Did you have a hard time breastfeeding? or an easy time?

What worked best? How was it? Would you have made a different dicision to use a bottle and not breastfeed?

I am a soon to be mother and very nervous about breastfeeding.... So I would like to her your stories. Maybe to help ease my mind more.

yeah, i breast fed! it was a great way to bond w/ my so. the avent isis system is great for pumping, very compact. and the bottle nipple don't collapse (awsome). i b/f for 7 months and decided to stop cause Gabe lost interest. i'll do it again if i have another. if i can do it as a teen attending daoily regular high school, anyone can. feel free to message me back and good luck!

I breastfed for a year and a half
It was difficult at first because I was pumping without him there but after the first couple of weeks you get pretty good.
The best part was not having to fix a bottle at 2:30am just whip 'em out and you are all good.

The bonding was wonderful
My son didnt get sick as often as a baby with his history probably would have
You can use breast milk for diaper rash and lots of other baby ailments.
When my son was sick and didn't want any thing else to eat or drink he still would recieve comfort and nutrition.

I would definitely do it again and I am glad I did it as long.
I was definitely ready to stop and gradually weaned him and he took it quite well after the first day
Good luck feel free to write.

breast feeding is the most awesome experience

I breastfed both of my babies and would do it again in a minute- I would probably till breastfeed but I had to be but on harmful (but lifesaving) medications when my youngest was 10 months and was forced to stop nursing her.
I had a hard time with my first baby (she was a preemie) and was tempted to give up for a few months It didn't get easier so I made my life difficult- I pumped then fed her from a bottle. I did that until she was 8 or 9 months old then I just gave her bottles.
Initially I had problems with my second baby so I saw several lactation consultants until one understood my problems and really helped me. It was a good thing it worked out because that baby didn't like bottles or formula. We both liked the snuggling aspect. Laleche support groups (available for free and over the phone) were also helpful
QUOTE]Originally posted by Jennifer L:
[qb]Did you have a hard time breastfeeding? or an easy time?

What worked best? How was it? Would you have made a different dicision to use a bottle and not breastfeed?

I am a soon to be mother and very nervous about breastfeeding.... So I would like to her your stories. Maybe to help ease my mind more.[/qb][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jennifer L:
[QB]Did you have a hard time breastfeeding? or an easy time?

It was the easiest thing in the world. Especially because we travelled a lot in the first months, and there is just SOO much less to carry around and SOOO much less to worry about (you know baby will always have his dinner when you're around )

What worked best? How was it? Would you have made a different dicision to use a bottle and not breastfeed?

If I have the choice again, I will do it again, my baby never used a bottle in his life.

...

I am a Breastfeeding Counselor with the WV WIC program and breatfed all three of my children. It is the best thing you can do for your baby and for yourself......if you need any help feel free to contact me, if I don't know the answer I will find it for you. Congratulations on the baby, they truly are treasures.

i have an off the wall question-LOL
and you will probobly laugh!

I didnt breastfeed with my first child, and im not sure if i will consider it now, but do your breasts stay a good size after you breast feed?
The reason why i ask is becasue after my first one, mine ended up a little smaller...LOL
I know its funny, but does it happen?

They do get bigger, and stay bigger. Funny thing is....they get longer too LOL.

HA!!

I did not measure mine before and after...but I believe they're back to what they where before
Actually, physically I went back to what I was before almost immediately (like 2 weeks) after weaning baby at age 13 months.

I have been breastfeeding for eight months and I think it is the best thing in the world for my son. I have put him to fifty fifty now where he does formula too while i am at school but it is the easiest way to feed a baby I think. If you are able to do it I strongly reccomeend it. Also my son has not ever done the bottle bit when I decided to start him on formula as well I got him straight to a sippy cup which means you do not have to worry about weaning from breast to bottle (which is work) then to the cup! Good luck in whatever you decide!!

Breastfeeding is a wonderful experience and so good for baby too as for the breasts after oh yeah much bigger and felt like footballs for three days when I weaned Sean onto the bottle!!

Not only is it good for baby it's really good for mommy too as it gets your figure back really quick.

Did you have a hard time breastfeeding? or an easy time?

I had a hard time with my first (I had medical probs develop at his birth, stress, lack of knowlegde and support, etc)
But with my second one I an still bf'ing her. I love it!

What worked best? How was it? Would you have made a different dicision to use a bottle and not breastfeed?
It's a great experience. And from someone who has done both, bf'ing is far easier and cheaper! No bottles to carry, clean, stock, etc. No formula to buy and bottles to tote (along with water) in the diaper bag. No worrying about spoiled formula in the bottle because on rolled underneath a car seat, etc. No needing ot heat(or cool) the formula to the right temp. I could go on and on.


I am a soon to be mother and very nervous about breastfeeding.... So I would like to her your stories. Maybe to help ease my mind more.

The best advice I can give is to at least give youself the oppurrinty(sp?) to give it a try, starting in the hospital. If you find you are ok with it, keep going. Tell yourself, you'll do it for one week. Get through that week. Think about it again. Then try for another week.
The first 6 weeks are the hardest because baby does feed alot, but just take it week by week. Get through those first weeks and you'll be so happy that you did. And remember, some breastmilk is better than no breastmilk.

I breast fed for a year. Breast milk is made especially for YOUR baby. It is the right temperature, and has all the nutrients your child needs, and in just the right amounts your baby needs. Plus its right there. Just whip out a boob. It made me feel really good that I was providing all the nutrition needed to help my baby grow. There are other plus's. Breast fed babies have a decreased chance of becoming obese later in life, less ear infections, and I've even read a report that stated breast fed babies show more intelligence. Not to mention the bonding. When she got a little bigger, I would lay in bed, and let her feed, while I got more sleep. No bottle to hold for her.
I had a lactation consultation in the hospital, so I learned how to do it from the beginning. That was the best thing I did. The first night I had her, I didnt know how to tell she was latched on, and she got my nipple in the wrong way... OUCH!! That took a few weeks for the pain to go away, but I am so proud of myself that I did it. I was only going to do it for 6 months, but couldnt let her go in that way, so I did it for a year.