🚨 Advance warning 🚨 This forum will be closing on 1st May – please see our pinned thread for more information.
breastfeeding question
hi, how long has everyone breastfed there baby for? has anybody set themself a goal to get to a certain date?
i'm just wondering cos my 4th was born in oct and i've challenged myself to at least get to christmas and then see how things are then and hopefully carry on, and i want to try to do it for longer this time cos i only breast fed my last 2 ( not my 1st) and each child i went i bit longer.
and one more question.............how do you manage when out and about cos i tend to just stay in all the time cos i don't want to breastfeed in public and i know it's nobodies business but i just can't help it.
michelle xxxx
i'm just wondering cos my 4th was born in oct and i've challenged myself to at least get to christmas and then see how things are then and hopefully carry on, and i want to try to do it for longer this time cos i only breast fed my last 2 ( not my 1st) and each child i went i bit longer.
and one more question.............how do you manage when out and about cos i tend to just stay in all the time cos i don't want to breastfeed in public and i know it's nobodies business but i just can't help it.
michelle xxxx
0
Replies
once you get over the first problems in the first couple of months it really does get easier.
i found people tend to just ignore you when out in public. I've bf at the top of a mountain before coz lo wouldnt take the bottle id expressed.
I would ussually express a bottle to take with me everywhere tho.
I'm one of the fortunate ones that has found it reasonably easy after his first growth spurt, and now am thinking i'll go on bf as his main drink (he is currently being weaned too) till hes old enough to drink cows milk at around 1yr old.
xxx
I knew I wanted to at least try bf so I said that even if I only managed it for 24 hrs it was better than not at all. Once I'd got passed that I set 6 weeks as my target. Once I'd passed that I set 16 weeks as my target (after 3rd imms). Now my LO is 19 weeks old and I've started to wean him onto a bottle, we're doing it gradually and its suiting the both of us.
Bf is a really wonderful experience and would highly recommend it but don't beat yourself up if it doesn't suit you.
I've only fed in public a couple of times (I normal manage to express milk and take a bottle) but I've found that loosely draping a muslin cloth over my shoulder hides any flesh.
Good luck x
Like pixie says dont beat yourself up if you want to stop but just do what feels most comfortable for you and lo good luck x
Current lo is 13 days old and I am really struggling with feeding...she is quite small 6lbs 14 now and is only putting about an oz on every 5/6 days. I have loads of milk, but midwife reckons she only seems to take the fore milk. I was previously so against formula feeding but to be honest I need to do what is best for us both and at night we are both crying as I so want her to get a full tummy and she doesn't...and then she will only sleep with me as midwife has said that she will sleep next to me whilst being hungry, but wont go into her crib when hungry...so hubby is in a different room to us as we cannot all sleep together.
So, I have just given her a trial run with 3oz of Aptimil and she took 1.5 oz fine. So I plan to top her up during my evening feeds after I have breastfed.
As for feeding in public, my first one I would feed absolutely anywhere...but now my boobs & nipples seem so massive it is almost impossible to be discreet...well I could if I fed her in whilst sitting in a duvet cover!!!
I have come to realise that basically I need to just go with the flow and as long as Violet is putting on weight and happy, then I am happy!!
C.xxx
it's not that i want to stop we are doing ok for now!!
i didn't bf my first, but i bf my 2nd for about 6wks and my 3rd for about 8-10wks i can't remember properly, so like i said i'm hoping i can go longer again this time.
lauragcam my kids weren't that fussed really, my daughter is 8 now, my other 2 boys are 4 and 20 months. i explained that it was a natural thing like the animals and that it was a special milk that helps him grow big!
ella was 4 when her brother came along but i can't really remember what she was like sorry i'm sure she was ok with it though. the other week she was sat in the front room bf her doll!!! that was a bit weird lol!!
i told my son who has only just turned 4 all about where normal milk comes from and why don't know whether it helped.
when you bf your baby though i would try to involve your daughter let her sit next to you things like that, ask her to get a breastpad for you, she will feel like she is helping too.
good luck sorry to go on xxxxx
I am bf my Violet, and am finding it very different as I bottle fed my 1st 2 - they don't seem to get jealous, Lauren my eldest is more aware of the body so has asked a few more questions but Mia, the middle one, always seems to do something that involves danger just as Violet latches on!! I'm aiming for 6 months but will go with the flow - my hv told me to take each day as it comes - good luck
Sam xx
[Modified by: sibles24 on November 30, 2007 06:56 PM]
just take it easy and a little time at once and follow your babies lead, with my 3rd baby he just stopped him self at 5 months and i was gutted but put him on formula it was a hard moment to give him a bottle but it was the right one. the same happened with my 4th she just stopped her self and i didn't tear my self up so much about giving her a bottle. every baby is individual and you will know what feels right where feeding is concerned. ggod luck xxxx
pen, have you ever experienced a nursing strike with any of yours?
I have fed all of mine anywhere and everywhere. This lo has been quite a challenge as she has only ever fed in the underarm position so I need a chair with arms to support her but you can usually do it without showing anything and most of the time it just looks like lo is asleep. No-one has ever said anything to me although sometimes I wish they would as I have lots of prepared responses- all very polite! Just make sure you stick to tops and bottoms as it isn't very dignified trying to hoik up a dress!
Keep going as long as you can Michelle, it is so much easier than having to make up bottles, sterilise etc especially with your 4th when time is at a premium! Enjoy your special time together xx