Turtleshell - i hear you on the clothing front. I found bf-ing a lot easier, once i worked out what breastfeeding clothing to buy. There wasn't much for me to try on (very few shops that sold this stuff IRL where i live) so it took me a while, online, to work it out. But once i did, it changed how i felt, bf-ing anywhere, but especially bf-ing when out of home. Once i had clothing that covered my stomach and ONLY exposed my nipple (which was covered by my baby's mouth and head anyhoo), i personally felt better, feeding in public. i was initially put off by expensive bf-ing clothing, but later found stuff more affordable at sites like Nuvo Maternity and Almost Mum. Some tops i bought, were so nice, no-one even guessed they were bf-ing tops.

Belfie - i consider you breast fed your child. You used your breasts to give your child breastmilk, doesn't matter the conduit (nipples or pump), your child still received breastmilk. i personally did very little pumping and i didn't like the sensation, so anyone who can continaully pump for their child, wow, you get alot of respect from me.

i don't think in black and white terms about breastfeeding. There will always be individual situations, and you can only take each instance at a time. i think, if you CAN breastfeed, if your child CAN suckle, tha'ts great. but i don't assume it will happen. bresatfeeding is an ideal to me, one that became very important to me, but at every stage (and even today) i feel so lucky that it happened for us. i feel grateful, as i have come to realise, it doesn't come to pass for every mum that wants to do it.

i am very grateful for the health benefits that breastfeeding has given my DD3.5 and myself, i don't take them for granted at all.

Health wise, i had such a bad back and wrecked stomach muslces after my messed up c-section, if i had had to lug around formula as well, the extra weight to carry, would have been a big hassle for me - in my situation. But if our early bf-ing issues had not been worked out (took us four months, to work it out), then i would have had to do it. Cos that's what you do, you do what you have to do, for your child.

Mother guilt is a biggie
we all seem to beat oursleves up about some aspect of our mothering
the truth is, we're all doing the best we can, in OUR situation, for OUR child.