no-one offended me,like I said if EN is not for you then don't do it. It just hurts when people use words such as disturbing to describe something I have done.

Sorry Beanie if you took what I said wrong. (As I've said, I have been known to say things wrong in the past.) what's disturbing to me is not the length of breastfeeding, but when an older toddler walks up and *demands* to be bf and won't take no as an answer. That's all.

i hadnt even thought about extended nursing....the only thing that i knew was that at least at first the baby needs to get anitbodies from the mummy because newborns dont have much of an immune system?? and i knew that there was a bonding thing there...especially if i wanted to give my OH plenty of rest and breaks after the baby is born (so she gets back to being herself and back to feeling 100%)

i didnt b/f and my son is 100% healthy! In fact- last month was the first time he had ever gotten sick ) Its a personal choice and it should be something that YOU are comfy with!

There are loads of reasons why breast is better than bottle

- It passes on you're antibodies as babies immune systems aren't developed.
- It changes consitancy so you're baby gets more food at times and more to drink at others, depending on what it needs.
- It will pass on exactly the right amount of nurients that your baby needs.
- It's instantly there when you need it at the right temperature.
- It supposedly creates less stinky nappies.

..... and lots more which I can't remember.

I doubt I'll do it for long but want to try for at least 3 months to give my baby the best start.

hey, i can totally understand why your other half doesnt want to breastfeed. this is my first pregnancy and although i am very maternal and i was breastfed myself and despite EVERYONE i know saying "breast is best" - at the moment and i stress...at the moment.....(things may change when baby here) i can not see myself ever breast feeding.it just doesnt sit comfortably with me.i have brough a breast pump and plan to express for a few days as the benefits of early breast milk are supposed to be very good for the baby but then i plan to do a mix of tesco's baby milk and will try and express my own. :-) i think that your partner should do exactly what she feels comfortable doing.goodluck ttc.x

I have to say that I am in the "bottle milk is just as good" category but I have a lot of respect for any mother who does chose to breasfeed, with the demands, the expressing and the looks from those who don't approve - well I imagine its tough at times.

I wasn't breastfed and neither was my brother. We are both very happy and my mum is my best friend so it had no negative impact on our relationship. In fact when she had my brother I was 19 and although I didn't realise it at the time, I held my brother before my mum did!! She had a heck of a time delivering a 10lb 15oz baby without a C-Section and they whisked her off immediately to stitch her up, meaning my dad got to hold him but she didn't. I didn't realise that until he was about 2 years old but it hasn't affected her bond with him either. So I don't believe a lot of the myths about things helping mums to bond with their kids - you do or you don't and I don't think breast feeding or holding is the deciding factor. Do what is best for you - and by extension your baby - if you aren't comfortable neither will your baby be I don't think.

I'm not trying to judge anyone, but when I have babies, breast milk will be my only option, even if I have to pump. I just would rather not have to clean so many bottles if I don't have to, lol. I'd like to breastfeed full time when they're babies, but go to part time after they're eating solids,...maybe until they're 2, but then again if it happens sooner I'll be ok as long as they're healthy.

I was 19 nearly 20 when I got got pregnant with my first.

Noone in my family breastfed, I never thought about breastfeeding at all.

My partners mother breastfed him and his sister, she never pushed it but said it was an option.

I went ot antenatal classes and they spoke about it how demanding it was, it sacred the life out of me and I didnt want to do it.

When my daughter was born I tried to latch her on and she wouldnt ( I was gutted) this was because I had pethidine ( I really dont recommend you have that crap! )
We went to the ward and the nurse tried to give her a bottle I was very angry! and felt like I couldnt do the best for my child, I continued to try and latch her on and then she did it about 6 hours later after birth! i was so happy.

It is hard in the begining and you dont know whats right or wrong, but the supports there if you look for it.

Now 13 months on im still breastfeeding my little girl ( though shes not fed at all for two days )
And I run a support group online for breasteeding mums, certainly not something I could say I would be doing 3 years ago!

What im trying to say is, I think that if your open minded aout anything in life you have choices, and with choices you can find the right solution.

Breastfeeding HAS given me a fabulous bond with my child, shes only ever had a cold and this is being round sicky childrenw with bugs etc ( shes very sociable ) and never caught any of the nasty bugs ( not saying she never will though)

The good bacteria in the babies belly is produced and maintained through breastfeeding, thats why its the best way to feed your child, saying that I feel very sorry for the mothers that do try and due to lack of support have to give up, thats one of the reasons I set up my support group.

I will be breastfeeding my next child and any other children I have int he future