Been a while!! My summer of funs!!

A little while ago, myself and my husband developed the term 'to have funs'. This system is a simple but effective way of determining how much fun you have had at any one event, in any one day, or at any one time. The concept is simple - you are allowed 17 funs in one day - any more, and you have a fun come down the next day - you know what I mean, that feeling when you have had an excellent day, but the one ahead just seems rubbish in comparison! 1 fun, can be made up of whatever you wish, each individual perceives a fun in their own way.... Why am I telling yo this?? Because my summer has been full of days worth of funs! My darling daughter has be nothing but a delight, and shared every minute with me - apart from the day I left her to go and have some grown up funs, but I am assured she had a lovely day with Grandma and Granddad! My summer started with National Breastfeeding week and a mass onslaught of nursing mothers to the local ikea - an odd, but empowering and wonderful occasion. A local photographer, a wonder man called Paul Carter, captured the event for his very personal mission to get breastfeeding accepted in all walks. His campaign 'We do it in Public' was started when his wife passed, who was an avid campaigner for breastfeeding. His pictures are wonderful, and it was a privilege to be snapped by him!!

http://www.breastfeedinginpublic.co.uk

During our summer of fun, we also took our lovely little lady on tour of the North West - visiting family and friends and rejoicing in not one, but two weddings in one weekend. Little D herself did tremendously well with all the attention she was getting, and my stressing about finding and appropriate occasion dress which would let me feed her was put to rest when I stumbled upon a chance find in Oasis - a black maxi number with a low cut front that had a little popper button to secure the boobs... it was like it was meant for feeding!! The only problem being, is that I was guaranteed to be sicked on but the sicky one, and with it being a black dress, and the only one I had for both weddings, I had to be careful.... feed and straight to daddy seemed to work the best. That and a stern talking to before I put her in her frock seemed to work.... might have to do that everyday!

It would seem, as I approach the 4 month marker for breastfeeding, there is no end to the joy and pleasure it brings. I am constantly told by family, friends and health professionals alike, that 'I have done so well to get this far' or 'wow your still feeding, thats amazing'. Well, as much as that makes me feel warm and fuzzy (and it does because I am a little vain like!) I kinda just want to turn around and say 'well it aint stopping any time soon, so don't praise me just yet!' or 'don't praise me for doing what I should be doing'.... although I think the latter may have the gusto to upset, even though it is not meant for that!

Roll on month 4, lets see the funs that you have in store....

The Journey Continues.....

I do it in public.... and I freaking love it!

I really have very little to say about breastfeeding in public which might sound a little odd, but here is the long and short of it....

What is the issue? I feel silly for even discussing breastfeeding in public, because we, as a society, should NEVER have got to the point where women feel bad, or self conscious, or embarrassed by breastfeeding.

I can go into any news agents and pick up a pair of massive bangers for a couple of quid from the top shelf. Or turn to page 3 of the sun to see some teenager flashing for the cash.

Yet, when I want to use mine in the way nature intends them to be use.... I feel like I am being watched.

I have not had the 'pleasure' of being told to move, or shown somewhere inappropriate like a toilet to feed my baby yet, but every time I feed her in public, I think it could happen..... Not Cool!!

And although I have this whole speech in my head for if and when it does happen, it doesn't detract from the fact that I shouldn't even be thinking about this. I shouldn't even be writing this. There shouldn't be a debate, or discussion, or worry. It should be a part of life that one and all accept.

I wonder where we went wrong?

Is it any wonder so many women give it up before they might have done?

I was speaking to a friend today who said she never felt like breastfeeding came naturally to her, and this is why she gave it up. This is a fair enough point - but she went on to say how, if feeding her baby didn't go smoothly in public she felt sick that people might be watching her 'fumble' and that she might be offending people!!

OFFENDING PEOPLE??

My opinion is, if you are offended by breastfeeding, you have probably been starring for too long.

It is a sad fact, that in this country, breastfeeding support groups have to ask cafes to put up 'breastfeeding welcome' signs in their windows. It is a fantastic thing these groups are doing, but it shouldn't have to be done.

I am a proud breastfeeding mummy, and if my baby needs feeding, she is going to be fed.

The journey continues......