LucyOF

If i am pregnant then i'd like to breast feed my baby but im not 100% sure. I know a lot of people think it is better for the baby but is it alot of hard work? Also im only 17 and i dont know many teen parents who have breastfed. can anyone give me any advice?

Thanks x

Mervs Mum

What do you want to know hun?

If you look at the sticky at the top of this board about what helped when we started that will give you an idea about BFing and it's pros and cons.

I think the reason some teen mums dont BF is more to do with their perception of their boobs rather than them finding it too much like hard work. There are quite a few fab young mum's on here who BF.

asacia

Its great that you are thinking about breastfeeding.

It can be hard work at first, so it is worth knowing where to get help if you need it. These forums are great, some areas have breastfeeding clinics and there are many helplines (I found the NCT and LLL ones are great).

I think that in the long run, it is easier. I pumped milk for 9 weeks, and I've breastfed for 5 weeks. When you breastfeed, there isn't any cleaning, measuring, heating bottles etc.

Breastfeeding is also a great comfort to a baby and I find my LO doesn't fuss as much when he is breastfed. He has his jabs tomorrow, and I can feed him straight after to comfort him.

I also find it is great to not have to come downstairs in the night to feed, I can feed him lying down in bed while dozing - great for sleep!

LucyOF

Thanks for the help.

I was just wondering a few things really.

A few people have told me its painfull but id like to hear from people who have actually breatfed.

I understand it is alot cheaper as there is no need for hundreds of bottles and steralizers and formulas etc. But, is it more covieniant? is it not hard trying to find a quite place when out to breastfeed?

i get the feeling that i would get funny looks for breastfeeding at a young age when in a sortof public area (obviously not in the middle of the street). Also a bit worried of the embarresment of breast feeding infront of certain people for example my stepdad, brother, grandparents, aunts an uncles etc.

MrsRoughton

I am breast feedng my little girl and she is now 13months... it canb be a bit sore to begin with but it gets easier.. i liked the fact in the middle of the night you just whip them out, no making a bottle up.. as for being out in public i used to cover her with a muslin cloth and get on with it.. if people have a problem its there problem not ours. the down side is no one else can give baby a feed unless you can express. hope this helps.xxxx
p.s also my grandad who i thought may of been uncomfortable with it ws=as actually ok and said it was nice that i was b/f my baby.

Mervs Mum

It can be painful to start with while you get used to it but believe me giving birth is the pain you need to be fretting about - not BFing!!

I find it much more convenient. Once you get used to feeding and work out how you are comfortable feeding in public, then it's easier in many ways. you dont need to remember to sterilise/make the bottle before you leave and you certainly dont need to warm it or clean anything after!

I was shy about BFing infront of visitors and particularly my Dad to start with. I would go in another room when I needed to feed her but I soon got so good at feeding without people noticing that I stopped all that

mrsholmes

it did hurt in the first week or so as I had cracked nipples, but its fine now. easy and cheap, with feeding in front of people I told everyone when I was pg that I was planning on bf feedingso they werent shocked, and when my babys crying for food I really dont care!

I agree its their problem, Ive had certain family members run out of the room!

mommyof3co

I had my first at 16 and 2nd at 18 and breastfed them both I also did my 3rd but was 21 then haha. I do think it's more convinent because you don't have to mess with all the different bottles, packing water and formula when you go out. I just brought a light blanket with me everywhere and nursed him wherever I was and just threw a blanket over us when he was really little and still learning, once he got better you couldn't see anything anyways so I didn't use the blanket. It did hurt for me all 3 times at first, but it was so worth it once we got past that.

LucyOF

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

Is it hard stopping breastfeeding altogether?

Thank you for the help so far everyone, have all been a big help and im now seriously thinking that breastfeeding will be right for me

Thank you x

mommyof3co

Well with my first, Landon, I ended up having lots of problems, I wasn't very educated on breastfeeding I just assumed it would be natural and we would just know, well that's not always the case. Within a month he was fully on bottles, I had stopped producing milk. BUT with Casen I knew what to watch for, I did alot of reading on breastfeeding and he nursed for 11mo and then he got a really bad cold and refused to nurse again. Hayden self weaned at 19mo, I miss it I never had to actually wean my kids so I don't know how hard that is, but I know some other ladies have advice on that