As we all know, BFing is hard work, especially at the beginning. So I thought I would start a thread and we could all write about what really helped get us through those first weeks.

For me:

Determination. Being 110% determined to BF'd my son. I had planned a home birth, and ended up transfering and having a c-section. I was sooooo disappointed, and for me BFing made me feel more in touch with my son, more bonded and just closer to being a mother.

Finding the Le Leche League. Their support group meetings are great. It is awesome to sit in a room with other mothers knowing they are going through the same thing, have been there done that, and know where you are coming from.

Just letting my son take the lead, and nursing him on demand. I didn't worry about how much he was gaining in weight, I just nursed him, and nursed him and nursed him. I trusted in my body to feed him and trusted him to know when he needed to nurse.

Getting comfy on the sofa, especially for those marathon sessions. I was able to watch movies, and just relax, and not watch the clock. I found for the first month, I usually just watched him, staring at his little perfect face.

Remembering there is a light at the end of the BFing tunnel, and it would get easier.

I was determined to succeed for very similar reasons, my plan for a natural delivery also went out the window and i had an emergency c section (there's alot of them about) so i was damn sure i was going to make the breast feeding work. I love the fact i am soley responsible for my daughter thriving and the grandmums wouldn't let me have a moment with her if i was formula feeding-ha ha.

I was losing the will to do it last week. My heart really wasnt in it. Then I went to the weigh in at the baby clinic and she had gone from the 25th centile to the 50th. I was really proud and thought I must be doing something right. It gave me the motivation to carry on.

Great idea

Commitment. I BF'd for about 6 weeks with my first and I cant even tell you why I gave up I just wished I had carried on. So this time I really wanted to give it another shot. Before she was born, I commited to feeding her from birth to Christmas which was about 8 weeks. As time went by and Christmas drew nearer, I knew I was going to carry on. I've set myself mini goals rather than saying 1 year from the start. I'm almost at 6 months and I still cant quiet believe it!

Belief in myself. Day 10 and I was seriously ready to jack in. I just didnt think she was getting enough and I couldnt listen to her cry anymore. I rang the midwife who told me to go straight to Baby Cafe. The BF advisor listened and said I the main thing I needed to do was believe in myself. I think it can never be underestimated how big a part of it self belief is.

Support. From the day I got my BFP I drummed 2 things into my hubbys head - dont let me have an epidural and dont let me give up BFing before I've given it my best shot. Fortunately he listened. His support and that of the Baby Cafe lot meant I carried on.
Support comes in many forms and for me my hubby was my biggest support. Endless pints of fizzy water and cheese on toast in those first days....god love him

And my top clothing tip for discreet BFing is Belly Bands!! Wear them under your regular tops and you can lift to feed and your tummy is covered
When you get past 12 weeks treat yourself to Underwired Nursing Bras so your boobs feel like their old selves again

I didn't see FFig as an option I was so committed.

I BF laying on my side because I couldn't sit up after my C-section.

I BF through a yeast infecton in my milk ducts!

I BF through masititis.

I have BF when it hurt so bad I was crying.

But, now I have a fabulous milk supply and a healthy totally boob crazy baby!

I think BFing is like labour - it hurts more than you could ever have imagined, but you survive it!

awwww ladies when i read ur stories i think u all deserve sommat extra sepcial, this is my first LO and ive not decided yet wot to do, bf sounds so time consuming etc and uv all been super dedicated

congrats ladies xx

It is time consuming to start with but that's how life is with babies!! And it's fantastic once you get going! I went out this afternoon on the spur of the moment and I literally grabbed a nappy and some wipes, stuck them in my handbag and we were off out! It's not ALL hard work!!

I think my midwife and my husband were what got me through it.

Everytime i was in tears and close to giving up i would ring my midwife and she would remind me how determined i was and she would talk me calm again.

My husband took over looking after my older two while i was anchored to the sofa for the first couple of months, he bought me drinks and snacks galore and did everything for the other 2 so that i could just nurse,nurse,nurse.

Im so thankful to both of them and so proud that im at nearly 5 months and i dont even feel close to stopping

For me it was being determined, I was so set on not giving any formula. Casen made it to 7mo with no formula then he weaned at 11mo. I was so determined with Hayden that he would never have a drop of it...and he never did He never had a single bottle of anything, we never used one even for water. And we made it to our goal of 18mo

My boppy pillow was also a huge help in the beginning

Mark, my DH, he was always there for anything, and so supportive. Everytime I sat down to nurse he would refill my water glass

Commitment & Determination

BFing support groups.

The ladies on here. Especially MervsMum and Toria.

I think you have to be very determined to succeed if you start having problems. They say the first week is the hardest, but for me it was the first 8 weeks. Now it feels so simple, even though we are having a few issues recently with me losing my milk. It is just so worth it. If I had known how good it is now back when I swapped to formula when she was a newborn, then I would have just kept going.