Breast feeding encouragement please

[Benitez]

So we've reached 4.5 months on exclusive BF.
Through sheer determination and your support.
I now need just a bit more encouragement. Its like running a marathon.

I've come on under an alias as I'm disappointed with local support but don't want to upset any locals reading.
The La Leche meeting I went to, well everyone was lovely, but my baby was the youngest by 9 months. Lovely as they were that's too big an age gap. I know they are trained, but sometimes you need someone actually going through the same stages of breastfeeding as you to truly understand and give good advice. ( I may be shot down for that )

I contacted the NCT 5 times and got nowhere, when I really needed a local person.
I missed joining (have 3 kids)my postnatalgroup. Recently found another but most given up BFing.

Rant over. Feeling very discouraged. Just would appreciate hearing some happy breastfeeding vibes.

gecko is 7 months in about a week and she has only just started in the last couple of weeks to have a nibble of a few bits and pieces that I am eating. I haven't spooned anything into her and she is starting to get really interested in food.
She was exclusively bf up until a couple of weeks ago too. now she has a few tastes of food aswell but still bfs just as much.

You can do it, you're amazing

BEnitez I had no luck the first few times I contacted NCT and LLL myself - the first couple NCT counsellors I spoke to seemed to think they were amateur psychologists ("hmm, so, you're really struggling with this baby that won't feed, that must be making you stressed?" FFS) and although I left 3 messages on the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers answer machine they never did call me back.

HOWEVER, I would say persist, persist, persist - I eventually found a good LLL leader who has kept in touch to see how we're going, and you might find one of those too. My lo is same age as yours and driving me bonkers (see yesterday's thread about how he latches on and then BLOWS !)

failing that, MN is always there to give support, so { { { { vibes } } } }

ooh ooh

Just over 4 months here, exclusive BF. Has been hard going and I could do with some mutual support too to keep going to six months. Ds feeds 3 hourly at night so I'm hoping that improves once he's on solids.

Sorry you've not had much luck locally, do you have a BF peer support network where you are? Your HV might know.

phdlife, I'm all out of trying at the moment. Hopefully will pull my finger out tomorrow.
Will look for your thread.

Liath, we've had 3hrly BFing since the get go. Its tiring, isn't it.
I guess the end is in sight.

Oh and no BF support other than LLL or NCT.

benitez you are doing v well ds also 2-3 hourly feeder and awful latch. it all improved dramatically about 5 months and it was soo easy by 6m, i was amazed. so not long to go. have you tried breastfeeding network, i saw fab bfc from there.

fair enough benitez, what exactly is the problem, petal?

Can't find your thread phdlife. Waht is the title?

xpost.
Porblem is I'm feeling Isolated, know noone BFing, just beingg a bit pathetic and wanting a few freindly words.
Baby wriggling so poor typing

fishie, good idea, but no breast feeding network folk in my area. i'll look forward to the 5 month mark then.

benitez, here

and before thathere and here!

ooh he's woken up now

will check back in a bit

Thanks phdlife. Good to hear your experiences. We've had similar.

He's found a lovely new toy today: the newspaper! Great fun!

LOL at blowing raspberries, phdlife !

I think what I've found is that as fast as one problem or issue is sorted another one arises! I'm looking forward to 6 months in the hope it gets a lot easier then. Am hoping that weaning will make BF more enjoyable and less of a frequent chore.

Feel a bit of an amateur, really - didn't get beyond 6 weeks BFing dd and by 12 weeks she was fully on formula and sleeping through. Stupidly expected ds to do the same, now realise he's a different kettle of fish!

Benitez, is this your first baby?

Congrats on the 4.5months!! Here's your local bf group online, you have comfort at home & you can sit in your pajama's!

Some mums at my local bf group travel upto 15-20 miles have you asked your hv on local groups?

I went to a playgroup where there was a full range of ages from babies to toddlers but a couple of the babies were being breastfed there. Have you thought of trying a playgroup? Even if there's no bf there it could be something different for you & baby/other children?

Words of encouragement ..... well done, have fun, before you know it she'll be asking for pocket money & to borrow the car! (I'm not saying this from experience, my girl's 7.5months & thought I'd give up bf at 6months & still here! As for borrowing the car I'm hoping to win the lottery by then & she can have a chauffer and a helicopter!! Here's me dreaming again!!!!

thanks absandme!

maybe we should all stand in a circle and give each other a pat on the back?

(god what awful yank film was that in?!)

Liath tis my 3rd. Trouble is you forget so much! And in the olden days we fed at 4 months.
Yes I'm lucky to have support here.
HV is sweet but not a whole heap of use.
Play group is a good idea.
Just having a whinge as I've tried hard to find other BFing mums in RL. Makes you feel better to get it off your chest.