what is with everyone's curiousity with whether or not I'm bf'ing??

kcs7 · October 2013

Anyone else getting this? I'm ok with it now but bf was something I used to be very uncomfortable about. So I still get taken a little off guard by so many people asking about it...
My neighbor comes over to offer congrats. Very nice. But very first question, am I breastfeeding? No other questions. Weird to me.

I stop by work, my boss asks me.

The young teller at bank, are you breast feeding?

Random strangers, distant relatives ask me too. I don't understand the curiousity with it unless in some way they would have reason to be concerned with his health or at least continue the conversation a little bit to discuss benefits of it, if they are young and want to know about it because they may want to bf someday etc.

Anyway, hope you all don't mind my little "rant". I just find it interesting that everyone seems to want to ask about it when the answer just seems like random info for them to know.

Jenball717 · October 2013

I have been asked as well but the friend who asked me then shared a story about her sister in law who is BF-ing. She is getting blisters and bleeding nips, ouch! I think my friend was curious if mine was going better than that, thank heavens it is!
But I don't get why all those rando people are asking you, strange!

StefMurph · October 2013

It's rather annoying. And when my answer is no, I get "not everyone can" response. I wanna tell people to worry about their own damn titties.

jennlin · October 2013

I'm guilty of asking, but that's because I'm a "lactivist" and it's just who I am. I love breastfeeding and everything about it. As for *other* people asking--people who are not passionate about it the same way I am (most people)-- yeah, I don't get it.

kcs7 · October 2013

Lol I never got the "how dilated" question but that is one the seems strange too!

I figure most people just try to make conversation. Or if its mom to mom and some one you are at least familiar with, I get it. But some of the others...um no. Dont get why you are asking. Lol. At least I laugh about it.
Maybe I should bust out some intimate unsolicited bf details along with my answer or would it be mean to embarrass them??

Amberleigh23 · October 2013

Doveyluvr said:
I haven't gotten that yet. I'm still in the "How dilated are you?" catagory. This is from people I am NOT close to. Some at work (after EVERY dr appt). Some are complete strangers. I just don't understand the facination with the status of my nether regions.

This. Why why why???

MangoMama82 · October 2013

During pregnancy we get, "was it planned?", "can I touch your belly to feel movement?", "what changes in your body have you noticed?". Once we push the baby out we get asked about breast feeding? Man alive. Remember when our bodily functions were our business? Those were the days.

emmylou78 · October 2013

It's weird and I don't really get it. I would never ask someone I'm not friends with and def not a random person. I think they're just making conversation. I really hated the "was it planned" or "are you excited?" way more.

nbcarlson · October 2013

I've asked a few people who had babies recently but that's because I can discuss difficulties and such with them. Random people though, that's just weird.

babygiantquest · October 2013

Breastfeeding and breastfeeding controversy have both been popping up in the news a lot lately. It's the socially untalented method of starting small talk with pregnant/postpartum ladies, now, I suppose.

Jenball717 · October 2013

MangoMama82 said:
During pregnancy we get, "was it planned?", "can I touch your belly to feel movement?", "what changes in your body have you noticed?". Once we push the baby out we get asked about breast feeding? Man alive. Remember when our bodily functions were our business? Those were the days.

I've got it, next time we are asking about dilation, breast feeding, etc we should respond by asking them "have you pooped today?" And "how much? How big was it?"
Are how they like discussing their own body functions. Ha!

kcs7 · October 2013

beernifer said:
A friend asked me via my Fb wall. My response got more likes then baby pics.

What was the response??

kcs7 · October 2013

Jenball717 said:

MangoMama82 said:
During pregnancy we get, "was it planned?", "can I touch your belly to feel movement?", "what changes in your body have you noticed?". Once we push the baby out we get asked about breast feeding? Man alive. Remember when our bodily functions were our business? Those were the days.

I've got it, next time we are asking about dilation, breast feeding, etc we should respond by asking them "have you pooped today?" And "how much? How big was it?"
Are how they like discussing their own body functions. Ha!

Hahaha LOVE this idea actually

kcs7 · October 2013

beernifer said:

kcs7 said:
A friend asked me via my Fb wall. My response got more likes then baby pics.
What was the response??

I merely said yes. It wasn't anything witty or funny. I blame sleep deprivation for my lack of creativity.

Oh. Lol. Gotcha

Crgardner957 · October 2013

Lurking from December.
I got this ALL THE TIME with DS & DD & Im sure I will with this LO as well. I find it so weird! Like why do people want to know this? I have never asked any of this to a stranger or people I know for that matter.

chrisnbritt6212 · October 2013

Haha! I had a couple family members ask but last year when my nephew was a newborn this random old man asked my sister if she was, maybe they have lactation envy?

norbert5 · October 2013

People ask me all the time. I don't really find it strange. What I do find strange is when I am 9 months pregnant and a stranger tells me her horrible birth story in the middle of the baby gap.

anskip · October 2013

I get this all the time too except I actually get a follow up question..... Has your milk come in? Really???? Is that any of your business?!?!?

SuperTreesa · October 2013

Meh, its never bothered me. I don't treat bfing as just a bodily function. It's a method of feeding my child that has a pretty hard learning curve. A good support system is one of the best things you can have to be succesful. Speaking with other women and sometimes men, even strangers has been really helpful in boasting my confidence in myself and helping me feel "normal" when so much about bfing feels unnatural.

calibr8te · October 2013

SuperTreesa, there is a fantastic bfing support system for us out there via other moms as well as lactation consultants and nurses. It's really great to be able to talk about it, so I am glad that everyone is so candid about it.

What I hate is women who insist on watching me bf no matter how private I try to be about it.

huntjul · October 2013

I must be really scary looking or intimidating because I just don't seem to get any of these questions. No one but close family has asked about BF, no one ever asked to or tried to touch my belly, though I did have one person ask "was it planned?" I'm confident that person will never ask that question of a pregnant woman again haha

kcs7 · October 2013

I agree crunchymama, the more I learn the more I am for it and would be all for having intellectual conversations about it whether in agreement in ir opinion or against. However none of the people who have seemed to ask even offer a comment of support (I am bf) or express opinions against. Some of them know nothing about pregnancy altogether (the teller didn't even know you can feel the baby move lol)
Anyway, I agree with wanting to have conversation about it and making it less taboo.
Sooo I will start talking about it next time someone asks and not just offer a yes/no answer!
They wanna know about bf? Lets tell them .lol

chicsahm · October 2013

SO... are you BF'ing???

HEHE, sorry couldn't help myself ;P

kcs7 · October 2013

Yes lizb! That's exactly what I mean!! Lol

MrsStuessyWI · October 2013

Yeah, I am more and more hating this question. I used to give them an enthusiastic yes. Now that I am bf'ing I really don't like it and am supplementing for my sanity. So, knowing that all they want to hear is "yes I am, and it's going great" is just depressing. There are obviously a few exceptions with people I am really close to and support me no matter what. But, all those bf'ing enthusiasts who ask just to hear me say yes or preach at me are not helpful or encouraging. I get where they are coming from and I agree with everything they say. But, in this place where I am struggling it is not helpful to hear from them. So, I try to avoid any talk of bf'ing whenever possible.

Ycu2013 · October 2013

I'm waiting for someone to ask how constipaded I am after giving birth and how many hemorrhoids I have. I would totally say ''I can't take a shit to save my life and my ass PROBLY looks like a cauliflower head, anything else you want to know?!''

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