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'll be honest and say that I hated every minute of it, with my first baby. That's not to say that I wish I'd not done it, but I wish the pressure wasn't there to do it, if it isn't for you. And I'm glad that I persevered, and even more glad that I didn't let it put me off trying again with my other children. Every time was different. I'd encourage anyone to try it, but if it doesn't work for you, don't beat yourself up about it, the best thing you can do for your baby is to feed them and to be relaxed and happy with the experience. Congratulations on your new baby to be! And enjoy every minute - the time will fly by

For some reason no-one else I know does this but I breast and bottle fed all my kids - two of which were twins. I started breastfeeding all of them and then switched to bottles at night when they were about a month old so my husband could help. It was the best of both worlds as it meant I could sleep better (especially as it's easier to tell with a bottle how much they've had) but not have to cart round bottles during the day. Despite what everyone told me, all three of them were quite happy to do both. It meant I breastfed them all for a year which I'm sure I wouldn't have managed otherwise. It's worth trying breastfeeding but don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work. Good mental health is crucial so do what works for you.

My advice would be to find out as much as you can about breastfeeding- the Kelly mom website is great, as is Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Breastfeeding.

It's great, it provides me with an amazing tool that fixes pretty much all of my baby's problems- hungry? poorly? scared? tired? in pain? needing comfort? Tick! (Not to mention topical use for nappy rash and gunky eyes!)

Fewer and shorter illnesses for the baby, burns something like 500 calories a day, portability, not to mention the beautiful peaceful relationship of feeding.

I honestly don't know how I'd cope without it. It's like an instant tranquilliser and solves most problems

So I'm a mum, of 3, I BF my two DS but FF my DD, and I work in a Children's Centre, doing what the old Sure Start gang used to do. I've trained as a Breastfeeding Champion with UNICEF and have to say there is absolutely no right or wrong way to feed your baby, as long as they're fed!
Sure Start no longer exists ( thanks government!), but do check out your local Children's Centres for groups like Baby Hour, Stay and Play etc where there will be someone on hand to give you feeding support.
The most important thing is that you feed your baby (obvs!), and the second most important thing is however you choose to feed, you're happy. That's it
Oh, and don't let any well-meaning midwife or health visitor touch your breast or your baby's head to position you correctly-it's really not ok, and actually not allowed
Wishing you well in all you choose to do, you'll be fab

First 6 weeks: Bleeding nips, pain, lots of latch on groups, lots of crying, wanting to give up, husband unable to help, hard hard hard work.

6 weeks (suddenly clicked) to 17 months (now): lovely, bonding, totally free of charge, optimal nutrition for her, health benefits for me, have lost weight, easy and quick to latch her on, no prep or faffing in the night, magically sends them to sleep, can be done discreetly and is the right temperature and on tap whenever she needs, did I mention lovely lovely bonding and feeling like you are doing the best for your baby.

Having said that if you can't do it or don't want to do it, thats ok too. I have friends that didn't try or gave up for various reasons and their children are just as happy and healthy as mine.

I had the anxiety/doom thing, once I realised it was a "thing" it made it easier.

Bit boob hurty the first 2 or 3 weeks, same level of knackered as my ff friends, glad I didn't have to remember loads of food kit (when she weaned onto solids - I still bf evenings at 2 1/2 - I was forever having to dash to a shop for a spoon or face wipes!).

My HV were pretty cool. She was monitored a lot as she was small but they always told me just keep BF, they felt it was genetic (I'm 5"1 and 7 to 8 stone my whole life) but she was a Clexane baby so they monitored to be safe. My BF mate had an enormous baby who is now and enormous toddler so it definitely doesn't make them wee as some people think!

I found people try to flog you ugly Boden style nursing clothes but a band tshirt with a vest under, or a wrap top, or a zip/button top works just as well. I had terrible Pupp rash on my torso at the end of pregnancy and a thyroid bulge so used a "nursing apron" ... again not a greige hideous ££ NCT lentil wavy one, a cheapo one off Ebay much prettier. So if you are shy ignore the "just get your boobs out" holier than thou Internet people and use a scarf or apron (YES they do exist! I'm a natural term breastfeeder who ran a breastfeeding café. ... and I have seen and met them online ... The Badass breastfeeder even had to blog against the issue which some on MN pretend isn't there).

...Basically you don't have to be a poster girl or engage in the politics or "lifestyle" of a crunchy breast feeder to breast feed. You just have to feed! Although I fear I am a massive stealth crunchy which is why I know of the judge ones ... we meet and they lay on the judge before realising who I am and how I parent because I look like an old slapper and dd is wearing a bow bigger than her head so they don't know about the breastfeeding, educational toys, forest school life we lead.

Bf all 3 of mi e. And gosh it hurt at first but you get used to it your boons adapt and it gets better..I found it a lot way experience (just use a warm towel or those gel pads that you warm and put on boobs to release extra milk and use cold to relieve soreness...invest in good nipple cream..cracked nipple are sore ) sometimes you and baby can get thrush ..baby mouth..mummy boo ..but it is so easily fixed..but all the harder things are outweighed by the benefits. ...free, instant aces. .no sterilising, anytime anywhere and an amazing binding time..and you have an excuse to sit and rest on sofa/bed...have OH bring you stuff when you need...but please please please don't feel bad if you try and try and try and it doesn't work for you...don't be shamed or guilty if 6ou go to bottle...but if you successfully BF well done! It it worth it far beyond words

I breastfed both of mine until around 9 months. I agree it is not always easy (mine has severe reflux and thrush) but it is completely worth persevering. At the end of the day, unless there is a medical reason either mental or physical that you can't (which I totally acknowledge exist), you are doing it for the health of your baby, not for your own enjoyment. Although I did enjoy it after first few weeks and found it both bonding and convenient, I would have carried on regardless as it's the first lesson you learn as a new mother - this isn't about just you anymore. Your needs and wants come second - it is hard sometimes but so worth it!

I love it. It's hard to start with but definitely my greatest achievement. Seek out support groups though.

Painful at first, but after that easy, convenient, and very relaxing for both me and the DC.

Oh, and don't let any well-meaning midwife or health visitor touch your breast or your baby's head to position you correctly-it's really not ok, and actually not allowed
Really not allowed? I had a very hard time establishing breast feeding with DC1 and had the midwife not taken my boob in one hand and the baby's head in the other and jammed my nipple into her gob, we'd never have got there.

Mine
boobs
amazing experience
boob
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bonding
Sorry for typos in my above msg

Invest in a breastfeeding apron Omg they are awesome and provide discreet feeding lf you are shy about getting the boob out in public

Painful and stressful. Trying to get it right pretty much dominated the first 6 weeks of DC1's arrival until I admitted defeat for the sake of the whole family and above all my sanity..
I was very relieved to put my boobs away and get everything back on track once I had got over the guilt.

Hard work but with the right support, 10000% worth it and once you get the hang of it easy as pie! I always said when i was pregnant that i would try it and if it didnt work out at least i tried... 19months and still going!!

I was lucky in that I found it incredibly easy and had not one moment of soreness or discomfort. I had copious milk and my babies thrived.

I thoroughly enjoyed it; found it relaxing and rewarding.

I missed it when I stopped.

I've always found it very easy and enjoy how convenient it is. Also when my little boy is poorly it is the only thing he wants so I know he's still getting hydration.

However he is now 1 and I am finding weaning him off it very tricky! He doesn't have a dummy so it's such a comfort to him and we fell into feeding to sleep so it's so difficult to break that. I miss having the flexibility to have an evening out without worrying about him waking and am jealous of my friend who bottle feeds and recently went to a spa for the weekend while her DH did any potential nightfeeds!

However I would definitely do it again, just might persevere with expressing and getting baby to take a bottle so DH could do some feeds!

Tried with my first but due emc had no milk for over a week. Situ not helped by maternity nurse manhandling my breasts in a way that felt like assault! Also nurses seemed happy to leave baby completely unfed as I insisted there was nothing coming out of either boob. DP had to be sent for formula after 24 hours! With second also emc and baby in scbu for 10 days. I managed to express for him but once he was home and we tried on the breast I hated the sensation. It just creeped me out. I'd really wanted to feel like a 'proper mum' and do this and felt a bit of a failure for a while. However you still get the eyes-locking, baby-bonding feelings with a bottle during a feed as you do with breast and both children are happy and healthy. Ultimately it's a good idea to have a go but as long as the baby is fed and loved, that's all that matters. Good luck OP x

It's a wonderful experience. But most people I know, me included found it extremely difficult and very painful to start. Cluster feeding is normal early on and it's really really hard. Hardly any sleep and a baby constantly wanting to feed. It's wonderful once it's established and you will most def need a support group around you for those times when baby has been feeding for 4 hours, it's 3am and you've only had 2 hours sleep, your nipples are sore and your boobs painful. If you can get through it, the feeling of nourishing and comforting your own child with your body, the one that made it is a wonderful amazing feeling. Good luck.

I found it really difficult and painful at first, I also had blocked ducts. I found however that with perseverance and some help it got much better. I used a breast pump and used formula to help ease the soreness but once it was established i can honestly say it's the best thing! I'm still breastfeeding athe 7 and a half months and it makes me happy to know that my baby is getting all that protection from the breast milk. I didn't know it was such magic stuff until afterwards. Before I had my baby I always thought I wasn't going to breastfeed.

I gave birth with an open mind, wanting to have a go at breastfeeding but not having strong views either way. Most of the people I knew had bottle fed other than in the very beginning. However from the minute I tried there was no going back for either me or my baby. I took the advice of feeding on demand quite literally and fed my three children for years until demand stopped. It has been the best experience of my life, to share that deep connection with them, that feeling of them relaxing into my arms, the way my milk carried them through being poorly and not eating, the way my body responded to them by making massive sudden quantities of milk if they were crying. I would highly recommend it but don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work for you. The love is the same however you feed them xx

Loved it. More convenient than bottle feeding too in the middle of the night.

I found it massively hard. I developed mastitis after 2 weeks, and again 2 weeks after that. And eventually a breast abscess which I had to have drained in hospital twice a week for a while.
However I did breastfeed (and did one bottle a day at the dream feed) for 7 months. It is just so much more convenient than bottle feeding because I was too lazy to feel like sterilising bottles!

I've breast fed 2 babies and bottle fed 2, all 4 have tongue ties and it was definitely easier with baby no2 & 4 both fairly easy births so managed to feed for over a year with both.
I didn't manage with my first son, I tried and it was very painful - he also had a tie (I didn't know then). He was a big baby, forceps delivery and I was cut, had a transfusion and recovery took a while.
So I decided to bottle feed as it was better for my recovery and for my son. He's now a strapping 16 year old.
I didn't feel guilty, I tried and it didn't happen so I tried again next time, easier birth and fed for 12 months. Baby no 3 was poorly and it never established, he's almost 7 now. The youngest is 5, fed for 16 months.
I just did what suited at the time, def worth a try as I found it a lovely experience and saved the faff with bottles, I enjoyed not getting up in the night etc
But it's what suits you, if you want to try then great and if it works out even better, but if not as long as you're happy and your baby is fed and healthy then that's the main thing :-)

I enjoyed it for the first few weeks, it made me feel really connected to my son. It was of course exhausting to feed every single hour day and night after the exhaustion of labour.
Also the after pains were excruciating, I never thought they'd feel exactly like contractions!? They past after about a week and I just kept telling myself they were making me thinner.
My downfall was my own anxiety about breastfeeding in public, I didn't mind feeding outside in a park or on the grass etc but feeding indoors made me feel really open to everyone and like I was being starred at.
Another thing was that I couldn't wear what I wanted, I longed to not be pregnant anymore yet once I had the baby I still had to wear clothes that weren't my style. It sounds really petty but I longed to have my body back and to be my own person again. Not pregnant, not a breastfeeding mum! Just me.
I ended up combi-feeding in the afternoons so I could go out then a few things happened so I ended up switching to a dairy free formula and I saw massive changes in my sons health so I used the dairy-free formula completely.