Breast-feeding - feel free to share your own experiences

[Freeasabird58]

I am currently 17+3 weeks pregnant, and i have such a strong thought that I want to breast-feed. but here are my concerns:
(depending on the baby latching on right and all that)

1. being able to do it.
2. Having the confidence to do it.
3. feeling comfortable. (myself & around family & public)
4. Having the strength to not give up when times are hard.( especially the first 6-10 weeks..)

Also...

sounds really odd saying this, but did anyone feel worried that they won't feel "the bond straight away" and how the first contact with your baby feeding (having a baby sucking your boob 24/7!?)

i am sure im reading too much into it, as its something i really want to do.

Some great advice here. I successfully bf dd for 12 months and experienced a lot of the difficulties followed by the great easy times that many of the original posters have mentioned.

One thing my mw prescribed (it saved my life) was lansinoh to rub onto my nipples to stop them getting sore. I used it for about 5 weeks and it was great. Get a prescription for it if you are getting any tenderness.

There's been some great advise on here! I wish I had been a MNer when I BF my DS. All I can say is persevere with it, its so rewarding in the end. My DS was a preemie and I hid away for months as he was tiny and my boobs went to a J cup (wondderful if you're a Jordan wannabe!). Eventually though I went from hiding in my bedroom to getting them out in restaurants in Spain! Its all about building your confidenc and getting friends/family to help too. Little things like keeping the conversation going when DS is slurping away and making sure you have essentials to hand are a great way for them to help. I'm due for no.2 in October, at 17 weeks I guess you are too? x

On a note Cinnamongreyhound mentioned- I loved it when my uncle in law (they didn't think he'd quite know how to deal with it "being a batchelor and all") was round at my in laws house as I got to disappear for up to an hour whenever I wanted......errrr baby needs a feed (in actual fact mummy wanted a sleep and just an hour off entertaining)

It has it's other perks too

Thanks for all the great info! x