Confession : I don't want to breast feed

[beansbananas]

I know that the general rule is that breast is best, and that if you can then you should breast feed your baby. And before you jump to the wrong conclusion, I do actually intend to try and breast feed when my baby arrives, it's just that if I'm honest it's not something I actually want to do. Am I the only one who thinks it's a terrifying concept and a little bit gross? The thought of sore, bleeding nipples, mastitis or thrush is overwhelming to me, and I have seen so many of my friends in tears and at breaking point over trying to keep breast feeding despite the pain or struggles to get them to latch on properly, and get enough milk. The peer pressure is just ridiculous, and I hate the expectation that you should keep at it, no matter what. Does anyone else feel like this? I don't feel like you can admit you don't want to breast feed without being horribly judged, so would love to know if there are other mum's to be who also find it daunting and also hear any survival tips from mum's who have persevered with it.

I'm going to try and stick to it this time but I know it will hurt and I won't enjoy it at all

Don't think those first feeds are representative of what breastfeeding is like longer term - yes, for lots of people it can be uncomfortable and even very painful at first but as you both get used to it, it's very likely to become much, much easier and painless. To be honest it can take weeks to get to that point so it can take perseverance but for the vast majority of people it will get to a point that it is pretty effortless. Of course whether or not you want to persevere depends on your own experience and preferences.

It was hard at first, but I love it now. I never had bleeding or mastitis, and the pain was mainly caused by DSs tongue tie.

However, you don't have to. There is no difference between my baby and the babies of my lovely and kind and clever friends who bottle feed. If anything boob monster ds wakes more often for comfort feeds than the bottle fed babies and bottle fed babies can be fed by anyone so you can have a night off.

The main advantage of breastfeeding is the lack of stuff I need to prepare and worry about when I leave the house. ''Tis also an awesome excuse to escape upstairs on your own when post baby guests get annoying (used this a lot over Christmas when PIL were annoying me). The main disadvantage I find is until you get confident with it, you worry about how much the baby is getting as you can't measure it.

Parenting is hard. Do whatever is best for you. If you bottle feed, my friends recommend the tommy Tippee perfect prep machine. Good luck with the baby, and may s/he be an excellent sleeper.

I'm pregnant with my first, and do not intend to breastfeed. There are practical reasons (like being better able to share the parental load), but mostly its because I don't want to.