What do you think about breastfeeding?

[youngmummyb]

I know that they say breast is best, and it's also supposedly good for jumping back to pre-pregnancy weight; but i just don't know if i can handle it. It's not the breastfeeding as such, it's more that i'd be a bit uncomfortable with the baby sucking. Any opinions? I'm a first time mum to be and scared lol!!

Lots of benefits, obviously. But I agree with secondcoming that it's very full on. Also, it was extremely painful (not just a bit uncomfortable) for me to begin with - this lasted for about a week and I was in tears every time I fed (which felt like 24hrs a day) during that time. I lasted for about 6 weeks and am proud of that but really couldn't go on for much longer.

I'm due again in 7 weeks and plan to see how it goes this time. But I certainly won't be making myself feel as consumed with guilt and worry as I did with DC1. I'll stick with it for as long as I can and then stop when I'm ready

I love it now (DS is 8 months). It's so easy and convenient and means we get a lovely close cuddle as the rest of the time he wants to bounce up and down or pull my hair or crawl away!
but at first it was really really hard - I found it really painful and exhausting for quite a while but am so glad now that I persevered.
this book I found fascinating about breastfeeding and gave me confidence that I could do it when I was struggling.

My top tip would be to work out in advance how you'll get help if you need it (unfortunately midwives aren't always well equipped to help), give it a go, but however you end up feeding, enjoy your baby :)

I persevered with DC1 but found it painful and agonising. I had cracked nipples for nearly 3 months and each feed was agony.
For DC2 though it went like a breeze- no pain, quick feeds etc. So even if a first experience isn't great the second can be completely different.

Lansinoh is seriously essential- use it after each feed religiously and it will really help.

You can get cheap(er) Lansinoh on Amazon btw!

I can see how the idea would seem weird, but actually I found it seemed quite normal to put my baby to the breast. My experience was a huge rush of hormones that made me feel so nurturing and protective of my baby.
I didn't want to put a plastic bottle in her mouth when I could feed her myself with milk that was made especialy for her, that was warm from my body, containing antibodies to keep her healthy.
I was proud that for the first few months she had nothing sustaining her but me.
I also found breastfeeding as a way to cope with those early days as a cure all, my motto was, 'if in doubt, breastfeed' it was food and comfort and medicine all in one.
I also find it strange that if there was some sort of emergency or disaster, huge numbes\of mothers ciouldn't sustain their babies, even though their bodies make them able to, because they haven't bf.
My ersonl theory, is tha if you FF and yoyr milk dries up, you are telling your body that there is no baby (and yes I know it can be very hard and that Formula isnt poison etc) thats why women can get pregnant again so quickly.
I wrote a poem about breastfeeding too..

'Titties and beer'

You girls; you like the way your Men suck at your nipples,
Like they have come home, like you are comfort and peace to them.
Laying their big fierce heads down on your breasts, like you have tamed a unicorn.
You stroke their shorn heads gently,
My God, the pleasure of it!
That deep pulling, joy of nurture.

But when the babies come,
When the waters break, and the pains start
And you sweat, and swear, and cry
And go further than you thought you'd ever go
or you are numb from the waist down
or they cut them out
Those wide eyed babies gazing up at you
their sweet cherub mouths rooting,
their naked squirming bodies...

You quickly put on their vests and sleep suits,
Plug their mouths with dummies.
Their raw needs met with plastic teats, not your warm nipples.
Those tiny, lonely little babies
Growing up yearning to suck, at soft, warm breasts.
(C)

Its a profound thing breastfeeding, its not simple. Best site for more info is Kellymom.
S x

When I was pregnant with my daughter I thought I'd give it a shot but never expected to do it for longer than a few days or maybe a couple of weeks, as my own mum struggled so much. I ended up doing it for 18 months. Not because of ideological reasons, but just because once it was established it really was the lazy option (plus free, plus tons of weightloss)

Keep an open mind, give it a shot, if it works great, if it doesn't it's not a big deal either.

I felt a bit like you when I was pregnant with DS1, the idea seemed very full-on, lots of pressure, lots of pain and lots of exposure. I'm quite prudish about exposing my flesh so I wasn't keen at all. I said I'd give it a go mainly because I didn't want to let the midwives down, though secretly I'd expected to fail. I took formula and bottles in my hospital bag, bought a box of SMA for home. Nobody manages with their first, I thought.

I fed DS as soon as he was put on me and something just clicked. Yes it was painful at first, and he was a big baby so he needed a lit of feeding day and night, every 20 mins during his 10 day growth spurt. But I was willing to do it. After a crappy pregnancy, my body was doing something really well and I was determined, even after a couple of days, that I would not give up. It is one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced, I really can't tell you of the pride, the closeness, the comfort it brings.

I'm still feeding him at almost three and he has a brother on the way so I'm
hoping to tandem feed. It's very easy to feed discreetly if you wear separates so public feeding hasn't been the exhibitionist nightmare I thought it would be. I always think that if more people fed in public the easier it would be for everyone. No one has ever said anything horrible or asked me to stop or leave.

Now I feel really passionately that everyone should try breastfeeding. If you hate it or it doesn't work, stop then, but you might be one of those people to whom it comes naturally and feels right. If I hadn't tried it then I'd have missed out on one of the best experiences of my life.

Find out about it, ask a lot of questions, wait and see how you do after the birth.
Then I would say just give it a go. It is of course your choice, but if you never try you won't truly know what it's like.
It worked for me (painful but somehow right) and I (and I'm pretty sure lots of the ladies on MN) would be more than willing to answer any of your questions whilst you figure this out for yourself

"All of the above and also bear in mind that not breastfeeding can increase your risks of breast cancer quite considerably, too."

The only articles I can find indicate there is possibly a slight risk. And the slightly lower chances are in people who breastfeed for 1.5 years or more.

Not saying your statement is incorrect, just the use of the word considerably.

I'm having twins and would like to try to BF and know that it is possible to exclusivley BF twins but I am not putting pressure on myself. It will also be WAYYYYYYYYYYYYY cheaper than FF twins!!

My sister and I are adopted and were FF from birth with no problems. I think because of that I am a little easier on myself than some people are. At the end of the day it is absolutley an individual decision and some women really beat themselves up over 'failing' to BF. It should be what is right for baby and mother.

Also, what bothers me is that in a book I have it made a statement about "some women find breastfeeding an intensley sexual experience" and that really puts me off.

No one BFed in my family. My sister did it for 8 weeks with hers (as 'recommended' by pediatricians in France) and then stopped. My siblings and I were all FFed and we're fine too! I was the freak of the family because I BFed both of mine for over a year.
I thought I'd give it a go and found it really suited me- I had no expectations and just went with it.

As for the sexual experience I wouldn't really let it bother you. I found it a very bonding thing (and very convenient specially when travelling) but equally it can get frustrating when you have something to do and baby just wants to comfort feed.
I've never heard of anyone finding it sexually arousing- to give you an idea I once read an article about women having orgasms while giving birth. I'm yet to meet one!

I thought I might not make it past the first couple of weeks...but if you can make it four weeks...you are home free. After the first two weeks, it just gets easier and easier!

I also pumped and therefore got the freedom to go out for dinner/with friends as the baby had my breastmilk in a bottle for the sitter...highly recommend this!

And I will admit I just couldn't help realise how many calories it burns...I had my body back in 2 months, my baby was healthier than ever, and I didnt spend any money on milk...honestly there is nothing better!

I was v similar to you with my first. I just felt uncomfortable with the idea. I didn't know anyone who bf, I'd not seen it and it just didn't feel right to me. I was the only one who admitted this in my NCT group and honestly they all thought badly of me-breast is best and natural afterall. Anyhow I said I'd give it a go and see what happened dh was great and said he totally supported me either way.
When she was born I tried it and it was ok. It hurt like hell, but I wasn't as awkward about it as I expected to be. Then the hospital wanted to do top up ff and it really peed me off. There I was trying to do the 'right' thing and they were undoing it. I found I becsme really stubborn and insisted they let me persevere. I won't lie, it was bloody hard work for the whole 9 months, and I topped up with formula from about 4 months as I simply didn't have the supply, regardless of what I did.
Last year I had ds and had the same attitude, if it works then great. It did with him and he's a right chunky monkey. I'm now expecting my 3rd and I'm completely sure this experience will be entirely different too. What I'm saying is that people will give you their opinion and experiences, tell you the statistics, scare you maybe even guilt you. But it's up to you to see if it suits. You'll lose nothing by giving it a try, but most likely regret not.

Oh and the bottles that I have given my dc's have been with lively close cuddles, sometimes skin to skin but they still look up into your eyes and connect and make you gooey.

I was never going to BF my baby when he was born. I hated the thought.... didnt want it, had bought bottles, steriliser, formula even...

Then when he was born poorly and in intensive care it felt like the most natural thing in the world for me to do for him. I expressed initially and started to produce loads of milk for him and i was going to simply continue doing that.... but i then just tried to latch him on one night we were alone together at about 7 days old and he went straight on.

I am proud to say i Bfed him until he was two years old.

One thing i will say is that i had/have a bit of a fear of feeding in public.... little shy you see

I think I will give it ago but what I hate about bf is the bullying associated with it. If bf doesn't work for me I'll ff, I was ff and have a really healthy immune system and have achieved academically. I'm sure my baby will go on to do great thing whatever decision I make about feeding!

My personal opinion is that breast IS best.... nutritionaly it is very different to formular and contains many ingrediants that formular doesnt.

Im PG with my first and DETERMINED to breast feed. I really really really hope i can. My mum / both grandmothers and all my aunts have ahd stupid amounts of milk... enough for quads + and they have all donated their excess breast milk to milk banks.
I Hope to do the same (one very close to me in my local hospital)

IMO cows milk is for baby cows, breast milk is for baby humans.

I have no issues with others who for their own reason choose the feed their baby formular (Its NOT poisen, and many many happy healthy children (& adults) have been formular fed) But for me its my choice to do my best to exclusively breast feed my children until they can move on to cows milk... just as all my siblings / aunts / uncles / cousins have been fed, and how so many of my best friends have also managed to do for their own children. 2 of whom are now breast feeding counsellors so hope they will help me too.

I am now nearly 22 weeks pregnant, but from as soon as i had an opinion on the matter it has never occured to me to do anything but breast feed.

If i can feed them until they are 2 years old as thr world health organisation recommends i will be VERY happy.

I hope to avoid the baby aisle as much as possible, and dont plan to buy / use wipes / nappies / formular milk / "baby food" / Johnsons (or shops own) baby toiletries AT ALL. Ill use cloth nappies and wipes, organic baby toiletries from my health food shop and make my own food too.... as i have done while nannying for the past 10 years

Ok, so 'breast is best' but if it's not for you you won't do your baby any harm by using formula correctly. I think though once the baby is born you will just forget about feeling odd about suckling - it's hard to explain, but something happens to you when you have a baby, you change - and really its the most natural thing in the world! Breastfeeding can be a struggle for many women, but if you WANT to do it you have to really stick out those first few weeks when its getting established and trust that it WILL get easier. If you still find it too hard after that (and perhaps talking to a breast feeding councillor)...stop! Your baby will be happier with a happy mummy and formula, than a miserable mum and breast. Try not to worry about it, things will happen naturally. Good luck :-)

If you are pg and considering breastfeeding - find out now if there is a support group near you (phone your health visitor/GP/ask your midwife/look on the NCT website). If there's a group you can go to, start going now - the women there will be able to answer any questions you have. My group has been a lifeline for me and I've made so many lovely friends there. I would have been quite isolated if I had FF my baby but I've met some great mums, all through breastfeeding!

Thanks OP as I have really enjoyed and got a lot out of reading everyones replys and no overwhelmingly scary comments like I have read on some threads which made me feel bad for being a little bit scared about it! Cheers

I thought it would be freaky too!

Was amazing though- honestly didn't expect to, but really enjoyed it. Especially those moments when it's just the two of you feeding in the night and it feels like you are the only people in the world? (emotional preggy alert!)

And it's really convenient for nighttime feeds as no need to mix anything/warm anything. We got into a great routine where I just plugged her on and went back to sleep, lying side by side in my bed. And I am someone who neeeeeeeds their sleep! Ended up bfing until 16 months as it was just so convenient for us it would have been mad to stop.

Also had a very close friend who had lots of difficulty and stopped after a few weeks, and went to bottles, and was much happier afterwards.

So my advice would be to give it a good try, do as much as you can, but if for whatever reason it doesn't work out, don't beat yourself up about it.

hi, i was exactly the same, but 11 months on and im still doing it, although just at bed time.
it does hurt for a bit but after 7 days i didn't even notice it. its a great way to bond with baby too and expressing still gives you the odd bit of time off.
i thought it would be odd and i still get some people that think im odd for wanting to breastfeed but its totally natural. i would say give it a go at least for 2/3 weeks and if you really don't like it then you can stop.

good luck x

Definitely give it a try. If, as you say, you manage a couple of weeks, that will be fantastic! The first couple of weeks are the most important and will lower your baby's risk of all sorts of illnesses.
And, as you say, you may find it easy, convenient, bonding.. and you may then carry on for longer! But if you don't, your baby will have had the colostrum and a couple of weeks of important antibodies while it is at its most vulnerable. good on you for giving it a go even if you are unsure!