Do you talk to your young baby while breastfeeding?

[AngelDog]

DS is just over 7 weeks old and is exclusively breastfed. I've had differing advice as to whether it's good to talk to him whilst feeding. A midwife & one HV said not to as it might distract him. (He sometimes does get distracted, but I think this is more to do with the things he can see than the things he can hear). Another HV said I should talk to him so that he'll associate my voice with comfort, and then talking to him at other times will be comforting.

I'm not too bothered about following 'official' advice but would like to make my mind up whether to chat to him or not.

What do you do and why?

I should have said "chat to him while feeding" - of course I talk to him at other times!

gawd no.
has been a few years tho
enjoyed the quiet time and chance to lie down/sit down

Do whatever you feel like without feeling like a loon!!!

I always used to settle down with a book and a cup of something (and some chocolate!).

With DS1 it never occured to me to watch telly, I think I must have thought it would damage him or something.

With DS2 I stocked up on DVDs and cluster fed on the sofa from 7-11pm!

Or you could phone a friend for a nice long chat - double bonus, fun for you, "voice" thingy if you are worried about it for DC.

No tend not to - never have and now ds is almost 6 months he is distracted easily enough without. I especially don't speak during night feeds and he has always been good at waking up feeding and going straight back to sleep.

hmm i don't know! I guess I do sometimes, but sometimes I also read a book or do stuff with the other children (reading, playing i-spy, yelling at them!)

I chat if he needs me to and if I want to talk to him.

I praise him if he's feeding nicely, tell him off if not, tell him what I'm watching on tv, if I've had a text message off Daddy, anything. But it's not a conscious thing. I just do it cos it feels right.

Similarly, I might not speak to him for half an hour while I'm watching something. I do there because it feels right and natural.

Do what feels right for you.

Sometime I sort of coo at ds2 while he's feeding - along the lines of "what a lovely boy you are" and so on. Don't really talk or chat though.

Not really. I talk to others but not to her, I don't want her replying with a mouth full - she is only 21 weeks, but can still reply with her eyes and coos and so I don't want to stop her from the job in hand.

hmmm, not really I don't think. She is 20 weeks now and getting really easily distracted so at this point I am just leaving her to get on with it. I think when she was very little I talked to her more to encourage her, tell her she was doing great etc... Agree with others, just do whatever comes naturally.

Thanks everyone. Sometimes you need to hear what other people do to work out what your instincts are (if that makes sense). Adamsmam and pooka, I think your approaches sound like what I'd tend to do automatically.

Thanks!

I couldn't talk to any of mine whilst bfing, they were all way too nosey and would want to turn their face to look at me - but without letting go of my boob, ouch you only try this once

Nope, he's much too into what he's doing and I only distract him. DH is also not allowed to talk to him because DS will do that 'dragging the nipple with him' thing to look around. Though I did talk to DS tonight, told him 'NO!' quite loudly when he bit me for the first time!

Whatever you feel comfortable with. I can't believe that a baby will only associate your voice with comfort if you talk while breastfeeding.

I watch tv, MN or shout at older children, generally.

Don't think it makes the slightest difference tbh, whatever works for you.

I do but not constantly - chatting basically. They stop suckling when you talk so if you talk constantly they won't feed. It's supposed to be early conversation.