To find breastfeeding exhausting and not especially convenient

[Namelessbabe]

Feeding is going 'well' in so far as weight gain etc goes. Bi

Same as DrCoconut, I've not ff my youngest DS2 at all and it's been very easy, apart from the feeling of not having much freedom, but with young children I don't expect that much anyway. I'm prepared to be slated here but I was determined to bf mine as I felt the benefits to my children outweigh any personal gain for me over the short few years they are young. However I didn't struggle and am well supported by DH. I can understand not wanting to if that's not the case

I have 3dcs and bf them all for various lengths of time. All fairly short as bloody hated it. Cracked and bleeding nipple agony with restless dd1, ok but boringwith dd2 and a pain when I had to go back to work, ok with ds1 but again,had to go back to work and it was just a nuisance. Fed up with all the leaking, filling up, tenderness, expressing etc.
Ironically, the one who bf longest is the one who has the worst immune system and has had most illnesses and broken bones.

Did the OP just stop posting midway through?

For what it's worth I FF first child and am still bf'ing second (16mo). My FF child is an amazing sleeper bf child has never slept night through but yes on balance bf'ing was easier.

I absolutely hated BF and only did it for a few days with both my DS's. I don't find washing bottles and putting them in the microwave for 4 mins a hassle at all. I don't have to go downstairs at night for a bottle either. You can bring a kettle upstairs or use a flask.

The important thing is to feed your baby. Do what works for you and without guilt.

I didn't have a problem with breastfeeding. Dd was totally incompetent though.

Great relief to both of us when weaning time arrived (early in those days, thankfully).

Agree with boatrace. Also it feels like being pro breastfeeding at the moment is seen as smug and obnoxious. Breastfeeding hasn't been particularly easy for me, I've had mastitis a few times and multiple other issues but it is worth it. It is the best, no formula equals breast milk.It does get easier after the first 6 weeks or so imo.

Does anyone really choose to BF because it's more convenient though?

I know that's sometimes mentioned as a benefit but I'd have thought for most BFers that's a long way down the list, with the health benefits, bonding and the fact it's a lot cheaper coming much higher up. (Before anyone has a go, I am not saying FF is poison or FF mothers don't bond.)

IME it was very tough for the first 3ish months and then became a doddle - and more convenient than FF in most ways. Although still very inconvienent to be the only one who could feed the (bottle refusing) baby.

I chose to breastfeed because it was more convenient and easier! No getting out of bed at night, no worrying about making bottles/storing them, easy to visit people and stay out spontaneously, had a hand free etc.

5 years of breastfeeding here.

But I grew up in developing countries where people don't make a big song and dance about it and that probably affected how I felt.

I found ff so much more convenient.. Sterilise bottle for a couple of mins in microwave, powder in, boiling water, mix, put in fridge, put in bottle warmer for few mins when needed. Anyone could feed him. He started sleeping all night. No sore nipples, leaking milk, worrying about how much he's getting, popping my boob out everywhere, sleep deprivation. Both of us were happier all round! But everyone is different and I do respect people who bf round the clock, the dedication is amazing.

It's worth pointing out though, that you are only referring to feeding in the early days.

Breastfeeding is far easier and more convenient for many mums later on.

When DD needs feeding now, at 9 months, I just pop her on and she's done in 5 mins, sometimes less. The idea of having to wash bottles, sterilise bottles, boil the kettle etc etc seems so faffy to me now.

But, I can understand how in the beginning, ff is a better choice for many mums both physically and psychologically.

I'm 21 months in with DD2. 6 months ebf then bf on demand with solids. I have found it way harder than ff. I mix fed DD1 after a catastrophic start. It's only a year for formula then cows milk. Bottles are done after 12 months too replaced by soppy cups.

I know it is the normal way to feed a baby but it is really tough after returning to work after mat leave. I long for sleep.

Aiming to get to the WHO recommended 2 years...nearly there! Planning to night wean then. We'll see how far we go after that.

It is tough.

I loved it, fed both for a year. Eldest occasionally had formula but youngest never took a bottle so did it all myself. It was hard going at first, demanding and I wouldn't want to do it again but so convenient for me personally. So easy pulling them into bed, sticking them on the boob and dozing. Obviously cheap and no bumf to cart around apart from a few muslins.

It's not for everyone tho, I'm totally pro choice and respect anyone's decision to feed any way

It hurt me so much. I think it was because he always wanted fed, like literally constantly all day and night. I gave up after 2 weeks of no sleep and nipples that felt like they were going to drop off :(

minipie My main reason for bf dd was convenience! With ds (my pfb) it was health benefits but with dd I didn't particularly want to carry around a load of bottles and milk when I already had so much stuff for ds to traipse about!

I think most of the things people are mentioning about inconvenience are in the very early days, the pain, leaking etc. Of all the mothers I know who bf the more common experience is that all of that settles down after the first month or so and only a couple continued to have problems.

Is that directed at me Pearlman?

I loved BF, but only after 6 weeks. With dd1, the first six weeks were hell- cracked nipples, deep breast pain, cluster feeding until 1am (). I almost gave up but persevered thanks to lots of help from my DM, DMIL and DSM, who had all breastfed their children. So glad I did as once we got past 6 weeks the pain disappeared, the cluster feeding stopped and it all got a lot, lot easier. From 8 wks she started sleeping through the night (not ALL BF babies are poor sleepers!). Was similar with dd2 (but no cluster feeding, or, sadly, sleeping through the night). I also liked that long feeds gave me a break from crying and grumbling

6 weeks is the magic point, if you can get past that then life gets a lot easier. appreciate its not for everyone though.

For me convenience comes very high up the list for ds2. Getting out the house with two screaming kids is enough of a challenge without having to worry about bottles, milk etc. If I were bottle feeding I can practically guarantee they'd be a forgotten bottle going mouldy in a bag somewhere.

Also being able to shove a boob in if DS2 is upset, won't sleep, etc is a huge convenient bonus.

Maybe if I had family nearby where they could take the baby for the day once a week I'd be much more up for FF, but I don't. DH has to deal with ds1 at night so it wouldn't be very fair to ask him to do a night feed, he's up as much as me some nights. So i EBF.

The downside is I can feel very touched out, trapped and claustrophobic. But again it wouldnt be fair for DH to be left with both DC regularly at the weekend for long periods of time so maybe that's not really a BF issue in my case.

I don't know how letting them drink milk direct from your breast is less convenient than going downstairs, making a bottle up, coming back up, giving them milk, then when you've finished having to wash/sterilise it. Or doing all the prep every time you leave the house...

Blimey dontbuy, if you think that's what FF involves I'm not surprised you don't get how it might be convenient. There is an easier way. You ignore 50% of the night feeds because your partner's doing them. Or all of them shortly after the births while you recover, in my case. Bliss! Then for the ones you're doing, you don't get up. You don't go downstairs. You roll over in bed, pour the ready made formula into the clean bottle you've left there, you do the feed and then you again don't get up but instead leave the washing and sterilising for DH to do the morning, where the whole bottle washing process takes about three minutes a day. You also don't schedule it for just before you leave the house. Unless you want to I guess.

I mean, by all means say you think bf is the more convenient of the two. Lots of women would agree, some of whom are able to speak from experience of having done both. But really, if you're going to talk about convenience than you should do so with some idea about the convenience options ff offers!

YANBU to find bf exhausting and inconvenient (even if it does mean disagreeing with Jamie Oliver!) or the best thing since sliced bread, or anything inbetween OP. Your experiences are your own and you have the right to voice them, just as you will if and when it hopefully gets easier.

Nicolasixx OP hasn't even said how old her baby is! You'd be full of shit telling her it was too early to offer an opinion on her breastfeeding experiences even if she had, but it's especially ridiculous when you don't actually know how early or late in the day this is.

I was going to say the same bonersibery

If you ff then the feeds can be shared. So bfing is more convenient probably when you are a single parent or have a dp who doesn't do his share, for whatever reason. Otherwise I really am not convinced, other than mixed feeding/ topping up is the worst of both worlds in my experience and that I really couldn't hack.

"when you are a single parent or have a dp who doesn't do his share"

Or is at work during the day, as most are.

Physically it was easy and convenient but psychologically very hard. I seemed to be the default for every whimper and whinge. Stopped bf at three months as the two hourly feeds were killing me. We all instantly slept better, I felt more in control and less in demand and enjoyed motherhood much more thereafter.
I'm glad I bf both my DC, but the long term haul wasn't for me. I also went back to work before 6 months each time anyway.

It really does depend on your experience. Because of all the issues with DS1, ff was definitely more convenient and easier as we were all miserable with the bf. However brings DS2 was so easy and I loved not having to do the bottles and being free to be out and about for however long we wanted and staying away took less planning. However, because he wouldn't take a bottle at all, even with expressed milk it was tying.

"I also went back to work before 6 months each time most women who breastfeed long term also work.