Breast feeding, pros and cons

lincsdan86 · 18 July 2008 at 3:32PM

Hi,

I am trying to convince my partner that breast feeding is the way to go when our little bundle of joy finally arrives. But my partner is still unsure about doing it. So with this in mind I thought I would as the title says, find out the pros and cons of breast feeding so that I can fully understand the whole breast feeding thing better and to come to an agreement with my partner.

So if you have breast feed in the past please please share your thoughts on this subject.

Thanks

Lincsdan86

(THE DAD)

pukkamum · 18 July 2008 at 3:33PM

I could be being a bit thick but are you the mum or dad?

galvanizersbaby · 18 July 2008 at 3:37PM

Hello

I have breastfed twice in the past (though not very successfully I'm afraid)

I think the real pro is that it is better for your baby

I won't go in to the cons as I may be a little biased based on experience

Somebody will be along in a min to give you more info I am sure

Good luck however your OH decides to feed baby x

pukkamum · 18 July 2008 at 3:41PM

I breast fed both my babies and it was the most wonderful time ever apart from sore nipples, leaking milk, getting baps out in public!!! But that should tell you just how fantastic it is the fact that i loved it despite all the above. The health benefits alone are enough to surely convince any mum to at least ensure baby has the first few days of breast feeding to get the anti-body and nutrient packed colostrum. I reccommend watching a clip called breast crawl on youtube i nearly cried, it showed just how natural bf is as the baby was placed on the mothers chest straight after birth and makes it's OWN way to the nipple to feed!!!! You will have people saying mum's are depriving their babies by not bf'ing but at the end of the day it's her decision and nobody can force her to do anything she doesn't want to do. But i wouldn't have given up the closeness that bf'ing gave me to my baby, feeding in the middle of the night (not having had to get up and make bottles!!) just you and your baby is so peaceful and calm, it was my favourite time (even though i hate being sleep deprived) not to mention the money saving aspects no bottles formula etc. I even went camping with my lo when she was 2 months old cos i had no sterilising to worry about. I would say to her give it a go you may find you love it if not well you haven't lost anything and you can go and get bottles but once you go onto bottles there is very rarely any turning back.

billieboy_2 · 18 July 2008 at 3:41PM

I breastfed both mine very successfully for about 9-10 months.

Pros: you can feed them anywhere anytime, its cheap (not quite free with buyng the breast pads), it's good for them and helps the immune system, they don't get overweight, they finish when they're full, no bottles to buy, fill, warm up, wash and sterilise.

Cons: you can't get anyone else to feed them unless you express which I didn't manage and neither of mine would take a bottle, can't think of any more.

I'm sure there are more but can't think of any at the moment.

My_Fathers_Daughter · 18 July 2008 at 3:43PM

pukkamum wrote: »

I could be being a bit thick but are you the mum or dad?

I think he is a young gentleman named dan, based in lincolnshire and, at a guess, about 24

pukkamum · 18 July 2008 at 3:43PM

P.s it can be difficult but there are so many people to turn to for help these days most surgeries or health visitors have breast feeding counsellors who will help out where they can.

billieboy_2 · 18 July 2008 at 3:46PM

Oh and it helps you lose weight after giving birth and gives you an excuse to eat more as you need the extra calories for baby:j .

lincsdan86 · 18 July 2008 at 3:46PM

My_Fathers_Daughter wrote: »

I think he is a young gentleman named dan, based in lincolnshire and, at a guess, about 24

almost all right. im 22 thanks

*Louise* · 18 July 2008 at 3:47PM

OP - I am assuming you are the dad and trying to convince your partner to breastfeed your child? (When's the baby due btw)

I do feel as though you shouldn't be trying to 'convince' her. It's a mum's decision on how to feed the baby. You have every right to make your views known, and 'ask' if she would consider it, but no one should be talked into doing it.

I breast fed 3 children, and I am going to be brutally honest here - I hated it. I done it for the babies, to try and do my best for them but never for one moment felt the lovely bonding feeling that some mums talk about. It was painful, uncomfortable and embarrassing. But that's my experience.

If my OH had tried to convince me to breast feed, I would have handed him the baby and told him to get on with it and let's see how well he does.;) My body, my decision - no one else's.

Sorry, if I sound a bit harsh,

it's just I resented the midwives and health visitors who pestered me to 'keep going' when I was crying with pain every time the baby latched on, and it was obvious by their poor weight gain that I wasn't producing enough milk.

Lots of people will post how wonderful the experience was - I just want to let you know the other side. What's right for most might not be right for your partner, she will know when the time comes.

Big 'pro' though - it's cheaper than powdered milk

lincsdan86 · 18 July 2008 at 3:51PM

*Louise* wrote: »

OP - I am assuming you are the dad and trying to convince your partner to breastfeed your child? (When's the baby due btw)

I do feel as though you shouldn't be trying to 'convince' her. It's a mum's decision on how to feed the baby. You have every right to make your views known, and 'ask' if she would consider it, but no one should be talked into doing it.

I breast fed 3 children, and I am going to be brutally honest here - I hated it. I done it for the babies, to try and do my best for them but never for one moment felt the lovely bonding feeling that some mums talk about. It was painful, uncomfortable and embarrassing. But that's my experience.

If my OH had tried to convince me to breast feed, I would have handed him the baby and told him to get on with it and let's see how well he does.;) My body, my decision - no one else's.

Sorry, if I sound a bit harsh, it's just I resented the midwives and health visitors who pestered me to 'keep going' when I was crying with pain every time the baby latched on, and it was obvious by their poor weight gain that I wasn't producing enough milk.

Lots of people will post how wonderful the experience was - I just want to let you know the other side. What's right for most might not be right for your partner, she will know when the time comes.

Im sorry if it came across like that, i didnt mean it to, I just want my oh to know both sides of the story before she makes her mind up. Of course i wouldnt force her into doing something that was hurting her.

Baby is due 21st December, Bit of time to wait but we are both excited about it. so please no comments about it being too early to start thinking about this.

Thank you

Breast feeding, pros and cons

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