6.) Hogging all the feedings. If you are under the impression that I have enjoyed waking up five times a night for eight months straight for feedings, I would be more than happy to give them to you. My baby cries every time she smells me. I can assure you, I would LOVE for you to take a feeding off my hands... or breasts.
7.) Bragging rights. As nice as it is to say that I have accomplished and am exceeding my goal of breastfeeding for six months, that is not the reason I am doing it. If anyone is bragging about cracked, bleeding nipples I will be extremely surprised. I do not go around waving a giant flag in the faces of mothers who didn't or couldn't breastfeed and I do not think it makes me any more of a mother. It simply just happens to be working out between my daughter and I.
8.) Sending my child to Harvard. If my daughter ends up going to Harvard, I am going to guess it is because she studied hard and enjoys learning. It probably has nothing to do with me breastfeeding her eighteen years ago. If between now and then they are absolutely positive that there is a correlation, who knows. Maybe I will revoke this statement and act like I knew a trade secret this whole time, but lets be honest. It didn't influence my decision.
9.) What anyone's family thinks. Your grandmother, my aunt, so-and-so's uncle twice removed who remarried back into the family... they may all have opinions on breastfeeding, they may even have extensive backgrounds in children and their behaviors. But no one knows my baby better than I do, and I happen to know that for us, breast is best. It is healthy, convenient, natural and inexpensive. So, despite your great great grandmother swearing up and down that there is no difference between breast and formula, I am still standing by my decision and no, I will not cover my baby's head because she thinks it is inappropriate.
10.) Making a statement. In this world full of hipsters and people trying to stand out or change whatever seems to offend them this week, the last thing I am going to use my baby- or boobs- for is to try to make a statement. Yes, I am breastfeeding. No, I am not going to use a cover. No, I am not going to stop whatever I am doing to excuse myself to a separate area while I feed my baby. It isn't to make a statement, it is simply because I don't have time for that crap. If there is ever a time I am just feeding my baby and doing absolutely nothing else, it is a miracle. I am usually balancing my nursing baby on one knee, helping my toddler go to the bathroom with a seven year old following all of us rambling on and on about the possibility that if it rains today she will burst into a mermaid and her cover will be blown. I am not trying to offend you or change the world. I am simply trying to keep my baby fed and not make my life any harder.
The choice to breastfeed was made between me, my baby and her father. I know it is hard to believe that we could be so inconsiderate to NOT think of everyone else in the entire world and their beliefs or preferences, but we only had nine months to choose how we were going to feed our baby. And that's all that is going on here. I am just here, feeding my baby. Now someone tell me "Good job" for Pete's sake.
Source- 10 Things That Have Nothing To Do With Why I Breastfeed (The Dishes)
