What do you prefer?

[LucyOF]

If i am pregnant then i'd like to breast feed my baby but im not 100% sure. I know a lot of people think it is better for the baby but is it alot of hard work? Also im only 17 and i dont know many teen parents who have breastfed. can anyone give me any advice?

Thanks x

 

[Mervs Mum]

What do you want to know hun?

If you look at the sticky at the top of this board about what helped when we started that will give you an idea about BFing and it's pros and cons.

I think the reason some teen mums dont BF is more to do with their perception of their boobs rather than them finding it too much like hard work. There are quite a few fab young mum's on here who BF.

 

[asacia]

Its great that you are thinking about breastfeeding.

It can be hard work at first, so it is worth knowing where to get help if you need it. These forums are great, some areas have breastfeeding clinics and there are many helplines (I found the NCT and LLL ones are great).

I think that in the long run, it is easier. I pumped milk for 9 weeks, and I've breastfed for 5 weeks. When you breastfeed, there isn't any cleaning, measuring, heating bottles etc.

Breastfeeding is also a great comfort to a baby and I find my LO doesn't fuss as much when he is breastfed. He has his jabs tomorrow, and I can feed him straight after to comfort him.

I also find it is great to not have to come downstairs in the night to feed, I can feed him lying down in bed while dozing - great for sleep!

 

[LucyOF]

Thanks for the help.

I was just wondering a few things really.

A few people have told me its painfull but id like to hear from people who have actually breatfed.

I understand it is alot cheaper as there is no need for hundreds of bottles and steralizers and formulas etc. But, is it more covieniant? is it not hard trying to find a quite place when out to breastfeed?

i get the feeling that i would get funny looks for breastfeeding at a young age when in a sortof public area (obviously not in the middle of the street). Also a bit worried of the embarresment of breast feeding infront of certain people for example my stepdad, brother, grandparents, aunts an uncles etc.

 

[MrsRoughton]

I am breast feedng my little girl and she is now 13months... it canb be a bit sore to begin with but it gets easier.. i liked the fact in the middle of the night you just whip them out, no making a bottle up.. as for being out in public i used to cover her with a muslin cloth and get on with it.. if people have a problem its there problem not ours. the down side is no one else can give baby a feed unless you can express. hope this helps.xxxx
p.s also my grandad who i thought may of been uncomfortable with it ws=as actually ok and said it was nice that i was b/f my baby.

 

[Mervs Mum]

It can be painful to start with while you get used to it but believe me giving birth is the pain you need to be fretting about - not BFing!!

I find it much more convenient. Once you get used to feeding and work out how you are comfortable feeding in public, then it's easier in many ways. you dont need to remember to sterilise/make the bottle before you leave and you certainly dont need to warm it or clean anything after!

I was shy about BFing infront of visitors and particularly my Dad to start with. I would go in another room when I needed to feed her but I soon got so good at feeding without people noticing that I stopped all that

 

[mrsholmes]

it did hurt in the first week or so as I had cracked nipples, but its fine now. easy and cheap, with feeding in front of people I told everyone when I was pg that I was planning on bf feedingso they werent shocked, and when my babys crying for food I really dont care!

I agree its their problem, Ive had certain family members run out of the room!

 

[mommyof3co]

I had my first at 16 and 2nd at 18 and breastfed them both I also did my 3rd but was 21 then haha. I do think it's more convinent because you don't have to mess with all the different bottles, packing water and formula when you go out. I just brought a light blanket with me everywhere and nursed him wherever I was and just threw a blanket over us when he was really little and still learning, once he got better you couldn't see anything anyways so I didn't use the blanket. It did hurt for me all 3 times at first, but it was so worth it once we got past that.

 

[LucyOF]

How long did you breastfed for? or how long do you plan to breastfed for?

Is it hard stopping breastfeeding altogether?

Thank you for the help so far everyone, have all been a big help and im now seriously thinking that breastfeeding will be right for me

Thank you x

 

[mommyof3co]

Well with my first, Landon, I ended up having lots of problems, I wasn't very educated on breastfeeding I just assumed it would be natural and we would just know, well that's not always the case. Within a month he was fully on bottles, I had stopped producing milk. BUT with Casen I knew what to watch for, I did alot of reading on breastfeeding and he nursed for 11mo and then he got a really bad cold and refused to nurse again. Hayden self weaned at 19mo, I miss it I never had to actually wean my kids so I don't know how hard that is, but I know some other ladies have advice on that

 

[freckleonear]

Hello! :wave: Good for you for considering breastfeeding!

I was 19 when I had Aaron and exclusively breastfed him. He eventually self-weaned at 17 months, although he had only been having one or two feeds a day for several months before that.

It is hard work at first, but after that it is soooo easy and convenient, especially when you are out. I found it easy to feed discreetly when we were out and about (most teenagers show more with their style of clothing than I did!). All you really need is somewhere to sit, and maybe not even that if you get good at feeding standing up or in a sling! I never got any funny looks or bad comments, if anything I got more approval than bottle-feeding teenagers. Feeding in front of friends and family took a little more confidence, but it's pretty easy just to go into another room or a quiet corner.

I'm so glad I stuck with breastfeeding and I'll definately do it again if I have more children.

 

[mama2b]

Hey,

I think its fab that you are thinking of breastfeeding. Yes it is a bit painful to start with but after a couple weeks the pain should go.

It is hard work but then having a baby is just as hard (but enjoyable) so it all goes hand in hand.

It can actually be a bonus about being shy to feed in front of people. Apart from my oh and a few close friends I go in a different room and it was a fantastic way of getting rid of visitors when he was due a feed !

I originally set a goal of 12 weeks of breastfeeding, I have gone past that and am now set on 6 months. One of the things I love about bf is the closeness and the bond you have with your baby. Of course you still bond when giving a bottle but for me there is just something extra special about feeding him myself.

I always think the best way to decide is try it first and see how you get on. Before I was pregnant I always thought id bottle feed then when I found out I was pregnant I just knew id bf, weird really as I don't know many people my age that have bf either.

Whatever you choose good luck in your pregnancy xxx

 

[Mervs Mum]

How long did you breastfed for? or how long do you plan to breastfed for?

With my first I BF for 6 wks and with this one I am still BFing. I'll carry on now till she stops. I dont think that will last a long time - she only feeds when she wakes and before bed now.

Is it hard stopping breastfeeding altogether?

Hmmm...good question....depends what you mean by 'hard'. I think If you BF for a long time it can be emotionally hard to stop. Most BFing Mum's will tell you, once they got past the hard part in the early weeks, they actually enjoy BFing and feel it's a special time they share, just them and their LO. So that can be tough when you do stop. Physically speaking it's only as hard as never breastfeeding at all. If you chose not to feed your milk still has to come in and generally you'll be engorged and in some pain/discomfort for a few days - this is the same if you decide to stop at any point. I can be less if you do it gradually though. So I supposed what ever method you choose there is an element of pain.

 

[Lucy_lu_84]

It's fab that you are considering breastfeeding!

I had a little discomfort to start with, but only occasioanally now when he seems in to much of a hurry for milk and doens't quite latch on properly. Love that during the night i can just take LO into bed with me fed and lean over and put him back in his basket. Couldn't imagine having to trudge downstairs to make up bottles etc in the middle of the night.

BF in public i was nervous the first time, but Lo was hungry and i had no choice. So i covered us up with his blanket and got on with it. Just keep the blanket with me now for when I feed when I am out. I do the same when certain people come round. Specially the male members. Not bothered in front of my sister/neice etc - cos they are comfortable with it to.

sometimes find that it's other people who are more uncomfortable with me BF than I am about having them there.

good luck with whatever you decided

 

[Blah11]

I initially said I'd only feed her until she was 6 months but we're now after that milestone and I've decided that I'm gonna let her feed until she selfweans off the boob... Thats how much I enjoy it.
In the beginning it can be painful for the first 10secs or so and it is a lot of hardwork when the baby is newborn. However, after a few weeks baby learns how to do it and the pain disapears. If you can manage to stick with it for a few weeks then you'll be glad you did, promise

Good luck with whatever you decide and hope the rest of your pregnancy is fab X


Oh and forgot to add, I don't get any funny looks in public, most of the time peopledon't even notice! If anything you should be applauded for BFing!

 

[k8y]

Breastfeeding is amazing, I love it and my baby loves it, thinking that I can provide my baby with all the food he needs is just fab, The milk adapts and changes as your baby grows and it provides them both with a drink (at the start of the feed) followed by more fatty and filling milk for food (later into the feed) I just think that it is amazing how our bodies work and feel so proud of myself for giving my baby the best start I can and apart from a bit of pain at the start, I have found it a breeze, My baby is a booby addict, I will feed him when and where he needs it and have never had any negative comments about it, If you are discreet then I dont think you will have any issues. I have expressed a few times so hubby and my mum can feed him, but to honest I cant be bothered with all the sterilising and faffing. It may sound a bit selfish but I love that feeling when he's getting grumpy and no one can calm him and I have the magic remedy to make him feel happy again, and that no one else can do it. He not only gets food from me but sometimes uses it for comfort, like when he had his injections I fed him while they were doing it and I know that it helped to ease him. The first few weeks are hard but if you can get through it the rewards are amazing. I took him to get weighed today and he had put on 8oz I was so proud because I did that!!. I cannot reccomend it enough.

 

[lillysmum]

everyone here will tell you how great breastfeeding and yes it can be demanding but it is so worth it! I think its really great that you are thinking about it, and we will certainly help you with any queries and questions

 

[Panda_Ally]

I'm a young mum and i breastfeed... I really wasn't sure about it at first but thought i would give it a go and now i'm so glad i did!!

I'm not a very organised person so washing, steralising and perparing feeds sounds like a nightmare to me!!! So breastfeeding is so convinient and readily available.

It does hurt a bit at first but nothing thats unbearable, as long as u have ur baby latched on right and ur relaxed u'll get breastfeed established in no time.

At first i felt a bit awkward breastfeeding in public but now i just do it!!! I love seeing babies being fed in ublic cos it totally takes the stigma out of breastfeeding and espesally when its a young mummy cos they have a sterotype that young mums dont BF which totally isnt the case.

I would just say to you give it a go and c how you get allong... u might b suprised like i was!!!