I can confirm that Boomer is sometimes a little unsubtle in her requests for milk, but what you really need to know, ladies, is that Morv has somehow found the alchemical formula for 'breastfeeding without anyone being able to see even slightly what you are doing'.
This has been jealously commented on by many, many envious breastfeeding mums of mine and Morv's acquaintance.
Any and all comments about breastfeeding would be very useful now, blog chums.

thanks Aitch for the non boob flashing compliment. I am considering designing a range of ATTRACTIVE AND STYLISH (elements missing from current products) breastfeeding friendly tops. As a quick peice of research does anyone else think this is a good idea? Would you buy pretty fashionable tops with a unique design to prevent too much boob spillage?

please, please, please! the only ones I've seen seem to assume you want to unbutton a flap half way down a mumsy t-shirt and flop out a mammary! and I'm so sick of wearing a stretchy black Tshirt day in and day out. Something that prevented the flashing of stretch-marky tummy at horrified passers-by would be perfect. PS Morv am totally with you on the mythical milestone nonsense...and sick of people asking "is she good?", "is she sleeping through?" as though the 2 things are inextricably linked.

Layering is the answer!

I've gone back to wearing my normal tops (well OK, some of the size 8 ones don't fit quite yet... :) and just bought a few stretchy string tops in every colour to match the top/t-shirt it is to be combined with.

When I need to feed, I just pull the lower layer (i.e. the stringy top) down, below my breast when the top one is still covering it. I put the baby down and lift the upper layer, which will also cover the breast once the baby is latched on. No stretch marks OR boobs on display, certainly works for me.

My little Lukas has always been a big baby and he looked like a toddler at 6 months. People are always asking if I'm still nursing, but I'm slowly getting used to it. I keep telling the suspicious relatives that I'll only do it till DS is 1 (now 9 months), but when the day comes I'm planning to just extend the "deadline" until further notice - I can't see anyone losing sleep over me breastfeeding.

It's great to read someone else is doing it too, though. I've heard one too many of those "are you going to breastfeed until he leaves for college?" -jokes. That Channel 4 documentary had some good stuff in it but unfortunately people seem to remember only the mother who was still nursing her 7-year-old...

HI Lauranen, I totally agree about layering, it is the key. A common outfit for me is an Elle acpherson nursing bra (great because they almost lok like another layer and have a good modesty panel), a vest and a cardi. The vest comes down while the cardi comes up - not too much boob on show. However while it was so hot tis summer I found one layer was quite enough.
Anyway I think a top design that includes these layers at the front and is attractive would be a very handy item.

You are so right. Everyone is hung up on time! My babe is about to start BLW in a few weeks. People are amazed when I say I am still breastfeeding. When am I going to swap to formula? Like you I would like to continue feeding baba until she is one and then give her cow's milk. Going back to work when she is eight months old, so will be providing nursery with many bottles of expresso! Have given up worrying about how many tiger stripes are showing on my midrift. After having your nipples tweaked by strangers in hopsital to get drops of milk into a syringe, you learn not to give a shit!! However I do appreciate that you may go to certain places or be in certain company that I would give a shit! So may be interested in feeding tops, but in larger sizes too, size 16+. So when do the piano lessons begin?!?

i start work on Monday, Momma. bleeurgh. the breast pump has more contact with my boobs than my DH has had for quite some time. Hating that I have to do it, and that someone else'll be looking after my dd instead of me. And not quite sure how it'll go with the blw which we'll start next week. She'll be 26wks a week today. Anyone else have experience with nursery and attempting blw? I think there were some comments re this but would appreciate any advice

We will be starting joint tap and piano lessons soon! It is true that your embarrassment threshold does drop several degrees but it would be also nice to access your boob without major upheaval (again excuse the pun). My idea is a simple double layer – quite like wearing a vest and a cardi – but executed in a stylish, cool and overall not including duvet poppers way. I had thought that I would design them to have a drapey style that suites a range of sizes.

Gosh you girls go to bed late and breastfeed. Are you both Super woman?? Chatting online at nearly eleven o'clock!!! I usually scamper to bed by ten to get as much sleep as poss before the baba wakes up. Talking of clothes do you b feeders still wear a nursing bra at night? Is it just if you want to or is it necc. for support?

I wear a nightie which has cups which open out (I still drip everywhere at let-down so use nursing pads). It's actually quite a nice nightie. Hubby even said "Phwor" when I first wore it (of course, we haven't really got much further than that..). I don't have to wear it for support, but it's easier for the morning, in case I don't really have time to get dressed before DD is up (I don't much fancy hot tea down my boobies).

I sympathize about feeding the pump, but you get used to it. I've been pumping for daycare for ~4 months (that good old US "maternity" leave!), and actually look forward to it since I can have 3 nice 10 min breaks during the working day, although I usually read work/emails at the same time as pumping.

As for BLW and daycare.. Well... We've had some hiccups recently. Daycare wanted to feed DD jarred rubbish, and thought we were mad, bad parents for going straight to finger foods, but after a tussle and a doctor's note (for heaven's sake), agreed to give it a try. I put together DD's lunch the evening before, based upon whatever we have in the fridge. Well, on Friday, they panicked when DD gagged and phoned the doc (without phoning us!!). I reassured the doc about what we're doing, and she seemed happy with soft, finger-sized pieces of food. I've said to daycare that we want them to feel comfortable, and one of the carers blended yesterday's food a bit since she thought it was a bit big, and we're fine with that. For child-care professionals, their lack of knowledge of the protective nature of gagging is a bit worrying, but otherwise they are wonderful ladies.

We figure that we shall carry on with introducing foods the BLW way at home, and make accommodations for daycare, whilst still making sure that DD is allowed to feed herself/play with her food, rather than have gloop shoved down her throat. (And good luck to anyone who tries, she gets really mad if anyone tries to feed her, although we let Grandma feed her a tiny piece of bread)

BLW has yet to make it across the Atlantic, so it's still very counter-culture here, and everyone we mention it to thinks we're barmy (the doc is tolerant, although we've compromised in not offering new foods together and waiting 3 days). Although having said that, I've come across a lot of people who are doing extended breastfeeding beyond a year, and I personally have no problem with whopping the girls out wherever and whenever if DD is peckish. The only negative/horrified looks were from friends of ours - not bad for 7 months breastfeeding and still going strong. Would like to make it past 18 months, and then try and let DD gradually wean herself. I don't like the idea of proactively withdrawing something which allows DD to reconnect with Mummy, and is a wonderful bond, especially when I work full-time. Hubby is also very supportive (no pun intended)

I used to wear a nursing bra in bed at night but now I tend to sleep au naturel (is this too much information) however when Boomer was wee it was cold and it has been hot recently so thats kinda why the nursing bra hit the dust. I'm not convinced that they offer much support anyway.
Unfortunatly I can't offer any advice about blw and childcare but it might be worthwhile having an informal meeting with your nursary to talk about your weaning decisions. You could always direct them to this blog for further information! Do you provide the food to the nursary or is there a set menu?

apologies can't seem to make an account *sulk*.Tops that allow breastfeeding without too much exposure and still allow you to feel good and not architypically 'mumsy' would be wonderful. I am immensly jealous of any b feeder who can sleep without nursing bra, having ballooned to J cups, support is crucial and also to stop the much leakage, I have to wear 3 lanisoh washable pads on each side to prevent soaking wet bed issues, hoping it might calm down soon (though midwives and HVs have been telling me that for ages! hmm) ddis 5.5 months so hopefully when we start weaning with gusto milk supply may reduce! hereshoping

Eli and Munchkin

Morv, the top sounds like a fab idea. I agree that those pink rugby shirts with the unsubtle flap across the nips are worse than useless, in that they actually draw attention to you as a breastfeeder, even when you're not feeding!!

I used to wear a nursing bra at night with pads because of major leaks, but have been able to go without more often as the leaking has subsided. I used to occasionally go without anyway, just to let everything breathe for a change, then just deal with the consequent dampness.
I'm sure they don't offer any 'support' whilst you're lying down anyway.

thanks smelly and morv. think will try and chat to them at nursery this week. she's not taking much ebm from them, so they'll prob be glad to offer her something else. she's only there a max of 5hrs, so wont be dying of starvation if she takes nowt at all. you have to provide the food, so a wee tub with some steamed carrot or something? and reassurance++ re the gagging thing? I still wear nursing bra at night for comfort and leak protection. the poor bra is quite exhausted...anyone ever managed to popper their nips into said unsubtle flaps? they seem a bit scary to me.

Dear Emmysmum, since Boomer was the same age as Emmy is now she has regularly been with her granny and grandpa for an afternoon, usually from around 12.30 to 5.30. During this time she never has had ebm. I did leave ebm when she was much younger but we all got a bit fed up with it. I think you are right she'll be ok even if she completely won't take the ebm. The good thing about blw is that it does provide a good distraction, so you can worry less if you know that she'll be entretained for a good half hour with the food you leave. I would recommed slices of fruit too (nectarines are great) and a few rice cakes too. Leave more rather than less - a lot of stuff gets dropped. Good Luck to both of you.

emmysmum, we've recently rediscovered green beans again. i was out for lunch with another BLW bub today and both babies couldn't get enough of them. I'd consider handing them into the nursery as they aren't really gaggy, because the 'strings' of the beans hold them together. i reckon asparagus is similar as well. good luck.

thanks for the reassurance! she did really well at nursery today, wasn't crying for food till I got her back at 12.30, then mammoth feed. Will print that thingy from the dutch website for them, and broach (sp?) the subject next week. a wee tub of green beans, asparagus and fruit sounds better than my own usual lunch. I'm getting impatient to get started now, but determined to make it to the 26wk mark!

also, like morv, i rarely leave the house without a rice-cake or five...

dear emmysmum I so glad it went smoothly for you both. just remember the longer you wait till blw, the less things you have to do before you leave the house in the morning . Also I do believe that babyledweaning eating does encourage all round healthy eating for your baby and you. Although today I had to wrestle a strawberry tart away from Boomer 's grest granny - it was heading straight for Boomer. She's 86 and doesn't have to listen!

Lea is now almost 14 months and can happily bf 4 or 5 times a day... but her interest in my discretion seems to be diminishing, so I am not sure how much a special top would help. She likes reading her baby books while feeding, waving her legs in the air, turning somersaults, going for a quick walk (and being yanked back by me)... . So for those of you who keep up the bf past a year, its gets to be even more fun!

dear Paola, well done on getting so far with breastfeeding. When Boomer was born six months seemed forever and now she is nin months and it has just flown by so feeding her myself for a year seems really possible - so it may continue if Boomer wants. Although I will literally be a shadow fo my former self if it goes on too long.

Emmysmum Good Luck on Monday!!!!! Bet it will be really strange. Let us know how you get on. Middle of Dec is getting closer all the time!

Thanks momma...now it's so close there doesn't seem to be any point in feeling overly miserable, but she's just so darn little to be somewhere without me. Oops. Miserable again! The've made me an attractive sign with a cow on to hang on the office door when I'm expressing. About sums it up.

I am a teacher so some bright child would probably make connection!!!! What type of bottles do you use? I find Tommy Tippee Back to Nature are most like the boob.

have been trying the avent ones, but wondered if the tommee tippee ones were better. will give them a try. they've got the rounded tops?

hi Emmysmum, good luck for tomorrow (hopefully you'll enjoy it... babies are fun but i think my head would explode if i didn't do some work...)
and with regards to the Avent teats, Babybear really did not like them at all. Too pointy, she never managed to get a good 'latch' on them if you know what i mean, and it started to interfere with our BFing as she was trying to nibble on me in the manner of the teat. not only that, they gave her terribly sore wind.
She really likes the Tommy Tippee Nuby ones (round top, little massaging bumps all over) but i have recently tried to buy her the fast-flow ones and all the shops seem to be stocking is the new, kinda ribbed just-like-the-breast one. I'm going to give them a try once i find out if they can be used with Avent bottles. Avent bottles, for the record, are in my humble opinion, the best for carrying around as the lid touches the top of the teat so nothing comes out. I found the Tommee Tippee ones a bit leaky by comparison. Have a wonderful time at work.

Try Asda and Morrisons Aitch. Have seen Nuby bottles there, but not sure about fast flow teats. My baba found Avent teats too hard too. Does Babybear have much water?

She certainly tips a lot of it down her front, of that i can be sure.
We give her a wee shot glass to drink from in the house but if we are out we use a 'sippy' cup. Truthfully i have no idea of the amounts that she drinks but she does pick the cups up to have a good sook sometimes so i know that if she wants it she takes it, if you know what i mean?

Hello

Having a fab time with BLW buy DD seems to be breast feeding significantly less all of sudden... I really want to breast feed fo AT LEAST the 1st year and am worried I she's "going off" my milk? Could I be feeding her too much food? I always offer the breast 1st but she doesn't seem to want much milkies...(ALTHOUGH SHE STILL WAKES LOTS FOR FEEDS IN THE NIGHT!)

Also, my HV said I need to make sure I am give lots of iron rich foods (ie meat, leafy greens) but then also said I only need to offer a protien meal once a day... When I probed to find out the why's and wherefores of this advice, she could not give me a place to review it? IS there any advice on what / how much we should be offering as in carbs vs. protien vs. veg? Ie ratios?

Cheers

Often you don't have much say in the matter, regarding when they stop breastfeeding. My first would have breastfed forever if I had let him, but Euan suddenly decided to stop at about 11 months. He went from 3 feeds a day down to nothing almost overnight!

With regard to amounts of different types of foods, you can't really go much wrong if you offer a varied diet and let them choose how much of each type of thing they want. EG, Euan won't drink milk from a cup or bottle, but he makes up for it by absolutely wolfing down cheese and fromage frais whenever he is offered any. Its less important that they have a balance in one particular day, but more that their diet is balanced overall - by looking over the week as a whole.

Have a look at this food pyramid thingy, it's for a 2 year old female (it doesn't go below 2 years old) but it's interesting for ratios rather than quantities. The typical western diet contains more protein than we all need, I know that much.

whoops, Mij, i think you forgot the food pyramid. could you link again?