Does personality type affect breastfeeding experience? Anyone got any info? Lets do a mumsnet bit of research!

[mears]

I have had a google briefly but can't find anything at the moment.

I have had a lot of discussion about personality type recently and just completed an online test

It got me to wondering whether personality type has a bearing on the experience duration of breastfeeding.

My test result was ESFJ and I had a great experience.

My sister is ISTJ and had a completely opposite experience to me.

I thought it might be interesting to see what personality types and experiences were in the vastness of mumsnet.

The test doesn't take long if you are up for it

I'm a INFP - The Dreamer. After a rocky beginning, I am still bfing a nearly 8mo.

ENTJ. The same one as Margaret Thatcher apparently. and she bf twins!

I found bf extremely difficult, boring and horrible for 4 months. Persevered against all (well meant) advice. Then started to enjoy it.

My manager is also an ENTJ and she loathed bf but was incredibly persistent/ perfectionist and expressed for six months and gave only bottles.

Yes I think so Hester - thanks a million

Rightio - I'll report back tomorrow

Looking forward to it

Just trying to picture Margaret Thatcher breastfeeding.... twins....
Nope, can't do it. She is stil the "milk snatcher"

But good on her if she did.

ENTP (The Originator) bf x 3 stopping between 12 and 15 months with all. Didn't really enjoy or not enjoy, just how you feed your baby. View BF very much as a nutrition thing not a comfort thing.

ISFJ, Defender. Usual sore boobs at the start, engorgement etc, was very fortunate to be sorted within a week or two and we've not looked back, still going at 13 months. Felt that BFing was the only option on basis of research etc so refused to consider alternatives, looking back am bloody lucky it went OK!

ENJF - the mentor. Bf 2 for a total of 33 months. Breastfeeding felt like an important part of bonding. Was hard at the start with both DD and DS. Became a doddle with DD but for DS up to 6 months was always a struggle, though easier when he went on solids.

INTJ

I place huge importance on my bf relationships. dd1 is approaching self-weaning at 4yo and am also bfing my 4mo (and donating too). Have found bfing a fabulous experience.

Mears: "Should expand and say that I have strong sensing and feeling preferences,

I wonder whether problem solvers and analytical thinkers have opposite experiences. "

I think being a problem solver/analytical thinker (most of my physicist colleagues also came out as *NTJs) helped. Whenever I had a problem with bf I went looking for the solution. Fortunately we have great local support here.

ENFP - The "Advocate"

fidn it difficlt, still trying

baby a month on sunday

i've noticed that many posters have had different experinces with different children, which i think casts doubt on your theory that the mothers personality type has a bearing on the Bf experince.

as oxymorom says, perhaps the analytical thinkers and problem solvers focus more on the pratical issues and benefits to the baby and mother, while teh sensing/ feeling people focus more on the emotional aspects. i'm aware that this is a vast over simplification and that these are only preferences

perhaps it woudl be useful for breast feeding helpers to learn more about these issues, so they can better understand the women they are supporting. just a thought

I think different aspects of personality type come to the fore with more experience of any situation though KristinaM.

It is very interesting overall.

INFP - the Dreamer.

I never felt I 'clicked' with bf - it was a low-level struggle for 4 weeks, but I thought I was doing no worse than most people. Then ds was admitted to hospital at 4 weeks as he was too thin and still jaundiced. We never really recovered from that, tbh, although I mixed-fed for another 4 months and tried to build up bf in the last weeks.
However, I think there were two things that had a big effect on my bf/lack of bf: a mother and MIL who had both not managed to bf any of their children, and no positive help at all (a few negative comments) from any health professional in the first 12 hours or so.

We should probably consider the preferences of the babies too

entp

ds bf easily as he was great at it.
dd was terrible at it. i gave up.

i liked doing it at first. but quickly became "trapped" by it.

I am INFJ, 'the confidant'
hated the idea of BF but DS took to it straight away and I have continued (now 6.5 months)

ENFP - the Advocate. Struggled with breastfeeding for 7 weeks when it suddenly got better. Breastfed for 10 months until dd initiated stopping. Was absolutely committed to doing it for dd. Had a very fast labour, no pain relief.

The results!

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1364/592281?ts=1219447039074&msgid=12073636