The BF Motivational Thread!

I have been having a hard time with bf emotionally. I remember reading some great positive quotes that made me feel better in some threads, but can't seem to find them now (I think Lorien posted one recently?). Also - several people have told me that it does get easier.

So - I'm starting a thread to help keep me going! Please add any quotes or stories, and please tell me some of the ways bf might get easier (I know those things might not happen for everyone, but still it's good to have hope!)

I'll start...

Obviously there are all the benefits for LO, like reduced chance of asthma, eczema and constipation (I am so glad I don't have a constipated and therefore sore and grumpy baby).

There are the benefits for mum in terms of reduced risk of cancer and osteoporosis.

There is also the convenience of not having to have anything to do with washing and sterilising feeding equipment (unless you choose to express).

Baby looks so nice when she is feeding. I love her little happy face, and I think rooting is so cute.

One thing that has got easier for me is night times. They were never that bad because I didn't have to get up to feed LO, although she did wake every 2 to 3 hours. Now she regularly sleeps for 6 hours straight without a feed and has slept up to 7.5 hours. In total she usually sleeps 13 hours at night without waking - she can tell me she needs fed without waking or crying and stays asleep throughout. She started sleeping for 6 hours when she was 6 weeks old.

Hugs to everyone!

I too have been having a very hard time with BF and am questioning it a lot so this thread is a really wonderful idea!

One thing that I do love is how peaceful the night feeds are, he often attacks me in the day when he's feeding, where as at night he's so sleepy he just lays there and sucks away and if he comes off his little mouth roots around for me and it really just makes my heart melt.

I like knowing that no matter where we are or how many people we're with, I'm guaranteed a cuddle every 3-4 hours or so.

I love it when he looks up at me with his big blue eyes whilst feeding

Bump...

And I'll add that on another thread about sleeping - it seems as though bf babies can sleep through, from around 8 weeks, only waking once for a feed (although not all do). So the feeding every two hours through the night does get better!

The bond is indescribable. I feel like we're still physically connected, like we were when I was pregnant. It's something I'll have in my heart forever.

His little face when I lie him on his side, ready to feed, it's hilarious. His eyes light up and if he's really hungry, he lunges as if he's never seen food, it really is very funny.

He's got a cold, and I know that by feeding him myself, he's getting antibodies which can help him to beat the cold.

The whole pregnancy and BFing thing has taught me that I may complain about my body, it's not thin enough, etc etc, ... but it can do miraculous things. I really have a newfound respect for it.

No one on earth can do for my son what I am doing now. Sure, he could have donated milk, but my milk is designed 100% for him. And it's different to everyone else's .. it's as unique as I am, and as he is.

He will, never in his life, even if he lives to be 100, eat as well as he is now.

It's more than feeding, it's comfort, love, warmth, security ... whatever other people may see it as, to him, it's everything.

It's beyond convenient. If he's hungry, I just find a suitable place, sit down, pop out a boob, and we're off. There's always the right amount, it's always at the right temperature, it's always sterile, I don't even need to get out of bed at night, just pick him up, pop him on, and off we go. What could possibly be easier?

It's addictive AND good for us! Now, how many things in life are like that?!

I haven't had a period in over a year ... now if that doesn't make you stick at BFing, nothing will!! LOL!!!

And finally, in these credit crunch times, it's free. Finally, something that's free AND it's the very best ... wow!!

I love this quote. It makes me realize I'm doing an amazing thing.

"When we trust the makers of baby formula more than we do our own ability to nourish our babies, we lose a chance to claim an aspect of our power as women. Thinking that baby formula is as good as breast milk is believing that thirty years of technology is superior to three million years of nature's evolution. Countless women have regained trust in their bodies through nursing their children, even if they weren't sure at first that they could do it. It is an act of female power, and I think of it as feminism in its purest form."~Christine Northrup

Just wanted to say great idea for a thread - I'm still in the early days at the moment, but its really reassuring knowing that it will get easier with time.

Good thread!

I had a really tough time at the start 4 weeks of thrush, bleeding nipples, cried through every feed, extremely fast let down.....and then suddenly it got better! Didn't hurt, calmer baby, happier mum.....so glad I'm so stubborn and didn't give it up!

Also so thankful to my hugely supportive husband and family, and the BF supporter I phoned in tears who advised me about 'biological nurturing' to help calm me and W down when latching on, as it had hurt me for so long, I was tense, he was tense, I was missing the wide open mouth and being slow at putting him on so his arm would flail around....had to swaddle him and he hated it! One day of biological nurturing (letting them do it all themselves!) and we were doing it how it should be done. A real turning point for us annd would recommend it for anyone whose confidence has taken a bashing.

I now love BF, had planned to aim for 6 months, but LO is already 13 weeks and the thought of giving up in another 12 weeks or so could make me cry! I love how he looks at me when feeding, the bond it helps strengthen, the fact he NEEDS me like he need no one else.

I'll repost the quote I found:

"You are not a pacifier; you are a Mom. You are the sun, the moon, the earth, you are liquid love, you are warmth, you are security, you are comfort in the very deepest aspect of the meaning of comfort.... but you are not a pacifier!" -- Paula Yount

I love how he falls asleep at the breast, as if there was nothing on earth that is better, and he lays in my arms perfectly content, perfectly trusting. I feel in that instant that I am worthy of that love, because I am feeding him the most perfect nourishment I can provide. I always thought I'd BF until six months, then I thought a year -- now I will BF as long as he wants, because I will cry when it ends and I can't see that perfect sleeping face again.