breastfeeding amazes me...

[Newtothis11]

I found out today our milk changes in hot weather to compensate for what baby needs - how clever is that! BF really does amaze me! What else can we celebrate about BF

Actually that's not true Computer

The biological processes which breastfeeding aids, triggers and enhances continue throughout life.

@boldlygoingsomewhere interesting you say that. I found that I really gained a lot of assertiveness I'd always lacked. Probably bolstered by getting myself geared up to feed on public.

I never had to say anything (though I did wink and blow a kiss at some Arab men who kept pointing and staring in Starbucks once) but it certainly helped me give less of a shit about other people in general. Like it changed my personality a bit.

I found it to be a great help and focus when my babies were in SCBU and were very unwell. It felt like expressing colostrum and then milk was one of the few things that only I could actually do for them and that they needed me for. It was not exactly enjoyable to be thrown into the cycle of expressing and then trying to establish direct breastfeeding, but I felt a great deal of satisfaction once we'd eventually got there.

Particularly with DS2 who had had a fairly traumatic arrival and was very unwell - he couldn't really tolerate the formula that he was given via tube feeding, and it felt very urgent to get enough colostrum and then milk to feed him. Once he was having only breastmilk it seemed to sort out his ability to tolerate feeding and he started to get better very quickly.

Breastfeeding is amazing.
DD1 was premature and growth restricted. She caught up and thrived on my breastmilk alone, it was amazing to think I was succeeding where I had failed her in utero.She BF till she was 15 months, and is now a healthy 3 year old. BF her became easy, although we needed a lot of support early on. Certainly couldn't be doing with the faff of bottles!
DD2 hasn't been so straightforward, and is now mix fed. I feel like I have let her down because I can't give her what she needs.

computer there are proven long term benefits to breastfeeding for child and mother.

Possibly TMI, but my breasts still involuntarily physically tingle when I am in the presence of a crying newborn. I can't help it, it even happens in the supermarket
My youngest is 16 (years)...

Breastfeeding is my proudest achievement. DD had jaundice when she was born so I was hand expressing colostrum every two hours and syringe feeding her as she was too sleepy to latch for two weeks. I persevered and once the jaundice had cleared DD didn't look back and we got her latch sorted after a few weeks of cracked bleeding nipples.

I didn't have any breastfeeding support at all in the hospital or with HV visits so I read as much as I could on the internet and in my mothers breastfeeding book from the 90s. They did recommend formula top ups at the beginning as the jaundice and reflux meant she wasn't regaining her birthweight fast enough, but I didn't let it stress me out as I knew from looking at my red book that I was exactly the same as a baby. I think mums wanting to adhere to a strict routine is the most damaging to breastfeeding, it has to be on demand for your supply to establish properly and you have to be prepared for cluster feeding. I knew that introducing formula would damage my supply so chose not to do it and sure enough it just took a little longer for DD to get it and then she piled the weight back on. DD was 7lbs 8 at birth and was 17.5lbs by six months and unbelievably chubby.

It is amazing stuff, it has cleared every one of the few rashes DD has had and the two bouts of conjunctivitis. She has never had a cold and is an incredibly happy baby most of the time. I love that it acted like a magical sleeping potion too, watching her eyes start closing getting milk drunk and her drifting off during a feed was so lovely.

People wanting to breastfeed need the support of midwives and HV and most importantly a supportive partner who will be invaluable in the difficult early weeks. You also have to be aware of the reality, it is too often sold as just being 'beautiful' 'natural' which it is, but not being informed about it is obviously going to lead people to stop trying because of being misinformed and thinking 'they have no milk' and switch to formula. The vast majority of our species are able to breastfeed, the poor rates in this country are not due to genetic inability but lack of informed support. You also have to be willing to give up your nights out and solo holidays etc for 6 months, regaining your sense of self has to take a back seat for a while. Mothers who have to go back to work are obviously at a disadvantage as if a baby is going to nursery being breastfed isn't going to work.

silkpyjamasallday I BF until 17 months and went back to work at 4 months. DD never tasted formula! Working moms can do it too with a good pump and a supportive workplace.

I breastfed until 2.5 years and DS was 14 months when I went back to work. But at that point he didn't really need milk that much so my supply seemed to adjust itself and I never had to pump.

newbian now that IS an achievement! Wowsers.

Prior to having my DS (about three years before he came along) I did a two day course on breast feeding and I found it magical, the whole concept was amazing, I couldn't believe what wonderful stuff breast milk was!! I left that course desperate for a baby just so I could breast feed one

When DS came along i breast fed, loved it (after an initial tough 8 weeks) and BF him until he was 2.5 years old.

About 7 months I attended another trip day course in London on BF and again I was just left in awe about what our bodies are capable of doing and all the amazing things breast milk can do.

I'm currently 28 weeks pregnant with DC#2 and I can't wait to breast feed again

• I went back to work when DS was just under 9 months old and continued to breast feed for the 2.5 years with no problems. Going back to work does not mean an end to breast feeding.

Sorry but a lot of they stuff on this thread is untrue. Nipples as baby salvia receptors and analysers? Biologically implausible, verging on the impossible and no evidence for it in any scientific literature. Breastfeeding is perfectly fine if it is working well for that mother and that child but there really is no need to make up (or more likely, rehash) magical nonsense about it.

sycamore www.sciencenews.org/blog/growth-curve/backwash-nursing-babies-may-trigger-infection-fighters

Nishky not really, I know a lot of working moms who exclusively BF and expressed without formula, it does take dedication and as mentioned a supportive workplace (the MOST important thing or else no way to succeed) but it can be done. I would have used formula if I'd needed to but I had enough supply to do without. I'm still owed a gift from DH actually as he said I should calculate all what we saved on formula and get something nice for myself

Newbian, have you seen the breastmilk jewellery you can buy? Pearls made from your milk .. www.etsy.com/uk/market/breastmilk_jewelry woukd be very fitting for your gift.

I'm still mourning my BF loss, DD is lactose intolerant and I had to stop after 9 weeks I'm inherently a lazy fucker and passionately HATE washing and sterilising bottles!!! 😂 but yeah boobs are bloody awesome! then again women's bodies are bloody awesome overall!!! whether you can BF easily or have had difficulties to the point of not being able to BF just think WE GREW TINY LITTLE HUMANS!!! I just love that, sorry if that sound immature but I mean like we grew people, like actual little people... how fucking kick ass are we!!!

Newbian well that should be a VERY nice gift!