Confused

[heather118]

well, i know i've still got quite a while before i have to decide, but i am so confused.
I have heard so many horror stories about breast feeding and i cant seem to make up my mind. One min im set on breast feeding, then the next ive changed my mind again.
I just wondered if some of you could give me a idea of what it is actually like to breast feed a baby full time??
How painful is it? Is it much more stressfull than bottle feeding? Do the good sides outweigh the bad?

 

[clairebear]

I love breastfeeding

i think i was one of the lucky ones as i only had pain the first week and i know some people struggle.

what i have fround with BF is that u can do it anywhere at any time its so conveient. u dont have to worry about sterilising bottles or warming them up which is so handy in the middle of the night. i love feeding my jack but it does tire me out and has made me so hungery.

on a plus side for mummy it helps u loose weight, reduces risk of cancer to so im all for bfing x

 

[marley2580]

I'm also big on the breast feeding. I had a lot of pain for the first 3 months - mastitis, thrush etc. BUT it was soo worth it. Kaya is still breastfed and it's wonderful to watch your baby grow and know that it's all because of you. It can be hard going (though my sister never got any pain at all) but it does settle down and then it becomes the easiest thing in the world.

I would suggest that you go to the breastfeeding anti-natal classes they tend to run, as the first feed is the most important - get it right and things can be a whole lot easier than if you get it wrong.

Why not try it and see how you feel.

 

[claire1983]

Breastfeeding is definately better for you and your baby but it isnt always easy - I think everyone should give it a least a really good try - the first 6 weeks are the hardest, getting used to attachment and your baby will feed alot more than if it was on a bottle as your milk supply takes a while to get right - its seems like forever when your there but if you persevere looking back it is such a short time and its lovely to feed your own baby.

 

[Ratty]

The good thing is you don't have to make a decision right now. You can always try breastfeeding a few weeks and if you find it too hard then there is no shame in switching to formula. I think the benefits in breast feeding are huge and for me I actually found it a lot easier to breast feed than to have to worry about sterilising bottles etc. Once my milk came I had no pain.

A lot depends on your baby. I've seen mums in tears because they can't get their baby to latch on properly and then it ends up hurting them and the baby is hungry etc etc. If your baby takes to the breast easily like mine did it makes it so much easier.

 

[tinytoes]

bfing is SOOO much better for you and baby, for example; for Mummy it can help avoid breast cancer later in life, it helps lose baby weight and for baby it helps his immune system, helps him avoid obeisity later in life, helps agains leukemia, sudden infant death syndrome and ALL SORTS: https://www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk/en/fe/page.asp?n1=2

For em the first 5 or 6 weeks were hard (I'm just finding it easier this week) but it is worth it. I'd take a little bit of pain for all the benefits. I hit the wall several times but kept going and took little breaks where I had to and now I'm so glad I did.

My personal reasons for bfing:
better for baby and I'll do anything for him
there is history of breast cancer in my family and I want to avoid it at all costs!!
it saves all teh fuss of steralising bottles, making sure i take enough when i go out etc (i'm lazy!) - my milk is always there at right temp, sterile and ready to go!

plus i've now found out just how lovely it is - looking down and seeing baby feeding - you feel so close!! it is ver special. plus, boobie is the ne thing guaranteed to calm my baby.we fall asleep together each night at the mo breastfeeding.

If I were you i'd give it a go - you dont need to decide anything now. what have u to lose?

 

[sonny]

Tabs was in special care for the first 10 days so we got off to a rough start on the BF'ing plus not a single midwife showed me the express machine for 4 days even though asking constantly! and even once she was out no one showed me how to BF. So was all done from research.
I do bottle and breast as i just dont have the supply there, the Dr said that sometimes happens when you cant hold your baby etc initially....i definately didnt get the pamela anderson look at all which some peeps say they got when the milk came in.
I would recommend you look into it as much as possible now,positions,correct latch, etc but also look at the instructions for your pump at home if you have one in advance......just be ready and also get some milton or steriliser and some bottles just in case you change your mind on BF'ing.

One thing to remember is give it your best shot if thats what you want to do and dont beat yourself up about it if you do find it hard and want to give up.
Just remember also that you CAN do both. I had an awful time for a few weeks where i felt guilty etc and thought it had to be one or the other.
This is not the case,you can do both if you wish to,i never knew that so just making you aware.
I would love to be able to exclusively BF but am just glad that i still have some supply of milk and 8 weeks almost down the line im still going,so just bare that in mind if you do beat yourself up about it.
I am so so so so much happier not having to decide either way and its also very flexible.
Also this is working for me but look into it further for yourself

 

[Margerle]

I've BF both my kids. The first six weeks are tough but if you can stick with it you won't be dissapointed.

 

[Rachel]

Im breastfeeding this time and I love it. It was hard in the first week or so and my nipples hurt in that time aswell but after the week my nipples got better and feeding didn't hurt anymore.

I bottlefed Nathan and to me that was more stressfull than breastfeeding. You have to sterilise bottles, make up feeds, warm them up, make your baby wait for his/her feed while you are doing the above whereas with breastfeeding you just get your boob out and get baby latched on It's also easier to breast than bottlefeed at night because again, you can just get your boob out instead of having to get a bottle while half asleep.

It's better when you go out aswell, you don't need to take all the stuff with you and then try and find somewere to warm the bottle up. Yourboobs are always with you and the milk is always at the right temperature.

It can be hard at times and baby will seem to be constantly attatched to you for the first few weeks but he/she is just establishing your supply.

You could always try breastfeeding to see if you get on with it, if not then you can bottlefeed baby but atleast you would have given BFing a go