@kassyfry I'm in the same boat. I only breast fed my DD for a little over a month. I hated every second of it. This time I'm on the fence about doing it at all.
Also- I have no qualms about wanting my body completely back after pregnancy. After 9 months of worrying about what I'm eating and drinking, and being completely owned by the baby- it's nice to have it back to myself.
Oh, I have had plenty of farts today, too. But I'm telling you, I know the difference.
@kassyfry - I had so much trouble BFing DD, I totally know how you feel. I was induced and my milk didn't come in properly and I had brutal stabbing-glass pain in my left nipple and moderate ice-pick pain in my right nipple and I saw lactation consultants and pumped with a hospital grade pump eight times a day, and I still had to supplement her because she was losing weight and it was heart-breaking and I quit at 3 months when she started biting my nipples because she was so hungry and impatient with the letdown.
Now I'm starting to think my confession should be that I'm thinking about BFing as much as I can despite all those things and you guys can tell me that's insane because...
I've been eating awful for weeks. White bread, ice cream, Count Chocula, chips and dip. Today I had French bread pizza for lunch followed up by a row of candy cane Oreos.
To those thinking they don't want to breastfeed the second time around I just want to say the second time can be a total different experience. Like night and day. I struggled so much with my first. I had a c section, milk took forever to come in, she wouldn't latch, tongue tie, stopped responding well to the pump and then with my second he latched right away, I had amazing supply and pumped so much I donated most of it. So I totally get how much it sucks and how draining it is. Definitely not saying you absolutely should if it's not right for you and your family this time. Just want to say it could be a totally different experience next time.
To those thinking they don't want to breastfeed the second time around I just want to say the second time can be a total different experience. Like night and day. I struggled so much with my first. I had a c section, milk took forever to come in, she wouldn't latch, tongue tie, stopped responding well to the pump and then with my second he latched right away, I had amazing supply and pumped so much I donated most of it. So I totally get how much it sucks and how draining it is. Definitely not saying you absolutely should if it's not right for you and your family this time. Just want to say it could be a totally different experience next time.
Thanks. I appreciate the encouragement, as I am still on the fence. The thing is, I had an "easy" breastfeeding experience the first time and I'm still not sure I want to do it again. It was easy from the baby's perspective (she latched fine, gained weight fine, no issues) but hard from my perspective (super hormonal, felt like my body wasn't my own, sleep deprivation/no one else could feed the baby, pumping, etc.). I also come from a family and a community where not many people breastfeed so I didn't have a lot of support/felt like I could never feel comfortable nursing in front of family or in public so that made it hard too.
I just spent the day buying bath & body works wallflowers for every room in the house, a scent canister for my car, and new candles. I can not handle food smells or bathroom smells (living with little boys--I can bleach every inch of the bathroom and I still get a whiff of pee) or ANY smell but nice synthetic fragrances like "flannel" and "teakwood." Hope no one has an allergic reaction walking into my house.
@sls and I'm telling you, you don't know the difference. It's impossible. Your confession should be in the Pregnancy Brain: I can't believe post. At which you would put "im so confused that I think my farts are my baby flutters!"
I had an awful time bf with my first, stopped at 7 weeks and felt so guilty, even though it was 100% the right decision. I went to a class while I was pg with my second and I was the only second time mom in the class and I cried during the class because bf was so stressful for me, plus hormones. I ended up bf my second until he weaned himself at 13 months. But, I'm not sure I want to pump at work again, so I might try to do a combo of bf and formula. @kassyfry I don't see why you have to announce or discuss this decision with anybody except your partner. Your baby, your body, your choice.
I've stayed home with my two children, started a daycare so that I could financially contribute. But after this baby is 1, I want to go to work. I'm so done, and want to dress nicely and actually use my degree.
I've stayed home with my two children, started a daycare so that I could financially contribute. But after this baby is 1, I want to go to work. I'm so done, and want to dress nicely and actually use my degree.
This baby is so unplanned, and we are still trying to figure out how we are going to afford it. If we can get our ducks in a row, this is exactly what I plan on doing to avoid paying daycare but still be able to bring in a paycheck.
@mamaelle27 I totally understand and you could feel the same way again or you could feel different. You never know! It is definitely one of the hardest things you can ever do and a very personal decision only you can make!
I was so nervous to nurse in public with my first. I always brought a bottle and usually bottle fed in front of some family and pumped in rooms hidden. With my second I nursed anywhere any time and did not care. Pretty sure I accidently flashed my FIL a few times and totally don't care.
I breastfed my son for 15 months. It was easy in the sense that he latched right away, my supply was fine, he gained weight and thrived EBF. BUT this kid was such a boob addict, refused bottles and pacifiers and was a huge comfort nurser. That at 15 months he was still nursing up to 8 times a day and I had to cut him off. I am terrified my second will be another boob fiend and I don't know if I'll breastfeed from sheer terror of doing that again.
Also, I'm terrible at grammar and I always forget to proofread. Sorry, @Assiram42!
@Mother0fDragons according to MIL, BIL was that way. She had to forcibly wean him and it was very difficult. But then my husband was a crazy kid and at 6 months she just didn't have the supply to BF him anymore and he had to be FF. So you never know.
Sorry everyone didn't mean to post and run, had out of town guests here all day. @mrt we told my parents because they mentioned over the weekend again how important breastfeeding is and how terrible it was that I stopped with my son. They are incredibly pushy and judgmental so I just kind of announced to them that I was not doing that again with this one. @JessyKV I understand your point however I had a wonderfully easy time breastfeeding. I just didn't enjoy it. I dreaded it. And pumping was worse. Especially while traveling for work. The anxiety about killed me. I think my thoughts and feelings are similar to @mamaelle27. Good luck to making your decision. Whatever you choose, it will be fine, because all that matters in the end is that your baby is fed.
I exclusively pumped with DD3 for a year, it was rough, but I'll do it again to avoid paying for formula. My children are fancy and required the super expensive formula (Elecare) that required a prescription and back then insurance wouldn't cover. So I'll pump and live off the MSPI diet for a year. I'm selfishly excited to lose weight this way too.
I exclusively pumped with DD3 for a year, it was rough, but I'll do it again to avoid paying for formula. My children are fancy and required the super expensive formula (Elecare) that required a prescription and back then insurance wouldn't cover. So I'll pump and live off the MSPI diet for a year. I'm selfishly excited to lose weight this way too.
I also lost a ton of weight doing it. I tell myself every day I won't bf but I know I am going to. I have a shopping habit that can't work with formula funding. :-) same goes with eating.
I'm late to the party but this kind of goes with the germaphobe topic. Buffets freak me out. If you sit back and watch, you see kids sneeze in their hand and then touch the utensils. I have observed a man spilling noodles onto the ledge after missing his plate, then he proceeded to pick them up with his hands and place the noodles back into the buffet dish. Ew. Potlucks also make me nervous because unless you have been to your coworkers house, you never truly know how clean it is. I wouldn't eat at a dirty restaurant so I definitely don't want to eat from a dirty house/kitchen. I place myself in the middle for other germ issues. As a nurse, I don't wear gloves as often as I should but I am sure to wash my hands after every patient encounter. I obviously wear gloves if I am dealing with blood or other bodily fluids but not for other things such as assessing someone.
Re: FFFC 11/4
Also- I have no qualms about wanting my body completely back after pregnancy. After 9 months of worrying about what I'm eating and drinking, and being completely owned by the baby- it's nice to have it back to myself.
@kassyfry - I had so much trouble BFing DD, I totally know how you feel. I was induced and my milk didn't come in properly and I had brutal stabbing-glass pain in my left nipple and moderate ice-pick pain in my right nipple and I saw lactation consultants and pumped with a hospital grade pump eight times a day, and I still had to supplement her because she was losing weight and it was heart-breaking and I quit at 3 months when she started biting my nipples because she was so hungry and impatient with the letdown.
Now I'm starting to think my confession should be that I'm thinking about BFing as much as I can despite all those things and you guys can tell me that's insane because...
MMC: 09/13 (9 weeks)
DD: Born 8/22/14
Babies #2 & 3: Due dates 6/9/17
And my other love: writing
But after this baby is 1, I want to go to work. I'm so done, and want to dress nicely and actually use my degree.
I was so nervous to nurse in public with my first. I always brought a bottle and usually bottle fed in front of some family and pumped in rooms hidden. With my second I nursed anywhere any time and did not care. Pretty sure I accidently flashed my FIL a few times and totally don't care.
Also, I'm terrible at grammar and I always forget to proofread. Sorry, @Assiram42!
I exclusively pumped with DD3 for a year, it was rough, but I'll do it again to avoid paying for formula. My children are fancy and required the super expensive formula (Elecare) that required a prescription and back then insurance wouldn't cover. So I'll pump and live off the MSPI diet for a year. I'm selfishly excited to lose weight this way too.
ETA: words are hard at 5:30 on Saturday