How do you stay motivated/stick with it?!

[Sarah88]

If you really want to breastfeed then you can do it hun! I would suggest finding out about your local breastfeeding assoc too before you give birth.
Savannah wouldn't latch on and on the second day we called up a lactation consultant and she came straight over. She got Ava latched on and is still a great resource for me!

 

[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

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

I don't want to worry you but i was also very determined to have a water birth with as little pain relief as possible, i was totally against an epi and pethidine and C-section was a definite no no.

Well what actually happened was pethidine twice....gas and air i hated, had an epidural...then i had an emergency section. Didn't even get near water...lol
The best thing is probably to have an idea of what you want but be flexible.....might be an idea to make it clear that you don't want your baby to be given a bottle at all. If your LO is hungry and won't settle then you could let them give some formula in a syringe it won't hurt. (if i remember right i think the nurse gave Amelia some once, the day after she was born).

Remember your baby, your rules, dont be bullied by the nurses into doing something you dont want.

xx

 

[Lucy&Pard]

Night feeds are so easy and I dont have to trek down stairs and make bottles etc he just gets on with it and I have a quick doze at the same time. and of course all the other benefits keep me motivated long term!

 

[Chellebelle]

I love breastfeeding. The first 4 days were most difficult as my nipples got quite painful and my boobies were constantly hard and lumpy... but then it just got easier and now I can imagine it is easier than bottle feeding as like a few of the others said, you don't have to make up bottles and it's cheaper. If I need to, I know I can pump some milk and OH can do a couple of feeds... but I haven't done that yet... probably will soon though.

The main thing that keeps me going is that I know I am giving my baby the best start by breastfeeding... that alone is enough to stop me wanting to switch so soon.

 

[CamoQueen]

I found it painful for a few weeks, but the pain has subsided and now it's just fine. I find it very bonding, and so easy at night time -- we co-sleep and when he starts to rouse at night, I just pop him on the breast and go back to sleep! It's wonderful to get my eight hours at night, and makes me a happier mommy. Plus, I find if nothing else will comfort him from pain, the breast always will; it's touching and also very handy when he's fussing at home.