What's it like to breastfeed?

[justanotheryoungmother]

I'm currently 32 weeks pregnant with my first, and I'm swaying towards trying breastfeeding, but I don't know anyone who has done it. I was wondering if you have done it, what were your experiences and was it easier to do than bottle feed (if you have experience in both)?

Thank you for any replies

I hated every single second of it and stopped after a week. It didn't work well for us, was physically uncomfortable and I hated the sensation. I love giving her bottles and also love that other people can give me a hand with it. I have friends who breastfed really successfully.

Try it, find out where your local support groups are in advance, don't be afraid to ask for help & don't be afraid to do what your instincts tell you is the best thing for your child.

Bf DS1 for 15 months and currently bf 6 month old DS2.
I am on the fence about bf. It is easy and convenient, that's true. It also saves you a lot of money, not only the formula but also not having to buy bottles etc. But it does have drawbacks: your baby may refuse a bottle, which means you will be tied to them for months, well into the weaning stage.
Bf babies tend to wake more often, which means your are more sleep deprived.
On the other hand, night feeds are easier if you co sleep and feed lying down. But then you have the added problem of getting your baby to sleep better, sleep in his cot etc. I am going through this right now and it is not fun. I would love my partner to do occasional night feeds but DS2 is a bottle refuser.
Of take a look at the sleep board to get an idea of the difficulties bf can cause.

I have never given the breast to comfort an ill or crying baby, tbh it had never occurred to me just as I wouldn't offer a piece of chocolate to a crying child, whatever the reason. I comfort with a cuddle and kisses and kind words.
I don't know if I would bf again tbh.

I hated it but it's very convenient - especially if you get locked out of your car 4 miles from home with your 4mo! Really glad I tried and did it for 5 months but I would strongly advise to get all the help you can from the midwives or a BF specialist to get the latch right early on. Good luck!

It's the most exhausting rewarding thing I've ever done.

DC1 I lasted 5 days til relatives pressures made me cave in to formula. Still gave him Bf til 6 weeks but then stopped. Was so ignorant back then - could have continued easily. Bottle feeding was extra work that fell on me for all the extra bits such as sterilising- yet everyone else felt they had a right to enjoy feeding my baby. Meant I could leave him early on which tbh on reflection wasn't a positive thing. I should have been home bonding with baby!

Feed DC2 til 22mths - weaning her for my reasons not hers. Rollercoaster ride. Not always easy but i continued through illness in hospital ( me) and a full time uni degree . She never slept and i foolishly thought weaning her would help- it didn't . I just lost my ability to instantly calm her!

DC3 I'm not actually enjoying breastfeeding him all the time. Finding posture bad so got a chair coming as sofa is just too slouchy. Some feeds are fab others i tolerate. Breastfeeding however is the only option for me. I won't give him formula unless there's a medical reason- him or I. I went for a massage the other week. Expressing was a faff and creates more stuff to clean and sterilise. He wouldn't take it either. We will persist though as i recognise the importance of being able to leave him- is for stuff for me or time with other children. However he's still very little so not a pressing issue.

DS1 was bf, I didn't have strong feelings about it to be honest! I didn't 'love' it or find it a bonding thing, much preferred just cuddling him. To me it was just a way to feed him, we introduced bottles around 3/4 months and I didn't get any different feelings between breast or bottle. Breast is definitely more convenient and it was nice being able to go out without working about how many bottles I'd need.

DS2 was tube fed, totally medicalicalised and routine etc so opposite!! He was and is the most attached child ever, I had a hugely strong bond to him instantly.

For me bonding happened with bathing them, cuddling them, talking to them. Feeding was always a functional thing but I think maybe I'm in the minority on this!!

Nothing prepares you for the wave of oxytocin that you feel when you feel, it's at the same time exhilarating and soporific! Main thing is to give it a good try, and if it doesn't work out, formula is fine. I fed both of my boys until 1 and mostly loved it.

It was painful at first and disconcerting because you couldn't see whether or not the baby was getting anything but after the first few weeks it was definitely worth it. I can't imagine having to get out of bed and make up a bottle, sterilise bottles and have even more stuff to carry around with me everywhere. It was also just such a special time together - I still remember their faces when they were feeding - it was just pure comfort and happiness.

I fed DS1 until 22m old, and DS2 - well, let's just say despite my best intentions he was very insistent on keeping that bedtime feed until after his 4th birthday...

Not sure I can describe the physical sensation of it as it is unlike anything I'd experienced before, but I loved BF generally. Not everyone finds it really hard at first - I'd taken NHS classes and fully expected things to be tricky and painful at first. But both times, my babies just got on with it and it just worked, with no pain (let down is an odd sensation to get used to though) or problems at all. It's so much easier for night feeds, and meant when they were tiny I got to sit down and rest most of the time (greedy babies!) whilst watching box sets or reading - win win!

I can't truthfully say that breastfeeding is 'free' per se though, as it made me so hungry I ate at least at extra £20 a week of food for the first few months . But the best thing of all was despite eating like a sumo wrestler, all the baby weight and more fell off me very quickly and stayed off until they stopped BF.

I probably sound like I'm evangelising but I had a good experience. I am very aware that many, many women don't have the easy experience that I did.

It first it was really hard - tiny baby who struggled to stay latched (used nipple shields in the end - a godsend!), painful (felt like barbed wire being pulled through my nipples for first few seconds of a feed for a few months) etc.

But once we got into the swing of it it was easy. Nipple shields discarded at 8 weeks. No sterilising, no expense, uses calories so more guilt free cake ;)

Really enjoyable time. Am now bf my second and second time round it's been a doddle.

If you do decide to go down the bf route make sure you have support. There's plenty of baby cafes, support groups, advice lines to help you too.

But make sure you're very hydrated as first few weeks of bf can make you v thirst.

Best of luck with your new baby OP

*thirsty

I got sharp pins needle pains with let down (when the milk starts to flow). A kind of deep in the breast but mild pain, not near the nipple. I guess letdown pain is unusual, but it's my normal. I got used to it. I really wanted to breastfeed, though, so found some patience to relax into the weird sensation and then it went away after 6 weeks or so. And then breastfeeding was pretty darn easy. Almost everything about bottle feeding didn't appeal to me so glad I never had to do it.

I certainly didn't get oxytocin or good feelings from it. I think when reading this thread just be aware everyone of different. Lots of people stating it's bonding, it's easy, it's hard, it makes you lose weight. All of that should be qualified with ' in my experience' . It's simply not possible to to black and white. You may find it easy or hard, love it or hate it. Won't know till you try!
But I can absolutely assure you that you will love and bond with your baby regardless of feeding method. Otherwise how would fathers, adoptive parents or grandparents bond?

neon it's perfectly fine for mothers to say that they found breastfeeding to be a bonding experience. Please don't try and shame anyone for saying that. Not all breastfeeding mothers feel that way of course. And lots of FF babies and mums bond during feeds. Some of them bond at other times. All perfectly fine and normal, nobody bonding better than anyone else. Just differently. This thread has been really great so far in that everyone has been able to express their opinions and experiences without it turning into a FF/BF bun fight.

As I said. 2 things you're not allowed to say about breastfeeding. That you found it really easy/loved it, and that you didn't want to/hated it.

All positions on the subject are acceptable! Oh, except for the wierdos who call formula poison or say that breasts are for sexual purposes only. They aren't acceptable at all.

Once it is established (which can be tough- get yourself help from properly qualified lactation consultants if you are struggling) I'd say it's easier than formula. You've got babies food on tap wherever you go! Not to mention all the health benefits for both of you. It is also free! Formula is really expensive!

It's amazing But then so was ff my ds. But dd2 took to it so much it was over 3 years before she stopped. Lovely cuddles.

Weird and wonderful. I can still remember the let down feeling, so odd but strangely satisfying.

I mixed fed my twins and took full advantage of the hospital's breastfeeding clinic and nurses. I went a few times and had great help and advice.

I wouldn't say it was a doddle for me - not painful (just logistically tricky: maybe that was just us? Maybe that was having twins?) I never trained my boobs to produce enough milk unfortunately.

IMHO it's hard work but definitely worthwhile.

It's fantastic. Painful when you get started so use Lansinoh at every possible opportunity to avoid cracked nipples. So much more convenient than bottle feeding too in my experience (breastfed for 7.5 months then went onto formula due to my DS getting several teeth and starting to bite) - no preparing bottles, keeping them at the right temperature, warming them, sterilizing them etc.etc. There's also something quite magical about those earlier months of breastfeeding when you realise that you can provide everything your baby needs in terms of sustenance.

I had loads of trouble (tongue tie with both and bad reflux with first). And I hated it. It hurt, he was needing to feed constantly because he wasn't getting enough. And I felt like a failure with my first DS. I was constantly told that I should be doing it, and that it was an amazing bonding experience and would give my DC super immunity etc. I stopped (not gave up), and he was FF by me, my husband, grandparents, uncle and friends and I loved that. I decided that if it didn't work straight off with second DS then I'd FF him rather than struggle on. They are now 6 & 3, happy, healthy and we have a wonderful bond which is no different to those who did BF. If you can BF then fine, but if not then also fine. Do not let people make you feel guilty - happy mum v often = happy baby. Good luck.

I can't recommend it enough. Free, convenient and no hassle. Don't believe all the horror stories. It's not always hard. Both mine took to it easily, no issues for either of us, even after a traumatic birth. BUT, if it's not easy for you and doesn't work out well, don't beat yourself up about it. Do what's best for you. Happy mum helps make a happy baby.

For me it was tough, hard work, upsetting and I mostly hated it because of the difficulties - but I still wanted to do it and did so for 10 months. It's not wonderful or amazing or easy or right for everyone. I'd say try it and see his it goes for you! Bottle feeding is absolutely fine too! (Although hassle with sterilising etc of course).

And you can bond with your baby without breast feeding, I don't like the implication that you can't, that must make bottle feeding parents feel awful!

I genuinely didn't realise so many people found it painful/difficult to start with. I found it easy and we just got on with it. I'm not the most organised of people so it was great not having to worry about the faff of bottles and formula (and the cost tbh- we were struggling). Best bit was when we went to Greece to visit in laws when dd was 5 months. I could go for a swim and then wipe off my boob before popping it in her mouth while sitting on the beach on a sunlounger. BF sounds weird but it felt like the most natural thing in the world, and I loved it.

It's beautiful, convient and relaxing ...... once youvebothe got the hang of it! Up until that point I found it the most difficult think I'd ever done whikstvtrying to teach someone completely useless what they need to do at the same time.
My no1 was hard work to feed. But wouldn't have had a bottle either because he was too small and tired.
No2 just did it. No probs.
Do persevere though. I think it's worth it.

It can be really really really hard. I had that anxiety thing during the first letdown for the first few days and it made my heart race, I actually got checked out in hospital, all was ok obviously. DS and I also both got thrush that went to my milk ducts which made it difficult for him to feed and the pain kept me awake. I worked out what it was before the Dr and when we finally got the right treatment it cleared quickly. That basically meant the first 10 weeks were hideously tough. I was lucky to have support from the local breastfeeding group and i used the breastfeeding network online for advice For whatever crazy reason I had in my head I stuck with it and get pretty good!

I also expressed at least a bottles worth a day (after thrush had gone) so DH or GPs could feed DS a bit and I could get out for more than an hour on my own, this really saved my sanity at times.

I really miss feeding DS now, we weaned when he was 15months as I couldn't get back from work in time to feed regularly and he is a child who likes routine!

So, it is tough and you feel like a dairy cow and all sorts of hard times can happen but i think its worth it, practically, it is easy for going out and about and i ended up loving it. Check out local support groups and websites in advance and I'd say try, there is no harm in trying and no shame in feeding in whatever way works best for you and your baby.

*Feels all nostalgic and hormonal now, but i am pregnant again....