100% breastfeeders - please come and say hello - feeling a little isolated here!

[Miaou]

I'm the only bfeeder in RL in my group of friends, and it seems that much of my postnatal group on here is mixed feeding. I've now reached the point where the tiredness is getting to me and I have reached a low ebb. Many people (out of kindness) have suggested I should begin weaning or introduce a bottle, which I am really not ready to do. Fortunately dh backs me all the way but I would like to chat to other 100% breastfeeders (past or present), just to reassure me that I'm not my own!

Just come and say hello and maybe we can offer each other a boost if/when we are feeling down!

i should think so. dd when thru what must have been a 3 week growth spurt early on and I was eating 6 times a day to keep up. I have always eaten more than my size suggests and even me was amazed at what I was putting away.

the key though is still to eat sensibly when you are hungry not because you think you are burning more calories as you can still end up fat.

I've never eaten so much. Some days I am quite disgusted with how much I tuck away! I have HUGE dinners but am always left wanting more. I am not gaining weight but I would like to lose a few pounds which seems impossible whilst BF.

hello all de lurking to say hi
have 6month old dd breastfead on demand and just introducing solids.
i do tend to stay away from breast v bottle discussions as i have strong views on the subject same goes for other subjects like controlled crying and so on.

still its nice to read and follow discussions of dedicated breastfeeders.
i plan to keep on bf for at least the first year

I'm 100% bf my 4 month old and generally enjoying it but sometimes I have lows, (eg she is refusing the bottle which is restricting my freedom, is starting to wake up more, feeling like I am constantly feeding dd etc etc), when I wonder if it is as worthwhile as I think it is. I am well aware of all the benefits of breast-feeding but sometimes I catch myself being a bit cynical about it. I don't know any bottle-fed babies, children or adults who seem to have suffered from this method of feeding. They are all perfectly happy and healthy. Ironically enough my brother and I were both bf, he has quite bad asthma, eczema and hay fever and I have mild eczema and bad hay fever. Dh and his sister were bottle fed and they have never suffered from any allergies.

Is there anyone out there who has hard evidence / personal experience of breast being best for baby? Maybe one child who was bf the other bottle or something? I think I need a boost at the moment and a bit of reassurance that I am doing the right thing.

Sorry this is a slightly negative message.

Feel guilty about message now. I don't want to put any new mums off with my negative attitude. Breast feeding is still a wonderful thing.

I'm just getting over mastitis,(the flu like type)Was hell for a few days I can tell you lot I've a b/infection but have told my in-laws that I'm laid up with flu I know they'd think it's my own fault for b feeding & I should stop.No1 in my dhs family has ever bf & they make me feel a weirdo.I never had mastitis with my first 2 kids(this is my 3rd baby)Has any one else suffered?

aw fells, sorry I missed this when you posted. Fon't feel bad about feeling negative - that's what this thread is for!!! tbh I take the attitude that b/fing is as much about the mother as the baby, ie it's got to make you both happy, and if b/fing is getting you down and you would feel better introducing a bottle, then do so without guilt .

babydaze, no experience but sounds vile - sorry you have so little support too.

i wouldn't call it hard evidence fells but dd is breastfed and at nursery full time for 13 wks now. 5 other babies started in the same calendar month as her. so far she is the only one who has not been off sick with diarrhea/vomiting/colds/ flu, etc. less illness for her, less stress for me & her.

Thank U Miaou! Much better now & have had a proper nite's sleep for 1st time in ages Yipee!Also,Fells, I can't say for def if it's bec mine were bf'd but my 2 ds do seem unusually healthy, (hope I'm not speaking too soon!)Apart from the usual chicken pox etc. Never picked up coughs & colds at nursery while all the other Mums seem to be moaning their kids had constant colds since starting. We all worry too much if we're doing the right thing.Trust your instincts.Best wishes.Lol.

Hello , fells, this isn't hard evidence I suppose but dd1 did not have a day's illness - even a cold - for the whole of her first year. I stopped bf on her first birthday because I wanted to conceive again. She has had a couple of slight colds since but is one of the healthiest children I know.

Fingers crossed it will be the same with dd2 - looking good so far (4 and a half months).

Thanks for sharing your experiences of positive results from breast-feeding. I've no doubt that it does help to stave off all sorts of bugs and colds etc.I'm so glad I'm doing it even if she is refusing a bottle...!