Concerns about breastfeeding

[wondering7777]

I would really like to EBF my first but have some concerns:

1. I’m 31 weeks pregnant and have had no “leaky boobs” whatsoever. One of my nipples also looks a bit larger than the other one now - something that has happened during pregnancy. I worry that I physically won’t be able to BF, especially as there doesn’t appear to be any milk in there right now?

1. I don’t want to BF past the age of six months or a year tops. When is “normal” to stop BF? For me when a baby starts looking like a toddler I personally don’t want to BF anymore. But I’m worried my child will get too dependent on it and I won’t be able to stop.

1. If EBF I won’t be able to leave the baby with DH for longer than an hour or two at a time I believe. What if I want to go shopping, see friends or even go back to work earlier than planned?

It can be brutal as in the commitment needed for the first few weeks. Once you've cracked it life is a lot easier and it's great being able to instantly settle the baby.

I got sore nipples with DC1 but not at all with DC2

If your nipples do get sore it can be a bit like wearing in a pair of shoes that rub, hurts at first but can then become really comfortable.

I'm a huge advocate for mixed feeding though (whether with expressed milk or formula) I think it's the best of both worlds if possible and wish I had persevered with a bottle a bit more with DC2 as I think both she and I would have been better off for it.

Regarding expressing it's possible for some people and not others.

I was able to express loads but it was no use as like some people my milk didn't freeze/store well and both DC1 and 2 refused to drink it if it had been frozen.