why do/did you breastfeed??

[bounty007]

Some people don't "get" BFing and it makes me cross!
My FIL for example thinks babies should all be formula fed
I asked him why women had boobs, which got him very embarassed. I then started to mention that breastmilk is free, readily avaiable and at the correct tempertaure...
as a mum of 2 small children my brain is slightly wrecked at the mo and I would love some more points to back my argument

Not much to add as everyone else has said it.

For me bf is easy, natural and the right thing to do. i enjoy it, my babies enjoy it. The health benefits are great.
I did ff my son after a few weeks as supply and support wasn' there. It was awful and I felt so guilty, but I was glad I had ff to fall back on.

I definitely prefer breastfeeding and 3 healthy girls agree

Again as everyone has said, the health benefits for you and baby are immense. Granted the early days can be hard, but once established, it is one of the most beautiful experiences.

DS is now 7 months and reluctantly moving him to bottles during the day (still BF morning and night) and making up feeds are such a pain in the bum! Plus there is something truly magical about the breastfeeding experience, which I don't get from bottlefeeding.

For me, there is nothing better in terms of the convenience, closeness it brings and the long term benefits for both.

I'm human, my baby is human

frozennorthpole your post made me well up! beautiful!

I'm bfing dd (2 weeks) just because I assumed I would if I could.

It's taken us this long to get our issues ironed out (pain/ latch/ engorgement) but I love it now. I feel wonderful when she's feeding.

Lovely nagoo

Everything else that everyone else has said. But also I would add:

1. The joy on DDs face when I get my boob out
2. For DD home comfort and reassurance is always available, down my top
3. I have never, ever felt so content as when feeding my baby. Wild horses could not make me give that up now.

Being utterly selfish I bf'd both mine for a year each because it was a) free b) always ready and sterile c) I didn't have to take any feeding paraphenalia with me when going out.

All other health benefits made it a no brainer.

Because my mum did.

Nagoo - aw, thank you. Brilliant to hear that you and DD are doing well despite obstacles and enjoying that incredible feeling of closeness it brings

Because of seeing my older sister and my sister-in-law make it look easy, discreet, and comfortable - and seeing how happy and healthy their gorgeous DCs are (thanks ladies!)

Because my mum didn't BF us and always regretted it, "shouldn't have listened to that stupid MW who said I had the wrong shaped nipples, no one would help me..."

Because I'm a mammal and we lactate - why spend money on something less good than what I can make myself?

Because I read "The Politics of Breastfeeding" and was determined to stick it to 'The Man' via my boobs (yes, immature, yes, an image that makes me grin).

Because of how easy it is, once you get past the first two months. It's specially easy at night, but during the day I love thinking "ok, got enough nappies? Got a change of clothes for the baby? Got wallet, keys, and phone? RIGHT. Sorted for a day out."

Because of how happy DS is when he sees me offer him a nipple.

Honestly I'm lazy and can't be bothered to faff with a bottle.

More money to spend on cake.

Also because I so stubborn that after the mastitus, painful latch and numourous other issues that there was no way I was going through that only to switch to formula.

My MW was right in saying to give it six weeks, after this point everything sort of clicked and voila happy pain free feeds.

DS defied everything and had tonnes of infections and eczema despite being exclusively breastfed, sigh?

I always intended to ? it's what babies are supposed to have, if I couldn't then I'd have given them formula, but since I could then why would I give an artificial alternative?

One thing that became very apparent, though, more than anything else, was cost. We're generally broke, and I can't imagine having to actually buy milk for DS ? agh, how does anyone manage?! (this was also a major reason for using cloth nappies, I can't get my head round how much people spend on disposables) Now he's older and we spend a fortune on cartons of standard cow's milk, I do look back and sigh at the days my body fed him for free.

Interesting article here about breastfeeding in Mongolia.

Really interesting article duchesse, Emphasises the convenience of breastfeeding and is great for "lazy mums". I often think breastfeeding is seen as hard work and tying for the mother, on the contrary, it saves so much time and hassle of making up feeds. You are always good to go!

If only we could be as liberated as there

Too lazy to sterilise. FAR too lazy to get up and make up a bottle in the night. My mum did it and all my friends and I just assumed it was the norm.

it seemed the easiest thing to do although i soon realised with dd that it isn't that way to begin with (but does become a doddle).

i am way too lazy and disorganised to ff

I love all the comments about doing it because it is the norm because that's what mum did. i am now feeding ds 6 weeks old and dd is taking such an active interest in how he feeds and how i express. i hope it sticks with her as a positive experience for if she has children.