All breasfeeders or have breast fed in the past in here please

[ExcitedMum2Be]

I have a few questions for you. My little man is now 5 weeks and so far exclusively breast fed.

Anyway, if anyone can answer the following in your own experience I'd be very chuffed

1. How long are you planning on bf'ing for? / If not anymore when did you stop and what reasons did you have for choosing that specific time?

2. How much did your baby weigh at birth, and did you have latching probs? My lil man does, not sure if it was because he was born small at 5lbs 9oz, but he is now 10lbs 7oz and he still has problems latching on without me doing all the work everytime.

3. Do you give your lo the bottle at all? Either formula or expressed breast milk?

4. Have you ever been at the point where you have nearly given in breast feeding? And if so and you carried on what motivation did you use?

5. Everyone keeps telling me it will get easier... does it? when? lol

6. How do you cope with only you being able to feed your lo when your tired and emotional? As if formula fed I'm guessing you can take a nap while someone else feeds for you

Thanks x

 

[sam's mum]

1. How long are you planning on bf'ing for? / If not anymore when did you stop and what reasons did you have for choosing that specific time?

Sam’s 6 months old next week and I’m planning to breastfeed him at least a year

2. How much did your baby weigh at birth, and did you have latching probs? My lil man does, not sure if it was because he was born small at 5lbs 9oz, but he is now 10lbs 7oz and he still has problems latching on without me doing all the work everytime.

He was 8lb 13oz at birth. We did have a few latching problems in the first week, mainly because I wasn’t ever really given any guidance in the hospital, so I ended up with severely cracked nipples! We soon sorted out the latch though - just took a while for the cracks to heal!

3. Do you give your lo the bottle at all? Either formula or expressed breast milk?

He occasionally has bottles of expressed milk. When one side was badly cracked I sometimes used to express the first feed from that side in the mornings - I had to get him used to a bottle anyway as I had 2 days of work when he was a couple of months old, so he needed to be fed expressed milk then. His first bottle was at about 5-6 weeks old, and he still has occasional bottles if I go out for a couple of hours.

4. Have you ever been at the point where you have nearly given in breast feeding? And if so and you carried on what motivation did you use?

I never wanted to give in, but with the pain I was in at first (wanted to cry when I knew he needed fed - latching on was so painful when they were really badly cracked, although the rest of the feed wasn’t as bad) I could completely understand why some people do want to give in. I’d always wanted to breastfeed though - both for the bonding and nutritional value as breast milk…also for convenience if we went anywhere and because it’s cheaper, so I didn’t want the pain to stop me from feeding him when I knew it would get better and so much easier!

5. Everyone keeps telling me it will get easier... does it? when? lol

It was probably sometime between 6 to 8 weeks when it suddenly started getting easier for us - pain free and quicker! And I absolutely love it now - Sam wants to be so active all day and it’s the only time I actually get to spend sitting and holding him!

6. How do you cope with only you being able to feed your lo when your tired and emotional? As if formula fed I'm guessing you can take a nap while someone else feeds for you

I just used to sleep when he did, and later on if I was exhausted I’d take him to bed during the day and try to sleep for a bit while he was feeding. I was lucky because he’s always slept at night, so I could catch up on sleep then, but I have had days when I’ve been so tired all I want to do is sleep - luckily I have a fantastic friend who has come over a couple of times and watched Sam for a couple of hours in between feeds so I can sleep! At weekends I’ll get my OH to take him out in the garden just after he’s been fed so that I can go back to bed for a couple of hours too!

How are you finding it so far? x

 

[ExcitedMum2Be]

I'm finding it a bit better at the moment, although he does still have colic so finding it hard to settle him alot.

But... for the last 2 weeks he was cluster feeding all day and then feeding normal in the night. Because he was born small he has been catching up big time. From week 2-3 he gained 12oz and then week 3-4 he gained 9oz.

Well 1 week ago he was 7lbs 9oz... yesterday he was 10lbs 7oz!! :O Im still in shock he doesnt seem to look much bigger lol.

oh i missed out one question aswell..

does anyone feed in public? if so how do u manage it? x

 

[sam's mum]

His weight gain is amazing! You must be doing well! It gets easier when they start getting more efficient at feeding and feeds don't last so long.

Most things here aren't too far from home (shops etc) so I don't need to feed in public much, but if I do I have a nursing cover which is brilliant - it's like an apron but it's got a stiff bit in the neck so you can see your baby and he can see you, but nobody else can see anything!

Will try to find a link for you...can't remember where I got it but I've posted it somewhere on here before x

 

[sam's mum]

https://www.sweetweebairn.co.uk/index.html ...but I got mine with free postage on ebay x

 

[Samantha675]

I plan to feed my son as long as I can. I love it.

7lbs 8 oz. No, latched on with no problems.

Rarely does he get a bottle of expressed milk.

Oh god yes, sooo temped to say f this and give him formula, but then I look at his sweet little face, and I just can't do it. I know that my milk is WAY better for him.

yes, it does get easier. for me it was about 10-12 weeks in. I know it seems like a long time from 5 weeks, but it passes by in a flash.

Sleep when he sleeps, and just be stubborn about it. i set my mind to bfing my son, and I do. I also don't worry to much about the rest of the house for a while, now I am starting to care again. My DH was a huge help with cooking and cleaning as well.

yes i feed in public. I just throw a blanket over us, and let him get on with it.

 

[Holldoll]

1. How long are you planning on bf'ing for? / If not anymore when did you stop and what reasons did you have for choosing that specific time?
Bella is 3 months, and I plan on BF exclusively for 6 months and supplementing until at least 1 year.

2. How much did your baby weigh at birth, and did you have latching probs? She was 10.5 lbs. We never had any latch problems

3. Do you give your lo the bottle at all? Either formula or expressed breast milk?
She gets a bottle on Tuesdays when I have to work and other random times if I leave her with DH or the nanny. It's always breast milk. She's never had formula.
4. Have you ever been at the point where you have nearly given in breast feeding? And if so and you carried on what motivation did you use?There have definitely been frustrating times. The first 2 months were REALLY hard. Everyone told me it would get better, but I didn't believe them. IT DID!!

5. Everyone keeps telling me it will get easier... does it? when? See my answer above

6. How do you cope with only you being able to feed your lo when your tired and emotional? I learned VERY quickly how to nurse lying down. There are many times that we either fall asleep in the middle fo the night together, or take naps together, because I'm too tired to sit up, so she will nurse and then pull herself away and we both fall asleep.

 

[Margerle]

1. How long are you planning on bf'ing for? / If not anymore when did you stop and what reasons did you have for choosing that specific time?

For first baby I wanted to go as long as I could. I started work full time 10 days pp, but didn't work far away so I could go home to feed several times a day. I didn't keep up with it though and milk dried up 4-6 mo pp. (don't remember it was 12 years ago )

Second baby will be breastfed much longer. Hopefully past one year... as close to 2 yo as possible.

2. How much did your baby weigh at birth, and did you have latching probs? My lil man does, not sure if it was because he was born small at 5lbs 9oz, but he is now 10lbs 7oz and he still has problems latching on without me doing all the work everytime.

My first weighed 5 lb 14 oz and she latched like a champ. My second was 7lb 14 oz and she had a problem latching on my right breast only for some reason. Kinda grew out of it after 8 weeks.

3. Do you give your lo the bottle at all? Either formula or expressed breast milk?

First baby would not take anything but the breast. Wouldn't take a pacifier, no bottle NOTHING. But by the time I dried up, she had the bottle enough times to make it a bit easier.

This baby has taken a bottle since about 5 weeks old once every couple weeks. Now when she stays with gramma for a couple hours, I give gramma a bottle of expressed milk.

4. Have you ever been at the point where you have nearly given in breast feeding? And if so and you carried on what motivation did you use?

I never thought I'd say it, I am SO PRO-breastfeeding, but one night I was so exhausted, and my husband said I should just give her formula... I got very angry, and we argued a bit. (DH has never been around anyone who breastfed at any great length.) I almost gave in, just so I didn' have to hear him talk about it anymore. But I stuck with it, and am so glad I did. Just make sure there are people around you who are very supportive of breastfeeding if you don't find yourself absolutely 100% dedicated. DH is much more supportive now, and I know it just bothered him to see me so exhausted and in pain when he was used to babies getting formula.

Sometimes when things get painful, it might be easier to give a bottle, but I've done the research and know how beneficial it is in a baby's early development. And FOR ME that knowledge I gathered is what kept me breastfeeding. Second to that was the bond of mother-baby that develops.

5. Everyone keeps telling me it will get easier... does it? when? lol

ABSOLUTELY. It gets better and easier between 5-8 weeks.

6. How do you cope with only you being able to feed your lo when your tired and emotional? As if formula fed I'm guessing you can take a nap while someone else feeds for you

Thanks x

Both take a nap! Nurse while you sleep! I do it all the time.

 

[Holldoll]

does anyone feed in public? if so how do u manage it? All the time. I have a Hooter Hider. I'm not a very modest person though, so if I'm at someone's house that I know well, I don't really use it. If I didn't BF in public, I'd never leave the house!

 

[sam's mum]

does anyone feed in public? if so how do u manage it? All the time. I have a Hooter Hider. I'm not a very modest person though, so if I'm at someone's house that I know well, I don't really use it. If I didn't BF in public, I'd never leave the house!

If I'm at someone else's house or there are people here I'm quite comfortable feeding him without it - I just worry too much about offending people if I'm out in public! When you're with people you know, they never look anyway! x

 

[Margerle]

I guess I'm a bit like Holldoll, not real immodest about BFing.

I don't just go whipping the girls out on every streetcorner, but when we go to our local restaruant, I get a corner booth and tuck a bit of fabric into my bra strap to cover my exposed flesh and let baby get to it. She won't tolerate anything over her head, so I have to ahve her face uncovered.

 

[freckleonear]

1. How long are you planning on bf'ing for? / If not anymore when did you stop and what reasons did you have for choosing that specific time?

Aaron is almost eight months old now and still almost exclusively breastfed. I will definately continue feeding him until at least a year, and then see how it goes from there. To be honest I don't think we'll stop before 18 months.

2. How much did your baby weigh at birth, and did you have latching probs?

He was 7lb 12oz and yes, we had lots of latching problems. He lost a lot of weight in the first two weeks, partly because he couldn't latch onto my left breast. He didn't start gaining weight until I stopped trying to feed him on that side.

3. Do you give your lo the bottle at all? Either formula or expressed breast milk?

He has never ever had formula. When I first started feeding from just one breast I did pump from the other side and try to give him the expressed breast milk, but he hated the bottle and it made his reflux really bad.

4. Have you ever been at the point where you have nearly given in breast feeding? And if so and you carried on what motivation did you use?

In the first two weeks Aaron lost so much weight that the midwives wanted to admit him to hospital and give him formula. Fortunately I figured out how to get him latching on properly just in time. There were also times when I would sit there crying with pain and frustration and my poor hubby would beg me to give in. As a biologist I know the benefits of breastfeeding and was just absolutely determined not to give in. Pure obstinancy for the win!

5. Everyone keeps telling me it will get easier... does it? when? lol

I think it got a lot easier after the first 6 weeks. After that it's so easy and convenient.

6. How do you cope with only you being able to feed your lo when your tired and emotional? As if formula fed I'm guessing you can take a nap while someone else feeds for you

Sometimes I did and still have an "oh no" feeling when I'm really tired and wake up to Aaron crying to be fed (he still wakes up at least 3 times a night, often more), but he feeds really quickly now so I can soon go back to sleep! I do love knowing that he needs something only I can give him.

How are you finding it so far? x

Wonderful! I was 100% sold on breastfeeding before I started, now I'm 200% convinced!

 

[Baby-Love]

1. How long are you planning on bf'ing for? / If not anymore when did you stop and what reasons did you have for choosing that specific time?

I plan on breastfeeding for at least 6+ months. I will just observe her and see if she's interested in using a cup. No longer than a year though.

2. How much did your baby weigh at birth, and did you have latching probs? My lil man does, not sure if it was because he was born small at 5lbs 9oz, but he is now 10lbs 7oz and he still has problems latching on without me doing all the work everytime.

Kaida was 6lbs, 4oz. As far as I know she's never had problems latching on. No one showed/informed me what to do, or how to do it. I've basically just read and watched clips online. She seems to be latching on correctly..

3. Do you give your lo the bottle at all? Either formula or expressed breast milk?

No. Kaida is breastfed only. I sometimes wish she'd accept a bottle to give me a rest.


4. Have you ever been at the point where you have nearly given in breast feeding? And if so and you carried on what motivation did you use?

Oh.. many, many times. I've been to the point of crawling up in a ball and crying myself to sleep. What motivated me? The fact that she doesn't mean to be so demanding and that she my little miracle baby. I just think of the times she was in my womb and food was on tap..and that how lucky I am to have such a healthy child. I was given breasts for a reason, and this is my call. Also, it's not a 'forever' deal. THANK GOD!

5. Everyone keeps telling me it will get easier... does it? when? lol

Yes..but at a very slow pace. I am slowly coming to terms with how demanding it all is, and she's almost 2months old.
However, there are times I still feel exhausted in every way possible, but I'm learning this is a way of life for now.. well.. for a while.

6. How do you cope with only you being able to feed your lo when your tired and emotional? As if formula fed I'm guessing you can take a nap while someone else feeds for you

It's the case of having to cope. Now I get to the point of where I look for signs she's putting on weight. Kinda drives me to keep on breastfeeding.
Like.."Wow..I'm doing this. I'm keeping our baby alive. I'm producing her food."
Most of the time hearing her little gulps and her stroking my breast, and her looking so content keeps me going. This is a private moment, something no one can take from us. I'll treasure these moments...even the low points. My child trusts and already knows she can depend on me. For that I am grateful...even if I don't act like it all the time.

 

[Starflyr]

1. How long are you planning on bf'ing for? / If not anymore when did you stop and what reasons did you have for choosing that specific time?
Im planning on at least 7 months (until I go back to work) and want to go for a year or longer.

2. How much did your baby weigh at birth, and did you have latching probs? My lil man does, not sure if it was because he was born small at 5lbs 9oz, but he is now 10lbs 7oz and he still has problems latching on without me doing all the work everytime.
Brayden weighed 6 lb 5.7 oz and I was seeing or on the phone with a lactation consultant daily for the 1st 2 weeks. He only recently (at 11 weeks) really started latching well without help. Now, he attacks my boob - it's cute. He'll go then fling his open mouth at my boob and chomp LOL.

3. Do you give your lo the bottle at all? Either formula or expressed breast milk? He has had a few bottles of EBM, we need to start giving one more regularly to help him get used to it, I think.

4. Have you ever been at the point where you have nearly given in breast feeding? And if so and you carried on what motivation did you use?
At the beginning, yes, it was really hard and I was very envious of fomula mommies who could hand off LO and go do something for themselves. I have a BF support group that meets on Mondays at the hospital that I go to, and we get together outside of that also.

5. Everyone keeps telling me it will get easier... does it? when? lol 2-2.5 months for us. We still have occasional "hard" days, though, but I can get out and about and dont feel trapped at home anymore.

6. How do you cope with only you being able to feed your lo when your tired and emotional?
I just deal with it - it's best for him and I like the closeness. It helps, really, when you can figure out how to do things for yourself in between feedings - showers, massages, etc. Also, once you make 6-8 weeks, you can pump and leave a bottle with someone while you go out (just be sure you pump when s/he was supposed to eat so you dont hurt your supply).

*{*hugs*}*

Star

 

[Linzi]

1. Im breasttfeeding til 5 months, as he starts nursery then

2. Seth weighed 7lbs and weve never had any latching problems

3. Seth has expressed milk if we have a sitter or if we go out anywhere

4. Its been ok so far and Ive never really thought about packing in. Im actually dreading stopping

I cant answer the bottom two as we've never really had any problems, been quite lucky.

I dont think it would hurt to give a bottle or 2 if you need a rest. Persist with it if you can. I hope it gets easier for you

xxx

 

[Rachel]

1. How long are you planning on bf'ing for? / If not anymore when did you stop and what reasons did you have for choosing that specific time?

Not sure, taking it one day at a time at the moment but would like to get to 6months.


2. How much did your baby weigh at birth, and did you have latching probs?

7lb 4oz. No I didn't have any latching probs.


3. Do you give your lo the bottle at all? Either formula or expressed breast milk?

He has a had a couple of bottles of expressed breastmilk if I've needed to go out and someone else to feed him. He had a couple of bottles of formula the otherday when I thought I wanted to give up BFing.


4. Have you ever been at the point where you have nearly given in breast feeding? And if so and you carried on what motivation did you use?

Yes, a couple of times now. The otherday I even give him a couple of bottles of formula because I was frustrated and really thought I wanted to give up. I missed the breastfeeding though so im back to doing it without bottles again now. I also the missed the closeness it gives me with Kieran and also the thought of having to make and prepare bottles etc is enough to make me carry on breastfeeding


5. Everyone keeps telling me it will get easier... does it? when? lol

It hasn't for me yet, hoping it will soon


6. How do you cope with only you being able to feed your lo when your tired and emotional? As if formula fed I'm guessing you can take a nap while someone else feeds for you

If I can then I take Kieran into my bed and let him feed off me while I have a quick nap, or even if I just lie there it helps. That can be hard to do though for me having Nathan to look after aswell so I just have to get on with it most of the time

 

[marley2580]

1. How long are you planning on bf'ing for? / If not anymore when did you stop and what reasons did you have for choosing that specific time?

I'm planning on feeding for quite a while yet. Kaya has a strong attachment to the breast and I can't see her giving it up any time soon lol

2. How much did your baby weigh at birth, and did you have latching probs?

Kaya was 9lb 1oz and born after emergency c-section. I didn't think that we had latching problems, but we must of because I got really sore. Kaya got jaundice and the MW and doc insisted on supplimenting her with formula (through cup feeding) for 2 days, it was awful as it made me feel that my milk wasn't enough for her. Gave me a tremendous feeling of satisfaction when Kaya refused the formula on the 2nd day because she'd had enough from me.


3. Do you give your lo the bottle at all? Either formula or expressed breast milk?

Kaya took a bottle of EBM for a week and since then she hasn't touched one again.


4. Have you ever been at the point where you have nearly given in breast feeding? And if so and you carried on what motivation did you use?

No, but that's only because I'm so stubborn and have a good support network. I had an horrendous time with bleeding nipples, mastitis and then thrush. But watching my baby grow and thrive because of me was great motivation. Also, after the jaundice fiasco in the hospital, I knew I would feel like a failure if I gave in. I suppose that because my birth did not go to plan (failed homebirth ending in c-section) breastfeeding was the one thing that could go the way I wanted it to.


5. Everyone keeps telling me it will get easier... does it? when? lol

Oh god yes! Once everything settles down it gets sooooo much easier. It does get hard again from time to time - teething and growth spurts are a pain, sometimes literally! But it all settles down again after a week or so.


6. How do you cope with only you being able to feed your lo when your tired and emotional? As if formula fed I'm guessing you can take a nap while someone else feeds for you

It can be hard. But once I twigged that I could lie down and feed and sleep at the same time it got a lot easier. I co-sleep with Kaya and we both get loads of sleep, especially when she's having a growth spurt.

Feeding in public

TBH I just stick Kaya's head under my top. I probably show more flesh than many are comfortable with but Kaya's head covers all the important bits. I'm in Scotland though so no one can stop me feeding - it's my right

 

[KarenLV]

1. How long are you planning on bf'ing for? / If not anymore when did you stop and what reasons did you have for choosing that specific time?

6-9months.

2. How much did your baby weigh at birth, and did you have latching probs?
4.4lbs preemie. Latching problems with left breast because nipple is flat.

3. Do you give your lo the bottle at all? Either formula or expressed breast milk?

Bottle expressed milk when we go to mall or go outside for social activities (which is rare).

4. Have you ever been at the point where you have nearly given in breast feeding? And if so and you carried on what motivation did you use?

Yes,the first month during growth spurts was tough.I kept going because I know its best for him for building an excellent immune system.

5. Everyone keeps telling me it will get easier... does it? when? lol

Yes. Second half of the second month it gets a lot easier.

6. How do you cope with only you being able to feed your lo when your tired and emotional? As if formula fed I'm guessing you can take a nap while someone else feeds for you

I have a very supportive husband who helps to keep me positive by reminding me what a good mommy I am. He also buys me nice gifts!lol!

 

[sam's mum]

I have a very supportive husband who helps to keep me positive by reminding me what a good mommy I am. He also buys me nice gifts!lol!

I think I need to show this to my husband x

 

[clairebear]

I guess I'm a bit like Holldoll, not real immodest about BFing.

I don't just go whipping the girls out on every streetcorner, but when we go to our local restaruant, I get a corner booth and tuck a bit of fabric into my bra strap to cover my exposed flesh and let baby get to it. She won't tolerate anything over her head, so I have to ahve her face uncovered.

jacks the same he goes mad if there is anything over his face when trying to feed i have a few nursing tops for when i go out xx