Breastfeeding & Society

A friend asked me today how long I thought it was appropriate for women to breastfeed for. I told her that I figure that is a decision best left up to the mother who is breastfeeding. Apparently there was a segment on a morning show about it - the mother plans to do it until the baby teeth fall out I think. The general consensus was that this was way too long and disgusting. My friend commented that she thinks it is a form of abuse... I am not too sure why she thinks that as she did not offer an explanation. Now, everyone is entitled to their own opinion but the whole conversation leads me to ponder more about society in general and how we form opinions and judgements on our fellow human beings. I am really starting to open my eyes to how we are led by advertising, government, society etc in our thinking. On the breastfeeding issue I wonder how long mothers breastfed for hundreds of years ago. What really is the natural progression of that? I said to my friend that yes, most of society views mothers breastfeeding older children as not the norm but that does not mean it is not right. I personally believe that it must be a great bonding experience and also that the child must be receiving lots of great nutrients from the breast milk. Let me just say though that this is not something I have sat and pondered greatly! That is my initial thoughts. Also, my friend does not have children so I wonder too if she did would that change her opinion? I personally had no success with breastfeeding though God knows I tried! And, when I finally gave in at 2am one morning the nurse on duty was a breastfeeding advocate and thought it her duty and right to sit me down with a manual and a lecture about why I should not bottlefeed. She insisted I pump my breastmilk and then SHE bottlefed it to my daughter while I watched. I was all of 23 and suffering from a small amount of baby blues as well as HUGE amounts of guilt for even considering bottle feeding. The next morning I again tried breastfeeding at which point my mother and partner complained about the night nurse. I did continue to try breastfeeding but after 7 days of my daughter losing weight & us not allowed to leave hospital the decision was made to give up. The guilt remained for months though I can tell you. Another great example of society enforcing their views and judgements on us!