Hello! Good for you for considering breastfeeding!

I was 19 when I had Aaron and exclusively breastfed him. He eventually self-weaned at 17 months, although he had only been having one or two feeds a day for several months before that.

It is hard work at first, but after that it is soooo easy and convenient, especially when you are out. I found it easy to feed discreetly when we were out and about (most teenagers show more with their style of clothing than I did!). All you really need is somewhere to sit, and maybe not even that if you get good at feeding standing up or in a sling! I never got any funny looks or bad comments, if anything I got more approval than bottle-feeding teenagers. Feeding in front of friends and family took a little more confidence, but it's pretty easy just to go into another room or a quiet corner.

I'm so glad I stuck with breastfeeding and I'll definately do it again if I have more children.

Hey,

I think its fab that you are thinking of breastfeeding. Yes it is a bit painful to start with but after a couple weeks the pain should go.

It is hard work but then having a baby is just as hard (but enjoyable) so it all goes hand in hand.

It can actually be a bonus about being shy to feed in front of people. Apart from my oh and a few close friends I go in a different room and it was a fantastic way of getting rid of visitors when he was due a feed !

I originally set a goal of 12 weeks of breastfeeding, I have gone past that and am now set on 6 months. One of the things I love about bf is the closeness and the bond you have with your baby. Of course you still bond when giving a bottle but for me there is just something extra special about feeding him myself.

I always think the best way to decide is try it first and see how you get on. Before I was pregnant I always thought id bottle feed then when I found out I was pregnant I just knew id bf, weird really as I don't know many people my age that have bf either.

Whatever you choose good luck in your pregnancy xxx

How long did you breastfed for? or how long do you plan to breastfed for?

With my first I BF for 6 wks and with this one I am still BFing. I'll carry on now till she stops. I dont think that will last a long time - she only feeds when she wakes and before bed now.

Is it hard stopping breastfeeding altogether?

Hmmm...good question....depends what you mean by 'hard'. I think If you BF for a long time it can be emotionally hard to stop. Most BFing Mum's will tell you, once they got past the hard part in the early weeks, they actually enjoy BFing and feel it's a special time they share, just them and their LO. So that can be tough when you do stop. Physically speaking it's only as hard as never breastfeeding at all. If you chose not to feed your milk still has to come in and generally you'll be engorged and in some pain/discomfort for a few days - this is the same if you decide to stop at any point. I can be less if you do it gradually though. So I supposed what ever method you choose there is an element of pain.

It's fab that you are considering breastfeeding!

I had a little discomfort to start with, but only occasioanally now when he seems in to much of a hurry for milk and doens't quite latch on properly. Love that during the night i can just take LO into bed with me fed and lean over and put him back in his basket. Couldn't imagine having to trudge downstairs to make up bottles etc in the middle of the night.

BF in public i was nervous the first time, but Lo was hungry and i had no choice. So i covered us up with his blanket and got on with it. Just keep the blanket with me now for when I feed when I am out. I do the same when certain people come round. Specially the male members. Not bothered in front of my sister/neice etc - cos they are comfortable with it to.

sometimes find that it's other people who are more uncomfortable with me BF than I am about having them there.

good luck with whatever you decided

I initially said I'd only feed her until she was 6 months but we're now after that milestone and I've decided that I'm gonna let her feed until she selfweans off the boob... Thats how much I enjoy it.
In the beginning it can be painful for the first 10secs or so and it is a lot of hardwork when the baby is newborn. However, after a few weeks baby learns how to do it and the pain disapears. If you can manage to stick with it for a few weeks then you'll be glad you did, promise

Good luck with whatever you decide and hope the rest of your pregnancy is fab X


Oh and forgot to add, I don't get any funny looks in public, most of the time peopledon't even notice! If anything you should be applauded for BFing!

Breastfeeding is amazing, I love it and my baby loves it, thinking that I can provide my baby with all the food he needs is just fab, The milk adapts and changes as your baby grows and it provides them both with a drink (at the start of the feed) followed by more fatty and filling milk for food (later into the feed) I just think that it is amazing how our bodies work and feel so proud of myself for giving my baby the best start I can and apart from a bit of pain at the start, I have found it a breeze, My baby is a booby addict, I will feed him when and where he needs it and have never had any negative comments about it, If you are discreet then I dont think you will have any issues. I have expressed a few times so hubby and my mum can feed him, but to honest I cant be bothered with all the sterilising and faffing. It may sound a bit selfish but I love that feeling when he's getting grumpy and no one can calm him and I have the magic remedy to make him feel happy again, and that no one else can do it. He not only gets food from me but sometimes uses it for comfort, like when he had his injections I fed him while they were doing it and I know that it helped to ease him. The first few weeks are hard but if you can get through it the rewards are amazing. I took him to get weighed today and he had put on 8oz I was so proud because I did that!!. I cannot reccomend it enough.

everyone here will tell you how great breastfeeding and yes it can be demanding but it is so worth it! I think its really great that you are thinking about it, and we will certainly help you with any queries and questions

I'm a young mum and i breastfeed... I really wasn't sure about it at first but thought i would give it a go and now i'm so glad i did!!

I'm not a very organised person so washing, steralising and perparing feeds sounds like a nightmare to me!!! So breastfeeding is so convinient and readily available.

It does hurt a bit at first but nothing thats unbearable, as long as u have ur baby latched on right and ur relaxed u'll get breastfeed established in no time.

At first i felt a bit awkward breastfeeding in public but now i just do it!!! I love seeing babies being fed in ublic cos it totally takes the stigma out of breastfeeding and espesally when its a young mummy cos they have a sterotype that young mums dont BF which totally isnt the case.

I would just say to you give it a go and c how you get allong... u might b suprised like i was!!!