Fab thread!

I really struggled with BF for the first 2 weeks, Oliver wouldn't latch on but i was very determined to bf. I stayed in hospital for 4 days for extra support with feeding, every nurse and MW had a different opinion on how to help Oliver to latch on which was very very frustrating, my OH was getting really annoyed with the MW's as they would tell me to give up and express and try again later, as It was taking so long for me to express for the first few days they were helping me, I cant belive how many different people had thier hands on my boobs those first few days; one MW even bruised me she was so rough! I was hand expressing the colostrum and feeding Oliver through a syringe for the first few days and then with a cup once my milk had come in. After getting really frustrated in hospital we decided to go home even though Oliver still wasnt latching on well.

when we got home it got easier; my OH was amazing, every feed he would make sure i had pillows behind my back and hold Oliver in the correct position and once he was latched on he would place the widgy cushion under Oliver to help keep him in the right position. This really helped, although i was determined to bf without my OH support and patience i may have given up.

So nice to read about supportive OHs - I couldnt have battled through without mine. My biggest supporter for sure - makes a MASSIVE difference.

Same here. He's still a star, getting me drinks in the middle of the night

I am still breast feeding, and I imagine I will be doing so for a little while longer.
Kaida is a couple of weeks away from being one, and I still love her needing me.

As to what kept me going? Dedication. I had no help from anyone. I had no Midwife, no lactation specialist. I just did what I thought was natural, and luckily Kaida took to breast feeding. I had some time when I felt like giving up, especially with the masititis, and whatnot. Very painful. Now I have to deal with her teeth..yeah, not so pleasant.
However, I love her closeness, our bond. Nothing can break that..not yet anyway.
One day I will have to cut the booby-milk supply. I have begun to cut down the amount of feedings. Until then, she's MINE!

For me the absolute main thing was determination. I know that breastfeeding is best for baby and even though the first week was hell and I ended up with mastitis, I just wouldn't give up, not for me but for Lucas and all the pain was so worth it just seeing him all snuggled up to me feeding away, he looks so contented

He also has ebm and when he takes the bottle we have no problems but he just doesn't have that 'look' when he is fed with the bottle. Even though its the same milk he doesn't get the same peaceful look as when I feed him. I always think of it as me eating bread and water to survive, it will keep me going but not the same as big yummy sunday dinner that im going to seriously enjoy !

The other thing that was an absolute godsend was my pump, I was in so much pain in the first week I begged for a pump my oh was going to nip round tescos and get a avent but I wanted the medela swing so he called about 5 different boots and mothercare stores near to us to find one that had one in stock then raced 15 miles to get one before the shops shut.

I know everyone is different but once I got through the first 2/3 weeks I truly started to enjoy bf and I think I will be really sad when I have to stop !

I love reading these little stories

Well done girls x

Me too! and I love that women at all different stages are posting their stories.

Hiya,

I thought id say Hi, been following this section for a while as I was pretty much decided I wanted to bf from day one. Scott was born on 17th June 09 3 days over due weighing 8lb 11.5oz. Took to the breast straight away, the first 5- 6 days were really hard as he had only pooed once and the hospital wanted to give him formula top ups or laxatives he finally pooed on the monday!

I knew bf was going to be hard but nothing prepared me for actually how hard it was going to be, espeically the cracked nipples and Scott wanting consent feeding when I was feeling to ill after the labour. I also couldnt latch Scott on myself for several days OH copied what the midwifes did and that way he would go on straight away, I can now do it myself lol!

I decided before hand not to buy formula or bottles- as a just in case measure which really helped in the first few days and nights other wise I would have given in! I really do understand now why people say take it one day at a time, hopefully we will carry on the bf will continue to improve!
Family dont really understand either as they think its too much for me to do the feeding all by myself........in the end I said 'if I hear the word formula or dummy one more time im going to flip" no one has said anything since! Some family members have also left the room when I feed but I dont care as they could be doing that for he next year plus!!

I also want to add, I find writing the times down help, as I can physically see how much he's fed, as the days and hours seem to blur into one lol"



Catherine x

I will add a proper post to this when I get a little while to sit and think, however I WISH I had read this BEFORE having Olivia. It would have made the whole thing a lot less bewildering...worrying I didn't have enough milk, worried she was hungry, worried that she wouldn't sleep etc. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/bas...ond-night.html

Any pregnant ladies here, please please read this. It all seems obvious stuff, but at the time it would have been such a comfort to have read this, and be armed with a little bit more info. xxxxxx

As has already been mentioned, a key factor with breastfeeding, is determination. I always knew that my daughter might be the only child I would ever have. Having waited so long, I wanted to give her the very best start possible. There were problems to deal with:
* In the first 10 days, had to call for GP help, when daughter cried and refused to feed. A very unpleasant Dr called, told me to change my feeding plan and started to leave. I had to challenge him, in order to get suitable medication to calm my daughter.
* Learning what NOT to eat, so my daughter could get milk which did not cause any upset
* Accepting some days when I really hurt as my daughter fed. Again, determination was the key factor
* My daughter loved to fall asleep, whilst still latched on! If I moved, she'd start feeding again! The early morning feed was a really long, lazy one!
* My own feeling is that breastfeeding is a personal situation between a Mum and baby. I always fed my daughter at home, in quiet surroundings. I timed my shopping to fit in between feeds, so her routine was not upset
* I returned to work (teaching) when she was 4 months old, so expressed during the day, using a freezer bag to store the milk in.
Main problem - no suitable facilities at work - had to use the stock cupboard & lock the door, or the ladies' loo
* On a few occasions, my milk stopped. I was so determined not to stop breastfeeding that I took to bed, rested, drank loads and massaged until the milk returned.
* I found massaging very beneficial for milk production & flow
* Had to endure silly versions of how some breast milk wasn't 'good enough' for a baby! Heaven alone knows where some of these stories come from.......
* Had to make sure I fitted in rest periods, especially after returning to work.
* Any stress (teaching 11-18 year olds is not always stress-free!!!!) affected my milk, but I soon worked out a pattern to suit my body
* I stopped feeding my daughter myself, at 10 months, but continued expressing for another 2 months, to give her a full year
* We subsequently discovered my daughter has various disabilities. 2 paediatricians commented that breastfeeding was one of the best things I could have done for her
* In the last 2 years, it has come to light that our family on my Mum's side, has a major problem with the immune system. This has reinforced the importance of breastfeeding and the benefits for my daughter

There were times when it would have been so easy to give up. However, I had made a personal decision and was determined to stay with it. I look back and have no regrets at all.
It is important to remember that it isn't always an easy choice. There are numerous reasons why some Mums start out breastfeeding, but do not/cannot continue. My personal feeling is that no Mum she feel guilty/be made to feel guilty if her feeding plan has to be changed. What is important is the time you spend with your little one.