Can I ask for some breastfeeding positives please.

[Lola247]

I am due my first baby in 5 weeks and plan to breastfeed. I think I am pretty armed with information and well aware it could be awfully painful/uncomfortable/tiring to begin with. I am doing it purely because I believe it is best thing for my baby but I am dreading it. Are there any other real positives other than the health benefits for my baby? ( that being the most important obviously)! Thanks

Don't dread it - I did and it was completely unnecessary and made me stressed before I'd even started! As it happened, I found it incredibly easy.

Request lots of support in the first few days if you need it; I asked MW to pop over the day after the birth to give me some advice, it was all fine and pain free from there - some people do find it more challenging but don't assume (as I did) that it will be horrendous.

Sure it's tiring but having a baby is tiring regardless of how you feed them! Other than the responsibility for feeds being all on you, I don't think it's any more tiring than having to prepare and clean bottles before/after feeds. You literally need 10 seconds prep time to get your boob out and 10 seconds to put it away

Once you get going, it is so easy. Food and comfort always ready for baby, anywhere you need it, and you never have to worry about running out/sterilising etc. No one ever batted an eyelid about my feeding in public and I never faffed with nursing clothes or cover ups - just wore two tops, with the one on the top slightly bigger/looser than the one underneath - pull the top one up and the bottom one down.

I recently discovered the cost of formula and was horrified, it's so expensive!

You do sacrifice independence, but as it turned out, I loved that I meant that I had to be with/near my baby. I thought I'd resent not being able to go out with friends and leave the baby with DH for a few hours, but I never did. I needed that closeness with my baby, but that's a very personal thing.

Ultimately, you need to feed your baby in a way that works for you. Think positively about the choice you have made at this stage, and see how it goes.

I loved BFing my babies, even though it was hard for the first couple of weeks with the first, (mastitis and cluster feeding as he was a hungry DS). Second DD I feed immediately after birth and was as easy as pie no problems at all.

The best thing about BFing for me was when I would feed them they would put one of their little arms under my arm and kind of knead me whilst they were feeding and gaze into my eyes at the same time, it was lovely. .

Not true of everyone but losing weight. Back in my pre pregnancy jeans at 8 weeks post birth despite eating more that I ever have (and loads of cake, chocolate etc)

Don't dread it, it's honestly fabulous once you get past the first few weeks where you feel like you haven't a clue and there's some discomfort.

My son is seven and I have such amazing memories of breastfeeding him as a baby - the calm, closeness was just beautiful. The feeling of providing for him in a way that no one else could have and the way he looked at me with such love, I wish I could go back and do it all again.

Try your best and if you can get through the first bit, the rewards will come. Good luck!

I dreaded it. Really thought I wouldn't be able to do it or that it would hurt. DS latched on perfectly from the very first time the midwife put him to my breast and it was all just totally easy and problem-free. I was astounded. It was so convenient, just being able to take him anywhere and feed him instantly, day or night. I loved our long cuddly feeds and ended up feeding him for ages until he self-weaned. He was never ill as a baby/toddler either, so I'm sure it had health benefits.

I found breastfeeding one of the most positive experiences of my life.

Even though it's a long time since I breastfed I still regards my breasts as miracles.

Establishing BF felt like the most horrendous, exhausting and painful 6 weeks ever...... but once you and baby 'get it' it's so easy convenient and clean-no streralising required! It's not only food but on tap comfort and you can't over feed a BF baby honest.

Go for It!!

@JaneyEJones I know, hence my qualification of the statement by acknowledging that there are many young and intelligent mothers who do and do not breast feed. It's just what I happen to have found in the group I have been to, and others have said the same.

I think a lot of people like telling you the horror stories.

Not me,i fed 5 and apart from 1 its the only problem i had.I got mastitis on no.2 but he was a year old anyway.

I never had a negative,i loved it.Easy to get out and about,never having to leave your bed.Getting people to get food and drink for you.Whats nott o love.

I'm due my first baby so can't really tell you the positives of breast feeding, but I'm a childminder of several children on formula so I can certainly tell you the negatives of formula feeding
-formula very expensive
-waiting for hot bottles to cool down with a screaming baby
-waiting for kettle to boil
-trying not to let baby see bottle before its ready to avoid huge tantrum
-making up a fresh bottle when out and about, baby declines it, nowhere to refridgerate formula so in 1 hour when baby is starving you have no formula
-having to deal with untrained staff members when asking for boiling water for making up a bottle
-getting out and about and realising you packed the old bottle from this morning's feed, rather than the freshly sterilised one
-having to buy additional parts for babies with reflux/colic etc
-having to swap teats as baby grows, and even buy bigger bottles
-trying to find the formula scoop in a fresh formula container with nothing sterile nearby
-you need two hands to formula feed, and baby is heavy
Just a few things that I bloody hate about formula and I will repeat to myself like a mantra once baby is here to force myself to keep on with breastfeeding

Breastfeeding has been my favourite part of parenting! The first 2 weeks are painful, no denying it, but once you're past that part it's amazing! I got a rush of hormones everytime I did it that I can only compare to what it must be like on drugs, a massive blissful high, I lost nearly all my baby weight really fast, it made me nice and sleepy, it was SO convenient - no warming bottles or going downstairs in the middle of the night. All of that on top of being so great for the baby. I had a c section so had a couple of days in hospital and asked the midwifes for all the tips I could get which really helped. They taught me all the positions and holds I could try. One thing I wish someone had told me, those first few days, my baby fed almost non stop, 6 hours straight on the first night. I thought I wasn't producing enough or that she needed a dummy to calm her but it's how your supply is established, it's knackering but if you know why it's happening it's understandable and will be quicker to get your milk to come in. Good luck! I'm still envious of those with babies they can feed, I feel i could have made a career of it :)

I loved breastfeeding DD. Like some PP above, I went into it thinking I would give it a try but was prepared to fail and go onto bottles.

It was tricky at first and my nipples got sore, but after a couple more weeks we both got the hang of it and then it was easy. No carting bottles around, just pick up some nappies and go. I had none of the embarrassment I had expected, it felt completely fine to get my boobs out where ever I needed to.

I had also expected to keep my baby weight, and was surprised by how quickly I lost it, I ended up losing too much and had to eat lots of cake to keep my weight up. Yay!

I was far more sad than I expected to be when I did stop when DD was 1 year old, I missed those special cuddles, even at 3am.

Awwww, this thread's made me all nostalgic for the baby days. DD is 6 now and last night asked me to read to her while we cuddled in the old rocking chair like we used to when she was being bf to sleep as a baby, but she can't lie in my arms for more than 10 seconds without digging her bony elbows and knees in me now

Just thought of a couple more

1. Breast milk nappy explosions don't stain clothes. When DS1 went onto formula we had some horrid yellow stains that WOULD NOT come out no matter what we tried.

Breast milk nappies don't smell as bad, and the explosions just wash out no problem!

1. Excuse to get out of anything you don't want to do. Nights out, annoying relatives party, work Christmas party... "sorry, can't make it. Baby needs to be fed."

Ignoring the health benefits (my three rarely ever get sick at all so I like to think it's down to persevering through the agony that is the 1st few weeks of breastfeeding however it's more likely pure luck), breastfeeding is brilliant for being able to carry on what you're doing when baby is hungry. I've breastfed walking around the supermarket and no one realised plenty of times. We were once caught in heavy snow in the car and thankfully I had my boobs. Three hours we were trapped waiting for the stuck lorry to be moved and a screaming baby needing fed would have been hellish.
I don't have to get out of bed. I don't have to faff making up bottles. You also save money, especially in wasted formula from when you're measuring out formula half asleep, and count "1, 2, 3, 4 scoops, 5, 6, 6... 7 scoops... wait did I count one twice? Shit. Do I bin it and start again? Shit!" Then you dump it and try all over again. And then repeat, losing count again.

When the time comes do what feels right for you and your baby. It might work for you, it might not, but the important thing is to be happy about your situation.

I'm still BFing two year old DD - but I don't particularly enjoy BF and preferred bottle feeding (formula mostly) in terms of bonding. She was combi fed from five days old (admitted to SCBU with dehydration as my milk hadn't come in).

The key things seemed to be:
Drink loads (I had big glass of water for each feed)
Eat loads (you'll be permanently hungry)
Get as much rest and sleep as possible
Lansinoh nipple cream is brilliant in the first few days of pain!
Find out where local BF support or cafe drop ins are so you know where to get help if you need it
Get decent book - the Clare Byam Smith book about what to expect breastfeeding is the reason I managed to keep going!

In terms of benefits:
Most of the headline ones seem to be more about lifestyle and social background than actual breast milk. My DD has been in nursery for a year now and only had one day off with an illness - I like to think my milk has helped her immunity but who knows!

I found a lot of stuff turned out not to be true (either way costs money - I was spending £5 a week on formula but more than £5 a week on extra food so I could BF. I only ever BF at night as it's more convenient than making up bottles when you're in bed, but BF is also inconvenient as you have to take the baby with you everywhere (some mums love this, some hate it, you probably won't know until you get there!)

Good luck and don't beat yourself up about it!

No Sunday evening - oh crap I've run out of formula and the shops shut at 4pm madness!

Oh and I got a really nasty burn from sterilising bottles early on! 😬 Nasty business! Lol.

I lost over a stone whilst eating loads, and and my bra size went from C ot E - so temporarily I had the best figure I've ever had in my life :-)

Weight stayed off but boobs unfortunately didn't stay that size :-(

I agree that the bond was the biggest thing for me, that I could do something for my baby that no one else could, I stopped after 5 weeks as baby is lactose intolerant (I didn't want to cut dairy...chocolate is my survival method at the moment!!) and I really miss it! Plus it saves a fortune and you don't spend your life sterilising bottles as I seem to do now

It's lovely, its bonding, while it can be hard, most things are solvable, you don't need to steralise nipples, you can do it in bed, itbwont last forever, you'll miss the closeness when you are done, the smile when the boob comes out is just so amazing and hilarious, you'll become more body confident, you'll be a good role model for others, it's really good for you both

I combination fed because after lots of effort with various pumps I just didn’t have enough milk for her weight to increase. I had a bit of a hard time of it with poor latch and thrush but I’m so glad I kept at it and after we got past 2/ 3 months I really enjoyed bfing. Several times I thought I’d had enough and was just going to swap her to formula but I didn’t was because the formula took so long to get ready (at least if you do it the way that’s recommended) the boob was instant and was really good at soothing her or putting her to sleep.
I think it’s better to be forewarned that bfing can be hard work and doesn’t work for every Mum/baby partnership. You’ll increase your chances if you just feed lots and lots and lots in the first few days; use lansinoh; set yourself up a little nest for feeding and when baby is old enough learn to bf in a sling and lying down - it’ll save your back and you’ll get loads done.
Good luck :)

With your boobs (and a sling) you can be a total nomad. As long as you have spare nappies with you, you can go wherever you please with baby: holidays and life in general require less preparation because you'll always have boobs with you. Also makes any vomiting illness your baby has less stressful as you can rehydrate them so readily.