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August 2012 Moms
mindymaske
member
Scarlet
was breastfeeding weird for anyone?
mindymaske
member
I am very hesitant about breast feeding, because I frequently hear about all the challenges however the main reason is because it just feels weird for me to think of my daughter sucking on my breasts. Many ppl have told me that once you have the baby it won't feel weird, but are there some ppl that it actually still does feel weird and end up formula feeding? I just can't imagine feeling so different once the baby comes and all of a sudden feeling magically comfortable and normal about it.
I completly understand that breast milk is better for baby, especially right away, so I am thinking about exclusively pumping, it that crazy and not really do able? Also until your milk comes in there are only teaspoons of colustrom, right? so it that even pumpable? Is there even enough to transfer to a bottle? or would I supplement with formula for those first few days until milk comes in?
Any instight from STM's re: feelings of awkwardness with breast feeding or advice from anyone that has exclusively pumped would be awesome. This has been my largest concern for the last few months. I want my baby to have whats best, but I feel like I wouldn't like bf'ing at all.
Thanks in advance
Scarlet
This discussion has been closed.
Re: was breastfeeding weird for anyone?
I Pumped some colostrum in the hospital when DD had to go under the lights for jaundice. You don't get much, but try don't require much in the beginning. Pumping, to me, is more work than BFing, but if that's all you're comfortable doing then its better than nothing. However, I wasn't necessarily feeling awkward beforehand, but I was afraid that I would feel that way when the time came. Instead, I didn't really feel awkward at all. Actually, just the opposite. It felt really natural to do it. Not like, natural as in it was easy - but it just felt right. I dot know how to explain it. Our culture tends to view breasts as only sexual toys instead of what they're actually intended to be - baby food!
ETA: bumping from iPhone. Sorry for typos!
Yes, I was a little weirded out by the thought of it but once we did it, I was no longer weirded out. To watch your baby peacefully sucking away puts into perspective what breasts were actually made for. As PP said, try it and if you are still weirded out, move to pumping.
It is crazy but you have to remember that formula has not always existed and, in fact, there are still areas of the world where this is the only option. So think of that when you think of colostrum - your body is providing what your baby needs from the get-go. You can give some formula if it makes you feel better but it's not necessary. Plus, that baby needs to be latched all the time at first anyway to get the milk flowing so you don't want to discourage that.
I've always associated breasts as a sexual body part, because for me (this may be TMI) its one way for me to enjoy foreplay. I was EXTREMELY nervous about wanting to exclusively breast feed, but talked to many FTM about it and STM's. I asked "wouldn't it be weird using your breast in that way for a baby when its been used for foreplay for so long?" My sister said "Before you have baby, yes, its weird to think about, but, right when you have your baby, its second nature, our maternal instinct to WANT to feed our babies is so strong." And mother said the same. She has 5 kids, and bottle fed formula with the first two (her mother thought breastfeeding was inappropriate to do), and then with the next three (me being one of those three) she breast fed, and regreted not doing so with the other two. But that was just my mom and sister. For me now, I am not feeling weird about my decision to BF at all. Just because I thought so much about it, to the point where I realized, "if other mom's can do it and not feel weird, so can I." I find it extremely normal now, and I feel silly for thinking its weird now. I know that I don't want to go more than a year though, because of personal preference. I think that if you're willing to pump, at least do that. Formula fed babies are fine too, and can definately be healthy, but more gassy & spit up more (most babies at my work are formula fed, I work in child care). I think immune systems just are generally better if you BF as well. HTH...GL on your decision!
ETA: I agree with just trying it, if its not for you, then just go with what you want to do as a mother. Mother knows best!
pumping colustrum is very difficult as it is so thick, I was unable to do it, but i could hand express some. We did end up supplementing with a bit of formula but mostly because she's a preemie.
from what I've read about exclusively pumping, there are a lot of negatives. you have to pump 8-12 times a day when baby is a newborn, and pumping is no where near as efficient at getting the milk out as the baby's sucking is. Many women complain that they feel like a cow, hooked up to the pump all the time.
I have not found it weird at all to breastfeed, just frustrating as my supply sucks and her suck sucks
go post on the BF board for more advice
Gretchen Evie, born 7/8/2012 at 35w5d
My Blog
i thought it would feel wierd, too, but it was totally natural. assuming you are a ftm, you also can't fathom how much you are going to love your LO, too. but it happens. i certainly think you should give it a try, and if it isn't for you then so be it. at least you tried.
also- it bothers me that in this country we often think this way. we categorize our breasts as a sexual thing, when it certainly should not. why is it not wierd to have your husband sucking on your nips, but it is for your baby? breasts are not for sexual pleasure, they are for feeding babies!
It's a GIRL!!
I'm a FTM, but I wanted to tell you that I know just what you mean by this (except my baby's a boy!) I was having serious issues earlier this pregnancy dealing even with the idea of BFing. I read as much as I could get my hands on, took a BFing class, and watched a few videos. Although there is still some residual weirdness, I have to say, getting all that info made me feel much more secure and comfortable. I can't really explain why. Also, I'm quite a type A person, so all the info also gave me the conviction I needed to commit to making the decision, and try the best I can. I guess now I look forward to it a little bit as one of the first challenges I'll face as a mom, but now I feel empowered enough to succeed. HTH you.