thinking about breastfeeding my daughter any advice

[New Mommy 2 Be 2007]

I've been thinking if i should breastfeed. I didnt do it with Carmine, which makes me feel bad. It's just to me difficult and uncomfy and im scared! Is it easy is formula feeding more convenient?

[tiredbuthappy]

my advice would be to educate yourself about breastfeeding, especially the advantages. that alone can really motivate a person to at least give it a try. don't regret not breastfeeding carmine- you can't change the past and dwelling on it won't help. approach this pregnancy with a different mentality- that you will try. i hear the first few weeks are rough, but that it gets easier and is so rewarding. check out the breastfeeding forum- even if you don't post a question, reading the threads can give you a lot of insight into the rewards and challenges of breastfeeding.

i wasn't able to nurse, but was able to pump milk for my daughter.  pumping was time consuming, stressful, and uncomfortable. but it did not matter- for me, my daughter's nutrition was a priority. i did expect convenience when i decided to become a mother.
good luck!  hopefully others will be able to give some helpful suggestions as well.

[amberd5191]

I didn't do breastfeeding with my first and after I made it through the first 2 weeks with my second I wish I would have nursed with my first. It is a huge bonding experience. I wish you the best in whichever decison you make!

[Cheyenne_08]

My son was in the NICU so I had to pump for the first 7 weeks of his life, but I did it and he got only breast milk. Once he came home from the hospital, I had to continue pumping and recording how much he actually took from the bottle so we could be sure he was getting enough since there is no way to measure while you are physically breastfeeding. I pumped until he was almost 2 months old and was given the go ahead to try putting him to the breast. Well he had torticolis really bad in his neck, so it did not work and he screamed and it was horrible, so I finally had to go to a preemie formula just before he turned 3 months old. It was really hard because I wanted to nurse, but it just wasn't in the cards for us. I plan to nurse my next one, mainly because of the benefits to the child....however, many great people grew up on formula and turned out great so don't feel bad about Carmine! Also, the best place to get info is your local wic office or health department. They might even have a lactation consultant that will discuss it with you. Before I had my son and she had max, Rubyolivia and I went to a breastfeeding class together at our local hospital and learned a lot!!!

[spade22]

Computer is about to run out of charge so I will be brief:

"It's just to me difficult and uncomfy and im scared! "

In my case it was sore for about 1 week and everything was fine after that.  I said to myself "  if I can go through labor contractions, I can sure as heck  tolerate a little nipple pain".  I am SO glad I decided to BF because, as tiredbuthappy said, there are numerous advantages and I have seen many of them in Jazmine.  Like anything new, it will be scary at first but that will soon pass.

"Is it easy is formula feeding more convenient? "

Ive never used formula but when Jazmine wakes up several times during the night to eat its nice to be able to pick her up and have her nurse  for 5-10mins and put her back to bed.  That, to me, is more convenient than having to prepare a bottle at each feeding.  Of course, Hubby (or any significant other) can also help with bottle feedings so there are pros and cons to each approach (with breast feeding you can also pump and feed from a bottle too).

[Kim1989]

i think its worth a try.

maybe its less convenient and "uncomfy and difficult" to breastfed but i wanted to try it out of the benifit for my son. i could really have cared less how i thought i would feel about it

[Tanker Chic]

Breastfeeding is very convenient because you never have to fix or clean a bottle.  My advice is to not wait too long to give a bottle and give them regularly or they will refuse and then you wont' have any options.  

[SeeingSpots]

I breastfed both of my boys exclusively until they were 6 months old and ready to start some solid foods.  At that time I also got pregnant again both times, and I had to go on some meds so I switched over to formula without incident.  They took to the bottle just fine.

Anyway, I was scared to breastfeed at first too.  My advice is to get some "Lansinoh for Breastfeeding Mothers" lanolin (they sell it at Wal-Mart) and use it everytime you nurse (you don't have to clean it off before nursing, it's 100% safe to baby).  It helps protect your nipples.  I had very sore boobies with my 1st son, but it was mostly due to me not getting him to latch correctly and because he was tongue-tied at birth (making it hard for him to nurse with his tongue correctly).  Once my nipples toughened up some and I learned the proper way to get him to latch (and to release), I had no problems.  With my 2nd son I had NO soreness issues at all.

Breastfeeding is great because "dinner" is always ready at any time in any place!  You never have to worry about mixing formula, heating bottles, sterilizing bottles, and baby can be fed instantly-- no waiting for a bottle to be made while baby screams.  I have pulled over the car and nursed, nursed while out shopping, nursed while in the doctor's office, etc.  The hardest part is getting use to nursing in public.  I got one of those hooter hider shawl like things that you put over your head and is kinda like an apron (with a U-shaped wire insert at the top so you can look down and see baby).  I was worried about what people thought at first, but then I readjusted my attitude to go ahead and think what you will- I'm doing what's best for my baby!

[BabyHardiman]

PLEASE TRY IT!!  Oh my goodness it is SOOO healthy for your baby.

Are you a stay at home Mommy?  

Like others have said it is a beautiful time to bond with your baby.  I have never considered breastfeeding my baby a "sacrifice".  I can't eat what I want, and I can't drink what I want, but I will tell you that there is not better high than the feeling of knowing that I am the primary food source for my daughter.  No matter what happens with our money, I do not have to spend a dime on formula.  

My breasts were sore for maybe two weeks, then after that they barely hurt.  During the sore period they really only hurt when the baby first starts to nurse, once they latch on the pain stops. . atleast that is how it was with my little girl.

Breastfeeding was not big in my family at all.  My fiance' asked me to breastfeed Ava because he saw the benefits of breastmilk with his first two daughters, I am soo glad he asked me to.  

Like Tiredbuthappy said, do the research on the benefits.  :)  

[mlb1234]

bfing can be hard at first but gets way easier as your baby grows.  It is very fast, always ready, you don't have to pack anything and it's an incredible bonding experience (in my experience bf babies always want their mommy!).  Don't feel bad - just do what you are comfortable with.  It doesn't hurt to try breastfeeding - you can always go to bottles if it doesn't work out (but you can't do it the other way around!).   Either way your baby will be OK!  Good luck!

[RockRose]

With one of my babies,  I had sore nipples the first week.  

That was it.  The rest was EASY.  You just pick the baby up out of the basinette during the night,  feed,  change and go back to sleep.  If you're in the mall and the baby is hungry,  you just find a private place to feed.  No locating warm water,  sterile bottles,  formula,  etc.  

It's like,  as Murphy Brown said,  pulling a sandwich out of your elbow.  ;D

Best wishes with it.  I don't think you'll be sorry you decided to breastfeed.

[AnnieBrooke]

The other cool thing is that although formula is not easy on the baby's teeth, breast milk does not harm them.  That way, you can indeed feed a baby several times in the night or nurse him or her down right before sleep, and not have to worry about brushing their teeth and waking them up.  (Yes, I breastfed past the appearance of many of my son's teeth.)  I am one of those who had pain with it but stuck with it, and after a while especially as my son got good with the wide-open mouth latching, it was just so much easier than bottles.  If you talk to a lactation consultant, and take a breastfeeding class (they are usually a couple of hours long) you will feel confident that you can at least try.

[tiredbuthappy]

and i think we forgot to mention a huge plus- it saves a TON of money. with 2 little ones, that may take precedence over convenience as well.

[GRose]

Honestly I think breast feeding is MORE convenient and not to mention free.
You don't have to remember to bring enough formula or water when you leave the house, all you need is a blankie to cover up with.
Please give it a try, it is the best thing you can do for your baby, it creates such a great bond. Yes, it is going to be uncomfortable for the first week or so until your nipples toughen up but once you get through that it is fine.
There are lots of books out there on breastfeeding and lactation consultants but I didn't find any of that necessary. When you have your daughter the nurses should be able to help you out a lot and get you started.
Good luck!

[jenstam]

BFing is definitely MUCH more convenient and satisfying. There is nothing like it. The bond, the benefits, the ease...It's just so beautiful and easy. The first few weeks are a bit difficult but after that it's smooth sailing. You don't have to lug bottles and formula around. Go to kellymom.com to read about the excellent benefits for both mom and baby. There are many tips there as well. I breastfed exclusively for 9 months and then continued until 11 mos after adding a bit of formula due to low supply because I was working full time and going to school. It got to be difficult to maintain a large supply for a hungry boy (: Anyhow, give it a try. You will not regret it!

[New Mommy 2 Be 2007]

IM THINKING ABOUT GIVING IT A TRY, AND I WILL LIKE TO PUMP, JUST SO WHEN IM ON THE RUN OR SINCE I WILL BE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL, AND I DONT WANT HER TO BE ATTACH JUST TO THE BREAST AND NOT KNOW ABOUT THE BOTTLE, I HAVE LOTS OF RESEARCH TO DO. IM STILL UNSURE. BUT U LADIES GAVE AWESOME ADVICE. ANY YA'ALL SAY ITS MORE CONVIENENT AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT IS. IT'S JUST MY MOM OR GRANDMOTHER DIDNT BREASTFEED OR MY SISTERS OR EVEN MY DH FAMILY, SO LIKE THERE IS NO ONE TO TALK TO ABOUT IT. LOL EXCEPT U GALS. WHEN I HAD CARMINE, I DIDNT LEAK SO MUCH MILK NOT A LOT AT ALL ONLY FOR 2 DAYS AND AFTER THAT IT WAS DONE, I JUST THOUGHT THE MILK DISAPPERED. I WASNT GOING TO BREASTFEED THOUGH. AND I FORGOT I HAVE TO WATCH WHAT I EAT. BUT THAT DOESNT MATTER

[peekawho]

Don't forget, there is an entire community dedicated to breastfeeding support.  Those ladies are an awesome source of information and support.

[mlb1234]

The good news is that even if you eat fast food every day your body will still produce good breast milk (of course it is best for everyone in other ways if mom eats healthy).  Also don't worry about knowing what to do - miraculously babies know exactly what to do the minute they come out!!

[tiredbuthappy]

i never had to watch what i ate. i think every mom/baby's tolerance is difference. you'll know by trial and error.

[New Mommy 2 Be 2007]

i went for my visit today, and someone will come and talk to me about breastfeeding at my next visit, i have a small yeast infection  thats why ive been so comfortable down there! so i got medcine for that, and im measuring 31 weeks and im 29 weeks and also gained 10 pounds in 5 weeks so they were mad lol. i had no clue how much i gained i feel sad and depressed now! im 165! thats how muchi was when i had carmine. i gained already 25 pounds and thats how much they wanted me to gain for the total pregnancy and i have 10 weeks left so i was told to eat healthy and gain half pound or less a week. i wonder why im measuring big, but i will get info on breastfeeding in two weeks