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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to ask what you love about breast feeding?

122 replies

macramemiss · 05/07/2019 23:41

I've been breast feeding for 8 months. It was fucking awful in the beginning and initially I did combined feeding as my son was losing weight (dangerously so). No formula now, but also no judgement towards those who do ff. That's not what this thread is about and I still have my formula in the cupboard, just in case :)

Bf for me is amazing now and I absolutely love it. I love the way my son kneads my boob it's pretty cute, and the way he whimpers when I'm trying to get my bra undone but am not quite going quick enough. It's a pretty distinct noise!

Anyway. I've been experiencing pain which I discovered is from a blocked duct. Very painful and wanted to remind myself of why I love breastfeeding.

Anyone else care to share what they love about breast feeding?

OP posts:
TapasForTwo · 06/07/2019 08:49

I never got thst "high" feeling or feeling of joy. I wonder why?

BarberBabyBubbles · 06/07/2019 08:55

Thanks for this thread!

I love;

  • health benefits for baby
  • health benefits for me like reduced risk of some cancers
  • that I struggled with something but persevered
  • that baby gets over a cold so easily
  • that it’s free
  • that it’s better for the environment
  • that I’m giving my baby the best possible start
  • that I’ll never run out eg if a journey takes longer than I thought
  • that I can feed lying down while I’m asleep
  • it’s so convenient
  • it is intimate / the eye contact
  • now it is so so easy

I could go on!

BertieBotts · 06/07/2019 09:04

Loads of stuff TBH. But I think it's so personal and some people would hate these things.

Co-sleeping - yes. Gets you sleep (probably the most important) plus I just love snuggling them when they are so little, breathing in sync with them, it always feels like exactly the right place on Earth to be. There is something animal about it which I like. I have a co-sleeper cot and I've been lucky in that both of my kids most of the time have been fine in their own space in that if I feel I need more space too.

Excuse to sit down for ages :o

No washing up, sterilising, boiling kettles. I am really disorganised too so I appreciate not needing to panic due to running low on formula, or pre plan too much e.g. days out. Also formula is so expensive. We did a bit of formula this time and it was a pain trying to make sure the bottle wasn't too hot, too cold, too long made so bacteria was a concern, having to decide when it was time to throw it away and start again.

It is a magic sleep inducer. (Not always, but when it is)

You don't have to have a routine, or keep track of when you've fed them because you can't do it too much or too little (broadly) so you can just do it whenever they want or when your boobs feel full.

The love they get for it/games they play with it towards the end of the first year and beyond. So funny and cute. Squirting milk also funny.

You can put it on random skin complaints, loosen stuffy noses with it, use as eye bath for conjunctivitis.

You can keep going with it throughout the period when they're doing mad fussy eating and so not worry about their vitamin intake. Also immensely reassuring when they are ill, because it is so good against dehydration. I like the added reassurance that it gives antibodies to anything the family is exposed to as well.

AngelaScandal · 06/07/2019 09:06

I’m so jealous for the weight loss! I’ve had zero weight loss and far too much cake Hmm

Whatsername7 · 06/07/2019 09:09

@TapasForTwo me neither. My let down sensation was horrible and it wasnt ever magical and wondeful. It was really hard, then it was fine. Im not completely sold on the health benefits for baby either. Dd2 has been really ill with recurrent tonsilitis, has febrile seizures, hospitalised with Sepsis where as Dd1 (ff from 2 weeks) has never had any issues. Each time dd2 gets ill I think 'but I breastfed!'. I'd still breastfeed again. My rational self knows its likely bad luck but I do feel cheated sometimes.

DickKerrLadies · 06/07/2019 09:10

I loved the magic go-to-sleep powers I had. Even when the toddler was bouncing around just 5 minutes of milk would make them zonked.

And the laziness.

JacquesHammer · 06/07/2019 09:11

Can I add a really petty one? Seeing the horrid midwife who was abrupt, rude and told me I was wasting my time and I would never be able to breastfeed.

I actually saw her in the GP surgery when I was feeding in the waiting room Grin

ChocolateChipMuffin2016 · 06/07/2019 09:16

I was talking to DH about this the other day, my DD does this little smile when she’s feeding, I love that she has almost a secret smile that only I get. She also does this funny eye roll when she get the let down which is really funny!
I also love how convenient it is.
I found breastfeeding hard the first time but much more confident this time, so it’s been a much nicer experience.

BarberBabyBubbles · 06/07/2019 09:18

Gosh yes Bertie, my boob milk has sorted out sticky eye in both of mine! So wonderful.

Also so glad I don’t have to faff around with bottles!

Lazydaisies · 06/07/2019 09:28

And another one. No periods for 17 months. Loved that.

Lazydaisies · 06/07/2019 09:29

Jacques did you squirt her in the eye?? 🤣🤣

Tootyfrooty35 · 06/07/2019 09:30

Having fed 3...2 until 3yrs and currently feeding my 3mo... I'm obviously a fan 😂 and I'd say it's the closeness we share and satisfaction that I'm providing what my baby/toddler wants and needs. It's not always been easy... Feeding through pregnancy and tabdemming for a while was hard but worth it. I know I'll look back with such immense fondness on these days, when I'm old and an empty nester lol

JacquesHammer · 06/07/2019 09:31

Lazydaisies

Grin if only I had!

user87382294757 · 06/07/2019 09:31

It's a few years ago but here we go- (extended feeding for 6 years in total - 2 DC)

Loves: Easy and cheap!, Weight loss- can eat lots. Seemed to help protect against illness as hardly ever ill, with one illness recovered quickly. No ear infections which I was prone to myself as a bottle fed infant) Co-sleeping, hardly woke at night, good sleep for all. Oxytocin type high on feeling, restful.

Not so good- Having mastitis and feeding though that, early weeks can be hard but worth it. The painful feeling of let down. and when that oddly happens sometimes when not feeding. Wet patches / needing those pad things in bra. The time taken and getting stuck there in the same place for hours! (although can be a break I guess from other stuff) Feeling guilt about not being able to spend so much time playing with older sibling when feeding the other. Lack of others being able to join in and help / baby refuses bottle after breastfeeding) Being tied and guilt over going away for long as others can't feed.

Overall positive, but not as simple as that definitely!

user87382294757 · 06/07/2019 09:33

And another one. No periods for 17 months. Loved that.

Me too, for years...but take care as I got pregnant with no periods!

LadyRannaldini · 06/07/2019 10:32

Cheap
Convenient
No bottles to sterilize
Almost no puke
etc
etc
I used to love sitting up listening to World Service at 2 am, lived abroad, I got quite interested in the Middle East football leagues!

TapasForTwo · 06/07/2019 10:32

"It was really hard, then it was fine."

That's exactly how it was for me as well Whatsername7. It was just a functional way of feeding DD. For me the benefits were a massive plus, but it didn't make me feel joyous in any way.

LadyRannaldini · 06/07/2019 10:36

Jacques did you squirt her in the eye??

I did that! It was a Military hospital and we all had private 'cabins', I decided that the new baby probably needed a first feed so I whipped it out and got down to it. The midwife stuck her head round the door just as free boob decided to do burst worthy of Red Adair, 10 feet across the room, into her face! 'Oh, I was just coming to get you started, you seem to have managed without me'

pastyballbag · 06/07/2019 10:42

it’s free Smile

months off my awful periods

OutrageousFlavourLikeFreesias · 06/07/2019 10:46

When my nice but full-on In-laws became too much for my antisocial introvert self, I could declare it to be "time for a feed" and take myself off upstairs and spend half an hour chilling in my lovely nursing chair. Smile

Pinktinker · 06/07/2019 10:52

I love the convenience of it most of all. I’ve always co-slept for the first year with my DC so I love the fact I can just flop a boob out and they go back to sleep without any tears at all. I’m doing it now with my 8 month old, he hasn’t cried for months during the night. He just makes a slight fussing noise which wakes me up enough to get my boob out then we’re both back to sleep in seconds Grin. It’s so peaceful and calm.

I love the fact I don’t have to take bottles everywhere I go too. Their milk is right there on tap. Can’t deny I love the fact it is free too...

Oliversmumsarmy · 06/07/2019 10:58

Living by the rule 'if in doubt, whip it out'. Boob solves most issues at this age

This

And the fact I didn’t have to think about a load of equipment to take out with me. Also helped with my weight loss
Bf Dd for 3 years, but Ds only managed 6 weeks. I got an infection and was in antibiotics for a couple of weeks. I was still pumping milk to keep my supply going but when I started to bf him again he wasn’t interested.

Oysterbabe · 06/07/2019 11:03

I must admit I have used it to get out of things I didn't want to do a few times. I got caught by DH once. DS had been asleep in bed for a good while and I was just chilling out in his room while DH was dealing with his sister. He came in to get something and was like "struggling to settle him are you? Hmm" Blush

StripyHorse · 06/07/2019 11:10

I BF both of mine and this is making me feel nostalgic. I swear one day I will have a BF mum punch me because I find my eyes drawn to them (in an 'awwwww I remember how lovely that was' kind of way).

I loved...
No sterilising
No making bottles in the middle of the night
Not having to buy formula
Not worrying about taking bottles for the baby when going out
Having the perfect excuse to sit and watch crap TV when feeding the baby
Being the only one who could feed the baby (much to MILs annoyance😉).
Being able to escape with the baby somewhere quiet to feed at family parties (and perhaps stay a little while longer).
The feeling of closeness and how lovely they looked. Made 2am feeds almost worth it!

I have realised most of these are to do with being lazy or selfish!!

StripyHorse · 06/07/2019 11:13

I didn't like the tingling feeling in my nipples if DD was crying and I couldn't feed her quite that second (e.g. in the supermarket queue), or the leaking nipples that accompanied it. Always have a scarf with you!!

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