101 things to do whilst breastfeeding...

[Mo2]

Yikes - had forgotton exactly HOW MUCH time you spend sitting feeding with a new baby... (ds2 now 4+ weeks old)
Last time I just blobbed in front of daytime TV mostly but his time am finding it all much more boring (feeding, that is, not just daytime TV) and am trying to do all sorts of other things at the same time...
What did YOU do whilst feeding?
So far, my achievements include:

• being on Mumsnet (of course!)
• sorting through a huge pile of 'paper admin' that had been sitting on the kitchen bench for several months
• ordering various 'necessities' online/from catalogues
• doing grocery shopping on-line
• writing a press release for dh's company

Dh calls the area around the sofa (where I mostly feed) 'ground control' as everything gets placed there in advance (phone, remotes, piles of things to do/read etc)

Am I strange, or do you all do this?

Certainly do the 'ground control' thing. Used to find while breast feeding the highest chance of making a successful phone call. Other ideas:

• sleep (maybe not possible with older child)
• eat/drink Sorry not v. original - I'm sure someone else can do better.

however do you use the computer whilw b/fing?

My personal favourite is yabbering away on the phone (we invested in a cordless one - well worth it). I can read the paper if we're lying on the double bed, but that's about it!

I remember do allsorts when Im was breastfeeding and then suddenly feeling really guilty that I hadn't spoken to DD or had eye contact with her throughout the whole feed!

DD was only 13 months when DS was born, I never used to sit down to b/f without, a book for her a book for me, a drink for each and a biscuit (read packet!) the potty (trained at 15months!) the phone, the post and a favourite toy!

DS never got spoken to or looked at!!

Eye contact? I haven't yet worked out how you are suppose to do that whilst breastfeeding!

Demented - are you serious or are you joking ?
In case you are serious... it does depend how old your baby is but mine always looks at me not throughout the whole breastfeed but at various times and we exchange smiles. Sometimes she laughs (when I smile) and some of the milk escapes.... very funny !

Ah yes, I had ground control in my armchair for feeding times with child 1. Also read loads and loads. Cordless phone essential for breastfeeders.

However, with child 2, spent most of time running around after child 1 with babe on boob. Sorry, too much information.

pupuce, yes I was serious. I only fed DS1 until he was 16 weeks (the last couple of weeks it was just the morning feed lying down) and DS2 is 13 weeks so I have no experience of feeding an older baby. I always wondered what they were talking about in the baby books about maintaining eye contact. I suppose once his head size increases to a stage he can see past the boobs we will manage eye contact.

I trawled through the library's entire collection of paperbacks. They can be read one handedly. Utter bliss, I've not had time to read a book since

Watch every series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer - before they're old enough to a) get scared by it and b)demand endless re-runs of Dumbo.

Breastfeed at the cinema with older children - keeps baby quiet and older ones happy

breastfeed drinking wine

breastfeed walking around shopping

breastfeed anytime, any place, anywhere

My left side was always a bigger producer than the right because I could cradle the baby there and type on Mumsnet with my right hand. Ks - loved your comments on the Bayeux tapestry!

Willow2 - my 2 watch Buffy too... at what point do you think it becomes inappropriate for them to watch it??

I used to day dream when feeding DS1 & the feeds for DS2 when DS1 was not badgering me. Also fed whilst watching daytme TV, surfing (internet, not waves)... with an older child time was mainly spent fending off the pudgy little finger trying to instert itself in my nostril. I was never very good at reading one handed as I had trouble turning the pages.

Pupuce - my DSs used to do that too.

I fed until 6 months and DS never seemed interested in eye contact. Used to feel guilty about entertaining myself rather than trying to bond....

Oh good - so I'm not the only 'bad mother' not making eye contact (ds2 still a bit young - tends to have eyes closed most of the feed)
Mears - how on earth do you bf while walking around shopping?? I still think someone needs to invent the lying down version of a Baby Bjorn sling for this one?
Lucy123 - can only do the computer thing for left boob feeds, as I can only use the mouse/type with my r hand. I use one of our dining room chairs with arms, and pad it out with my 'v' pillow in front , on which ds gets plonked (won't work when he's bigger tho...)

I used to snooze, if at all possible! Mine always had eyes shut tight when feeding, until they were quite old, when they began the 'lets-see-how-far-mummy's-nipples-stretch' routine, craning their necks to see what was going on. I also used to read a lot.

Mo2, some of my friends use a Huggabub sling, which apparently is great for feeding, and I think the slings that just go over one shouder are also good for bfing.

Recently I have been breastfeeding whilst house hunting. Going round Estate Agent's windows and viewing homes with DS2 latched on, DH gets embarrased and I get sore arms.

I sooo envy all of you who can walk around while b'feeding - I found it so painful that I had to have ds/dd in the perfect position all the time, kept there with one hand. The only thing I managed to do while feeding was work the remote controls for the TV and stereo.

Oh, and eat chocolate biscuits

I read more books while bfeeding than I ever have since.

A friend of mine was goalkeeper in a kiddies football game while b/feeding (obviously not a competitive one and kids were

I found it hard to do much when bf when the children were tiny as I am ratherwell endowed and so had to hold backpart of my breast to stop them smothering while feeding. After about 4-5 months it got easier - I read a lot while bf, and also phone people, as well as doze (try to lie down when bf if at all possible!)

Soupdragon - not sure, suppose as soon as they are aware of the tv as kinda scary for small people. Wouldn't let my ds watch it - he's 2 1/2 and would have nightmares without a doubt.

PS my girlfriend used to walk around Waitrose doing the shopping whilst bf - gave the Saturday boys quite a shock!

I frequently attached a screaming child when shopping. Under a jacket no-one can really see what is going on. They were tiny though. Bit more tricky when they turn into hefty, nosy lumps

Coming back on the plane from Spain last week ds was extremely tired and grouchy so he was put in the window seat with me next to him with baby (5 months) on lap. ds is 3 years, 2months so I knew I'd get some pretty odd looks so I kind of leaned forward and stuck my boob in. It calmed him down and no-one noticed (looked like I was just hugging him). Seconds later other boob was being used for dd....

God just as well I don't have 3 children!!

I also b/f while on computer, watching TV, on the phone, eating, reading, sleeping (dd co-sleeps), drinking in a pub (tut tut), on the plane, train, car, boat, in the park ... have boobs will travel ...