Five things I learned while breastfeeding

It's World Breastfeeding Week! There are lots of reasons why I think talking about this topic is important - one of which is because even as a breastfeeding mama myself, I still find there's so much I don't know and I still feel self conscious about what others might think. It's a taboo topic I'd love to try and help normalise. I've written various posts about our feeding journey in the past, so today I want to share five things I have learned while breastfeeding.

1. Feeding a baby is an INTENSELY emotional and personal thing. Some mums would love to breastfeed but can't, some might hate breastfeeding, some journeys end sooner than baby or mum would choose due to lack of support or work or milk supply. So please don't ask a parent why they are or aren't breastfeeding, and if you have a negative opinion about how somebody is feeding their baby, unless it is harming somebody you should keep your thoughts to yourself.
2.  Breastfeeding can be incredibly painful and difficult at first, but it can also be so incredibly bonding and rewarding.
3. According to La Leche League "It is entirely legal to breastfeed in public places anywhere in the UK. According to the Equality Act of 2010, treating a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding a child of any age is considered sex discrimination." Meaning it is illegal to ask somebody to move, or cover up, or stop breastfeeding.
4. Babies all breastfeed differently - when I've spoken to breastfeeding mamas about what their "normal" looks like and the answer is always different.
5. It's not weird to carry on feeding after baby is eating solid food. I often feel more self conscious feeding now than I did at the beginning when Eden was new, poised to be asked "you're STILL feeding?" And every day I'm working on the confidence to say "yes I am, and she will wean when she's ready." I'm in the fortunate position to be able to look after Eden, so I feel that there is no reason for me to stop until she chooses to.

I hope these might help somebody - has anybody else experienced any similar feelings during their feeding journey?