Breast feeding, pros and cons

gingerkirsty

I breastfed both of mine and will bf this next one when it arrives in a few weeks, so I will say outright that I am pro bf myself.

One of the things I find particually sad whenever this kind of discussion pops up is that people really can't make an informed choice. If I were to list the reasons that formula is not equal to breastmilk and makes babies ill (even in this country and not just developing countries) then I would likely be called a bf hound and shot down.

If your partner isn't sure what she wants to do she could talk to a breastfeeding counsellor before the baby is born. NCT breastfeeding counsellors will not try to push bfing onto her so no worry about that, it is all person centred so they won't offer any 'advice' at all.

Not all breastfeeding relationships are wonderful and involve lots of gazing at each other, but not all are horrid and painful either. Breastfeeding should not be painful, it might be a bit uncomfy until you both get used to it, but pain would usually indicate a problem (often latching or positioning) and can be talked through with a professional.

I hope that whatever you both decide it is an informed choice without too much pressure from either side.

Js_Other_Half

I ended up with Ds on a drip at 5 days old as he was so dehydrated ( with none of the normal signs). I wasn't producing milk ( C section along with having PCOS which can affect milk production.) We asked for a baby feeding consulant to come and talk to us once DS was off the drip - and waited there all day until that happened ;but if it hadn't have been for my husband backing me up I'd have probably let them discharge us and creep off home again.

As Bernadette says the chances of BF successfully are raised by the partner being supportive.

billieboy_2

hurricanewyn wrote: »

I wasn't able to breast feed my two, for various reasons, and I felt so upset about it, because it was something I had really wanted to do. Like someone has already said I felt embarressed taking out the bottles while everyone around me was managing without any problems.
However, there are some cons to breast-feeding that I didn't miss - the things you can't eat and drink, eg chocolate and milk in case it gives baby a bad tummy, pop in case baby gets wind, curry or spicy foods and garlic because the taste transfers over and def. no alcohol. After 40 weeks of being tee-total I was quite looking forward to the odd glass of wine.
But, I would agree without everyone else who has posted - it's definitely the best thing for baby and even if she really, really can't face breastfeeding, exressing the colostrum from the first few days is a great start.

I was never told not to have chocolate:eek: and milk:eek: or garlic and I did have the odd bit of alcohol, though I did avoid spicy foods and curry , but this is going back 24 years so maybe advice has changed since then?!

Becles

Biggest pro - feeding time means latching baby on and leaving them to it. I couldn't be bothered with all that sterilising and warming bottles up etc., especially in the middle of the night.

Biggest con - if you can't express, you have to do all the feeds and then adjust your life around feeds. It means you can't be away from the baby for any length of time, which is sometimes a bind if you want to go out or something.

It's nice to see a Dad taking an interest in this, so big pat on the back for that!

pukkamum

I was told by my midwife that a glass of wine before feeding would help let down!!!!!

Nicki

hurricanewyn wrote: »

However, there are some cons to breast-feeding that I didn't miss - the things you can't eat and drink, eg chocolate and milk in case it gives baby a bad tummy, pop in case baby gets wind, curry or spicy foods and garlic because the taste transfers over and def. no alcohol. After 40 weeks of being tee-total I was quite looking forward to the odd glass of wine.

quote]

I ate and drank all of these while breastfeeding my two with no problems whatsoever with fussy or colicky babies. I think some babies are just more sensitive than others and if you get one of these and choose to bottle feed you'll just end up trying lots of different types of formula and gripe water until baby settles!

The pro for breastfeeding for me was the freedom. If you bottle feed, then you can only stay out for the length of time that you have a bottle for, and if you forget to pack a bottle you're completely scuppered. At least with a nappy you can pop into any shop and buy a pack of disposables but sterilised disposable bottles and ready-made up milk (although they do exist) are both much harder to find. If your OH is the kind of person who might pop over to see a friend for an hour but decide once she got there to stay for lunch and a chat, or likes to do things off the cuff then she'll find breastfeeding suits this kind of lifestyle much better. And same if she, like me, is chronically disorganised.

billieboy_2

pukkamum wrote: »

I was told by my midwife that a glass of wine before feeding would help let down!!!!!

Never heard that one before :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Becles

billieboy wrote: »

I was never told not to have chocolate:eek: and milk:eek: or garlic and I did have the odd bit of alcohol, though I did avoid spicy foods and curry , but this is going back 24 years so maybe advice has changed since then?!

My baby is 14 months now, and I ate all those things and had an odd drink while I was breastfeeding and it doesn't seem to have done her any harm.

She is addicted to garlic bread though and had a madras for her tea last night :rotfl:

billieboy_2

Becles wrote: »

My baby is 14 months now, and I ate all those things and had an odd drink while I was breastfeeding and it doesn't seem to have done her any harm.

She is addicted to garlic bread though and had a madras for her tea last night :rotfl:

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: . Love it!

billieboy_2

Actually, I've thought of a con, but only a minor one (for me anyway). If you like going out as a couple, it will be a bit difficult with a bf baby, unless you can take him/her with you. I had both mine in March so we were able to get out to the pub, etc and sit outside in the nice sunny evenings we seemed to have back then in the 80s! Not like this year :mad: .

Sorry Becles, I've just read your post which mentions going out.