Also, a lot of people who have not BF'ed (for whatever reason), will project onto you. As a first-time mum, I've had this by the bucketload.

"I'm going to breastfeed."

"If you can! I/my friend/my MIL wanted to but couldn't, you should be prepared blah blah blah..."

I can completelyt understand how, having heard that type of response for the nth time, someone might start to dread that answer, or feel insecure and add the preface, "if I can". I haven't personally, when people have reacted like that with me, I simply smile and nod, and sometimes add, "well, every journey is unique!"