Thing is that 2percent statistic prob is just about physically capable of producing milk and doesnt take into consideration other factors, like tounge tied babies, or women who cant produce enough on demand, or premmies not being able to suck hard enough etc.

I was so intent on BF last time I went to workshops while PG to get advice etc and was all set up for it. Unfortunatly when I had Noah I got a lumber puncture from the epi, and its very hard to discraibe the agonising pain this casues, but basically it causes spinal fluid to drain away from your skull when you stand up so your brain slumps in your skull and causes a headache that just makes you scream. Iended up in a private room cause Iwas disttressing the other mums, and was bed bound unable to even sit up for 10 days. I tried my hardest to BF laying down with Noah against my tum, but I couldnt even move my head to look down to see what I was doing to try to attach him properly so it was like trying to BF blindfolded and tied up! After 2 days of this and me getting very upset, as Icouldnt even pick him up when he was crying or feed or change him, Ihad to give up and ask for a bottle. Once my headache wore off I tried to feed again, but unfotunatly my milk never came through properly and I couldnt properly start again. Now I recon this is the same for anyone who gets a spinal headache so that alone would make that statictis unacurate, and thats just one example.

Once I got over my initial disappointment at not feeding him myself Igot on with bottles really well, I loved the fact that I wasnt tied down to doing the feeding, and OH could join in, and we could go out easily and have someone else look after him. As for them having a weaker immune system, Noah didnt even suffer a cold in his first year of life, and with exception of having eczema which I cleared up quickly he had excellent health while he was bottle fed. So I am very torn over what do do this time. I like the convenience of bottles, but it is an amazing feeling to breast feed, it gives you an amazing bond with your child.

Breastfed til Ella was 10.5 months and she's been fully formula (now cows) since then as my milk totally went (pregnancy hormones I guess). Some women can breastfeed throughout pregnancy, unfortunately I couldn't. I still miss it now.
My family are all formula feeders and until I got pregnant I thought that I would be too. Then it was drilled into me about how good for the baby breastfeeding was and I thought I'd give it a go, if it didn't work out then no worries. Once I started though I felt immense guilt at the thought of giving up and struggled through the initial 10 weeks. I'm dreading the sore nipples again this time and am praying they don't split again - there is nothing worse then having a load of stitches down below so you feel like you've given birth to freddy krueger, and then suffering the worst pain every time your baby latches on that's so bad you cry. The first few weeks of Ella's life were painful!! If I get mastitis again this time I don't know how I'll cope because I'll have Ella to look after, I've never felt as poorly as I did when I had that. Then there were the blocked ducts that made it horrendously painful just lifting her up, so christ knows what it will be like with her climbing all over me. Breastfeeding certainly wasn't as easy as the video made out in our parentcraft classes, I thought she'd be born, go on the boob and it wouldn't hurt or feel weird. I had no idea about latching difficulties, frequent hour long feeds, associated breastfeeding problems such as mastitis, blocked ducts or thrush, split bleeding nipples (I was sure she was going to take the end off of it, I remember showing the MW and being made to feel really stupid). Wearing a bra to bed because you can't bear the covers brushing against your sore nips or wanting to cry if the shower sprays on them isn't something I expected. Women should be made aware of the potential problems from the offset and also told where they can get proper support from trained professionals. My HV didn't have a clue and when I spoke to them about her frequent feeds I was advised to give a formula feed, I don't feel they are pro feeding down there at all. Quite the opposite! They offered cheap formula at every opportunity.

Despite the initial 10 weeks I'm glad I peservered and I feel so much more prepared for this time round. I'd still recommend breastfeeding to anyone, I really enjoyed it and can't wait for this bubba to be on the boobie! I feel that that few weeks of pain were worth it in the long run.

Bloody hell Kina that sounds so sore.

i had 3 days of pin when my boobs filled up it was so sore. like a knife being twisted in my boobs the pain i couldnt put my arms down.
so how you still continiued to breast feed through that kind of pain. i take my hat of to you.

im sure once all the pain passes its so nice to breast feed.

Id still give BF a shot with the second LO tho

i cant vote.. i do both..

There's always ONE isn't there? Smartarse :wink:

Mil said to me when I was pregnant that I might not be able to breastfeed as it's hard work (she bf DH for 6 months). I would have breastfed through having my nipples wrenched off to prove to her that I could do it

bully :P:P well i do!!! lol

I breastfed Ky from 3 weeks old and he still has nighttime feeds now.

When I was pregnant I was undecided on whether I would breast or bottle feed and decided to make the decision after the actual birth.

When Ky was born he was born hungry and was sucking his hand and crying. A Midwife asked if I wanted a bottle. I said yes. In retrospect I think it was really poor that I wasn't asked how I wanted to feed. If I was encouraged to try breastfeeding I would have tried from the beginning, but I felt embarrased to say I wanted to try. I don't know how true it is, but I have been told that Hospitals get kickbacks from Formula companies to offer their formula, so that could be a reason why they don't encourage breastfeeding in hospitals.

When Ky was 3 weeks old I tried breast feeding him as he was always rooting at the breast. He took to it really well, so over the next few weeks he ramained bottle fed, but I offered him the breast more and more frequently until eventually he would no longer take a bottle.

I'm a firm believer that whatever method you choose is neither right or wrong, you just choose the best method for you and your child. For me, breastfeeding has been a fantastic experience and I enjoy the closeness of it with my son to this day. Fortunately Ky had no problems latching on and I had no problems with painful nipples....well that is until my little pirana got teeth!

What I do feel sad about is that if I, as a 25 year old Mom lacked the confidence to say I wanted to try breastfeeding, what hope is there for a lot of other mothers, especially very young Moms? - All we need is a little encouragement and sadly I feel that is desperately lacking in hospitals today. I'm just glad that in the privacy of my own home I was able to give it a go, and I am so glad I did.

same here toe curling pain, ouch, will try again next time though.