What do you LOVE about breastfeeding?

[FeelLikeTweedleDee]

Besides the health benefits of course

[Fernier]

to be honest the money i saved . formula fed my first three and the damned formula really upped the cost of my weeks shopping, i didnt buy any extras for breastfeeding (no special clothes or bras or anything like that) s didnt spend a sausage :)

[NigeltheFuckwit]

That moment when a hungry or unhappy baby latches on and just relaxes into your arms with a sort of grunt of satisfaction.

Finished breastfeeding my second, and last, a month ago so probably shouldn't read this thread

[wonka]

That I didn't have to share my babies when they were tiny (OH I am mean!)

[Catslikehats]

That I never have to get out of bed for the night feeds - I reach across to the crib, snuggle her in bed next to me and the next thing I know it is 7am

[choceyes]

Not having to remember taking out feeds for DD. And can stay as long as you like when you go out somewhere and not having to rush back cos you ran out of feeds.

Also never having to leave her crying for a feed. Especially in the middle of the night, it would be a faff warming up a bottle while the baby is crying. I can't cope with crying, even a few seconds I get properly stressed out, but that's me!

[Whyriskit]

Having ff DS1, I really appreciate the convenience! We were snowed in for two weeks over winter and I was so glad I was breastfeeding.

[EdwardorEricCantDecide]

weight loss [selfish mother]

am pg now with 2nd (and last baby) can't wait to start lactating again and will never let my milk dry up this time as i put on 2 stone when it did last time, i'll be expressing the rest of my life after this one ;-)

[Catslikehats]

Oh and not being dictated to by any sort of "baby needs to be fed" drama. I have two older DC and took them out for the morning recently. We bumped into a friend and her DC and decided to have some lunch...and ended up going elsewhere and staying out until early evening. All spur of teh moment and manageable because I didn't have to worry about the youngest being fed.

[wonka]

Can't decide, I think Eric, less common and VERY cute,
Little hands reaching up for my chain while they sucked

[Catslikehats]

Actually the best thing is my nice handbag which I get to carry. In addition to my stuff it contains 1 muslin 4 nappies and a packet of wipes.

I always feel slight pity for those harassed looking mothers carry behemoth black vinyl change bags

[HarrietJones]

I like the fact it gave ms an excuse to sit on the sofa & watch DVDs when she was tiny. Now that I don't have to get up in the night. And it's much easier to just go out.

[crikeybadger]

lockets, that's .

How old is DS2? Are you getting any help with someone who know really knows about breastfeeding?

[thumbwitch]

The main thing I loved about it was knowing that DS had food "on tap" whenever he needed it, no faffing with bottles/sterilisers/boiling water or any of that. It was great.

After that - the look of adoration I got sometimes; the little hand patting my cheek; the snuggles.

Wasn't so keen on the teeth though...

[Catslikehats]

Lockets - it'll get better and when you are over this stressful phase you will be able to appreciate all the good things .

DC4 (17 weeks) dropped down to 5lb whilst we tried to establish BF - it was horrendous and v. stressful and I think we only coped because I had fantastic MW's who fought for me and DD to stay at home (with daily visits to hospital) rather than be admitted on the basis that I was much more likely to get feeding established sat at home on my own sofa.

Best wishes.

[EauRouge]

The convenience because I am very, very, very, very, very lazy. And cute, milky smiles.

[flowerfairy]

That lovely snuggly feeling when it's going like clockwork and they just latch on and then that sated/ half asleep look they have after they finish. Am feeding dc#2 (stopped completely, though only nighttime feed when ds was 7months) and will not be having anymore can't imagine giving up, which is not going to be anytime soon as she still refuses a bottle. That bedtime feed will be the hardest to give up when the time comes

[Catslikehats]

Aw lockets it is tough. Your story is very similar to mine - Drs were very keen on a medical approach and early intervention. Fortunately my MW's were assertive and I had the confidendce (once DD was gaining) to know there was nothing wrong.

Eventually I stopped engaging: said I was happy that she was gaining and that we found the stress of daily weigh ins and waiting for clueless paeds to "consult" and that I woul stay at home and get in touch if there was a problem. No one seemed bothered by my decision. And there wasn't

[sungirltan]

the little fluttery thing they do with their jaw midway through a feed - so cute!

not having to wait for dh to make up bottles in the night - he is v helpful and does things by the book but painfully slowly!!

needing to have the baby with you all the time - hard in the first few weeks but for me psychologically, much better in the long term. i have a friend who ff from the beginning and mil looked after the baby a lot, i recall worrying about her bonding (yes yes i know its not just about bf) early on and listening sadly a few months on when the mil told me that mum struggled to bond with her ds seriously now and felt unable to cope alone. i am not judging, its just one anecdote about one person who i know well BUT when i heard that i realised that choosing to bf dd had MADE me bond with her and cope. other people cope for a myriad of different reasons but the toil of bf made ME toughen up and cope alone.

[RitaMorgan]

The convenience definitely, never having to get out of bed and sleeping through nightfeeds was pretty amazing too Being able to instantly fix any problem with a boob. Being able to just breastfeed ds lots when he is ill and off food. So easy to go on holiday/take flights/trains/coaches with a breastfed baby too.

[msbuggywinkle]

I had horrible post-natal depression after DD1 was born, had no idea how to love her but really wanted to (I was abused and neglected as a child), and felt like I had nothing to give her.

Breastfeeding kept me going back to her when I felt like she wasn't mine, it showed me how to love a baby, how to be a responsive mother (because I had to be!). Everything I know about mothering came through breastfeeding. No exaggeration.

[beanlet]

The fact that my boobs have made my tiny baby into a huge muscley lump of a toddler - completely amazing.

That, and his little fat hand resting on my breast.

[sunshineatlast]

When he wakes up in the morning I just take him in with me and can carry on sleeping for another 10 mins.
Time to relax just me and him and count his eyelashes and amaze at his beauty.
The continued physical connection.