BF concerns already!! Courtesy of MIL gggrrrr!

[MrsBandEgglet]

I know i have a way to go yet but i have to confess i'm getting a little anxious about BF and whether i'll be able to manage it etc. I would really really like to BF and plan to do so for at least 5 months before getting LO started with some solids, but still BF a bit in-between.
Trouble is i was talking to my MIL and she said although she BF my hubby he was growing so quickly and was always so hungry that she found she just didn't have enough and she had to top up with formula. My priority of course is to make sure that bubs is getting enough and is never left hungry but i'm beginning to worry that i am going to fail spectacularly at this. Is it definately ok to mix, to top up with formula? I've always had an...em...ample chest but does this mean i'm likely to produce enough milk still. I felt as though MIL was discreetly warning me that if i don't feed her grandchild properly she'll be having my head on a slab

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[Hevz]

All MIL's say this or tell you it's far too draining or painful etc. To be honest you won't know how it's gonna be until you "get there" but what I do know is...the more determined you are, the more likely to succeed. But the other most important factor is support too, I wouldn't bother talking about it to her again if all you're going to get is negative feedback as it'll put you off before you're anywhere near birth. Instead I would read up on it, baby magazines etc and ask other people you know.



I'm not pretending it can't be hard, difficult or draining at times but those days are few and far between once breastfeeding is established. Now breastfeeding is well established for me I can confidently go out with a few nappies and wipes shoved in my pocket, no need for bibs, bottles, powder, thermos flasks etc, I don't have to make bottles up while baby is screaming and hungry, I don't have to go downstairs in the night or early in the morning to make bottles up...I just pull her across into my bed and feed her, no washing up and sterilising of bottles (unless I use my breastpump to express some milk if I'm going out). I don't have any spare money to lay out for formula either....obviously breastfeeding is FREE



Good luck with your pregnancy, birth and feeding decision

 

[Ragirl]

First off, if she is not going to be supportive, I wouldn't talk with her about it. You do need to prepare yourself for the the fact that the first few days of BFing, baby is going to be hungry as you get your supply up. But that is no reason to panic or top off with formula. You just nurse constantly and within a day or two, your body is making enough to feed baby. But a lot of moms feel so overwhelmed by it all those first few days and feel (even though it is not true) that they are "starving their baby" that they give it up before they really know if it will work. So just mentally prepare for a difficult few days and be determined to make it work and you will succeed. As for your other question, you certainly can top off with formula if at some point you need to.

 

[Mervs Mum]

I agree with the others and I'll add that she's probably saying these things to make herself feel better. There's no shame in topping up but in my experience our elders, and MILs in particular seem to think that if you dont do thing EXACTLY like they did, it means that they were either doing it wrong or a bad parent.

With BFing and TBH just in life in general IMO you need people around you who are telling you that you CAN do it. There's no reason for you to fail. When you give birth to your baby your body will have fed and looked after your baby for 9 months from being a speck of nothing - why would it suddenly not be able to cope with it's growth once they are born?

Read the sticky thread about what helped when starting out. Support is definitely one that keeps coming up. You need to make sure she doesnt get in your OH's ear too or he'll be chanting the same rubbish too!

You will be fine....no you'll be more than fine...you'll be a rip roaring success.... and YOU will feed YOUR baby (they will be that before they are HER grandchild) exactly what he or she needs

x

 

[JayleighAnn]

My MIL wasn't very supportive about me BF as she hadn't done it and had no experience of anyone doing it.

She even told me that when my OH was born she hadn't produced any milk so thats why didn't feed him. She assumed this as she hadn't leaked during her pregnancy, which I barely leaked and now I have loads of booby juice.

It seems like if you don't do things EXACTLY their way, your condemmed as you'll clearly do it wrong.

Surround yourself with positive thinking people who will help you and support you in the right way. You will produce enough milk for your baby, its what your boobies are designed for