"So... When are you going to stop breast feeding?"

The subject of breast feeding seems to be every where now a days. I'm not entirely sure whether I've only started noticing it since pregnancy or whether it's coincidently stepped into the lime light at the same time but it's hard not to scroll through my Facebook news feed any more without spotting an article or post about breast feeding, good or bad.

Ever since falling pregnant, the thought of breast feeding in public hasn't bothered me. I believed that those stories of disgusted members of the public, wincing at the sight of a baby feeding, were rare occurrences. In all honesty, when I breast feed Bronte out and about, I'm either looking down at her, talking to a friend or looking at my phone. I don't look around me to see who's staring and you know what? I couldn't really care less. 

That said, Bronte is 2 months away from her 1st birthday and recently (and not so recently) I have been asked the question, "When are you going to stop breast feeding?"

Not by strangers but by friends and family. It's a perfectly acceptable question to ask but the frequency at which this subject arises does begin to become... I don't know... bothersome. 

Bronte's first tooth appeared around the 6 month mark. "It's weird now she has teeth."

I'm sorry? Is it? If everyone had this view then I'm pretty sure humans would have died out centuries ago. Not only that but some babies are born with teeth.

I'm sure this wasn't said to offend me but it does. Whilst I'm sat there breast feeding my 6 month old baby, It being described as "weird" makes me feel uncomfortable and embarrassed; even if I know it's a ridiculous statement.

I'm not clued up on how formula works and when you're supposed to cut it out but once a baby is weaned from formula (Around the age of 1?), I'm gathering it is replaced with cows milk? Milk from a cows' udder? How am I wrong to feed my child it's own mothers' milk? I am fully aware that drinking cows milk is absolutely the norm and has been since forever but when I'm being told I'm weird for still breast feeding Bronte I can't help but feel mighty confused.  I have NEVER said and never will say (or think) anything negative about the way others choose to feed their children because they are not my children. I have friends who both breast feed and formula feed; it doesn't make me feel any different about them and it shouldn't do either. 

I could go on and on about the positives of breast feeding. I could continue to go on about the positives of "extended" breast feeding. The World Health Organisation recommends breast feeding at least until 1 year of age and then as long as baby and mother mutually want to.

I joke that I'll be poking my boob through the school gates once Bronte starts Reception. 

I haven't got a plan for when I will stop. I know breast milk is good stuff so I'll continue to feed Bronte until she no longer wants it or when I decide it's time. Who knows when that will be. 

All I know is that I already feel embarrassment for future me if I'm still breast feeding her in a years time, even if I know there's nothing wrong with it. I shouldn't have to feel like that. 

I would LOVE for people to realise that breast feeding is NORMAL and I am not a weirdo. It saddens me how detached some are from how we are designed to nurture our children. Getting your boobs out in public already requires a certain amount of confidence without small minded people adding their 2 cents about the subject, believe me. 

Fed is best. I will be continuing to flash the postman mid-feed for however long Bronte and I decide. Oops.