wanting to breastfeed

[passengerrach]

i want to breastfeed but im finding that because im quite young (20) everyone is just assuming im going to bottlefeed so its starting to make me think maybe i should just bottlefeed i mean what if i cant do it or it hurts i will have to rush out and buy formula i really would like to try breastfeeding though but i think i will feel embarresed to do it in front of people now as every1 just assumes i will be bottle feeding. also i read that milk dosent come in till a while after birth how will i feed my baby till then will he just starve because i have no milk for him? sorry im a first time mum and dont really know much

 

[sam's mum]

I thought I'd be embarrassed feeding in front of other people when Sam was first born - and for the first few days I was a bit...probably just because it was all new and I was still getting used to getting him latched on etc. But I have now been breastfeeding him for 10 months (in front of everyone I go to visit or who comes here as well as in public) and I don't think anyone except OH has ever seen anything - it's so easy to feed without actually showing anything at all, and if people are around they really don't look anyway.

Your milk does take a few days to come in after birth but you will have colostrum as soon as your baby is born, which is all they need until your milk does come in so he won't starve, don't worry!

Colostrum

During the first days after the birth a woman produces special milk that looks thick, sticky and yellowish. This special milk is called colostrum and contains large quantities of antibodies and growth hormones. It enhances the development of the baby’s gastro-intestinal tract and its anti-infective agents act like a first immunization.

Colostrum has a laxative effect which helps the baby to pass meconium (the first stool) and it also helps to prevent neonatal jaundice by clearing the bilirubin from the gut. Although there is not much of it, colostrum is all your baby usually needs in the first days of life.

Transitional Milk

During the following two weeks, the milk increases in quantity and changes in appearance and composition. The immunoglobulins and protein content decrease whereas fat and sugar content increases. At this time, the breasts may feel full, hard and heavy. This normal engorgement of the mother’s breasts – sometimes referred to as the “coming-in” of the milk – can be alleviated by frequent feeding.

Mature Milk

Mature milk looks thinner and more watery than cow's milk, which might sometimes be confusing. But it contains all the nutrients your baby needs for healthy development. Breastmilk is never “too thin”. The composition of mature milk changes over the course of a feed to suit the needs of the baby perfectly.

The milk that flows at the beginning of a feed is called foremilk. Foremilk is low in fat and high in lactose, sugar, protein, vitamin, minerals and water. As the feed goes on, the milk changes to hindmilk, which is richer in fat. Usually, the differences between foremilk and hindmilk are purely academic. There is no sudden change from foremilk to hindmilk. The fat content continues to increase from the beginning to the end of a feeding.

(from https://www.medela.ie/UK/breastfeeding/knowhow/composition.php)

If you do want to breastfeed there's so much support available - your hospital, midwife, health visitor, us...and there are helplines you can call and clinics you can visit too, so don't worry too much about not being able to do it. And if you do have any problems at first there are so many 24 hour shops where you can pick up some formula if you need it!

Good luck x

 

[mommyof3co]

I had my first at 16, 2nd at 18 and 3rd at 21, I breastfed all and am currently 22 and breastfeeding my almost 16mo old I think it's great, as you can tell I'm probreastfeeding lol. It's the absolute best thing you can do for your baby. I did have a hard time with my 1st, and he ended up on formula by a month old, my milk dried up and was having tons of problems. But I'm so glad that didn't turn me away from it forever, with my 2nd it went much better, I was extremely sore, for about 2mo but your body just has to adjust it DOES get better just stick with it. I ended up nursing that one until 11mo and he got sick and wouldn't latch anymore so we went to bottles because it was easier for him. But really it's so worth any pain, struggles or anything else that can happen, the bond is completely different..having only nursed my first a few weeks at the very most I know the bond IS different, not that I love him any less of course it's juts different. And bottles are always there if something happens, you can only breastfeed for a short time (unless you go through all the relaction stuff)

 

[CamoQueen]

I'm 23 and breastfeeding my son... I can tell you, I had these worries, too. It hasn't been that long for me (David's about a week shy of 2 months), but honestly, I really enjoy breastfeeding and am so glad that I chose it over bottle feeding. My nipples were very sore in the beginning but they got less and less so over time, and now there is no pain at all. It's just a very bonding experience.

If you really want to breastfeed, you owe it to yourself to at least try; I think you'll regret it if you don't (better to know if it's the right or wrong thing for you than to just be left wondering "what if"). You can do it!

 

[passengerrach]

thanks for ur encouragement all of u one other question will they help me do it the first time in hospital im worried i wont know how

 

[mommyof3co]

I don't know about there but here they have lactation consultants in the hospital to help you plus the nurses are all really educated on it, def take advantage of it if they have it

 

[Pyrrhic]

The NHS are very committed to helping people breast feed. You will have the midwives in hospital help you, and they can arrange extra help if you need it. Niamh is almost three weeks old, and I have a breast feeding counsellor come to my house twice a week, a health visitor once a week and I also go to a breast feeding support group once a week too.

If you are committed to breast feeding, then there is lots of help available.

 

[dannyboygirl]

yeah... they were on me like every hour to feed my lil one in the hospital...They were a lil too supportive you'll do greatgood luck

 

[shoesnob]

I was told by someone that when you BF you need to be c0cky about it

 

[Alexas Mommy]

I was 20 when I had Alexa, and I breastfeed-I still breastfeed-do what you want to do-if it doesn't work out then that is fine, just have a can of formula in your cupboard in case you feel like you can't do it. Don't worry about what everyone is going to think-do what you feel is best for you and your child-besides-if you are anything like me, you won't care about anyone seeing you breastfeed after giving birth-at least that is me, but everyone is different-it is okay not to know yet, you can always decide when bubs is here

 

[Chel]

I'm 21 and bfing.

I think people love to tell horror stories about BFing, the same way they do about labour.

Jasper latched beautifully, fed easily, loved the boob, my nipples cracked day 3, but i put cream on them and they were fine by day 5... since then pain and hassel free feeding.

Yes it takes a couple of days for the milk to come in, but the baby will not starve. I let Jasper suck for 4 days straight until my milk came in properly. He got a lttle cranky from time to time, but because I let him suck and spent a lot of time with him and I skin to skin, my milk came in MASSIVELY and I nearly drowned the poor bub!

In my opinion BFing is just easier than making, heating, steriling, storing, carring and paying for bottles and formula. Its a personal choice to FF, but in my opinion (which is just an opinion) BF is the simplest opinion.

Also, as for being embarressed, once you've done it a few times publicly or in front of people its not so bad. I once HAD to feed him on a bus... i didn't have a cover and he was absolutely starving, so i did it and it felt perfectly natural and nobody even looked at me.

 

[Lucy&Pard]

Nature wouldnt let your baby starve your baby has resources built up in the last few days of pregnancy so it can hold out until day 3. Leo got a bit cranky too but it was worth the wait! Dont let people assume you are just going to bottle feed, break the mold! But dont be under any illusions that it is a walk in the park MOST people struggle in the first few weeks. I didnt totally crack it until Leo was 6 weeks. But now its a walk in the park and every feeding time is just so easy and he is happy and putting on loads of weight each week even though I sometimes worry if he is getting enough but he always is its just that I cant physcially see it!! My body makes exactly what he needs and I have been totally amazed by my boobies! If it doesnt work out then at least you can say you tried! xxxx

 

[artypants2008]

Good for you for wanting to try I think it's great. I decided I was going to give it try and I am soo glad that I did. I was very lucky cos as soon as I had Dan he instantly nuzzled up to my boob and latched on. My mw couldn't believe how much a natural we both were, I was so proud. I've had 6 friends have little ones since and they have all tried bfing, some successful and some not, I think I set a trend. lol.

The pros far outway the cons and I now look back to when he was tiny and I'm glad we spent so much time together as he is very much a daddies boy now.

It's the first of many decisions you will have to make for you little one, you do what's best for the both of you. Good luck.

 

[XKatX]

You do what you feel comfortale doing hun. I really thought I was going to FF when I had Oliver, but I gave BF a go inhospital an dhaven't looked back since. You will find that you either love it or hate it (like Marmite!!!) and your decision will be made then. Just don't beat yourself up about the decision. Just do what you feel is best for you and your LO and don't let anyone elses opinion affect your decision.
Good luck x x

 

[rach321]

I see you're in Stevenage - if you are having your baby at the Lister they will give you all the help you need - day or night just push the buzzer and someone will help you get your baby latched on correctly so you avoid painful cracked nipples. There's loads of breastfeeding drop in clinics in and around Stevenage so you will have loads of help even when you have left hospital.
Hope that helps
Rach

 

[polo_princess]

thanks for ur encouragement all of u one other question will they help me do it the first time in hospital im worried i wont know how

Probably not knowing Lister

No im joking hun, just make sure you ask if you need help, dont struggle trying on your own

 

[alice&bump]

i'm 20 and BFing, tbh before i had her i never considered FF. everyone assumes i FF and are quite shocked when i say i'm not! katie latched on straight away, and yes, the first few days were really really hard, when they get latched on, they remember what they're doing, but until they get on there they dont really remember.

the MWs where i was were so so so good! you dont have to leave hospital til you're comfortable with it. in a way i was lucky to have a bad tear cos i had to stay in 3 days and i got so much help. for the first week or so katie was feeding all night every night and my boobs were so sore and i was so tired, i wanted to FF, but i stuck at it and now i love it!

yes it gets tiring when she's having a growth spurt like she is now, she's literally on the boob every 2 hours at the most, but its so worth while!

break the mould from what people expect and give it a go, the NHS are so pro BF atm! but if it doesnt work out for whatever reason, dont feel bad!! xx


EDIT: i fed in public for the first time on NYE when we went out for lunch. i just stuck a big blanket over me and katie and off we went! i expected to be embarrassed, but at the end of the day, its what we have boobies for! i was only really happy doing it now we know what we're doing properly, but noone stared or anythin xx

 

[doumauk]

Im 21 and breastfed salim until 3 months although I would of liked to have done longer but couldnt give him what he needed towards the end. You should be proud and stick to your guns. I cant describe what an amazing feeling it is when your baby first latches on. Its just a fantastic feeling to know its you alone who is keeping your child alive. I thought I would be embarrased about feeding infront of people especially my dad but the way I saw it was, it felt like the whole world and his son had been between my legs looking at me in all my glory during labour loll that I really didnt care about people seeing me breastfeed.Its what nature intended. Depending what sort of hospital your staying in to have your baby they should help you. The hospital I was at wernt really pro-breastfeeding. They convinced me to just give him a bottle. The next day I got home at 3.15pm and at 3.20pm the breastfeeding midwife was knocking on my door. I hadnt called her and she came 3 times that night. I hope you have a lovely consultant like her she really helped. Good luck and enjoy it.