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breast feeding

How many of you all plan on breast feeding? I was so sure up until last week. I took a breast feeding class and it freaked me out a little. Didn't realize how much work it is.....Im still going to do it though, because I know its best for baby.... It's so much easier to just give formula
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1905116 tn?1444425264
I tried with both my babies but didnt have any luck, 2 weeks on from birth, they were starving and I was frustrated! I will be trying again but am putting no pressure on myself as it may not work again. Dont beat yourself up if it doesnt work for you...my disappointment in myself was one of the reasons I ended up with PND, as I felt I had failed my child. Good luck with it, I'm sure you will do just fine :)
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1688492 tn?1346364370
I'm breast feeding!! It's best for the baby n that's all that matters to me. Keeping my child healthy!
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1688492 tn?1346364370
I'm breast feeding!! It's best for the baby n that's all that matters to me. Keeping my child healthy!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Its frustrating at first but patience will get you there. I had my mum, mother in law, sister inlaws and female midwives show me plus dvds. Couldnt get it. My last day a male midwife was om. He grabbed my boob latched my son on abd we were away. I never looked back until maybe now my boobs are all gone.
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1901977 tn?1333991726
I went to a breastfeeding class this morning. One interesting tip she gave was when you were trying to introduce the bottle, get someone else to feed her...the breastfed baby associates mom with the breast, so she usually won't take a bottle from us at first.

I'm going to make a good faith effort at breastfeeding, but she has to take a bottle too since I have no option but to go back to work when she's about 8 weeks. One thing that concerns me is the frequency of feedings at first, but since I'm going to be a single mom I don't think there's a way to get around it...at 2 am whether I breastfeed or not I'm going to be the one waking up to feed her.
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Avatar universal
Thanks everyone for ur comments. I'm going to try nursing and pumping and hope it works out good.
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1794093 tn?1357930759
Ya i would pump after my daughter was finished eating... i was trying to feed off one side and then pump off the other, then switch... you have to be careful to balance the milk for baby tho as the first bit is watery and then it turns to the thicker fattier milk (foremilk and hindmilk) so making sure both baby and when pumping to get a good balance... at first i would get 1-2 oz and once i got the hang of pumping i was able to get more... i used the avent manual pump and i loved it!

Breast milk is awesome as it can be left at room temp for i think like 10 hours (room temp)(im sure thats what i had read... its been a couple years) so its really easy to take along with you if you are uncomfortable feeding in public as you can just leave it a room temp and feed... but you cant microwave as it damages something in it (sorry i cant remember specific) so if i needed to warm it i took a thermos of hot water to set it in the thermos lid with water to warm... my daughter was content with room temp so it was easy for me :)
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Avatar universal
Bf is hard work.. but its worth giving it a go.
I tried with my 1st.. he wasn't interested wouldnt feed etc etc , so switched to bottle and he settled so quick. Tried again 2nd time around and he took to bf great... it is much easier than cleaning bottles ..etc.  we only managed 3 months and he couldn't get enough milk.. so switched him to a bottle although he would only take a certain teat.
Planning on trying again this time around.
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971074 tn?1362759766
I breastfed my son till he was 14 months when he self-weaned. I won't lie... in the beginning it can be hard. Mostly because you feel like maybe they aren't getting enough or the reality sits in of much time you will be parked for cluster feedings. BUT I assure you that it works itself out. I'm glad I stuck with it. Like others have said...in the middle of the night when your baby is screaming you can roll over and whip out your boob versus getting up and warming a bottle. You practically sleep through it and the baby goes right back to sleep. And going out is easy because you are the food supply! As far as pumping... I hate the pump but I started using it when my son was a month old after he nursed. I basically tricked my body into thinking there was an extra feeding mid-morning and I could pump one full bottle at that sitting. It took me a while to get there though. Don't get discouraged if you can only pump 1oz at first...or even 1/2oz. It used to take me two days to make one feeding at first. Stick to it! I only needed stored milk for when I was away from my son. If I was home...he wanted me and refused a bottle. There is a breast feeding forum on here that is great too. My son never had to have formula but I am not anti-formula by any means. Good luck to you and congratulations!
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2031435 tn?1336008840
I fully breastfed my son for 8 Months i would try giving him a bottle but he just couldnt latch on any one so decided to fully breastfeed it was so easy for me. Im expecting another lil angel and will totally breastfeed again but would like to try to pump once in a while.
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2080451 tn?1347232420
I breastfed my second son with the intentions so also pump and give a bottle so his dad could bond too...but he wanted nothing to do with a bottle (tried 5 different brands and tons of different nipples) so i nursed for a year till it was safe to put him on milk.  I loved the bonding but for me it i will only pump again.  
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Avatar universal
I pumped for a bit after most feedings and definately if i had to skip a feeding.  I was able to store milk every day by pumping after each feeding to feed my son three and a half months after we stopped nursing.  I plan on bf this time as well.  And i plan on trying a new product called Milkies. It is supossed to catch the milk from the unused side while nursing instead of letting it seep into a pad and tossing it.  Good luck!  And like everyone has said, once you and the baby get the hang of it, it is a piece of cake.  Plus, its always available, always the roght temp, cleanup is simple, and breastmilk spitup is not near as stinky.
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Avatar universal
Breastfed my first and will again...its not hard or complicated...quite simple and natural actually...people make it out to be way more than it really is
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Avatar universal
I breast fed my duaghter til she was 2 and my son 1 1/2. Both weaned themselfs. I was 18 w my first so if a young mom like me can do it so can u. If u ever have qs just ask me. Went through a lot w it and had 2 deal w massive peanut gallery.
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Avatar universal
It's easier to bf its true you don't have to carry the formula, water and several bottles along with the rest of baby stuff you'll be carrying my first was 1/2 formula and breast fed and my daughter was bf and I think its easier to bf at night then to wake up go get the bottle make it and fix it especially if they cry a lot like my daughter lol
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Avatar universal
Thanks....I want to pump and nurse so I won't be the only one feeding him all the time. When do you pump? Right after u finish nursing?
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Avatar universal
I plan on bf. Will be my first child but im worrying that i wont be able to do it or will give up too easy and im not buying any bottles etc hopefully should be okay but dont fancy midwife grabbin my boobs lol
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1794093 tn?1357930759
Once you get nursing established its not hard at all! Its already made! there is not washing and sterilizing bottles and its FREE! not to mention its baby bonding time :)

With my last pregnancy i started out pumping and nursing, then went to formula and nursing... then she weened herself at 5.5 months and i strickly formula fed... this round i really do want to nurse longer... hoping to make it to around the 9 month mark and see from there.. but seriously formula is expensive!  the kind i used was about $25-30 a weeks... and we had to go to the city all the time to stock up... really adds up! considering breast milk is free!

Breast milk is best but its to each their own! formula these days is a lot better and has extra benefits that breast milk may not... same goes for breast milk to formula... definitely see how it goes with the nursing and give it a try... you may love it! but if its just not in the books for you thats fine too! take care! and congrats!
Helpful - 0
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