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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

why do you like bfing?

20 replies

snowgum · 07/12/2009 21:42

I see loads of posts here from people who don't enjoy bfing, particularly at the start and also have a stressful time. This makes me feel sad because I had the good luck to have no problems and enjoyed it a lot and I wish everyone else could too. So here's why I fondly remember those hours and hours on the sofa ....

I surfed the internet to my hearts content and discovered mumsnet

Wrote emails to all the people I'd almost lost touch with

Read loads of books ... trashy and profound

Watched plenty of bad tv

Learnt to bf lying down and so was never tired although my baby never slept for long

Cake cake cake

Contract with dh that he had to deal with the morning nappy since I had bf her all night

oh ... and cuddles

and now that she's 18mo I can get her to sleep anywhere with a quick bf. magic.

Anyone else?

OP posts:
santaschristmascakeywakey · 07/12/2009 22:10

I was able to watch a load of fab DVD box sets.

I didn't have to faff around with making up bottles - hated it when I had to start. I'm rather idle, so BF suited me down to the ground.

I could feed anytime, anyplace, anywhere with the minimum of fuss or preparation.

I could clear a room of male relatives in a jiffy

chegirlwithbellson · 07/12/2009 22:11

Honestly?

It meant I didnt have to make up or wash or sterilize any bottles.

It meant I didnt have to get up at night.

I had to bottle feed one of my DCs because he is not my birth child. It was bloody awful, all that faffing about.

Reallytired · 07/12/2009 22:34

Breastfeeding has given me the greatest joys and the greatest sadness. The first few weeks were hellish both times, but once over the inital problems I have loved feeding my children for the following reasons.

a) The pride that my body can produce such gorgeous babies from nothing. It is a mircle when you think that this time last year my daughter was just a tiny bump inside me.

b) Being able to go out with nothing but a few nappies.

c) The physical relationship with my baby and that fact that only me can feed the baby. (Although this can be a curse at times.)

d) The milky grins.

MrsKitty · 07/12/2009 22:51

Exactly the same as what reallytired said

What got me through the agony, stress and worry I experienced in the first few weeks with my second baby was remembering how wonderful BF could be - She's 10 weeks now, fully BF and doing well.

rasputin · 07/12/2009 22:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CrosswordGeek · 07/12/2009 23:00

All I have to do is pop out a boob and my DD can be fed. No getting up in the middle of the night to sterilize, boil water, cool water, add EXACTLY the right amount of formula blah blah blah.
The amazing bond that I have with her, and that swelling feeling in my heart when she looks at me and comes off the boob with a huge smile and milk all over her face.

And I like it because I'm designed to. I'm a mammal and was therefore born with mammary glands of which to produce milk to feed my young. I think people forget that lactating is what defines us as a species, and in fact as an animal group.

I actually love the fact that only I can feed DD too... It's a grand excuse to get out of that drink with old school friends, especially as she won't take a bottle!

Beveridge · 07/12/2009 23:11

Where to begin???!!

You know your baby is getting what they're meant to. The right nutrients, antibodies, the works.

No faffing with bottles(getting up in the night to do bottles would actually kill me).

Having the ultimate parenting tool on you at all times (Tired? have a boob. Windy? have a boob. Annoyed because you are trying to crawl and can't manage it yet? have a boob...etc, etc!)

That wee, anticipatory smile that they have when you plonk them in your lap and start ferreting about in your top at feeding time.And now DD is older, when they break off a feed to smile at you...awww!

Knowing that you are not lining the pockets of formula companies who have a profit margin of 80%. (Disgusting profiteering, especially for those who have no choice but to FF)

WoTmania · 08/12/2009 09:21

I love the cuddles
I love the fact that relatives, however well meaning, have to bring them back.
Nighttimes - cosleeping, no bottles, no getting up.
Instant soother - my 2.5 year old has never had a tantrum he just has milk. DD rarely cries but when she does it's easily remedied.
I love the blissed out milk drunk face

NellyNoKnicks · 08/12/2009 09:32

I love the 'help' DS gives me when it's time to get my boob out.... holding my top up for me

When I get into bed and he's still awake he moves like lightening to me. Makes me feel so loved even though he's only after one thing

The feeling of his little hand stroking my side as he's feeding.

The look in his eyes when he's staring at me, feeding and either trying to shove his hands in my mouth or twiddling my hair

The fact that he's growing so big and it's all from me!!! Amazing!

The contented little noises he makes when he's extra hungry make me giggle.

Feeling all smiley now and aaahhh

chocolaterabbit · 08/12/2009 09:34

The fact that you don't need to know what the matter is - boob works every time and you haven't just wasted 50p and 20mins sterilising and washing up on a not hungry baby...

I can look at my 75th centile 8 wk DS and know that it was all my doing and lying down to feed at night makes such a difference... I'm so pleased i persevered - thanks Mumsnet!

Bramshott · 08/12/2009 09:36
  1. It's free
  2. I'm too lazy to make up bottles
  3. I lost spectacular amounts of weight the 2nd time
  4. You can feed in your sleep (did I mention that I'm lazy?!)
EdgarAleNPie · 08/12/2009 09:39

that now Ds is a bit sicky, all i had to do was lie down whilst he helped himself, then plonk him back in his bed, all soothed and calm and full of stuff to help him get better.

watching DD try to 'feed' him is funny too...

BonjourIvressedeNoel · 08/12/2009 09:43

The contact time
Its free
I can whip them out whereever
I'm a size 12 for the first time in ten years, despite eating copious amounts of cake and biscuits

NellyNoKnicks · 08/12/2009 09:49

to all those who have lost lots of weight doing it

santaschristmascakeywakey · 08/12/2009 19:34

I second Nelly's I was heavier after I breastfed!

StarlightMcKenzie · 08/12/2009 19:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Igglybuff · 08/12/2009 21:18

What WotMania said - drunken baby face covered in milk.

It took a few weeks to get the hang of it but I now love BF. I get to see little expressions as he falls asleep on boob. I love it when he gives a big gummy grin. I love it when he looks me in the eye. I love seeing his little hands cupped over his face as he boobs. I love seeing his hand grip my top.

I love the fact that my milk has made my (nearly) 10 week DS so chubby and healthy!

WoTmania · 08/12/2009 21:49

Iggly - not to mention a good reason to sit and read book 12

spiderlight · 08/12/2009 23:19

The knoweldge that he's getting all the good stuff and I've given him the best possible start health-wise;

Not having to worry about sterilising bottles or measuring ounces or getting out of bed at 4 in the morning;

The cuddles and closeness, and the milk-drunk face when he was a newborn;

It's the only time I get to sit and read or watch a bit of telly that doesn't involve Bob the Builder;

The fact that it magically cures all bumps and scares and frustration and sends him blissfully off to sleep with no hassle every night;

The joy of the name he invented for it when he started talking - 'mambo', of all things! - and that his first proper sentence was a request for 'lots and lots of nice nice mambo';

The fact that I have boobs, for the first time ever!

Igglybuff · 09/12/2009 05:27

WoT - which reminds me, must read it again!

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