I wasnt successfull...

But the things that would have helped would have been better help at home, my OH was only given 3 days off which were used for his Grandmas funeral who died 3 days before Jasmine was born, and 2 days with us.

I think that knowing how hard it was and failing has maybe made me more prepared for next time? My oh will also qualify for paternal leave too.

Sometimes I think it may have been really nice to just be able to hang out on the couch while my OH looked after cooking and stuff!

Having a VERY supportive husband.
I loved having a chance to sit down and spend the time with the baby. I didn't have a c-section, but I had planned a natural birth but ended up having a VERY scary birth (I still don't think I'm completely "over" it). BF was my way of wanting to bond with Bella. Without BF I think I would have had a much harder time bonding with her.

10 months later and I'm still bf. It's SO much easier. I still love snuggling with her while she nurses and we both fall asleep and nap. I LOVE those cuddles!

I knew it was going to be tough as almost everyone around me kept on reminding me and telling me i wasn't likely to get past a couple of weeks (as they didn't), well i hate hate hate being told what to do and what i will or won't do and that just made me more determined to prove them wrong!

Because my birth went so wrong i wanted to do something natural and for me that was to b/f, i think it helped me bond with Amelia although it still did take a few weeks.

The support from girls on here was fantastic!

ooh and finally research! I did tons of research and read other people's experiences so i knew just what to expect (although you never really can 100%), i was told by my parents etc that she needed water and i should supplement with formula etc, well i'm glad i never listened!

Preparation: I went to three sessions of breastfeeding classes when I was pregnant, which gave me a good knowledge base to refer to.

Staying in hopsital a bit longer after delivery: This allowed me to learn from the midwives and lactation consultants expertise. Just being able to push a button and get someone to help me with my baby's latch or her positioning was invaluable.

Having my mum on the end of the phone: She breastfed all of us but she lives abroad so I was constantly on the phone or webcam to her asking her questions about feeding and getting her reassurance about various niggles I had.

My hubby's pride: He seems so proud that we have come this far, especially when no-one he knows breastfed and he wasn't breastfed. It was all so alien to him and now he revels in telling people that Poppy is breastfed and I can see that he loves it when people come round and I feed her, allowing him to tell them all about it!

My pigheadedness: I have encountered various problems with feeding (all the usual stuff, I suppose) and people have often said the ubiquitous "oh, just give her a bottle!". I have dug my heels in even further each time and it has made me more and more determined to continue.

I just love it now. I find it difficult to ever imagine stopping to be honest. It's great and I'm so glad I have stuck with it! x

All my friends had tried and failed at bfing, I wanted to succeed and show it is possible, even through thrush, mastitis and Savannah not latching on. Plus I knew it would get better eventually.
My mum is also a LC and everyone in my family bf so I didn't want to be the only one who didn't.
Great thread Sam!!

for me it was the fact my mum and oh were so supportive and i had loads of support from my health visitor and midwife.

I was also very lucky and had a very contented booby boy who took to it really well!

I love the snuggling up too

I cried my eyes out at the start it was so sore and all the midwives just said I was diong it wrong and it knocked my confidence! I knew i wasnt as I am diong nothing differeng now and it dosnt hurt anymore. I wanted to cary on and i have determination as I want my son to be as healthy as possible. No doubt is hard and I said i didnt know how long i could hold it out and it depressed me as i didnt kow how long the pain would last and the amount of feeds had me chained to the sofa. Its better now than it was anyway so I am happy to continue.

Shall we ask for a sticky for this????

My hormones Every time I tried to stop my body ached to carry on nursing!!

I also had alot of support from my birthing partner (close friend) and my mum. Rich just wanted me to be happy tbh, I was sooo upset that I was failing. Midwives, nurses and HVs were useless. Next time I'll complain if I recieve the same rubbish level of support.

Girls on here of course!

It was really, really hard to get back to BF after the ward midwife shoved a bottle in her mouth and I was a little but assumed they knew best. I'm so glad I was determined to get it back.