just a quickie on feeding!

[carmenelectra]

From what ive read on mumsnet, most people seem to be mainly breast feeders. Is this so, or is it just the threads im reading? Just curious, are there more bf or ff mumsnetters??

[hunkermunker]

I think there are a higher proportion of vocal bfers on here and there are a lot of "extended" bfers so that probably skews things a bit.

[callmeovercautious]

Us BFers tend to be a bit vociferous

TBH I think BFing needs support and advice a little more often than FF so there are more threads.

[carmenelectra]

yeah maybe thats what it is. Ive mixed fed and beginning to feel a bit guilty when i see all theses bf ers!

[Dalrymps]

dunno, in rl more people i meet seem to be ff. i'm doing mixed at the mo... lot of people for bf on mn imo though

[Twinklemegan]

I think the demographic of MN is different from that of the general population (ie we're all weirdos ). The other thing is that the feeding threads will tend to attract those with a particular interest in the topic, which tend to be breastfeeders/wannabe hangers-on (like me). I'd guess that many many other mnetters formula fed to a greater or lesser degree but just don't bother with the feeding threads now.

[carmenelectra]

twinkle, waht do you mean, dont bother with formula threads? why?

[Twinklemegan]

I mean that many mnetters are more interested in other things so they leave the feeding threads alone.

[carmenelectra]

oh right!

[Caz10]

Mommalove just crashing this slightly to say THANK YOU to you and all the other virtual pom pom shakers!! It really makes a massive difference. My DD is 3wks old today and the support on here has meant I have persevered with the BF, am actually starting to see a TINY improvement and I know this will continue. So keep shaking!

To the OP I think that BF requires more support (I've never FF, this is my 1st, so quite happy to be shot down in flames) so that is why there are more posts about it.

[BroccoliSpears]

Also, I can't speak for others but personally, breastfeeding was this huge THING that I did. It was primal and hard work and special and what kept my daughter alive. It was one of the main components in my bonding with my little girl. It physically released hormones into my system every time I did it. It meant that I was the only person who could feed my daughter. It was also the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, and then became the most wonderful thing. I rate it higher than being pregnant and giving birth in terms of massive, life-changing, emotive things I have done.

That's how I feel about it. I don't think I would have felt so strongly had I chosen to formula feed. Therefore the bfing subjects will always be of interest to me. Also, as someone else said, I know I would not have continued if it weren't for the wonderful ladies on a similar BF support board elsewhere online, so I'm all for cheering on someone who's finding it hard.

[EmMcK]

I feel like you aren't really prepared for how hard it is going to be when you start, and that even if you are really committed it comes as a shock. I was lucky to get the help of a great lactation consultant who literally stopped my tears, and then kept referring to mn posts for further help and sanity checking. Now when I look at my 9 week old ds's chubby wee legs I am filled with joy that I kept going. There is something about those chubby little legs that REALLY gets to me and makes me proud - it is all down to me and him getting the feeding right, and it is as much him getting the hang of it as me.

[Sufi]

Caz - oooh, well done for keeping at the bf! You posted on an old thread of mine t'other day and I was wondering how you were getting on. After I posted saying things had got better, ds went doo-lalley and fed non-stop for about 24 hours - serves me right for saying things had got better! . BUT he's back on track now, bless 'im...

And as for chubby legs - my ds has chubby cheeks and I get a kick out of squeezing them (gently!!) cos I know it was me wot made him fat!!

[carmenelectra]

hey, this has turned into a discussion on how well everyone is getting on bf!! Just wanted to know if there were more bf mumsnetters or ff thats all!

Seems to be a lot more than i know in real life. Just wanted quick show of hands!

[Sufi]

sorry...!

[Twinklemegan]

I think ff mothers tend not to shout it so loudly Carmenelectra, so there are probably a lot more than you think. There are also a fair few of us who started off bf and ended up ff against our will. I wish I'd found the feeding topic on MN much earlier and maybe I'd still be bf.

[Caz10]

Cheers sufi! it's still a nightmare but DD is 3 wks now and not 2wks, every day i keep going is an achievement!

(sorry for crashing!)

[hercules1]

I breastfed both children and was a non curtailing feeder.

[gegs73]

With DS1 and Mums with children the same age, most I knew BF until their child was 6mo or there abouts then swopped to formula.

With DS2 and Mums with child no2, its more mixed. General feeling is that people don't BF for as long, though most try and at least last a couple of weeks.

I don't know anyone who has done extended BF. One friend was still feeding hers at about 15 months, but then stopped as she got pregnant again thats the longest I know.

[BabiesEverywhere]

I bet there a lot more formula feeders especially as many breastfeeders go on to formula at some stage.

But I reckon there are a lot less problems overall with using formula in compared with problems with starting, establishing and weaning from the breast.

[carmenelectra]

yes i agree.Y ou dont often seem to get many people who have problems establishing ff but many who have bf problems, maybe thats why there seems to be more on here