To ask for positive breastfeeding stories?

[Tallpinetrees]

I'm currently pregnant with my first and obviously keen to get as much information as possible to be prepared. I've been asked if I'm going to give breastfeeding a try, and I hope so!

A couple of people have told me their birth "horror" stories, which were quite scary, but I really enjoyed reading Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth and all the stories of women confidently and quietly (or not so quietly!) giving birth.

AIBU to ask for some encouraging and inspiring stories about breastfeeding?

My story didn’t start well but ends up pretty positive! DS had tongue tie so for the first 12 weeksmy nipples were covered in open sores and feeding was paaaaainful! Feeds would often last for over an hour and it was so hard! You feel like you should be able to get out of the house within a few weeks after giving birth as that’s what “everyone else” does so I felt a bit pathetic stuck inside for so long as the window of time I actually had for getting ready and getting out was so narrow, but I stuck it out and I’m still feeding now at 16 months, and it’s so easy, I’m so glad I toughed it out. Anyway, my point being that even you have a not so straight forward start that doesn’t necessarily mean that it won’t end positively! Good luck!

Bf takes a while to learn for both mum and baby. Used less than half a tube of lashnoh as DD had a good latch. DD followed her centile line perfectly and between 4 - 6 month went up two centiles and now has delicious chubby thighs and arms. It’s more convienient as you don’t need to get out of bed in the night to feed (I have co-sleeper cot) and give you an excuse to sit down in a cafe and have tea and cake any time you want

I've been so lucky. My daughter was 9 days overdue. I wasn't induced. Labour was fine. I honestly can't remember the pain, though apparently I just kept saying I hate this! After a while of pushing midwives suggested they cut me to help her out (cant remember techinical term). I said do what you need to do. So they did. It wasnt too bad. Like i say - I really can't remember the pain. My partner said it was just like watching a little lamb being born :)
Baby was given straight to me as soon as she was born which I think helps. Ladies in the hospital helped to get her to latch for the first few times, but after that we were well away :) I've stopped breastfeeding now (daughter is just over 14 months now). I stopped just over a year. I really loved doing it - more than I expected to. It felt like a really nice way to bond.

The first 2 months were hard, undiagnosed thrush and latch issues ... it was horrible !

18 months on and still EBF !! I love it !

The main downside in my experience was being a bit lop-sided for a while (big right breast, little left breast). I did give her both, but I was still like that for a little while. Back to normal now.

Mum and best friend.

Mum struggled a bit with latching my sister but then ebf for 2.5 years. Sister slept like a dream. Great child and baby. Was a nightmare teen .

Friend instant latch. 6 months ebf, switched to formula to ttc again.

My friend struggled with mastitis but she managed to get a great pump and it really helped. Also cold cabbage leaves and warm compresses are your friend if you get it.

2 babies, each fed to 18 months with no drama.

I don't know what the fuss is about tbh.

I had a really positive experience breast feeding. I was advised about latch etc in hospital after DS was born.
I then went to a breast feeding support group, or tit club as it was known in our house. I found this really helpful.
Sadly I think there have been so many cuts that there aren't so many support groups these days.
I was very lucky and fou d it easy, I was quite happy to formula feed him if it hadn't worked.
I now have a 6'4" 16yr old.

I was told it was going to be difficult and painful, it wasn't. Make sure you get the latch right from the beginning and don't be afraid to unlatch your baby to start again if they lazily grab just a bit of nipple so it's not comfy; your nipples get tired in the first month but lanolin fixes it so quickly if your latch is ok.(I liked lansinoh) so put it on after every feed. Some women persevere through real pain and it isn't necessary (plus any sore bit will get worse and worse), so please insist on midwives helping you until you're comfortable, don't wait for the nipple too get injured. Get the baby checked for tongue tie of you can't get comfortable and if the little tongue doesn't come out.
There's nothing in this world like gazing at a tiny baby feeding, it's amazing to feel that connection as your boobs respond to the baby's grasp with milk. It's also very convenient for night feeds as you can just feed in the dark lying down peacefully (make sure you're anywhere safe in case you fall asleep). I felt proud of myself learning to feed him out and about, walking, etc. It's much easier than planning bottles and it's lovely to fix any need for comfort, drink or food with the same simple solution. When the excited smiles and giggles start as you unclip the bra, that's special too. You'll have such a close bond with your baby however you feed, but in a way the all-consuming nature of those early weeks can help. All you're doing is eating, drinking, feeding the baby and sleeping... in cycles of a few hours. But it makes you a little family and however tiring it's the most magical time. After 4 weeks the feeding gets easier, after 8 weeks it's genuinely incredibly easy and the feed schedule gets even easier after a little cluster feeding at 4 months.

A word about cluster feeding; babies are up shouting at your boobs through the night. They're hungry and constantly feeding on empty boobs. The worst is nights 3/4, coupled with a day 5 hormone crash. Then you have a little repeat (never so bad again) in about weeks 3/4/6/12/18 (I forget the exact schedule). This is nature building your milk supply. Cuddle your baby, marvel at the process, apply a LOT of nipple cream and trust in your boobs. It'll be ok.

I've found that I get a lot of nice comments from strangers, everyone likes a quiet baby and feeding babies are quiet. Old ladies looking slyly round are usually waiting for a feed to end so they can peer at the baby and tell you how they remember their youngest etc. Department stores, M&S, Mothercare and other places have feeding rooms that are friendly with other mums feeding their babies, which can be less daunting if your baby is being fussy or you can't afford yet another coffee shop.

Many congratulations; I hope you have a safe and healthy birth, enjoy getting to know your little one.

I'm still breastfeeding my 9 month old and I plan on continuing into the toddler years. I love it, it's my absolute favourite thing about being a mum. I am not organised enough for bottles! I've never had to plan ahead for food (until dd started solids) and it's the first and last thing we do together every day. I wouldn't swap it for anything.

Of course YANBU.

DS is now 9mo

We had a rocky start - he wouldn't latch properly at first. But by about day 6, and after a visit to our local support group we got the latch sorted (I was too full and had to hand express a small amount before a feed - also learned how to improve him latch)
I'm still breastfeeding him and I love it. There was a little soreness but lansinoh helped (massively) and cluster feeds can be a bit full on - but are normal!

Now it is the easiest thing in the world! I still feed him at night but we co-sleep so barely wake up for night feeds. I dropped all my weight and was back in pre pregnancy clothes after a week. I can eat what I like and not put weight on!

But I have some really lovely and happy memories. Seeing his little milk drunk face after a feed and looking at him grow and feeling proud while thinking 'I did that!' Are at the top of the list. So was sitting around on the sofa while DH brought me food and drink

Good luck and congratulations!

I bf two children - both extremely positive stories although both had their challenges.
Dc1 wouldn’t latch - my nipples were too flat. Nothing worked - it was painful and I couldn’t work out what I was doing wrong. She had cups of formula whilst I cried and struggled. A lovely lactation consultant got me pumping and then on nipple shields. I ebf on nipple shields for 20 months and loved it. After 6 weeks or so we were flying.
Dc2 crawled up my chest and latched immediately. She fed like a dream for 2 years. She was seriously ill in hospital soon after birth and relatched easily after coming off life support. She slept fine and bf was amazing at helping her with her hospital stays.

Not quite what you're looking for but I stopped bfing after two weeks (combo of traumatic surgical birth and severe PND) and although I know illogically I couldn't have gone on and my DD has thrived on formula, I massively regret stopping and I wish I'd been able to carry on. For one thing I still remember how bonded I felt to her as I fed her and how natural it was, and I miss that intensely - nothing else is the same. And secondly FFing is a pain in the bum, honestly. Lugging everything around with you and sterilising etc etc. I know this isn't quite what you're looking for but I think when I was struggling it would have been helpful for me to hear from people who hadn't managed to carry on and regretted it as it might have given me a boost.

I did it for 2DC for 14 and 11 months. I'm really pleased I did although it was very hard at first, more so with my 2nd. If the latch isn't right it can be painful, but I'm so pleased I did. DS was an ill child from birth and it was great comfort for him. DD is very independent and self-weaned at 11 months.
It's so convenient and it's only hard for the first few weeks, then you've got free and easy feeding, with the best for you and baby
Not to mention I lost 6 stone!

One of the best things I've ever done. It's tough in the beginning but once established it's so easy, no getting up in the night, no remembering to buy formula or pack it for a day out. Get some support set up, find out about breastfeeding cafes.

By the way, I loved the Ina May book and I think she does a breastfeeding one too.

I loved breastfeeding, it was so...natural.

With DS1 we both took to it easily, sore nipples for about a week I think then continued until he was 1 year. I loved how portable it made us and I BFd him on planes, whilst hiking and whilst travelling. I worried about being indiscreet but if you pull up a stretchy top rather than unbutton from the top down then the baby covers everything.

With DS2 it was more difficult to get started but luckily a good HV knew to stimulate the roof of his mouth with her little finger and he got the message. I later found he has SN and has poor coordination so I think this was the reason. I BFd him until he was 2 as he was just "slower" overall than DS1 (who I had BF till he was 1) and he enjoyed the comfort.

I really enjoyed sitting and cuddling with them and the closeness it gave us. The other thing is that I never have liked my breasts much, don't like the size or shape, and BFing made me feel good about them. Not to look at, just to put to a natural use.

It is tough and strange to begin with but once you are over the first 1-2 weeks it is great.

It is soooo nice just to be able to say nice things about BFing without FF militants going nuts. I feel I have to hide the joy I had.

I was really unsure before I had my first. I couldn't equate my breasts with feeding something and felt a bit uncomfortable at the thought, but made the decision to try it and see what happened.
My baby latched as soon as she was given to me and none of the nurses could believe it was my first child! She was ebf for 4 months, then mix fed until 6 months until mastitis put a stop to it.
With #2 it was trickier as he had suspected tongue tie and I needed help to get the latch right. We actually went from mix feeding for a bit back to ebf, and then stopped at 8 months.
It's not easy, you'll have your ups and downs, but if you can do it then go for it!

Forgot to say, I also fed in public. The only time anyone came up to me to say anything was a very lovely lady who asked if she could get me a glass of water.

Breastfed for a total of 6 years and counting now, #1 to 2 yrs, #2 to 3 years and #3 still going at nearly 1.

#1 was easy, bar a little pain at times. She self weaned at about 2.
#2 was difficult, he had a lip tie, colic, we both had thrush for weeks, ridiculous cracking that only Jelonet would help. But we got there. He stopped feeding just past his 3rd birthday.
#3 has been easy bar cracking, but I bought lasinoh in advance and that with some gritted teeth has got us through so far.

It has never been a big thing in my life tbh, it's how I feed our babies. If I couldn't have done it, then I'd have moved on. I'll be glad to never have had to give any money to formula companies though, that gives my stubborn side some pleasure.

Never had a negative comment, or had anyone make me feel uncomfortable. Maybe I look as 'don't give a fuck' as I feel. My mum sometimes asked when I was planning on stopping as she was worried about my iron and b12 levels as I have pernicious anemia and normal anaemia but she would never pressure.

I do make fat babies though, all 3 have had spurts of putting on in excess of a pound a week at various points.

I'd be warned how hard abs painful it was...

Not my experience, needed lanisoh for the first week, just while my nipples got used to it, some issues with over supply initially, but she didn't even lose any weight in the first few days, it's much easier than FF, and more immediate, so less crying!

She's nearly 4 months now and I've just about got the hang of feeding in public

Only thing I'd suggest is offer EBM in a bottle from early on, I left it too late and she is now a resolute bottle refuser!

Had a difficult start bf because of long labour emcs milk didn’t come in until day 5, had a lot of weight loss and had to top up but I was determined to bf and still am over a year later.
My nipples were sore but nothing major, and if you have to top up at the beginning it’s not the end of bf, top ups are easily dropped a few weeks later when the baby has learnt to feed and your supply is established.
Most people I know who’ve successfully bf have been determined to bf. If you can get through the first few weeks the rest is easy
Good luck

Oh yes and the sleeping, DD feeds 2-3 hourly in the day, and slept 10pm-6am since about 4 weeks old. She's now nearly 4 months and sleeps 7:30-6:00 with a dream fed when I go to bed, so not all breast fed babies wake a lot in the night!