Tanby: *Big Hugs* for working through all those issues and pain... my toes curled as i read your post as I've also experienced a fair degree of excruciating pain as my little man (I call him "Munch") has bitten me fairly regularly over the past few months (he has 8 teeth now)... to the point he has drawn blood and left a gaping hole. I've had to rely on formula to tide me over too as it also was too painful to express. Now, more recently, my left boob has really slowed down production and DS doesn't like feeding from that side anymore... he just squirms until he physically gets himself to the other one. Anyhow, it now seems that i am actually complimentary FF/BF as he has as least one bottle a day because one side BFing is not enough for him. I made enquiries at the pharmacy today about lactation medication... but I might just see how it goes... if I can keep going on just one side then I think I might leave it at that.

Kerry: How terrible that you had to endure being "banished" to another room in your own home! That must have made you feel so undervalued... how could you be expected to relax and enjoy the bonding time with that tension hanging in the air? Do men like this realise that what their wives are giving their children is worth literally more than gold? *Grrrr*

Also I just wanted to agree also that BFing has helped me work through a lot of physical insecurities and past abuse as well. I've never been one who likes being constantly touched because of this and some days I feel so "chaffed" and hypersensitive that I just want to scream.... but that's only some days.... most days I love the whole bonding time with my baby which is also what I meant when I mentioned "what baby might want". Feeding is not just about 'food in a tummy'... it's about a transfer of emotions/connecting and physical bonding. But I agree that this can also be largely shared via bottle feeding so i really don't wish to offend anyone about that.

Once again this afternoon I was able to BF successfully at my local plaza... infact one little old lady smiled at me as she passed by so that was nice. The seat wasn't comfortable but it did the job. Oh and yes i know Chloe about "sticky beaks!" LOL I have a real little nosey Parker here... I just keep my hand hovering over and as I don't have much to hide in the breast department it isn't too hard to deal with, someone would have to be standing right over me to get an eyefull. LOL at you lifting your baby out from under the cloth to everyone's surprise!