breastfeeeding

alwaysonthego_2

Soapy955 wrote:

I really don't know how to stop her wanting it though. I read that you can stick a plaster on both boobs and say they are broken but I think my daughter would just rip the plasters off!! Also I read that you could put something on them that doesn't taste very nice, but that just seems cruel!

Anyway, thanks again for the reply, and for the pat on the back, I'm patting you right back too, I feel a bit less isolated now, thanks to you!

I thought dd1 was never gonna stop.I finally decided that I was gonna stop, dd1 was 2 yrs8 months, I reduced it each day, had a few tantrums, but you have to be firm. They eventually stop asking for it, it took about 6 weeks.

madhouseof4

yorkshirepudding wrote:

another one here doing extended bfing, mine is 2 yrs 5 months. there is a good extended breastfeeding forum on babycentre.co.uk

Hehehe!! Welcome to the club! Not sure if 3 people counts as a club or not! I sometimes lurk on the babycentre boards, although I seem to have spread myself a little too thinly between all the boards I use recently, so Idon't post much on there, just read. Mine is now 2yrs 8 months.

Cinders2001

Well like I said earlier, Mine were fed for 3 1/2 years each.
My youngest is just approaching 4 and will still ask for a 'bink-of-mummy' once in a while.

abijanzo

yorkshirepudding wrote:

Bottle fed babies-

Have lower IQs
Have more ear infactions
Have a higher risk of obesity
Have more gastric problems
Are less socially mobile
Have more urinary tract problems
Have general lower immunity

My DD (now nearly 2 and a half) was only breast fed for 3 weeks and lost so much weight it was scary. I had Hyperemisis and a terrible pregnancy I was also aneamic after the birth and TBH my milk was just inadequate. I realised something wasnt right when it took me an hour and a half to express an ounce of milk! I find it hard to believe that 99% of women are capable of breast feeding. That certainly isnt reflective of my friends and aquaintances experiences...many have had to stop b/f early on.
In the end my GP told me I really should bottle feed or at least co-feed and DD thrived from her first bottle of 'the dreaded' SMA. She has had none of the above problems whatsoever and is incredibly sociable and incredibly intelligent - much more so than most of her peers.
I just wanted to add my experiences for all those who cant or choose not to B/F - it isnt always a bad alternative, for me it was a God Send and my slim/intelligent/healthy/strong/sociable daughter is a testament that it works for some!
P.S Bottles in the night? Whats the problem? Just take the boiled water up in the bottles and have the milk powder pre measured to add in the night...babies can drink the milk at room temp so no need to even warm!

Piper*

Well,I don't think i'll be able to carry on as long as some of you!!
I have now managed to breastfeed twins for 8mths with the odd bottle to help out after about 4mths.
The beginning was so so hard as neither baby would latch on well and the nurses at the hospital weren't very helpful. In the end i had to get my dh to latch them. so that we could get out of hospital:o It was also exhausting at the beginning - i think my record was 12 feeds each in 24hrs:eek:
However it got easier and easier and we are still 2/3 breastfed now. It has also saved me a fortune in formula milk - i would definitely try and bf again. However i do think that you should not be made to feel guilty for bottle feeding. When i introduced 1 bottle a day my hv made me feel very guilty - i had no praise for the other 6 feeds a day that were breast. If mums were supported more then maybe they would breast feed for longer.
JMO
Piper x

Dormouse

Piper* wrote:

Well,I don't think i'll be able to carry on as long as some of you!!
I have now managed to breastfeed twins for 8mths with the odd bottle to help out after about 4mths.
The beginning was so so hard as neither baby would latch on well and the nurses at the hospital weren't very helpful. In the end i had to get my dh to latch them. so that we could get out of hospital:o It was also exhausting at the beginning - i think my record was 12 feeds each in 24hrs:eek:
However it got easier and easier and we are still 2/3 breastfed now. It has also saved me a fortune in formula milk - i would definitely try and bf again. However i do think that you should not be made to feel guilty for bottle feeding. When i introduced 1 bottle a day my hv made me feel very guilty - i had no praise for the other 6 feeds a day that were breast. If mums were supported more then maybe they would breast feed for longer.
JMO
Piper x

I think you've done really well breastfeeding twins for this length of time, well done! :T Not many people do that these days, and I personally think you've done amazingly well - and anyone who would be negative about you introducing one bottle feed a day after 4 months is just mad (stupid HV)!

Generally, I think one of the problems is that even the health professionals don't always know much about BFing, hence the lack of support. My HV was very openly in awe of me BFing DS for a year as she admitted herself that she only managed 2 weeks with her own children.

It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation - if the midwives/HVs haven't done it themselves, they're not going to be that great at teaching others how to do it and the support is not going to be there, leading to fewer mums doing it, so again fewer health staff will know what they're talking about.

jo_b_2

Mothers who have breast-fed their own babies (for however long) and want to support others to do the same, could volunteer as a Peer Supporter.

Most Health Authorities have set up some form of peer support now. Just google breastfeeding peer support or ask your Health Visitor.

Here's one local example:
http://www.northlan.gov.uk/education+and+learning/early+years+and+childcare/sure+start/breastfeeding+peer+support+project.html

Just seems a useful and practical way to help people who have already chosen to breastfeed and might be struggling - rather than pressurising those that don't choose to breastfeed for whatever reason.

mamaduke

Hi, I breast fed all 3 of my children & was asked to donate breastmilk for the special care baby unit whilst in hospital with my second.
I agreed & very much enjoyed it.
I had to sterilize small glass bottles (which were all provided free of charge with solutions tubs etc)then express breast milk which was then frozen, a volunter collected these once a week from my home.
As I was already feeding my son it was no trouble & worthwile experience which I would recommend to anyone.

genegenie

Whilst i was pregnant i was veryvery worried about breastfeeding in fact moreso than i was about the labour. The thought of it made me want to spew. (Also felt very pressured what with all the literature i was given.......) Having said that i did it in the end as my baby seemed to manage it without any effort on my behalf.

I did venture out to a breastfeeding support group where there were some very scary people but there were also some very nice normal people too!

As for whether breastfeeding is a freebie i would have to disagree, i spent a fortune on breast pads and washing my sheets everyday after i kept leaking everywhere!! Tried the washable ones and they were what i would describe as "non absorbent", tried cheaper brands and it was like having cut glass down my bra!!
As for me im PROCHOICE!!!!!!Do what you like i say!
Have fun!

madhouseof4

I also donated breastmilk for a while when ds was between 3 & 6 months. When ds2 was in hospital having his surgery, I expressed to keep up the supply and to give the milk to the PICU staff to put down his ng tube. What wasn't used, I told them to send across to the neonatal unit.