Are you breastfeeding?

TheRealNJhousewife · January 2011

Why or why not?

I keep saying I want to try it...but today I really thought about it and do I really want to try? I hear it hurts, I don't want to be bound to having to pump, I would like my husband to be able to help out with feedings, the thought of having my baby hanging on my boob freaks me out... Why do I think it's a good idea? I know it's great for the baby, but so is formula. I know it burns extra calories, but so does walking.

So, what are your reasons for doing it or not doing? I don't want to turn this into a debate, just want to hear some views on your decision. I was hell bent on breast feeding until I really just thought about it...now I'm just confused.

SC1977 · January 2011

I'm breastfeeding because I believe it's best for the baby and because it's free. I even get a free pump through a program at work.

I never thought I'd be comfortable with doing it, but now I'm looking forward to the bonding time. (I say that now... talk to me again when the baby is 1 week old and I'm feeding it 8 times a day).

NJMom050911 · January 2011

I plan to breastfeed but not exclusively, I want to be able to pump and have DH participate in feedings so the little one is use to it by the time I have to go back to work. My DH is making a big fuss about breastfeeding and he prefer I just pump, he's being very immature about the whole thing and it is making me frustrated. He literally said that he won't be able to look at me the same and that it creeps him out that our son would have my boob in his mouth...Grrr

Bakes4u · January 2011

I am going to breastfeed. I didn't breastfeed with DS who is now almost 2. I feel like I missed out on a huge bonding experience with him. This time around I will be a SAHM and I feel much more prepared to be able to do it. I am very much looking forward to the bonding experience. I do hear it is painful but I think it will be worth it and hopefully my nipples will adjust haha!

pinkpear · January 2011

I *hope* to breastfeed. I know that for some women it is challenging and not possible even though they really want to. I hope to breastfeed because I believe it is healthy for both me and the baby. I'll be a SAHM so I won't have to deal with work issues and having to pump there. I hope we won't have to use formula at all.

kgail11 · January 2011

I 100% plan to. I did with DS - til things got difficult at 4 months, then I quit. I hope to do it at least that long w/this baby.

It's best for baby, best for ME (lowering my risk for breast (or ovarian?) cancer) an uncomparable bonding experience, FREE, and convenient (most of the time).

tokenhoser · January 2011

Yes, I plan to breastfeed. I really believe it's the best thing for the baby - I don't believe formula can be as good because I don't believe we have yet figured out all the ways that breastmilk interacts with a baby's body and development. The increased immunity seems like a huge pro - breastfed babies don't get as many colds and minor illnesses because they get mom's antibodies. Cost and convenience are also factors - so much easier to not buy or prepare formula.

As far as letting dad do a feeding, I plan to pump a bit for that. Doesn't seem like a big deal. I'm going to be home for a year, so I won't pump at work.

I haven't really started preparing yet, but I'm going to a La Leche League meeting in February, I'm taking the class my health region offers in early April, and I plan to read a book or two. I don't expect the painful part to last long at all.

IU_baby · January 2011

Yes, I am planning to nurse again.

It does hurt at the beginning, it's not easy for everyone and it is uncomfortable to pump. But, the pain goes away, the convenience of nursing is amazing, you get used to pumping and it has benefits for you and your baby that walking and formula do not.

That being said, it's a personal decision, but one that I think deserves some extra consideration.

MaybeBaby2 · January 2011

I'm going to try again. With DD I thought I was all gung-ho, but the pain was just unbearable. I had a lot of conflicting information from nurses, etc and soon after, everything just fell apart.
I also think some post-partum baby blues were a factor as well for everything being so hard. I'll try again and give it my best shot. We'll see what happens.

That being said, DD was mainly formula fed (after getting breastmilk for a very short time). She didn't have an ear infections until she was almost a year old, hardly any sick visits to the pediatrician, etc, etc. Even now at almost 4YO, she hasn't seen the pedi since her 3 year well visit in March 2010.

jeffrae · January 2011

If you read any literature or talk to a pedi - they will tell you the bm is best for baby up to 6 months - it is total nutrition. For you personally - it does burn more calories and helps your uterus contract back to regular size.

Bfing was hard at first - I dealt with nip shields, a snacker of a baby (every hour), mastitis, clogged duct, clogged pore, dairy/soy free diet. But I made it 11+ months. It was important for me to try it - and especially as my dd had heart defects at birth, the pediatric cardiologist and pediatrician both agreed that bfing was best for her. Also - it is CHEAPEST! The formula we had to use was $25/week!!!

I had to supplement when I went back to work as I was not making enough - so that can be frustrating. But nursing is convenient, helps with bonding. DH was not as involved because I was the food - but he helped out in any way he could.

I will be doing it again with this little one - but will pump and get a stash in a deep freezer early on so that I don't deal with the stress of producing less when back at work. I will also not beat myself up this time around if and when I need to supplement. Either way - you are feeding your kid - which is most important.

disneyfan0511 · January 2011

I plan to. I do think it's best for the baby (that said, I was a FF baby and I feel like I turned out pretty OK). If it doesn't work out I've told myself I won't beat myself up over it.

bluedahlia · January 2011

I did with my first and plan to this time around barring any unforeseen issues. I wanted to do it because it can protect the baby from illness and is free, and when the milk came in (holy engorgement!), it almost felt like my body was insisting.

That said, it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. The nipple adjustment was pretty painful the first few weeks. I was a zombie from getting up so often to feed. I tried to pump so H could help, but I would have to get up and pump every few hours anyway just to prevent engorgement. I felt like a walking milk bottle.

Once I adjusted mentally, physically, and emotionally and her feedings became farther apart, it was worth it. The bonding and the feeling of being able to calm the baby through nursing was really great, and it became really convenient not having to deal with cleaning bottles and buying formula. That said, I don't judge mothers at all for choosing to FF. It is such a personal decision with so many individual challenges that I totally understand why some women choose not to do it.

carishabob · January 2011

pinkpear:
I *hope* to breastfeed. I know that for some women it is challenging and not possible even though they really want to. I hope to breastfeed because I believe it is healthy for both me and the baby. I'll be a SAHM so I won't have to deal with work issues and having to pump there. I hope we won't have to use formula at all.

This and also my friends who have done it say it's a good bonding experience. I'm going to try it, and if it doesn't work for one of us, I'm okay with formula too.

karinotulloch · January 2011

I'm hoping to - it didn't go so well with DS. I ended up pumping exclusively for 4 months, which was INSANE. I felt like I spent more time with my pump that my LO for awhile there. I will not do that again.

So, for health (both of us), bonding, finances, a personal challenge and just a general desire to do it, I will be giving it my best shot.

LuciesMama · January 2011

Hi, there are so many reasons why I feel it's a great choice to breastfeed - there are so many benefits that many women don't even know about, like reducing the risk of cancer (by 50%) -- both for you AND your baby. Crazy!

I wrote an article about it and some latching tips for getting started. Yes, it can hurt in the beginning, I won't lie. But MAN, it is such a worthwhile endeavor:

https://www.lucieslist.com/your-life/#why

iris427 · January 2011

I breastfed my daughter. (I'm actually weaning her now). There are health benefits to breastfeeding that formula simply cannot replicate, for both the baby and the mother. I also just wanted to breastfeed.

You can still have your husband help out with some feedings. You can give formula instead of pumping and nurse part time. You can breastfeed for a few months and then switch to formula. It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

Also it may hurt in the beginning, but unless there is a problem like thrush, tongue tie or poor latch, it shouldn't last very long. If it does, there are usually things that can be done to fix the situation. I had a hard time with nipple pain when my daughter was a newborn and I'm now convinced that she had a tongue tie. Most people don't have the experience that I did, thankfully. And the fact that I'm planning to nurse this baby too shows that at least for some people, the early struggles of breastfeeding are worth it.

GL with whatever you decide.

iris427 · January 2011

SC1977:
I'm breastfeeding because I believe it's best for the baby and because it's free. I even get a free pump through a program at work.
I never thought I'd be comfortable with doing it, but now I'm looking forward to the bonding time. (I say that now... talk to me again when the baby is 1 week old and I'm feeding it 8 times a day).

Or 12 times a day

Cassondra09 · January 2011

TheRealNJhousewife:

I know it's great for the baby, but so is formula. I know it burns extra calories, but so does walking.

Formula cannot compare to breastmilk. When the next formula commercial comes on tv, read the bottom, it says breastmilk is best. I think that is HUGE that they (formula companies) have to state that.

Breastfeeding not only burns calories, it decreases your risk of breast and ovarian cancers and the list goes on and on. I encourage you to do your research and do what feels the most right to you! I think it is a good idea to go into it open-minded, give it your best shot, if it doesn't work or isn't for you then at least you tried!

kristennd · January 2011

I'm hoping to be able to do it for most of the usual reasons -- health of both of us, convenience, $ savings. (Not buying into the bonding argument.) But I'm not going to agree I'm a terrible person if it doesn't work out. It's definitely not easy, especially to start. I've heard enough horror stories from friends and relatives. But none of them regretted it or advised against it either.

pandi02a · January 2011

I plan to breastfeed, 100%. If I am not able to or can only do it for a certain amount of time, so be it, but I think it's at least worth a try. There are too many benefits to it for me to ignore. Like other ladies have said it helps your uterus return to normal size, burns calories to help you loose weight, it is better for the baby, and it is a bonding experience between the mother and the child, to name a few things. I will also be a SAHM so I won't have to worry about going back to work and pumping.

soon to be Mrs. Connolly · January 2011

I am breastfeeding for a list of reasons. 1- I believe it is best for the baby. From what I have read the actual breast milk alters from day to day and mornign to tnight, changing for what your baby needs. Formula can not do that. 2- The bonding experience with baby. 3- I will pump and my husband will be able to be part of the feeding porcess because of that, he will be able to feed what I pump. 3- why buy it when it is free?

kikibird · January 2011

I plan/hope to breastfeed, ideally for at least 6 months, if not longer. Where I work is pretty family friendly, so pumping at work after maternity leave won't be a problem.

ETA: Reasons? I believe it's healthier for the baby and me (I too was FF though and seem to be doing all right ), it's cheaper than formula, and I'm just plain looking forward to it, so I hope I will be able to.

arom729 · January 2011

OP, you and I are on the exact same page. I don't feel the pull to breastfeed and don't think I will bond with my baby any less if I don't. That said, I've decided that I'm going to give it a go for the first week. The first 2-3 days are the most important nutritionally (so I've read). I go back to work at 6 weeks postpartum, and I'm not willing to leave work every 2 hours to pump. Plus, my daycare provides formula so I don't have to buy a large quantity.

I'm also going to rent a pump from the hospital to try for the first month. I will see how my supply goes and use both formula and BM.

If I'm being completely honest with myself, I know I have mental hang-ups about BF-ing because my MIL nursed MH and BIL until they were 3 years old. This makes me so incredibly uncomfortable and turned off from the entire thing. Seriously freaks.me.out.

kammmmay · January 2011

I was going to do it for the health benefits and the bonding with the baby. Ive read quite a few articles that showed babies who breastfeed dont over eat, while even if you bottle feed with breastmilk they will overeat. The financial benefits dont hurt either. Formula can definitely get expensive.

I've also been told that it hurts when you dont breastfeed either (like when you stop) because your breasts still fill, then it has nowhere to go. I figured if its going to be painful, whats another couple months if its good for the baby.

Both ways have pros and cons. I hope you can figure out what is best for you and your family

Pythia1022 · January 2011

I am going to breastfeed exclusively. Excluding the possibility that after birth, my supply does not come in...there is absolutely no reason for me not to.

Heather & Nayt · January 2011

I am hoping and praying I get to breastfeed this time around. I tried for 2 long heart breaking weeks with DS, and I never got anything in beside colostrum. If I can't do it exclusively or at all, I won't beat myself up this time, but I am going to give it my best shot.

I know it is best for baby, I want to give her the best shot I can. Plus the bonding is awesome and I love that closeness. I do plan on pumping so DH can help with feeding though after a few weeks if it works.

ETA: DS was ff from the beginning with a tiny bit of what ever I could pump, and he has yet to have an ear infection, and he has only had 1 major cold a few weeks ago. I firmly believe even if you are not going BF for the long haul, if you can just give the baby that first bit, do it.

lunatic76 · January 2011

I'm breastfeeding because I don't want to buy formula. I don't want to give my baby formula because there have been too many recalls on formula in the last couple of years. I breastfed my first until 13 months and was glad because I didn't have to break her from a bottle.

Stephcara · January 2011

I am hoping to. I bf my daughter for 6 months and had milk frozen for her for another couple of weeks after that. I enjoyed the quiet time together, being able to provide for her. It is rough but once you get into a groove, it becomes a lot easier.

Megan.10.06 · January 2011

I am going to try again. With my son, we could NOT get him to latch. It even took several tries from 3 different LCs inthe hospital. I pumped for a few weeks at home, and I will not pump again. I do hope to nurse though.

My son ate like a CHAMP. I had an extreme oversupply, and we STILL had to supplement. He ate 4 oz every HOUR - he grew like a weed too and was never a heavy baby. He was even hungry for more, but he also had reflux so he couldn't have more than that at one time. He finally spaced to every 2 hours at 3 MONTHS. At 5 months old, he wore 18 month clothing. He was in a continual growth spurt. Formula for him? $50 a week. FIFTY. DOLLARS. That alone is enough to motivate me to nurse!

I was like you before I had him though. I was actually sure I didn't want to, but I felt like I HAD to give it a try just to appease other people. My son successfully latched once - his first feeding. I fell in LOVE with it. But I wanted him to have the pacifier, and when he came back from the nursery with one, he never latched for a successful feeding again.

BFing is painful at first. So is the pump. And it's not the same for everyone, some people barely notice. But it was NOTHING compared to the pain of drying to dry up. So don't let the thought of pain hold you back from trying.

I'm not pro-BF for every person, you have to decide if it's right for you. But like every situation, give it a try. If you don't like it, don't do it. Simple as that!

joecubed · January 2011

I nursed my son until he was two, and I wouldn't trade that experience for the world. It was definitely a bonding experience. As a working mom, it was very encouraging for me to know that DS and I had an aspect to our relationship that couldn't be duplicated by even the most wonderful of caregivers.

Yes, it was hard in the beginning. But, give it six weeks and I really believe it's much easier than formula feeding. Besides, it might be working through that difficulty that creates the bond. DH would feed DS fairly often with pumped milk. I'm rambling... but the simple answer is yes, I plan to BF again.

ETA: In the beginning, I nursed DS because I believe that the benefits of breastmilk can't be completely replicated by formula. As he grew older and began to eat solids, I still appreciated those benefits, but nursing was probably more about the bonding. At this point, my reasons for planning to nurse my DD are the same as for DS, except my appreciation for the relational aspect of nursing is much greater than it was before I experienced it with DS.

Christine&Chris · January 2011

OP I felt the same way you do, but am totally committed to giving bfing my best shot for all the reasons PPs have mentioned. Plus, I can try it and change to formula if it doesn't work out; not vise versa.

I'm concerned about the physicial discomfort, excluding DH from feedings, getting up all night even if baby's sleeping to pump and keep up supply, removing the "gals" from the sex scene with DH (really sad about this!), and actually (not sure if other's have this) competing with family/friends views. Absolutely none of my family or friends have breastfed and I have no real personal support system.

To combat all of this I'm researching like crazy and now know most discomforts can be avoided or simply remedied (correcting latch, post nursing care to prevent cracked nipples etc.). I plan to have DH do some feedings from what's pumped, but also to do her bathtime/bedtime routine for bonding. And we're sitting in on a couple of different la leche groups to find support. As for the sex...I've got nothing yet...

My goal is 2 months, then 4 months, then 6. Small steps with the most knowledge possible.

karenmarie20 · January 2011

I hope to BF as much as possible but like DD1, we'll probably give her at least one bottle of formula a day once my supply is established. The first 6 weeks of BFing were pure hell but after that it was so much easier than making a bottle and I genuinely liked the cuddle/bonding time.

I hate pumping so if we have latch or supply issues, I'll probably go straight to formula. Also the pumping hatred is why we introduce bottles/formula bc that's what I plan to send to DC with her when she starts in September twice a week.

Good luck with your decision!

EJensify · January 2011

Breastfeeding because I truly believe in its benefits....for the baby and for my bank account Yes

I'll pump and store so that DH and others can feed the baby, too, but we will EBF for at least 12 months if possible.

00tedsgirl · January 2011

I nursed DS til about 23 months and will nurse DD, too. It wasn't always a cakewalk with DS, but I have a tremendous support system including a sister who successfully bf'ed 3 kids.

Reasons:

It's free

It's healthier for both of us

I don't have to deal with bottles

It's always ready- no mixing, heating, pouring...

Milk clears up all kinds of things including early nasal congestion, earaches, pinkeye, and eczema

DS was sick once in his baby years

I can pump if I want to

My rack looks fabulous when I'm lactating

Formula poops smell so incredibly nasty to me

ETA: The discomfort does not last long and is a small price to pay for all the benefits, IMO. I didn't become a mom to live in a fairy tale.

LawLove08 · January 2011

Yes, I plan to BF this baby, and I hope it's as good an experience as it was with DS. ?I initially planned to BF DS for 3 months, and then begin weaning so I would be finished before I returned to work at 4.5 mo. ?Instead, it was such an awesome experience (and amazing diet!) that I continued until I had to stop due to supply issues at 10 months.

I won't lie, it was painful for the first couple weeks. ?And it's tiring, because you don't get a break. ?But, for me, the pain went away after a few weeks, and by the time DS was 5 or 6 weeks it was a breeze. ?In fact, compared to the issues I had getting him to take a bottle and formula, BFing was simple!

I encourage you to give it a try. ?You have nothing to lose, and everyone's experience with pain/weight loss, etc differs. ?Personally, DS was incredibly healthy until I stopped BFing (hardly had a cold, never had a fever), I was back in my pre-pregnancy clothes at 3 weeks, and it ended up being this incredible diet where I could eat ANYTHING and EVERYTHING and never gain a pound. ?In fact, I had to eat high-cal stuff because I kept losing weight. ? But for me the best part was the bonding, and knowing that nursing was so soothing and comforting to him. ?Keeping that going after returning to work was very helpful to my transition.

adellel · January 2011

Hoping I don't get flamed for this, but I am not breastfeeding and do not plan on trying. I just don't have the comfort level for doing it, to be quite honest. I know so many people and babies that have been formula fed and are doing just fine.

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