Breastfeeding

marywooyeah

I think its always an area which will involve a lot of debate either way. I breastfeed my son with a few hiccups at first but like the OP said he was always hungry and was feeding every hour sometimes more in the day and up three or four times a night, but it created a close bond between us and we both loved it.
then he loved it a bit toooo much! he was over 2 before he stopped (obviously not solely bf lol) and became almost aggressive if I wouldnt feed him. I rang the HV saying I was struggling to cope with it and they wouldnt leave me alone! every 2 or 3 weeks she'd turn up to "see how we were doing" and asking if I'd stopped feeding him yet. In the end I told her I had and she cleared off never to return, and he weaned himself off finally around 2 years 4 months.
so, they force it down your throat when you first have them but then tell you its wrong if you carry on feeding them!
moral of the story: you can't win with them. just trust your instincts as to whether your baby should bf or bottle feed, there's no right or wrong, both have advantages and disadvantages!

Shelldean

nikki_angel wrote: »

As long as the baby is fed, does it REALLY matter whether it is formula or breast milk? Really? I don't think so personally.

Agree, so long a babe is happy. Just don't preach who don't do as you do. Just agree to disagree.

Dave101t

a woman has breasts to provide milk for her baby, if she cant or wont, she deserves the guilt. survival of the fittest.

MamaMoo_2

Trying to BF my son made me depresse and upset. He was constantly hungry, I couldn't produce enough milk to meet his demands, and my nipples were bloody and raw. I switched to formula and all was good. My son has not lost out on anything, and us a beautiful, happy and healthy baby.
Consequently, when my new baby is born, I will not be breastfeeding. If my useless midwife tries to put pressure on me, she will find herself on the end of my foot.

poet123

Dave101t wrote: »

a woman has breasts to provide milk for her baby, if she cant or wont, she deserves the guilt. survival of the fittest.

Yes, because bottle fed babies don't survive do they?;);):rotfl:

ALIBOBSY

The reality is that study after study shows that breastfeeding is not just slightly better its in a different league to bottle milk,so as a nation we should encourage much more breastfeeding.

However at the end of the day its the mums choice and babies did and do survive and grow just fine on bottles.

I breastfed all 4 of mine-still feeding the youngest and would encourage all mums to give it a go, but if you can't manage or have other problems it is cruel to make someone feel guilty if they have to resort to bottles.

Instead of midwive HV attacking mums they would be better giving better advice about how to deal with the realities of breastfeeding.

Like the best ways to deal with sore nipples and those early days where the baby feeds over and over to get the milk to "come in".
How to help prevent mastitis etc.
Plus the realities of breastfeeding like the fact that at first when they latch on you will get a sharp pain, but it only lasts a second then goes (I found a quick intake of breath held for a few seconds helped-not sure why lol). Once on there should be little pain if positioning is correct.
Most important of all your need to know that if you push through the first 2-3 wks it becomes virtually pain free (apart from the occasional bit of soreness), and 6-8 wks in it is easy and pain free. how lovely it is in the night when night feeds are just pick up baby, feed-no messing with bottles/kettles/sterilising etc etc.

So more support for those who want to BF and less hassle for those who can't.

ali x

Shelldean

Dave101t wrote: »

a woman has breasts to provide milk for her baby, if she cant or wont, she deserves the guilt. survival of the fittest.

oh so if a woman can't then she deserves the guilt???

Like poet123 said do bottlefed babies not survive then??
Oh wait yes they do and I have four healthy kids who were all bottlefed.

Shelldean

:T:T well said Alibobsy :T:T

ALIBOBSY

MamaMoo wrote: »

Trying to BF my son made me depresse and upset. He was constantly hungry, I couldn't produce enough milk to meet his demands, and my nipples were bloody and raw. I switched to formula and all was good. My son has not lost out on anything, and us a beautiful, happy and healthy baby.
Consequently, when my new baby is born, I will not be breastfeeding. If my useless midwife tries to put pressure on me, she will find herself on the end of my foot.

Mama its your choice,but please don't give up on BF just because it didn't happen the first time. My first was the hardest then it became easier. Re the constant feeding the first 24-48 hrs are hard, once the milk comes in it gets easier and if you can get past the first weeks it becomes so much easier. Re the sore/bloody nipples I have one word for that- Lansinoh. Their nipple cream is more like a gel or wax and if safe and natural so doesn't have to be wiped off for feeding. Its not cheap but lasts aggggggeeess-and is good for burns/sunburn after BF ends.

It isn't easy in those early days especially with your first baby and we've all been there in tears. Enjoy your new baby (my youngest is 1 at weekend) and have a hug in readiness for those sleepness nights lol. Whatever you decide hope it all goes well and the birth is easy and pain free.

ali x

Mankysteve

Why not advise her to try and see if there BF feeding support group near by they may be able to help and make a difference rather than giving up all together that would be my first suggestion rather than sod its too hard so I won't bother trying to see if there support out there I'll just give(the latter seems to go on a lot in this country)

Once she tried support and it doesn't work or genuinely can't find any then it would be time to suggest the bottle feed happy in the knowledge that everything that could be tried as.