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Infant feeding

breastfeeding amazes me...

92 replies

Newtothis11 · 27/05/2017 02:30

I found out today our milk changes in hot weather to compensate for what baby needs - how clever is that! BF really does amaze me! What else can we celebrate about BF

OP posts:
ChipIn · 27/05/2017 02:53

It's free, doesn't need sterilising and never ends! Seriously though, through kissing baby or the spit from suction when baby feeds, the composition of breast milk changes based on what baby needs. E.g. If baby has a bit of a bug, breast milk will contain necessary antibodies. Aahhhhhmazing.

YokoReturns · 27/05/2017 03:55

I read somewhere that it works the other way, too. Babies get biological feedback from their mother in their saliva and can use this info to 'send back' 'good' bacteria through breastfeeding.

shinny · 27/05/2017 04:50

If you have a tiny baby, breast milk will contain extra fat to help speed up their weight gain. Im equally amazed by breastfeeding!

ICJump · 27/05/2017 04:58

Your breasts produce different milk for each baby even if you are feeding two babies ( or baby and toddler)!
Oh and it has HAMLET which help fight some cancers.

CaptainWarbeck · 27/05/2017 05:03

Different milk for boy and girl babies! Don't even know why.

DoubleCarrick · 27/05/2017 05:24

I didn't manage to breastfeed my baby as he was too poorly but in the early days I hand expressed the colostrum. I have no interesting facts but I found it incredible. My friends who are breastfeeding have grown these tiny 7lb babies into 18lbers. I'm not bashing anyone who doesn't breastfeed but imagine...our bodies actually do that!

Hughpughbarneymagrew · 27/05/2017 05:38

Breast milk contains natural analgesic for pain relief.

I love bf. We are down to one feed a day now. I'm ready to stop - not least because my son has multiple food allergies and I have to limit my diet because of them - but I'll still be sad when it does come to an end.

Eminybob · 27/05/2017 06:22

I think it's amazing too.
I have a picture of ds at 6 months old, he'd never had anything but breast milk and was a proper little porker. I look at that picture and feel so proud that I grew that chubby little boy from a tiny baby all by myself Smile

Spudlet · 27/05/2017 06:28

Yes. Sometimes, when I was feeding ds, I'd just look down and suddenly think He's drinking milk - from me!' And have a real 'woooooah' moment. Just the fact that my body was making that milk seemed unbelievable.

mumsgirl1 · 27/05/2017 06:34

It was the most contented and happy I felt. After initial problems I breast fed mine for over a year. To be able to do so made me feel incredibly blessed.

123MothergotafleA · 27/05/2017 06:38

Breast milk really is the elixir of life.
If only new mothers were all given more support and education with breast feeding, more of them would give it a try.
Unfortunately the big businesses who flog formula would have us believe there is no difference between their stuff and our own perfect food for baby.
There are hundreds of amazing Facts about breast milk, just look it up, it's thrilling!

GinIsIn · 27/05/2017 06:40

Wow, this is a great way to make those of us who couldn't do it feel shit. Thanks.

DorotheaHomeAlone · 27/05/2017 06:48

Fenella that is ridiculous. I'm sorry you couldn't bf if you wanted to. Really, that must have been shit. But women are allowed to talk about the benefits of bfeeding, including how much they enjoyed it. It's important that they do as there are a lot of negative messages out there about how hard and thankless it is.

putdownyourphone · 27/05/2017 06:49

I'm interested to know how milk is made different for boy and girl? I tandem fed B/G twins so how would my boobs know??

AdultHumanFemale · 27/05/2017 06:50

Fenella, I am so sorry you feel this way Flowers FWIW, I don't think OP started the thread in a goady spirit.

putdownyourphone · 27/05/2017 06:50

Fenella - I'm sorry but that's silly. Why did u click on the thread if you didn't want to read it? People are allowed to discuss things that others aren't able to do. It's a parenting forum so you can't expect people to not discuss feeding - in the feeding category.....

GinIsIn · 27/05/2017 06:53

Dorothea should have been more specific - I meant 123MothergotafleA's post implying that those of us who don't or can't couldn't be bothered to give it a try. Breast feeding is pushed fiercely by the midwives at the hospital, health visitors, community teams. Brands who make formula aren't allowed to discuss any information about it on channels like social media. Lots of us would have loved to breastfeed but there's an attitude like in 123's post that if breastfeeding was just pushed at us a bit more, and we just tried a bit harder, more people would do it. Most new mothers "give it a try". The fact that 85% don't continue until 6 months is an indication of how difficult it can be and how little support there is for ongoing breastfeeders. New mothers do NOT need more education and support - it's already pushed so hard that you feel like an instant failure if you can't.

BonApp · 27/05/2017 06:54

It is so amazing! I ebf both of mine, and kept going to 18m and 20m respectively. I loved it and feel it's the one thing about parenting I got really really right. Plus the science behind it is just incredible. Nature at its best.

GinIsIn · 27/05/2017 06:55

putdownyourphone we crossposted. I find science fascinating, and have nothing against breastfeeding or it being discussed. I meant to reply specifically to 123s post that implied mothers who don't or can't breastfeed should just give it more of a try.

newbian · 27/05/2017 06:58

Fenella UK has he lowest BF rates at 6 months in the world. It's obviously a cultural or support issue, there is no evidence British women are inherently less capable of BF.

To the thread - yes DD was born on the tiny side and was at 95th percentile in weight by 6 months having had nothing but my milk. I felt an extraordinary sense of achievement that she thrived. BM is also amazing for cuts, rashes, and eye infections! Miracle stuff.

Beansonapost · 27/05/2017 07:00

I love it!

With my first I was about to give up on day three because it was so hard and my nipples were shredded! But I had a lovely midwife that helped me and showed me how to get her to latch properly... it's been amazing!

Forward to now I am breastfeeding my two DC boy 2 months girl 22 months. It's just been quite easy. It has had its hiccups and the dedication is a lot! But I wouldn't change it! When I look at what we don't have to do, especially with two children I am happy I breastfeed.

I also feel very proud of myself for sticking it out when I was going to give up... its a great feeling knowing I grew two humans and I am also able to nourish them. Plus I enjoy the bonding.

Also, my breasts aren't the same... but I suppose that's par for the course and maybe I can have them fixed. I too am also amazed at the composition of the milk. I didn't find out till recently that milk changes for boys and girls! The rest I knew... but that one is really interesting!

Nishky · 27/05/2017 07:01

Fenella I am with you. My failure to breast feed caused horrendous post natal depression. Took me months to get over it.

Now I am angry at the lack of support which I can clearly see contributed. Now I don't see it as my personal failure. But I did for months and months.

Oh and 123 I did 'give it a try' . Perhaps for far too long as my baby had to be re-admitted to hospital with dehydration and severe weight loss. Only two days previously the midwife told me she was a 'contented breast fed baby'. No she was a baby who was so dehydrated she had given up, I didn't know this at the time. We told the midwives every day that it wasn't working and they totally dismissed us

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GinIsIn · 27/05/2017 07:01

newbian that is literally what I just said. My point is that new mothers and mothers to be have education and support foisted on them left, right and centre. They do not need more. Most decide to breastfeed and do try it. Support is needed for those weeks down the line who are no longer under the care of the community midwives to help them continue. Those of us who aren't able to do it from the start really don't need more education.

ParadiseLaundry · 27/05/2017 07:02

Fenella, surely the fact that 85% of new mums try and then don't continue on until 6 months is an indication that more support is needed. If women don't want to for whatever reason, they shouldn't be hassled and cajoled into doing it, however is 85% of women start out wanting to and for whatever reason (although my guess would be bad advice from HCP in a lot of cases) aren't able to continue that is a problem. With correct support many more women would be able to continue.

ICJump · 27/05/2017 07:02

Fenella I think mothers who want to breastfeed are let down time and time again by the health services around the world. Huge amounts of miss information are spread and it's often volunteers who are left to pick up the support that woman need.

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