Did you breastfeed? If so, for how long?

ratmist · 05-06-2008, 05:02 AM #1 (**permalink**)

So I'm settling a bit more into the idea of becoming a mother soon. I'm 18 weeks pregnant and I've started feeling a little fleshy butterfly in my centre moving around. It's definitely not gas, so I assume it's the baby.

One of the things I'm thinking about is breastfeeding. I'm curious if Specktra Mothers breastfed, and if so, what their experiences were. I've read a lot about how some women have a hard time with it.

My mother tried to breastfeed but found it was too painful. She is a nurse so it's not like she didn't know what she was doing, but she said she had to give it up because she wasn't producing enough milk for either my brother or me, and it hurt so badly. (Apparently I just wanted to bite her, no matter what she tried.)

PrettyDolledUp · 05-06-2008, 05:30 AM #2 (**permalink**)

Congratulations to you becoming a Mommy! Motherhood is undescribable! Anyway, I have 2 boys, my eldest is now 5 years old, and I did not breastfeed him, he just wouldn't latch on!

However, my younger son, whom is now 9 months old, latched on quick! I admit, it was tough in the beginning, but I knew that breastmilk was best for him, so I toughened myself up and dealt with whatever pain there was. We were basically both learning at the same time, so I was very patient. There was SOME pain, but not as bad as I had thought. There was also a time when I thought I was losing my milk supply, but I contacted a lactation specialist right away and her advice was to continue breastfeeding. She said to make sure after each feeding that the breasts were completely empty, because it lets your body know to produce more milk. So I continued feeding my baby every 2-3 hours and until this very day, I'm still breastfeeding him. But I'm definitely going to have to wean him off once he turns 1 year old...now that's going to be a challenge! hehehe..Hope this helped you out a little bit!

xxManBeaterxx · 05-06-2008, 06:19 AM #3 (**permalink**)

Congrats

When you start getting into week 30's you will want that child out of you!!!

I couldnt breast feed for a few weeks, my daughter never latched on and the pain was sooo immense i actually cried, your breasts feel so tender and sore and swollen. But after i accepted that i will probably never be able to breastfeed i tried one last time, it was still sore and i could only breastfeed about 2feedings a day and then gradutally work its way up. I was so releaved and happy. I stopped when she was 8 months old, good luck breast feeding is a challenge in itself

panda0410 · 05-06-2008, 06:32 AM #4 (**permalink**)

Congrats mum-to-be!!!
I have had 4 babies with my hubby and breastfed all of them. My first son for 7 months, my second son for 7 months, my daughter for 5 months, and my last son for 3 months. I regrettably stopped feeding him after I went back to uni - the workload of my course and 3 hourly feeds were killing me physically and I wasnt coping with the fatigue

I would have gone longer if other circumstance prevailed, but this is the way it has to be.

Breastfeeding does not come naturally, its a skill and believe me it can be hard. Even with my 4 babies you'd think it would just come with successive babies, it just didnt - sometimes it was hard work! My daughter was over a month premmie and had other complications beside being small and latching was a huge issue for her. At 6 weeks I started expressing milk and bottle feeding her and did that for another 4 months because I wanted her to have the best start she could. My eldest son had problems too, he later died, but I did the same for him and expressed for almost the entire 7 months I fed him for. My second son was a dream - he latched immediately after birth and never looked back! He fed from me for 7 months until I removed him, he was swinging off me like a monkey...lol...I wast going to deal with that! And my last son was fussy - he would feed sometimes and then not at others, he would scream and wriggle, then suckle, then more screaming. You need patience and persistence but its all totally worth it in the end if you can. Having your baby at your breast for me I found very comforting, but dont beat yourself up if you cant or find it very hard - breastfeeding isnt for everyone. There are lots of options as well besides direct feeding, expressing can be tedious but often outweighs the disadvantages for some mothers, and lactation consultants are almost always on hand for help - use them when you need to and dont be afraid to ask for help

Shimmer · 05-06-2008, 10:09 AM #5 (**permalink**)

This is a great idea for a thread, and I'm glad it was posted, I just want to preemptively ask that, since breastfeeding/bottlefeeding/nature/nurture can cause such heated debate and passions, that the thread stay supportive in nature.

I did not breastfeed. I hated it when I tried it, and it never got better. Feeding time should be a time of bonding and love, and when Mommy is ready to jump away from Baby, that can't happen. For me, it was a visceral response that I didn't want any part of it, so I didn't do it. I can't say my children suffered for it either, on any level.

Evey · 05-06-2008, 10:25 AM #6 (**permalink**)

CONGRATS TO YOU! I'm a new mommy and I tried to breastfeed while I was in the hospital. I was determined to breastfeed my baby and I did but apparently I wasn't doing it right because after 2 days, I had scabbed up boobs. A nurse came in and tried to help me pump instead since I was so scabbed but a small clot of blood came out and that was it. The nurse told me to let my breasts heal before I tried to breastfeed or pump again which I did but by the time I tried to pump again, my milk supply was gone. It made me pretty upset because I really wanted to breastfeed my baby but, she's doing good without and I'm fine with that. As long as she's eating. =)

Caramel_QT · 05-06-2008, 10:33 AM #7 (**permalink**)

Breastfeeding is natural, but it doesn't always come naturally for mom or baby. The BEST thing you can do, is exactly what you're doing right now, which is to educate yourself on breastfeeding. Read everything you can get your hands on and try to attend a series of La Leche League meeting if you can.

I've breastfed all four of my children for varying amounts of time, but the longer you can do it the better. My first child nursed for 2 years, the second for only 8 months (I was pregnant again and wanted to wean), the thrid for 21 months, and number four is still going strong at 19 months with no sign of stopping, lol.

All the best to you!

gracetre123 · 05-07-2008, 01:41 AM #8 (**permalink**)

oh...great thread!! thank you all for your comments and advise!!

I really want and will try to breastfeed my baby...but Im too scared for the pain and all that!! so we´ll see!!

gracetre123 · 05-07-2008, 01:43 AM #9 (**permalink**)

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxManBeaterxx

When you start getting into week 30's you will want that child out of you!!!

THE TRUE

ratmist · 05-07-2008, 03:08 AM #10 (**permalink**)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caramel_QT

Breastfeeding is natural, but it doesn't always come naturally for mom or baby. The BEST thing you can do, is exactly what you're doing right now, which is to educate yourself on breastfeeding. Read everything you can get your hands on and try to attend a series of La Leche League meeting if you can.

I've breastfed all four of my children for varying amounts of time, but the longer you can do it the better. My first child nursed for 2 years, the second for only 8 months (I was pregnant again and wanted to wean), the thrid for 21 months, and number four is still going strong at 19 months with no sign of stopping, lol.

All the best to you!

Can I just ask, were you working full-time when you were breastfeeding? If so, how did you handle that?

From the time my kid is about three months old, I'll be looking to return to work. I realise there's breast pumping and whatnot, but that will probably require that I have some privacy at work in order to pump. I also heard from some others that the breast pumps don't always work well, so if people have brand recommendations that'd be useful too.

panda0410 · 05-07-2008, 04:10 AM #11 (**permalink**)

^^ Mini electric pumps are the best if you want to keep feeding while you are working - hand pumps are very hard at the best of times and really electric is the way. Make sure you try and get one that is quiet though, some of them can be a little noisy! Just talk to your boss about making time and privacy for you to pump during the day - you will also need access to a fridge to store your milk

The medela pumps are pretty good, just make sure if you plan to pump for a while do a REALLY thorough search on pump types - not all pumps are good OR comfortable for every woman, the fittings are different in some of them and you need to take good care of your nipples for the first few weeks of the process. Most places will let you have a look at the attatchments and some of them will let you try demo pieces for size - some of the funnels in the pumps are different sizes for women who have very small or very large nipples - you dont want the breast part pulled deep into the funnel!! Just start gently and after that it will be a whizz

I stopped with my last baby, but my study requires me to be up all hours of the night and the fatigue of coping with a very fussy baby, and other kids plus day study at uni and night study at home was really too much for me. There are some groups that support working breastfeeding mums in my area, so I'm guessing there might be something similar where you are - just ask your local mothers or breastfeeding group, they might be able to refer you to contacts for support in the workplace during your working/breastfeeding months

Caramel_QT · 05-07-2008, 05:42 AM #12 (**permalink**)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratmist

Can I just ask, were you working full-time when you were breastfeeding? If so, how did you handle that?

From the time my kid is about three months old, I'll be looking to return to work. I realise there's breast pumping and whatnot, but that will probably require that I have some privacy at work in order to pump. I also heard from some others that the breast pumps don't always work well, so if people have brand recommendations that'd be useful too.

With first I went back to school when she was around a year, so she would just nurse when I got home. With my second I got pregnant before my 1 year mat leave (we get a year off in Canada), and she was already weaned when I went back. With my third I was no longer working full time (part time and then only after a year) with my fourth, he is still nursing and I work through a temp agency here and there, but he's well over a year too, so I just nurse when I come home. Sometimes my breast are quite full, at the end of the day, having not nursed.

I have never done the pumping thing and I really got to give props to those women who do it. I honestly don't know if I could have. I guess I would have if I had to, but can't say for sure...I do know that there are hospital quality breastpumps that can be purchased. Actually a woman at my church decided to go back to work early (crazy woman, lol) and she pumps a few times per day in a spare office at work. I don't know how she does it, but it is important to her so she makes it work, I guess. She nurses the baby at the breast when they are together.

Anyhow, some brands/links to check out are Avent, Medela...

Quality Breast Supply :: Quality Breast Pumps & Accessories
Medela and Avent breast feeding pumps and accessories at Posh Mum's
SALE on Electric Breast Pumps & Accessories | Avent, Ameda, Medela and more at Breast Pumps Direct.

All the best to you and your impending birth!