About Breastfeeding...

[mrs_ponce]

I am 13 weeks pregnant and am now considering whether to breastfeed or not. I just wanted to know is it too late to decide whether I want to breastfeed since I am already in the 2nd semester. Is it too late? And do I have to change my diet if I want to breastfeed?

[danyaile]

i planned on bottle feeding my entire pregnancy, i bought everything that i needed for it. i still have all the bottles waiting to be used because i changed my mind as soon as she was born. i actually let her make the decision, i have three children and this is the first time that i have exclusively breastfeed. it was the best decision i think i had made it's so convenient. you don't even have to really leave your bed at night so you get more sleep. i feel like I'm actually closer with her then i was the boys when they were small, just think it's the one thing that only you and your baby can share with each other. no one else will be able to have that same bonding experience.

[danyaile]

i planned on bottle feeding my entire pregnancy, i bought everything that i needed for it. i still have all the bottles waiting to be used because i changed my mind as soon as she was born. i actually let her make the decision, i have three children and this is the first time that i have exclusively breastfeed. it was the best decision i think i had made it's so convenient. you don't even have to really leave your bed at night so you get more sleep. i feel like I'm actually closer with her then i was the boys when they were small, just think it's the one thing that only you and your baby can share with each other. no one else will be able to have that same bonding experience.

[miko_latte]

I am 8 weeks pregnant and was a little bit concerned about breastfeeding. I wasn't sure if i was supposed to decide now...but I see that that decision can be made when the baby is born.

[stellkas]

You can decide to breatfeed the day you give birth if you want...It is a great gift to you and your baby.  I breastfed my daughter until she was 13 months and it was just great!  The instant bond with your child (not to say bottlefeeding isn't bonding time) when you breastfeed is so powerful.  It provides your new baby with just the right boost for their immune system and nutrition tailored just right from mommy.  Just watch what you eat at first like strong foods....such as in my case pizza I didn't know some foods could effect the baby's belly through breastmilk and my daughter's  belly didn't like it when a ate acidic foods, dairy, or strong spices (aka garlic) for about the first two months and then I reintroduced those into my diet.  Just be sure to talk to your ob about those things if they occur some babies are just fine!  You usually lose weight a little quicker and your uterus shrinks faster from the contracting that occurs with breastfeeding!  Good luck!

[kellym]

You don't have to make that decision until the day that baby is born! Good luck!

[kris777]

I wish you the best of luck:)

[mrs_ponce]

Thank you both so much. Yes I definitely want to breastfeed, I thought it was a decision that had to be made in the 1st trimester...THANKS!

[kris777]

It is definitely not too late:)  I breasfed my son and it is the best gift you can give him/her because it will boost their immune system and give them a great head start at life.  I would encourage it and think you would be glad you did it.  It creates more of a bond also:)

[degriffdog]

It's not late to change your mind.  If you are already eating a well balanced diet you will fine.  You'll just noticed that when you are breastfeeding you will eat more calories a day because you'll loose 500 give or take just breastfeeding alone.  I hope you can the decision that is best for you, personally I loved every minute of it.