https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 03 May 2026 08:20:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-589852 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:33:18 +0000 mlm2934 589852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: good point - especially since we live in same area. And I agree - I've always seen BF as an indication of someone being intelligent/well-read </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-589848 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:27:19 +0000 mlm2934 589848@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Before I got on the Internet world of baby blogs and forums. My<br /> SIL was the only person I knew who breastfeed. And even though it feels very taboo to say in his community, I'm strongly leaning toward not BF'ing </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-589839 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:17:59 +0000 cascademom 589839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's the norm here in Chicago. Like @autumnlove said, most pump up until 6 months, then switch to formula for daycare. Some go longer. From my mother's room experiences, I've heard between 10-12 months is norm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-589837 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 09:17:12 +0000 mediagirl 589837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most mom's I've met have breastfed for 3-4 months and then quit. They said pumping at work was too much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-589819 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 08:52:39 +0000 duckduckkristen 589819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think I know anyone who didnt at least try to BF. It seems like most people here do it to at least 6 months, but I think most of them are SAHMs. We also go to a baby story time at the library and women often bf their babies there, but other than that I don't think I've ever seen anyone BF in public. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-589790 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 07:50:13 +0000 Dandelion 589790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know anyone IRL who ebf like I did with ds. My bff says she's gonna give it a better shot this time with her next, though. I'm hoping I can be a good example to her, cause I'll be ebf dd and her next one is due in August. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-589783 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 07:37:55 +0000 Happygal 589783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is an interesting thread!</p> <p>All of my friends here in Virginia breast feed. It's the expected thing in the educated, working circles. Some of turned to bottle feeding due to other issues, but they started out trying to BF. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-589644 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 23:19:27 +0000 ladyfingers 589644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure! My friends are split pretty much 50/50 on who currently/has breastfed. Actually it's probably more in favor of it (one friend gave up with her son bc of the pain but was able to do it with her daughter). There's a pretty sizable breastfeeding group at the hospital where I gave birth and a few la leche meetings (though I don't know how well attended they are). Our pediatrician, who tons of people go to, is pretty supportive. I never see anybody breastfeeding publicly, but then again, I don't go looking for it so it could be happening around me and I just don't notice. This is kind of an artsier, more liberal area so my guess would be yes, it's the norm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-589638 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 23:11:53 +0000 regberadaisy 589638@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm pretty much the only one I know that has a) given BFing a tried and stuck with it after the first few weeks b) stuck with it past 6 months.<br /> Some had issues,some were too lazy, some pumping + working FT became too much.</p> <p>My mom has been pretty much telling me from the start to wean which surprises me bc she BFed all of us. But I think it's more to make it easier on me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-589632 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 23:06:13 +0000 MamaMoose 589632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it has more to do with your specific circle than geographic location. Hubs and I grew up fairly close to each other and breastfeeding is the norm/expectation among my friend's and family and formula feeding is the norm for his side. I guess he had never thought to ask his mom what she did until I was pregnant and he was shocked (and I think a little upset) to find out he was formula fed since he felt very strongly that he wanted me to breastfeed as long as I'm willing to. I actually think the opposite and see breastfeeding as being indicative of a higher socioeconomic class as those women are more educated on the benefits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-589606 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 22:45:10 +0000 mrsjyw 589606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't have a lot of mama friends. Bff is due Mon and plans to pump. Dhs bffs wife did w all three of her kids but length shortened each time.</p> <p>Im the second one on both sides of my family to do/be able to bf. My fam is super supportivr and happy that I can. It was/is def the norm in dh's extended fam. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-589572 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 22:10:34 +0000 Penny Lane 589572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: that's so true. I wouldn't have made it past 6 weeks without my amazing LC, and I would NEVER have gone to one if I had to pay. Lol. Cheapskate much? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-588618 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 06:03:20 +0000 anniegurumi 588618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>totally the norm in Shanghai. Mostly because formula isn't regulated here so nobody trusts it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-588599 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 04:04:37 +0000 rachiecakes 588599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsTiz: so funny - complete opposite here. Anytime I had to give DS a bottle I felt I was being judged. Like the breastfeeding police were gonna get me - even pumped milk! Everyone breastfeeds here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live/page/2#post-588597 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 04:01:10 +0000 autumnlove 588597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know but most young babies at daycare drink pumped milk and switch to formula around 6 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588590 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 03:10:37 +0000 Kemma 588590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Penny Lane: Yup, breastfeeding in NZ is pretty normal and I think it might even be illegal to give out samples of formula, I know it's illegal to advertise infant formula. </p> <p>Having said that, out of the twelve Mum's in my Childbirth Education Class, only five are still exclusively breastfeeding, one is mixed feeding, one is pumping and mixed feeding, one has just weaned after mixed feeding and the other four are exclusively formula feeding (the babies are all 4-5 months old).</p> <p>I think we're incredibly lucky in NZ as the services of most LC's are free and mother's can self refer at any stage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588580 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 02:19:28 +0000 pinkcupcake 588580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, I'm in WA state and BF-ing is def the norm here </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588579 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 02:07:06 +0000 Ree723 588579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, there is a huge push to BF all babies in Australia. I've never even seen a sample of formula in any of the new baby bags I've received (given out by Target and some other suppliers). I don't know a single mum here who has not BF - and nearly all of them BF for an entire year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588574 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 01:58:15 +0000 Honeybee 588574@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We just moved a couple months ago so I'm really not sure. Everyone breastfed where we used to live, though. Nursing in public doesn't phase me at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588570 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 01:39:57 +0000 sunny 588570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HLK208: Yup I see people nurse without covers all the time, but I feel too exposed! In the post partum parenting group at my hospital most of the ladies were using covers... I had cover envy because some of them were really cute! :-)</p> <p>@Emsmems: I just checked and my hospital is certified baby friendly too and has been for YEAAAAAAAAAARS! Cool! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588558 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 01:13:11 +0000 HLK208 588558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! Seattle is very pro-breastfeeding. Especially without covers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588557 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 01:12:29 +0000 sarac 588557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live in Portland, oregon, aka breastfeeding capitol of America. I love it! No one bats an eye when I nurse my toddler in public. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588556 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 01:10:01 +0000 Mrs. Superhero 588556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Very much so, it's assumed that you BF unless you can't for some reason. And breastfeeding toddlers is not uncommon. Whenever I would try to nurse somewhere quiet (like in a bathroom, because LO was crazy distractable) I would get worried ladies pep talking me about how I shouldn't be embarrassed to nurse in public :p </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588550 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:56:55 +0000 Emsmems 588550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic makes sense! It is an awesome award for the hospitals. Only complaints I've heard are moms dead set on formula feeding only feeling pushed into BFing. Not too bad!</p> <p>It is a bummer that this seems to be of the exception than the norm. I wonder where the breakdown in education is? Hospitals at birth, pre-natal clinics? I know some of it is generational and family driven as many of you have pointed out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588549 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:55:50 +0000 hummusgirl 588549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm in NYC (Brooklyn) and breastfeeding is definitely the norm here. People do everything they can to BF - private lactation consultants, support groups etc. People in my mom's group BF in public all the time, often with no cover, and nobody cares. I definitely feel self-conscious when I bust out the formula, but luckily I haven't gotten any judgey comments. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588545 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:53:54 +0000 shopaholic 588545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Emsmems: The nurse told us it take YEARS for the hospital to get certified....so I understand why they place so much importance on it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588539 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:50:19 +0000 Emsmems 588539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic @sunny same with the hospital I work at here! "Baby-friendly" designation is very important to the hospitals here and there are free breast feeding groups once a week at each hospital. So BFing is very normal, and in fact formula feeding tends to be looked down upon if anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588537 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:48:29 +0000 mrskc 588537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: I'm in the central valley of California</p> <p>My hospital was very pro-BFing. And there's a LC that visits every new mom. I just don't think a lot of people BF for the whole year or even 6 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588533 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:41:07 +0000 shopaholic 588533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sunny: This is like our hospital too! They don't give coupons or samples for any formula, but will give baby formula in the hospital if they have to. They are very proud of being "baby-friendly" certified and have their own Lactation Baby Center and free PP groups. It's very obvious they believe "breast is best!" - no qualms about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/is-breastfeeding-the-norm-where-you-live#post-588526 Sat, 23 Feb 2013 00:08:54 +0000 birdofafeather 588526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i wish everyone would post where they were because i think this is so interesting! i'm in so cal and i totally think it's the norm to breast feed, or at least try! i know my friend who couldn't felt like an outcast because all the moms she knew BF. i never judged her, but i now i know how "different" she felt because all the moms i know BF as long as they could! </p>