breastfeedingwelcomescheme.org.uk
Eastleigh have their own scheme:
Breastfeeding in Eastleigh Borough
There are also a number of free parent groups, drop-ins and helplines active in Southampton and surrounding areas. This document is useful as it brings some of the support available together in one place of reference. I wish I’d found it when I was still breastfeeding!:
Help & Support with Breastfeeding
Yes, I have been some of those too, and others. Women can be so frustratingly mukyi-dimensional, can they not?
Excellent work, my friend.
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Thank you matey. Yes indeed, so many dimensions all at once. This was the edited version of the list!
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*multi, obviously, not mukyi. Doh!
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This made me chuckle because I was definitely many of those breastfeeding types… Or I am. I’m still breastfeeding!
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And more I imagine, happy breastfeeding, enjoy the rest of the personalities to come! Thank you for popping by x
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Excellent post. Is it terrible that I could relate to #1 and #8 the most? Lol 😉
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I think they go hand in hand don’t they!? Definitely not terrible!
Thank you for commenting x
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Love this post. In the past 4 months I’ve probably been all of them, some at the same time as each other. Still love breastfeeding though.
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Ahh I love that you love breastfeeding. I couldn’t quite bring myself to list the ‘I love it breast feeder’ as a stand alone one so I’m always happy to hear when other people do.
Thanks v much for commenting and for sharing on twitter too. Glad it resonated with you. Happy breastfeeding! X
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Yes, I have been some of these, and I have been some with second baby that I wasn’t with first (in public – also only with complex muslin wrap acrobatics – expressed milk in bottle all the way with first when out! Imagine that: days when I had opportunity to express milk as well! Those don’t exist with a toddler and a baby!)
Great post! x
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Yes if I ever have two children I’m sure I’ll be more and different types to the ones listed here! I’m 100% behind feeding in public but I do not miss the scarf/muslin/sling acrobatics that I used to do. Thanks for commenting silly friend x
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Lovely piece. Funny and made me feel nostalgic as I had definitely been every one at some point #wineandboobs
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Thank you very much! Ahh I like that it made you feel nostalgic and you could relate. Thank you very much for reading, commenting and sharing it on twitter too! X
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I am definitely the will he ever stop breastfeeding mother. I have absolutely no idea how we are going to cross that bridge! #wineandboobs
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I’ve been all these as well! ☺️ Well written, funny and true ☺️ Will share on my Facebook and Twitter ☺️
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Ahh I’m pleased it was recognisable! Thank you so much for sharing, that’s very kind x
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I was the one position feeder with both my boys. #wineandboobs
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Ahh hope it was a more sociable position than lying down (although that’s a very relaxing one!) x
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Sat in a certain chair
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I am all of these! The funniest thing is how feeding changes as time goes on. I started off nervously feeding under a cover when out in public, anxious not to offend anybody, and now I just whip them out anywhere!
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Ahh this brought back memories. Think I was all ten at some point, now a little sad not to be doing it. I was definitely shy in public with my first but didn’t care so much with my second, quite happy to do it anywhere as long as I could contain the toddler somewhere!
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I do love breastfeeding, although it’s been much trickier the second time around, I have worn so many of those hats!
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It’s amazing how each baby can be so different. It must have been a nice feeling (for both of you) when the latch clicked! Thank you for popping by x
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Brilliant post! I don’t breastfeed but I definitely appreciate how challenging yet rewarding it must be especially feeling obliged to worm your way into a discrete position in public. #MaternityMondays
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Thank you! Yep the complex negotiations with baby and wrap get more fun as the baby gets older. Not good for a self conscious feeder! Thanks v much for commenting x
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hehehe I like the opposites here. The cabbage and the wine. Thanks for linking up #MaternityMondays
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Thanks for hosting!
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I read about that radio broadcast the other week, I could not believe someone would say that, it made me really angry. Loved this post, I was definitely all of these at one point while I was breastfeeding xx #maternitymondays
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It was incredibly weird wasn’t it!? Glad you liked the post though! Thank you for commenting x
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Lovely post. You capture the ambivalence perfectly. You’re a great writer.
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