I always enjoy hearing why women have choosen to breastfeed so I have truly
appreciated everyone's comments.

The main influential factor in my breastfeeding decision was my mother.  I
was born in 1960 - breastfeeding was not high supported at that time but my
mother knew she wanted to breastfeed - she was in labor for 2 days - ended
up with a c-section - the nurses even told her that due to the c-section she
probably wouldn't have milk.  However they put her in a room by herself and
let her try - she was in the hospital for about a week - She breastfed me
for about 3 months - unfortunately she started using supplemental bottles
and this continued to grow in frequency and her milk supply diminished.

When my brother - 1965 - came along again she breastfed after a c-section -
When he was about 8 mos old he had to be hospitalized due to illness. When
the doctor came in and discovered she was still breastfeeding he told them
to take him off all meds and just let her breastfeed - he got better right
away - boy did that impact my mother - she breastfed for another couple
months - which was great considering the lack of support from others.  This
story convinced me to breastfeed - it also convinced a good friend of mine
who didn't want to breastfeed but her husband wanted her to try it - after
hearing my Mom and her story - she breastfed three children - each for about
2 years.

I started attending LLL meetings when I was about 6 months pregnant.  Every
meeting I came home enthused by the information I had learned - sharing it
with my husband not only reinforced it in my mind but got him excited as
well.  However I was surprised at that meeting to see an older child nursing
- I thought I'd probably breastfeed for about 6 months - but as time went on
and I learned more about breastfeeding - as you can imagine - there was no
way I could stop at 6 months.

I had not seen many women breastfeed - my only real experience was when we
were overseas in West Africa - saw a woman in church - I didn't like that
because she exposed both breasts in front of everyone  in church - but I
just figured I didn't have to do that - it's amazing how for some people
that type of experience makes them think they have to do that or it turns
them away from it totally - even though they hear some of the benefits.

So now - question - my little girl - 4 years old - breastfeeds her dolls but
also asked for bottles for her baby dolls - again the influence creeps in -
anyone had this happen - how did you handle it?