is it true???

[tron]

that some breast milk is better than none at all. I fed for 2 weeks and gave up because i got a blister that got infected and i was on the celing at every feed. I really wanted to bf for at least a year My MW told me that I'd given DD a fab start and that some was better than none. My friend has a week old daughter and managed to bf for 2 days, her MW said now she'd switched she undone all the effects of the bf and that a baby would lose all immunity gained once formula was given. Obviously this really upset her and me . We are just after a bit of ressurance and not feel so guilty that we both failed

Yes it is definitely true that some breastmilk is better than none at all. The colostrum and breastmilk that a newborn baby gets in a couple of weeks do help to boost the immune system.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will post to explain in more detail. There is a list somewhere online explaining the benefits from bfing for different time periods, but I couldn't find it.

Oh that midwife should be shot. If she can't offer any real support to help your friend b/f successfully then she should be ashamed of herself, not have a go. And someone should have helped you to avoid the damn blister in the first place by showing you how to get your baby latched on correctly. Or treated it, or reassured you that you could feed from just one side until it healed or something.

I'm sure some b/m is better than none at all - colostrum, for example, has all sorts of health benefits. Most of the studies into the effects of b/f have looked at babies who have been fed for some time but some of a good thing has to be better than none, doesn't it?

definitely true! DS1 used to use me as a "starter" before he got onto his one true love (formula ) and the breastfeeding counsellor I spoke to said that was great

Definitely any is better than none. Someone shoot that MW who told you that all the goodness would be "undone" - what a load of codswallop!! Think about it, it is already in her system - how can it be lost?? you absoltuely have not failed. The MW is the one who has failed by not giving you the good support you need and deserve.

By the way, I Bfed for 6 days before I made the decision to formula feed - similar to you I had blisters and cracked nipples and although MWs and HV were verbally very supportive didn't actually give me any practical help or suggestions. Ah well, they were halfway there I suppose!!

Yes, some is better than none IMO. Colostrum is especially important, as others have said.

And shoot that fecking MW. Why do they have to heap guilt on vulnerable women? They ought to be ashamed.

Sorry that you both have had such worries. Glad that you are going through this with a friend as it can be such an isolating experience. If her mw was as insensitive and as unsupportive as your thread suggest, she needs reporting. I do understand how you both feel but won?t bore you with my nightmare bf experience with DD1. In retrospect I wish I had stopped bf sooner as the pyschological damage it did to me and the way it affected my bonding with DD1 really was not worth the extra few days of bf. I stopped sooner with DD2 in a controlled and rational way helped by a diff mw team who I trusted and respected my decision. As a result I felt none of the self loathing, only a little bit like a bad mum.
The most important thing you can give your child is love. Keep the bf issue in proportion, think of all that you are doing for your baby every minute of the day. xx

tron - I think this is what melpomene might be talking about.

You can see from this chart that there are benefits from every single feed. Ignore the witch of a midwife. Not easy I know when there is a mix of sleep deprivation, hormones and a new baby to deal with. Show it to your friend too.

thanks everyone - will show my friend too it will make her feel so much better i'm sure. I wished i'd been able to do the bf but dd is happy and healthy so far so i suppose that's all that matters