Breastfeeding
Terrified to breastfeed
I'm going to be a new mom in October and have obviously been thinking about my options and talking to other new moms I know and I am terrified to breastfeed. I feel like I should at least try but I feel like it is going to consume my life between feeding and pumping. Was wondering if anyone was nervous before hand and how you handled it.
Thx!
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Re: Terrified to breastfeed
GSx1 - 05/13/2013
GSx2 for T&B - EDD 6/21/2015 - They're having a GIRL!
Don't be terrified because it will "consume your life". I pumped and bottle fed for the first four weeks before my LO would latch, and only BF now, and I can tell you, BFing is a lot easier and so much less work. Once you involve bottles, it seems like you are constantly washing, sterilizing, making more bottles, etc., which in my opinion, consumes your life a lot more!
Not to mention like PP said, when baby is hungry, it's so much easier to BF than to have to worry about running to get a bottle warmed up. It's also much easier to go out, because you don't have to worry about carrying bottles around, keeping them at the right temperature, etc. Definitely give it a try before you say you're "terrified". Read up as much as you can in advance, use positive family/friends/this board for support, and if it works out for you, trust me, you'll be glad you did!
It will most definitely consume your time the first few months, but so would bottle feeding. Newborns eat every two hours regardless of what you feed them. Your life is definitely about to change. You need to expect to spend the first couple of months mostly at home with the baby. There's no need to pump until you return to work. I never had a huge freezer stash with my first and it wasn't a big deal. If at some point after your milk supply is established you wanted to do partial breastmilk and partial formula, that works for some people. Just give bfing a try and see what happens! I nursed my first baby for 19 months and Newbie for 3 months now. I hope to make it 2 yrs this time. It's difficult at first, but more convenient later and better for baby. I wouldn't have given it up for anything! Helpful reading:
https://www.notmilk.com/101.html
https://www.thealphaparent.com/2011/12/timeline-of-breastfed-baby.html
https://kellymom.com/category/ages/newborn/
https://www.breastfeedinginc.ca/
https://theleakyboob.com/2011/08/baby-explains-normal-newborn-behavior/
This got me through the first four weeks of it. I'm going on month 4 now.
I was scared to death, and maybe even a little grossed out, by BF'ing when my oldest was born. I did it anyway for the first 2-3 weeks. Then due to some health issues we had to supplement and eventually completely switch to special formula. It was heartbreaking to not be able to feed my baby the way nature intended. It really is amazing how quickly something you are scared/nervous to do becomes 2nd nature.
With LO#2 I was bound and determined to make BF'ing work. It's HARD at first, but as long as you educate yourself and your SO, surround yourself with a good support system (SO, friends, family, peid, good LC), and don't be afraid to ask for help, you can make it through it. It gets easier at 3 weeks, easier still at 6 weeks, and by 2 months I think it's easier then bottle feeding. We are 7.5 months in now & it has been a truly rewarding, mostly positive experience for both of us. If you decide you want to BF you can make it work.
IMO breast feeding made it easier for me because I could just grab him and nurse him rather than making a bottle because when my son was brand new waking up, he was hungry and mad.
Now 2 reasons breast feeding makes my life easier 1 is that I don't stay up if he eats at night, I just bring him next to me in bed and let him nurse. 2 I don't pack nearly anything when we make a quick trip out. I don't worry about if he gets hungry I just find a spot like a dressing room or something and nurse him. I can throw a diaper in my purse and go.
I would give it a shot at least. The first weeks will be hard and sore but it pays off!!!
Everyone has given such good advice!
I BF my first until she was almost 21 months and am now EBFing my 2 month old.
BFing is not easy at first. At all. It's awkward. You're constantly worrying about whether or not you're making enough milk. It can be pretty stressful. However, once you hit your groove at about 3-4 months, it is awesome. I still refer to my favorite book, "The Womanly Art of Breast Feeding."
If your baby is gaining weight well and making enough pee/poop diapers, you're doing just fine. Sometimes you may feel like you're still doing everything wrong though. I know how it feels! Finding a BFing support group like the La Leche League (there are others too, that's just the most common one I think) and getting help from a lactation consultant can help a lot.
https://www.ilca.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3337
I wish I would've experienced those hormones! I was too stressed out about my oversupply and over active letdown to feel any sense of calm.
But anyway, breast feeding can be very hard. There are very real struggles and problems that can come along with it. But it gets SO much easier, especially after the first 6 to 8 weeks. If you have any interest at all in trying to BF, do it. You can always switch to formula later if it just doesn't work for you. And I agree with PP's that just having a baby is what consumes your life, not necessarily how you choose to feed him or her.
First round of Clomid in May 2012= BFP #1, DD born January 2013
BFP #2 in January 2014, DS born September 2014
I agree with what everyone else has said. I was worried that I wouldn't even like breastfeeding, but now that DS is a month old and often goes 3-4 hours between feedings, I find myself looking forward to the next one. It's an amazing bonding experience, and I can just curl up with DS on the couch and Bump on my phone or watch a show on the DVR. I actually love breastfeeding.
Added bonus: I know this isn't true for everyone, but I lost ALL my pregnancy weight and was back in my jeans at like 3 weeks PP. Now at a month PP I am down 34 lbs, 4 lbs below my pre-preggo weight.
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Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
Rhys - born 04.17.2013
Harry - born 04.18.2016
I'm so glad I decided to EBF. The bonding aspect of it between me and my LO is priceless. Yes, it was difficult and painful in the beginning, but thanks to a great LC, this board, and a lot of patience, we are doing great now.
If you breastfeed, you won't be pumping all that often. I only pump to build a freezer stash or if I miss a feeding, and it only takes 10-15 minutes. Most insurance companies are now covering pumps now, so that is a major expense you don't even have to worry about.
Give it a go, find a good LC you can see if you need to, and make a decision after the first couple of months at least. And don't be scared! You don't have anything to be scared about - promise!