My DS is fully formula fed now. He had his last BF three weeks ago at age 7.5 mths, and I am upset that it happened so soon.

I, like so many others struggled to BF when my DH was first born. I didnt get much help at the hospital and received no follow up after leaving hospital to see if I was ok with it. I wasnt ok, I couldnt do it, I had sooo many problems with it (low supply, attachment issues, grazes, cracks, etc). I wanted to give up, but I really wanted to BF, so I (through my own iniative) booked a lactation consultant and all was well (actually fantastic) after this.

Then my DS was 5 mths old, and suddenly people started asking me when I would give up BF. I wasnt ready then but I thought introducing a supplementary formula bottle wouldnt hurt. I was told by everyone that FF is easier, and a better alternative to BF. My mum encouraged me to continue (but she was the only one). I found it hard to keep BF especially as my DS got teeth, and I was tired of BF only in private. I didnt know anyone who had BF for this long.

So I tried one bottle, and I thought, this is easy. I could do it in public (as I wasnt comfortable BF in public). I felt so relieved at feed time when I was out because DS could have a bottle, and I would be just like everyone else.

Then, because it was easy, I substituted one more feed, and then before I knew it DH dropped feeds. Before I knew it my milk supply was heavily reduced, and then, about three weeks ago, my DS decided he didnt want any more BF, despite my best efforts to try and encourage him. Now it is all over and I am so upset.

I know it is my fault that DS is weaned, but I feel that if BF was seen as the norm and not the exception as (it is in my family and group friends), then Im sure I would have continued, and I never would have introduced the bottle. FF is much too widely encouraged, and although it is genuinely necessary for some women, I just wish I wasnt sucked into thinking that it is just as good as BM, when it is not.

Women today need more support, and the community needs to be more receptive to bf mothers. We need to do as much as we can to encourage BF. I know I will.