Okay ?- ?at the risk of getting flamed here, I'm going to go out on a limb and ask the question...."Am I the only one who doesn't like breastfeeding?". I know it is good for the baby and I know it provides immunity and blah, blah, blah, and I will do it, but I really just don't like it. I feel like a cow and the concept of having this person sucking on your boob is just really unappealing to me....It doesn't help that with my first baby we had a lot of problems (latching, not producing enough milk, mastitis, tongue tied etc.) but even when it was working properly, I still hated it....it just feels weird and unnatural to me....And don't get me started on the pumping thing - that made me feel even more of a cow....(okay - let the flames begin!)
Re: Breastfeeding...hmmm...don't really like it....!
Haha! This!
most of my fiends who BF felt the same way and that was the reason they stopped. some did it for a yr, 6 mo, 3 weeks. i think a lot of women feel that way.
my DD was in the NICU and i struggled to get my milk to come in, after a month i dried up. so for me i felt like a fsilure and a cow. ha!
Bf brings on so many emotions.
To be honest, I really couldn't wrap my head around it with DS. He was born small (5 lb 12 oz) and it no longer was about me. I stepped up to the plate and BF/pumped for 14 months...we found out he has an anaphylactic reaction to cow milk...so mommy said moo.
With this one, there is no question. Mommy milk is best for preterm babies and that is what this will be. So just call me bessie.
I think it's best for babies to be breastfed. There are things in breastmilk that can't be reproduced in formula. I'm really hoping that BFing works out for me.
That said, if it's not for you, then don't do it. I really believe that having a happy mommy is a lot better than having breastmilk from a mommy that is upset all the time.
Plenty of babies grow up on formula. There are also mommies who cannot supply their babies and buy breast milk from other mommies. There are mommies who love breastfeeding so much they do it with kids who are already in school ... Everyone makes decision for themselves and their babies.
I walked out scared from bfing class, but in the end, I am going to give it my best try.
I just responded to another post about this. No one can flame unless they have been there. I hated it and have been stressing about BF'ing this one since I found out I was pregnant. It was that hard (we also had tons of problems) and it was the biggest reflief when I stopped. It is good for the baby, yes...but so is a sane and happy mother.
So no flames from me! I am not sure if I am even going to try it this time.
No flames here, I respect you for even trying it. I feel the same way, I really do not think I can bring myself to doing it, so I may not even try. Considering I need to go back to work a 8 weeks (and will never ever pump, ditto your cow sentiments there) I think it will be easier for us and the baby to FF from the beginning.
In real life, most mommies I know FF, but online it seems that everyone plans to BF.
No flames here. I don't think it's gross, but I know a lot of people who do, or, at the very least, are uncomfortable about it. I just keep telling myself that breastfeeding is the purpose of why there are breasts on my body! It is what they are for, and I shouldn't let the way I (or anyone around me) have been socialized to make me feel "weird" about it.
I also agree with the cow-like connotation and pumping!!! I recently unpackaged my double electric breast pump. As DH and I were looking at it, all I could say was, "Wow, it looks like a commercial lactation device." And it does!
Pffft. I loved breastfeeding. Loved it. Guess what, my boobs, my baby, my choice. Your boobs, your baby, your choice.
I know plenty of women who were undecided. Some gave it a shot and loved it. Some gave it a shot and hated it. Both sets went with their choice, with one exception. A coworker struggled for four long months hating every minute of it. She mentioned it to me one day in the lunchroom, and I point blank asked her why she didn't stop. Poor thing broke down crying, and stopped within a few days.
Holding and feeding your baby should be a warm, nuturing experience, and it doesn't matter where the milk comes from.