BOTTLE OR BREAST ?

What will you be doing ? I seriousley dont know what to do. I have big breasts (38 FF) and i am scared of hurting the baby. When i had my son i wanted to breast feed him but i was too embarresed to let my midwife show me how to latch him on to my nipple i know it may sound soo silly to you but i am so scared and wish i had smaller breasts. I probably will end up bottle feeding but i just dont know what to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciatted thanks x

[sameerab]

having big breast shoulnt stop u but i plan on bottle feeding tho my mom wants me to breastfeed i want to get back to work right after so i rather do bottle

[swade]

I am breast feeding and have large breast, I am pushing your size.. I have to tell you if you can breast feed.. It is so much easier than bottle, you dont have to make anything in the middle of the night and take anything with you.. Not to mention the money you save.  But I have two sons, one is 15 and the other is 11, I am so much clofser to the 11 than the 15, and I really think it is do to the breastfeeding.  I didnt nurse my oldest..   Just think about you, you can always try to nurse and if you dont like it, you can go to the bottle, but you cant start on the bottle and go back.. so think hard and try.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Ya know it's funny that you pointed that out, swade, I didn't breastfeed my oldest but tried with my youngest two...I had problems and was never able to fully breastfeed, I had to supplement but I did partially BF for approx 5 months with both of them.  I am a lot closer to my younger two than my oldest...

that's kind of weird.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

my breasts aren't huge (go between full C and smaller D)  but my areolas are ginormous.  My problems weren't due to size..I have one inverted nipple and also have difficulty with milk production.  I agree that you should atleast give it a try.  

[Leanna26]

I am going to attempt to breast feed. I also have big breasts even though I am small. They have recently gone up this pregnancy to a 36F. That number scares me. Im also kinda of embarrassed, but hey gatta do what's best right? I am going to try to breast feed, but if it doesn't work out at least I know I put forth the effort.

[joshuawatkin]

did you feel embarresed at all when you were being shown how to latch your baby onto your breast???? i am just so scared of having to be shown how to do it and for some reason scared that i will suffocate the baby because my breasts are really starting to face down south with them getting fuller with milk

[connorethansmom]

I was in a size G when I had my son.  I nursed until 18 months.  Get educated about how it works, read some books (I read "New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding: by the AAP), take a class (our hospital offered one, which was interesting and my husband came with too.), get help from the nurses they have seen it all (I pushed for 2.5 hours with my son and couldn't move my left arm to hold him, the nurse held him and me while I leared how it worked - it was a little uncomfortable at first, but the nurses were so nice), also after you give birth there are a lot of support groups available your hospital may have one.  I went into nursing with the idea of if it works that's great if not then there is always the bottle.  My son never had formula ever - yes you do get tied down, they can't sleep as long as the formula fed babies, pumping is crazy and can be messy, yes your nipples will be sore, but it is SOOOOOOOOOOOO worth it!.

I plan on nursing again with this baby - I am due August 29th!   I hope you give it a try.

[joshuawatkin]

im not sure if we have classes here in england about breastfeeding at least i dont think we do ive never heard about them but i am seeing my midwife on thursday so i will ask her  thanks

[KellyA74]

You need to to whatever you're comfortable with....I know they say that breastfeeding is so much better than bottle in terms of preventing allegies, etc.....I have a friend who breastfed and her kids are allergic to EVERYTHING....like alot of foods..and bad allergies...I think breastfeeding is great, don't get me wrong...but it's a personal decision....I'm an RN and work 12 hour shifts, so when I eventually have a baby, I will bottle feed....b/c like you, I'll have to go right back to work and won't have time to pump while at work....Also, I personally wouldn't feel comfortable breastfeeding...not out of embarassment, just overall......Just do research and do what you think is best!  Lots of luck!

[JoyRenee]

Size doesn't matter. If you WANT to breastfeed, give it a try! I personally did both but found bottle-feeding to be a better fit with both of my children. I felt more comfortable and bonded with them whereas my SIL and my sister both breastfed their kids until they were over a year old and that works for them.

Just give it a try. Don't be embarassed. Your midwife is going to see a lot of you when you give birth and this is HER JOB. She sees breasts and vaginas all the time. It's not going to be a big deal to her.

[whitlack]

I BF my baby for 6mon then I had to stop because my milk supply dried up after attemptng everything to get it back up.  I absolutely loved breastfeeding my baby.  It is something sooooo special only breastfeeding mothers can understand.  Please dont deprive yourself of something so special and great!!!!!  Keep in mind that this isn't for everyone.  At least give it a try before you make up your mind not to do it.  It is easy once you get the hang of it and did I mention convenient??  I hate washing bottles and having to keep one on hand just in case and it just made things so easy.  If you do BF and want to continue you will need a good breast pump and you can pump when you go back to work.  It takes about 10min to pump which is well worth it if you are a working mom, then babysitters and other people can still help with the feedings.  I hope you decide to experience this wonderful thing that God created!!

[alaysha]

Breast is best! (or so the saying goes) I know lots of people that have bottle feed their babies and they just don't seem as healthy as breastfeed babies. If you don't want to actually latch the baby on you can get a pump and bottle feed. Then at least your baby will be getting the things it needs that can't be found in formula. I had a friend who couldn't breast feed because her nipples were too big and the baby couldn't latch on. So she pumped and fed out of a bottle. For her she said it was easier because she felt like she was bonding to her child but at the same time her husband could bond as well since he was able to feed the baby too! Makes it nice to have someone help during those midnight feedings! :)

[joshuawatkin]

Thankyou for all of your advice, i am going to have a talk to my midwife at my next appointment on thursday. S he already knows my concerns about the breast feeding situation, so hopefully she will have a bit more advice for me. I did mention to her a few weeks ago that i was going to buy a breast pump and do it that way instead of having to be shown how to latch the baby on to my nipple, but she did say that it is best to put the baby straight to the breast (im not sure why), but i was hopeing to come home from hospital and start using the pump.

[Skylynns_mom]

I intend on trying to breastfeed.  I tried the with my daughter and because she had such a tramatic birth she refused, and it took a long time to even get her to take a bottle.  For the first week or so she was on IV's and feeding tubes b/c she just wouldn't eat.  I pumped for a while but eventually my milk dried up since i wasnt able to pump as much as i should have.  Hopefully this time around it goes much easier and my little man latches right on.  Like everyone said you can always try it, if you don't like it go to the bottle.

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

I plan on breast feeding my twins if it all possible but I'm scared in the exact opposite way you are......I have smaller breasts and I'm scared I won't have enough milk....but the plan is to still try.

[joshuawatkin]

do you know how long it is untill the breast milk dries up ?

[adawning4]

you could still breast feed or you can pump your milk and give your baby breast milk re: bottle! I have breastfed my other 2 babies and do believe its best! With my 2nd I had to pump. It doesnt hurt! If it does you just have to reposition the pump! I will give this baby breast milk as well! I hope that you can atleast try! If you dont want to spend the money on a pump and you recieve WIC you can rent one from them. Let them know 2 wks before your due date that you will need one and they will help you out! Good luck!

[joshuawatkin]

I was hopeing to bottle feed in the hospital and then start using a pump when we got home, but my midwife said that it would be better to start breast feeding straight away in the hospital, but i dont want to do that. Do you know how long it is untill the milk starts to dry up ???

[blueeyedtabbycat]

I thought I would have a problem with breast feeding because I have implants so with my first I did bottle even though my in laws were dead set against it! My secound son I tried to do the breast but my milk didnt come in for 5 days after I deliverd:( I tried pumping but spent sometimes over an hour and got only a little of the pre milk out:( I gave up. I felt like I was wasting so much time and with the bottle I was able to feed quicker and I wasnt the only one able to do the feeding which was really nice to have extra help:) My spouse and grandma loved feeding my boys and spending that time with them. Iam glad I tried to do the breast. I know they say breast is the best but it is ultimently up to you. And if you really want to do the breast you should at least try, I dont think the size of your boobs should influance your desicion at all. And if your are afraid of it you can always pump the milk out and do bottle if thats what your comfortable with.

[loismwallace]

I am a size 40 G. As you know it is hard to accomplish anything without the "girls" getting in the way. Fortunately, the positions for breastfeeding shouldn't harm your baby. Now I don't recommend falling asleep while breastfeeding......lol To hear my husband tell it, I smother him...lol
If breastfeeding is something you want to try, just keep in mind those consultants have probably seen and heard it ALL. Much like our Ob/Gyno's. Now, since I do have large breast, it is easier for me to pump and breastfeed. I just bought me a pump on Ebay for $150. Good luck and check out the new breastfeeding forum. Maybe it will be of some help, if not encouragement...

[precious03]

I wouldn't be embarrassed if I were you!!  Your midwife sees other parts of you that are worse than looking at a breast!  Just tell yourself that this is completely natural and I'm sure your midwife has seen and helped with plenty of breastfeeding issues!!  If it is still uncomfortable for you, I would still try to do it for the first couple of weeks so that the baby gets the colostrum, and then switch to formula if you have to!

[joshuawatkin]

thanks for your comment i think i am going to go and buy a breast pump tommorrow