Will you breast feed?

rlyttle

I know this is a very sensitive topic among mothers/women, but I just had an interesting conversation with my friend about it. I BF DS for 13 months (I never thought I would for that long). I know it works out differently with everyone, but do you plan to BF when you have a LO?

bridenamedjenn

I intend to BF. Since I don't have any LOs I don't know how it will work out. But my plan is to try. If for some reason I can't I won't freak out though. Mostly I want to try for the health benefits I've heard about, but also for the more selfish reasons like it will save me a lot of money and I hear it will help me lose weight faster.

My sister chose not to BF and formula fed her children. They seem alright.

annieravensfan528

I will definitely try it.

krdesi

I hope to try, but I don't think I will be distraught if it doesn't work.

beckynsean11

I plan on breastfeeding. May as well do something with these things besides amuse the husband.

dragossoul84

I wanted to but my milk never came in when I had DS. I have to say formula feeding is super convenient and when I was blind tired DH could take over for me without any help.

Empireceo

I wanted to breast feed my son for 6 months but I hated it and at his 2 month check up we discovered he wasn't getting enough food so I switched to formula that day. Both of us are much happier! I will try again if I have another kid but at least I won't feel guilty or like a failure if it doesn't work out.

CiderWench

Yes. I breastfed two of my three children (one I bottle fed just because I wanted to try it) and I found I really enjoyed breastfeeding most. I wouldn't be devastated, though, if it didn't work out for some reason.

_florette_

I'm going to try. I'm not sure how long I'll do it for. My thoughts are 6 months and then adding breast milk to homemade baby food.

CarolinaGirl6

I intend to breastfeed for a least a year.

mmb248

My plan is to breastfeed for at least a year, but if it doesn't happen I'm not going to beat myself up.

sueann911

Yes I will make every effort to BF for longer than a year.

Peaceb0ne

I plan on breastfeeding if possible, and will for up to 2 years if my child wants to.

brneyemom2

I plan to at least try. With DS #1 he was premature so he had a feeding tube, then in order for him to leave the NICU he had to take a bottle for X amount of days for a few times a day. Granted, I pumped, and pumped a lot in the beginning when he was in the NICU and he got breast milk through his bottles at the hospital. But when he came home I tried to feed straight from the breast and he wouldn't take it. Eventually it became too much to pump and then bottle feed, I was always either pumping or feeding him, so he eventually went to straight formula. With DS #2, I just went straight to formula, which I regret. So this time around I've looked into lactation consultants and have other breast feeding moms to talk to so I am planning on giving it all I've got and will be breastfeeding from the minute the next baby pops out.

DemoDoll

It's really hard to just assume that I will breastfeed the next LO. I planned on BFing DD until she was 12 months and I only made it 6 months. Honestly BFing was one of the hardest things I have ever done physically and emotionally. DD had latch issues which tanked my supply because I was advised to supplement with formula which is the worst thing you can do for your supply. Then when we got over supply issues, I had pumping issues when I returned to work. I could only pump about 70 percent of what DD was able to BF out of me. I threw in the towel at 6 months. DD had pneumonia and other sicknesses throughout 5 and 6 months old so she was self weaning that whole time due to not being able to breath while BFing as easy as with a bottle.

If you made it through my novel. I just want to say that I hope other FTMs can go into next expecting too much from themselves and to know that just feeding your child whether it is breast milk or formula, make you a superb mother. I beat myself up about not successfully BFing for no reason and hope others don't go through that misery.

Mochadoodle

Yes, I'm hoping to breastfeed our LOs for their first couple of years.

BoogieMonster629

I BF'd DD until 18.5 mo and I hope I can do the same for my next child.

azarianjess

I breast fed my DD for 9 months. I wanted to breastfeed the first year but I wasn't producing enough milk.  If/when we have another baby I would try to breastfeed the first year, providing I am producing enough milk. Otherwise I will as long as I can.

AmyC925

I hope to BF for 6 months and pump and supplement with formula after that.

If it doesn't work out for whatever reason, I won't be that disappointed. As long as my child receives nourishment, that's what matters.

jjgrl55

I am going to try to do everything in my power to breast feed for at least a year, preferably 18 months. It's very important to me, for more reasons than I can list right now. Hopefully I will have the support and good health to make that happen, as I know not everyone is blessed with both.

But that woman that PP posted about above who kept going despite her child's express desires solids.....effing crazy.

rockopera

I intend to breast feed for the first year. We'll see how it all works out though. 

emsrdh03

dragossoul84:

I wanted to but my milk never came in when I had DS. I have to say formula feeding is super convenient and when I was blind tired DH could take over for me without any help.

Ditto. They say milk supply can change with subsequent children so I will definitely try again, but if it doesn't work out I won't be heartbroken.  

kramja01

I am going to make every attempt to breast feed for 6 months, 1 year if possible. I know I will have to pump when I go back to work, so that should be a challenge.

sunlavender

Assuming all works out, I'll be breastfeeding.

mrs_tacos

I plan to breastfeed for the first year, maybe a little longer. At the very least I'll pump.

britt6292

DemoDoll:

It's really hard to just assume that I will breastfeed the next LO. I planned on BFing DD until she was 12 months and I only made it 6 months. Honestly BFing was one of the hardest things I have ever done physically and emotionally. DD had latch issues which tanked my supply because I was advised to supplement with formula which is the worst thing you can do for your supply. Then when we got over supply issues, I had pumping issues when I returned to work. I could only pump about 70 percent of what DD was able to BF out of me. I threw in the towel at 6 months. DD had pneumonia and other sicknesses throughout 5 and 6 months old so she was self weaning that whole time due to not being able to breath while BFing as easy as with a bottle. If you made it through my novel. I just want to say that I hope other FTMs can go into next expecting too much from themselves and to know that just feeding your child whether it is breast milk or formula, make you a superb mother. I beat myself up about not successfully BFing for no reason and hope others don't go through that misery.

I agree with you 100%! I was set on breast feeding for a year and I thought it would come so easily and naturally and it just didn't. I had terrible supply issues and I could never get DS satisfied. I called my mom so many times in tears because I wanted to stop nursing/pumping but I felt SO much guilt!! It was all self imposed guilt I know but I just felt like I was failing my son. When I went back to work I was barely able to pump 2oz and it took my entire lunch break. I was miserable and not taking care of myself. Once we switched around 5 mos I got over the guilt and felt much better. If we have another one I will breast feed again for as long as I possibly can but I will not feel guilty about stopping when the time is right. I hope new moms can find support from others and make the choice that is right for them and their babies! 

candrew05

Quite honestly, I can't decide. I am sure I will at least try because I do see and appreciate its benefits but part of it also freaks me out.

Serena0429

I do plan on breast feeding. There are so many benefits of it.

Emerald27

I am still nursing DS1 at 19 months and am hoping to tandem nurse with LO2 if DS is still nursing at that time.

Spookster

I hope to BF my next child until 2yrs if they want.

DD is tongue tied and we never felt comfortable snipping it, she is also tied from her top lip to her top gums, and she just never latched onto the breast.

I pumped for 8 weeks and then my supply dropped and dried up.

bornmommy

My first goal was 4 months, then 6 months, then 9, then a year.  We made it until two weeks after his first birthday.  I'm very very proud of it considering the rough start we had and hating it for the most part.

Cindal

I don't really plan on breastfeeding. Neither my mother or my grandmother did, my grandmother due to issues where she couldn't and mom just didn't feel the need to the second time around. My dad happens to be one of the most intelligent people I've ever met and I was 7th in my graduating class. Neither of us have allergies or get sick very often. So in my personal experience I just don't see the need.  If I try it in the hospital and if I happen to be one of the women for whom it is easy and if it doesn't freak me out as much as I'm assuming it will at the moment then I'll do it til the introduction of solid foods simply because its cost effective and I don't drink or smoke anyways.

Clarinet35

I honestly didn't plan to BF simply for convenience sake. That may sound terrible, but I don't want a kid latched on to my titties all day and night, I want DH to be able to give a bottle, I don't want to have to worry about warming a bottle if we're out, or whipping out my boob, or getting bitten, or pumping, or any of that, AND I wanted to just be able to give room temperature distilled water and formula at any given time or place.

BUT.....then I started learning about the benefits of the BM and the bonding, and quite honestly the financial benefits, so I think I may at least try for a month or so.

I'll play it by ear.

JsRib

I breasted DS for 6 months. He was chugging bottles of milk by then and I could not pump enough for him at work so we transitioned to formula.  I will set a 6 month goal for the next one.

curlylocks3

No. If things dramatically change we'll reevaluate with whichever pediatrician we pick.

AliciaBeth

I used formula from the start for my first child. I knew that financially I would have to go back to work at 6 weeks postpartum and that it would be easier on all of us. It worked out great for us and I have a healthy almost 4 year old little boy.

I'm not sure what I'll do if/when we have a second child. Financially, we are at a place where I could stay out of work longer. Also, I feel more confident in my ability to parent a newborn now that I have a tiny bit of experience... maybe I'll try it.

I have so many friends who judge parents who don't do things exactly the way they do. I don't want to be one of those people. Do what is best for you and your family, and feel confident in your decision. 

kali55

I bf DS for 11 months and I plan on doing it again if all works out

awisern

I plan to BF future children. I nursed DS until 17 months when we both felt it was time to wean and so I could get my period back. I did have my struggles with supply and ended up taking meds for it but it helped us to keep going!

janda426

I will absolutely be trying my hardest to breast feed

ChristyML

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do when I was pregnant with DS, but after Exclusively BFing him for only 2.5 months, and then being pressured into using formula, I am beyond heartbroken that my supply is so low. I am technically trying to relactate.

For my next babies, I will breastfeed, 100% of the time (no supplementing unless I have to for some odd reason).

For all of my babies, I plan to let them wean themselves, no matter how long they want to still breastfeed.

greengirl0909

I breastfed my first 2 and plan to do so again.

I will say, if you are hoping to breastfeed, once you are pregnant spend some time scouting out your local resources.  Breastfeeding can be tough for some moms and it's helpful to know who to contact when you run into troubles. It can be very scary in those first few weeks when you aren't sure if baby is getting enough milk and it's nice to get some reassurance from someone. My first pediatrician had no advice to offer.

LLL was very helpful to me. I know some chapters aren't as laid back as the one I attend, but I think it's worth checking into.  My current pediatrician also has a lactation consultant on staff, so something to think about when picking a pedi.

The number one reason moms say they quit breastfeeding was low supply. However, MOST women can make enough to feed their baby, they just don't understand how little baby needs and the importance of demand and supply.  I hope everyone who desires to breastfeed can find success!