How do you stay motivated/stick with it?!

[pinkmac85]

I thought I would post in here as some of you ladies are breastfeeding, hope you don't mind!

As the time gets closer I've decided I REALLY want to breastfeed! But my question is how do you stick with it? I have soooo many friends that have done it for the first week or two and then switch to formula because they find it to be "to much work" or to painful or there seems to be some reason or another! I don't want to fall into that as I can imagine it will be a lot of work and time consuming and probably painful the first few weeks!
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to stay motivated and keep up with it? I try to tell myself that it's the best thing I can offer my baby but I know it's going to take more then that as I can sometimes be known to be very lazy

Thanks so much for any input or advice you ladies have!!

 

[nellbellie]

I've been exclusively breast feeding my 10-week old and I can't imagine doing anything else. Yes, it hurts a bit when they first latch but that doesn't last more than a few days. Yes, you don't have much freedom from the baby when you BF but they go longer between feedings as they get older and the benefits far outweigh the negatives! Pros:
-BF babies are healthier (less ear aches, lesser chance of being obese, they get the Moms antibodies to fight illness, etc.)
-they're smarter/higher IQ
-they're diapers don't smell as bad and they're easy to clean
-better bond between Mom and baby
-it's FREE

Etc.!

 

[Sarah88]

I have put up with so much pain for the sake of breastfeeding- had thrush twice, Savannah not being able to latch and mastitis. I have thought of giving up so many times it's not funny; but I always remembered it was going to get better. Plus, i thought about all the hassle of bottle-feeding- sterilising, making up bottles etc. While for some it works, for me I wouldn't be able to do all that especially when she woke up for night feeds.
Plus another big factor was the cost, bfing is free and we don't have much money so it's also a good motivation

 

[Sarah88]

Also gotta agree about all the upsides nell posted. I know it's only the average but if I can do it and feel comfortable bfing, why would I give it up? And I love the looks Savannah gives me when she's drinking and her eyes roll into the back of her head

 

[marley2580]

Part of the reason I'm still breastfeeding is total laziness! I just can't be bothered with the whole bottle thing lol. I kept motivated by reminding myself that it does get better - and it did.

 

[Bec L]

For me personally my only motivation is that I LOVE it !
And so does Poppy fortunately!

I think it just comes down to how much you really really want to do it. I was so determined, even though Poppy unexpectedly arrived early and was in Special Care, I fed her at every chance I could and pumped every few hours to make sure my supply stayed up. I was lucky though - have had no problems with pain/thrush/shallow latching etc but I'd like to think even if I had I would have persevered.

Some friends of mine tried it for a bit, found it wasn't easy and so just gave up. I know others with all the problems under the sun and they have kept at is as they want to do it so much.

Plus it's free, easy (ie no messing with bottles) and you also lose a lot of weight but can eat what you like

 

[Sarah88]

Lol, that was another reason Bec! I was back to within 4kg of pre preg weight at 2wks and completely back withing 6

 

[princess31]

I have put up with so much pain for the sake of breastfeeding- had thrush twice, Savannah not being able to latch and mastitis. I have thought of giving up so many times it's not funny; but I always remembered it was going to get better. Plus, i thought about all the hassle of bottle-feeding- sterilising, making up bottles etc. While for some it works, for me I wouldn't be able to do all that especially when she woke up for night feeds.
Plus another big factor was the cost, bfing is free and we don't have much money so it's also a good motivation

I have to say well done to you, I also had thrush twice and mastitis and gave up in the end as he wasn't feeding well either and I had no support.

My advice would be to make sure you get as much help as possible from the outset and don't be afraid to ask for help. I was so worried about having problems like mastitis etc that when I ended up getting it I thought it was the end of the world so don't worry about all that and just take each day as it comes.

Also it is so much easier bfing in the night rather than making up bottles you can do it while you're both half asleep! I found I got back to sleep quicker myself when bfing too.

Another positive is that you have a hand free when bfing and silly as it may seem I find it frustrating that I can't really move at all when I'm bottle feeding and it can get uncomfortable.

It is hard and can hurt like hell but try not to worry about the negatives of it all just now and make sure help is at hand!

 

[ani]

I agree with Marley, breastfeeding is definitely the lazier option! I don't get how people say it would be 'too much work', as your friends said. Just imagine getting up in the middle of the night, sterilise a bottle, warm the water, mix the formula, then clean the bottle... URGH! Instead you can just stay in bed, all snug and half asleep, and bring the baby to your boob.

 

[Sarah88]

All this talk of snuggly makes me want to wake Savannah and snuggle in bed with her

 

[Jemima]

I think you have to really want to do it. If you don't, then you won't succeed. I also found that going to some breastfeeding classes while I was pregnant helped me to gain knowledge I would otherwise not have had.

Nothing, however, prepares you for how tough it can be. BUT having a baby is tough full stop, regardless of how you feed them.

The weight thing is a real bonus. I am thinner now than I have ever been and I can eat whatever I want, it's great!

I also feel a great sense of pride knowing that Poppy is being kept going by what I am giving to her. And each time I get her weighed, my heart swells when she has gained a few ounces as I know that all the hard work is paying off and she is thriving.

Neither Poppy or I have found it easy and we have encountered a few problems along the way but I am so glad I did it and I know that, even if I give up now, I have given her a great start in life!

What more motivation could you need than knowing you have done the best you can to give your baby a happy and healthy beginning to their life?!

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

 

[carries]

where is this breast feeding weightloss for me! Hmmm maybe that would make it easier to sticl with it. It is hard and we are still struggling through but if you want to do it you will succeed. Dont beat yourself up over it yet though, wait and see if you enjoy it and if it is for you once your LO is here

 

[vicwick]

I have been BF for almost 2 months now and i'm still in terrible bpain due to Alfies bubble palete, we've had thrush 3 times too which is agony but i just keep telling myself it WILL get better eventually. I really really want to BF for at least 6 months, hopefully 1 year, suppose its just determination really, and everytime someone says " oh just put him on the bottle" i am even more determined to keepm going haha i'm so stubborn!!!!

The look on Alfies face when he feeds is so rewarding too, his eyes roll when he gets a belly full

 

[ryder]

Make sure you have loads of support and help!

When I was trying to bf it was a nightmare and my oh had just taken a new job after getting layed off so I had no help. I also had continuing bp problems... And to top it off I didnt get a good start because I was not able to see Jasmine for several hours after birth so she got a bottle first.

All of those things plus the pain totally turned me off it, I couldnt deal with her screaming while trying to feed so I stopped.

Make sure you get her right when she is born and get lots of skin to skin, it will help.

If its something you want then you will find the motivation to continue... if it isnt for you, dont beat yourself up. I guarentee my baby is just as happy, healthy and smart as any bf baby.

 

[pinkmac85]

Thanks so much for the advice ladies!!

 

[sam#3]

Breastfeeding is definately the lazier option, just pick up your baby latch them on and thats it!! I would hate to have to make bottles, especially in the night!

 

[Whisper]

For me one of my biggest motivation's was other people telling me i wouldn't be able to do it and just waiting for me to give in so they could say 'see i told you it wasn't easy, i knew you would give up' Well the middle finger up to all of you because i didn't and i wont! lol (well i will eventually lol)

Also the fact that i couldn't be arsed to make up the bottles etc.

You need to be prepared with the fact that for the first week until your milk comes in your LO will want to feed almost constantly and you will be lucky if you get 2hours sleep in 1 stretch.

Also however hard it is i always used to think if it was like this all the time then no-one would breastfeed for longer than a couple of months, i knew it WOULD get better and that also kept me motivated.

I did a hell of a lot of research so i would know what to expect, if i didn't then i don't think i would have lasted. I had thrush and mastitis at the same time (toe curling pain i can tell you).

Dont be put off if your birth doesn't go to plan either, mine didn't i didn't see my LO for 3hours + after she was born but i was so so so determined to b/f her.

I also would ask my hubby to tell me i could do it, whenever i felt like giving up and just giving her some formula he would tell me to stop being silly that i can do it and it will get better, and of course BnB was a life saver on many occasions!

x

 

[cparks1]

At first, I was against breast feeding only because I didn't think it was for me. Then once I was pregnant, the whole aspect of breast feeding changed for me and then I wanted to do nothing but breast feed no matter how hard it was. Once Peyton was born, he latched on and I've been successful ever since. I will tell you though, it is very hard in the beginning. The baby feeds every two hours, then you have to wake them up to eat again even if you just got done feeding them not that long ago, Trust me, it gets much easier once they are 2-3 months. Just remember, it's totally up to you what YOU want to do. Even if you nurse for a day or two, that is better than nothing.

Benefits-
No one has the bonding experience like I do with Peyton
It's much healthier than formula
It's FREE-----FREE-----FREE (I like this part of it)
You can look into your baby's eyes- this is my favorite. I get so many smiles
The other posters have pretty much covered everything on the pro side of things.

Negatives-
It is time consuming- but it really does get better
Having to pump and everything-but it's well worth it in the end

I'm not one of those lucky ladies who have lost weight while breast feeding. I was really hoping I would be, lol!!! Everyone is different though.

 

[babe2ooo]

i just kept coming onto here and seeing all these other women doing really well and it made me want to carry on and knowing it was the best for my baby made me carry on to,

 

[pinkmac85]

For me one of my biggest motivation's was other people telling me i wouldn't be able to do it and just waiting for me to give in so they could say 'see i told you it wasn't easy, i knew you would give up' Well the middle finger up to all of you because i didn't and i wont! lol (well i will eventually lol)

Also the fact that i couldn't be arsed to make up the bottles etc.

You need to be prepared with the fact that for the first week until your milk comes in your LO will want to feed almost constantly and you will be lucky if you get 2hours sleep in 1 stretch.

Also however hard it is i always used to think if it was like this all the time then no-one would breastfeed for longer than a couple of months, i knew it WOULD get better and that also kept me motivated.

I did a hell of a lot of research so i would know what to expect, if i didn't then i don't think i would have lasted. I had thrush and mastitis at the same time (toe curling pain i can tell you).

Dont be put off if your birth doesn't go to plan either, mine didn't i didn't see my LO for 3hours + after she was born but i was so so so determined to b/f her.

I also would ask my hubby to tell me i could do it, whenever i felt like giving up and just giving her some formula he would tell me to stop being silly that i can do it and it will get better, and of course BnB was a life saver on many occasions!

x

Thanks! I was thinking about that tonight when someone at my doctors office asked if I had any expectations or birth plans done up yet about the labour and I thought to myself, not really! I'm just so afraid of having it all written down the way that I want and it won't go as planned so I will just get upset!! I have a few things that I want the nurses to know but I really have no expectations that way I won't be so upset or disapointed if something does not go the way I want it too!
As long as the nurses dont give her a bottle right away and let my try to breastfeed first then I'm happy