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

"It really isn't for everyone."

No. But it could be for most people.

And it's being told repeatedly that it should be for most people that put me back in hospital on IV antibiotics - if it works then great, but this attitude that it's a magical thing that you HAVE to make work is dangerous, and unhelpful.

"but this attitude that it's a magical thing that you HAVE to make work is dangerous, and unhelpful."

Nobody has said that. And the attitude that it is always incredibly difficult and painful and lots and
lots of people can't do it is dangerous and unhelpful too.

picklesandpies it took me a total of 20 seconds to get a bottle into DD when FF...so entirely comparable to BF in terms of speed, in my experience 😀

I haven't read all the replies so sorry if I'm repeating advice. I breast fed both of mine for a year each and the only piece of advice I ever give is during the difficult second week when I found it quite painful I had to remember to relax my shoulders. Just that, it worked every time, it was just a week to 10 days that were painful and this saw me through it. I also made sure we had bottles, a steriliser and dummies, the midwife said it would make me give up quicker but I had seen friends who really struggled and wanted options. Good luck, I really enjoyed breastfeeding and was lucky my babies knew how to, if I couldn't have breastfed my babies would still have eaten and still been healthy and that's all that matters in the end.

Bizarrely, as soon as I told people I was having twins, I was told constantly that I couldn't breastfeed two babies, that there was no way anyone could make enough milk for two babies. I might as well buy bottles and a perfect prep machine.

When they arrived 14 weeks early, I was told (by lots of medical professionals and friends/family) that I'd never breastfeed my girls, I could express for them, but I'd never get them to actually feed directly from me.

They spent 18 weeks in NICU including 2 months in intensive care, and came home on oxygen. At 11 months old, I'm still breastfeeding them. I've never had to give them formula, top them up etc.

I'm planning on training to become a peer supporter for breastfeeding, because I think there is a lot of misinformation out there for mums of multiples and prem babies.

I was adamant that I would breastfeed my baby. Yes it did hurt at first and still feels uncomfortable (he's 3 weeks old) but it's lovely looking down at him when he's feeding and feeling him snuggle into me. It's definitely the best thing for both of us and I intend to carry on if possible until he's a year

I was adamant that I would breastfeed my baby. Yes it did hurt at first and still feels uncomfortable (he's 3 weeks old) but it's lovely looking down at him when he's feeding and feeling him snuggle into me. It's definitely the best thing for both of us and I intend to carry on if possible until he's a year

As I said upthread I found breastfeeding a positive experience on the whole. What I struggled with at first was not knowing common difficulties. I did NCT which had a specific breastfeeding session but the teacher was rubbish (in my opinion), we focussed on what to do if your dad/ friend/ person in a shop makes you feel uncomfortable but didn't touch on sore nipples, cluster feeding being engorged etc. Also on the post natal ward when my daughter was 24 hours old she did what I now know is normal and stayed up all night on the boob and wouldn't settle, 'putting her order in' for my milk to come in. I pressed my buzzer loads that night thinking I was doing it wrong, if staff would have told me it was normal I would have got on with it.

Once we had got to grips with what is normal and what isn't, and my husband had to do a Sunday evening search for nipple shields and anything that might make the pain better we got sorted and fed happily for 2 years.

I really thought I was prepared but I had friends who breastfed effortlessly from the start so I didn't realise how tough it could be.

I am very pregnant now and feeding is one thing I can't wait to do again.

Excruciating painful and very awkward in the first few weeks. My nipples were bruised, battered and cracked. Leaked a lot too. Once healed, it was actually really easy and enjoyable. I also found it comforting for me as I feed DD and co-sleep so drifted off to sleep in a matter of seconds. Still going strong 13 months later.

Lansinoh is a life saver for sore nipples. I still have 90% of my tube left.

Haven't read whole thread but for me (currently BF 5 month old 1st baby) it was bloody hard to start with, but long term gains were a definite win for us. You have to be pretty determined to get through the first few weeks (I wavered). That's NOT to say that people who stop aren't determined (you don't know what delivery will be like, what your baby will be like, how your boobs will behave etc etc and they can all tip the balance I'm favour of FF for some mums) - but I think those who say it was never tricky are in the minority. We had to top up (a bloody nightmare! She basically spat it back at us) and was seriously sleepy and ended up readmitted for jaundice and weight loss. But that was fine, as we got loads of support, the lights woke her up and milk came in and then we were off really. Now I'm seriously grateful for free easy milk on tap, esp at night or when I'm not sure if she's hungry. She's not a fan of bottles and pouring away expressed milk because she's decided she's not that hungry is seriously depressing! Sensation wise it's fine once established and basically a nice cuddle with satisfaction of feeding your baby added (but as pp said obv not the only way to bond!). Good luck whatever you decide. The only thing I'd do differently is reading a bit more about feeding problems (frequency of feeds, the fact that a bit of weight loss initially is pretty normal for BF babies, how to sterilise stuff (I was clueless😂) and how tops up work). About half of my AN group had to top up at first and the support everyone received was variable so being forearmed for problems (so you're not tearfully googling in a sleep deprived haze) is potentially helpful!

Just read a bit more of the thread. Def agree with the trying to get to 6 weeks if you can then reassess if you want to carry on, my biggest wobbles were week 1 and 5 (later one due to cracked nipple after a day of dodgy latching - shields for night feeds saved us).

You don't know anyone who has breastfed?! Wtf? And you're "swaying" towards "trying"? Tbh in my circle (which pretty wide and varied), breastfeeding from birth is the default position. Like, you do it unless there is some sort of issue or major barrier. Most people are fine breastfeeding if they accept that the baby almost literally never off the breast in the beginning and your nipples are on fire for a few weeks! After that it's fine - cheap, convenient, conducive to weight loss, good for the baby...

Farfarawayfromhome Ok, but I had to use formula to top up too with dd2 due to severe reflux and I can say with absolute certainty that breast feeding is much quicker and easier once you've got the hang of it. It certainly takes longer than 20 seconds to wash and sterilise bottles, pour water, measure out formula, warm bottles, test temperature etc Breast milk is designed to be the right quantity, tailored nutritionally (more hydrating if it's hot, thicker and more satisfying at other times) and the perfect temperature. I'm really not saying you shouldn't formula feed if that's what you want to do but it's misleading to try to compare the two like that.

Yes It'sjustaphase2016 There is far too much of 'I'll try' these days - can't help but feel that if you start out like that you are kind of already thinking that you might give up. Positive attitude and gritted teeth through flaming nipples and after pains are essential to getting beyond that 'trying' stage. I'm not saying that everyone who gives up could have carried on - my best friend couldn't produce any milk despite hospital intervention and she really did want to breastfeed. I think I'd women went into it with the expectation that there will be a rough few week initially but it's gets better, more women would stick at it.