My first was breastfed for 6 months. He's rarely sick. My second is 15 months and still nursing and he has roaring asthma, ear tubes by 7 months, and has had 2 bouts of pneumonia and sleeps like shit. I love nursing and fully advocate it, if that is what mom wants to do. But I don't think it is a medical cure-all.
At the risk of sounding defensive, I did want to add that with my first, DH and I did take a breastfeeding class, and I had numerous LC consults. I didn't give up, which is why I ended up EPing, which for me, was miserable. The reason behind my post was to get some opinions on what to do with #2. If BFing works out, I would love to do that, but really don't think I can do EPing again, especially with another toddler running around. I also have a fear of the recurrent clogged ducts. I was constantly in pain and miserable, and it definitely didn't help my "baby blues." (never went as far as to get diagnosed with PPD, but I definitely had some hormonal-related sadness going on which was not good)
@JamieK1882: Hugs! I hope I didn't make you feel like I thought you "gave up" or "didn't try hard enough". That wasn't at all what I intended and I apologize if that is how my post came across. I have never enjoyed pumping either and so I understand that feeling. If latching doesn't work out then you can EP and see how it works with a toddler running around. You can always read books while you pump or allow your toddler some screen time while you pump. Usually those of us who nurse also have to figure out what to do with our other children while we are in boob jail. Its not entirely an EP issue.
On the clogged duct worry. It could just be your anatomy, but warm compresses before you pump can really help. I usually got one of those rice sock things and sent it through the microwave to warm it. Then put it on your breast before you pump and after. Also, massage. Coconut oil and massaging the breast help inbetween feedings. I wish you the best and hope that latching baby this time is successful for you.
If it doesn't work out then its no big deal. I have two kids. One FF and one BF. They are both just fine. They both have the same genetic speech delay. So really, its about doing what you feel is best in the moment.
I didn't have success with BFing my DD. My milk just didn't come in. I tried everything I could think of for months and I would still get little to no milk when pumping or BFing. This time around, I'm going to let whatever happens happen. My DD has been almost exclusively formula fed since day one and she's perfectly fine. I was sad and I'm sure I'll be sad again if I can't do it with our second, but it'll be nothing like the first time. #justfeedyourbabies and it'll be great!
Having twins I just never had enough milk to fully feed both girls, even with herbal supplements. So I would breastfeed what I had and then follow with a bottle of formula. When I went back to work I still pumped what I could and froze it so the pattern continued for a full year. After their first birthday I only breastfed right before bed followed by a bottle for another six months. Do whatever feels right for you but just know it also doesn't have to be all or nothing. You can do a combination of things, your baby will adjust to whatever send to work for your family.
Trying to get my daughter to breastfeed gave me horrible postpartum anxiety, so I switched to pumping what I could and then formula. I'm planning to skip the anxiety and depression part and go right to pumping and supplementing this time. Baby is fed and mommy is functional.
I'm a surrogate, and the baby/babies will be on a plan to France when just few weeks old, and breast feeding them is a tad inappropriate as they are not my children.
i do however plan to pump while they are here and offer the dad the milk, and if for some reason he doesn't want it, I'll donate it. A few weeks of breastfeeding/pumping is beneficial for my post partum recovery, and (for me) part of shrinking down the uterus and taking off some of the unwanted extra pounds.
That said, I had breast reduction surgery at 15 and was never able to fully feed a baby at breast, so both my girls got a combination of breast milk and formula. My first wouldn't latch and really only got 4 or 5 weeks of breast milk at best. My second latched and nursed like a pro immediately. 2 very different experiences. By 3 months with her I was still on formula.
We're all entitled to our opinions, so long as we remain respectful of each other's feelings. Feeding a baby when they're hungry is best. Where it comes from matters not to me.
Re: Anyone Plan on NOT BFing?
On the clogged duct worry. It could just be your anatomy, but warm compresses before you pump can really help. I usually got one of those rice sock things and sent it through the microwave to warm it. Then put it on your breast before you pump and after. Also, massage. Coconut oil and massaging the breast help inbetween feedings. I wish you the best and hope that latching baby this time is successful for you.
If it doesn't work out then its no big deal. I have two kids. One FF and one BF. They are both just fine. They both have the same genetic speech delay. So really, its about doing what you feel is best in the moment.
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i do however plan to pump while they are here and offer the dad the milk, and if for some reason he doesn't want it, I'll donate it. A few weeks of breastfeeding/pumping is beneficial for my post partum recovery, and (for me) part of shrinking down the uterus and taking off some of the unwanted extra pounds.
That said, I had breast reduction surgery at 15 and was never able to fully feed a baby at breast, so both my girls got a combination of breast milk and formula. My first wouldn't latch and really only got 4 or 5 weeks of breast milk at best. My second latched and nursed like a pro immediately. 2 very different experiences. By 3 months with her I was still on formula.
We're all entitled to our opinions, so long as we remain respectful of each other's feelings. Feeding a baby when they're hungry is best. Where it comes from matters not to me.
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BFP #4 1/2016, DD born 10/2016