Breastfeeding

[Anjyldream]

So I've been spending some time researching breastfeeding and trying to prepare myself to breastfeed this time around.

I am a HUGE advocate of to each their own and not judging others for their choices in parenting. I CHOSE not to breastfeed my children. With my son I was 19 and scared of it, and he NEVER got sick, got ear infection....nothing. So 6 years later I have my daughter and thought why would I change what went so perfectly before? Keep in mind nobody in my family breastfed and I really never learned much about it. 2 days later my milk came in and I had a change of heart. Didn't work out so well, because #1 she had already had formula and a bottle and preferred it and #2 she got admitted into the hospital due to her heart condition and got mediflighted to Portland.... in the end no matter how hard I tried it didn't work. I was bummed but okay ~ once again, another child NEVER sick, no ear infections.... other than heart condition not a thing ever wrong with her.

I'm not anti formula. I understand that sometimes that's what works. But this time I really want to try. But I'm completely nervous, because formula has worked so perfectly twice for me. What if I breastfeed this baby and it gets sick?


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[PinkPaisley]

I really don't think they can get sick from your milk and if something were to come up i am sure their are things that you could do. It's like saying what if this baby gets sick with the formula. You have to go with your gut feeling every child is different.

I loved bf my kids, Sadie was only a couple of months but with Dylan we did it for 10 mo. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would of done it longer if they wanted to.

[Mama Sandy]

In my opinion you need to get that out of your mind up front. If your baby is going to be sick or not sick isn't completely dependant upon whether or not they are breastfed or formula fed. Obviously you did a great job of keeping your kids from being exposed to nasty germs, etc. so I think this baby will be fine with whatever you choose or are able to do. I think it's absolutely great that you're researching and planning to give it a try. Just don't think that because this baby is breastfed it will never have any sort of common childhood illnesses, sometimes that just happens and it is NOT your fault! :support: Don't blame yourself for any of that!

[Elaine]

I think genetics and exposure play more of a role than anything. I used to have a horrible immune system (for some reason in the last 10 years it's been boosted) but my husband rarely gets sick at all. Other than a few colds and a stomach virus Ben hasn't really been sick so I think he got my DH's genes in that respect. Hopefully Thomas has too.

Go into it with an "I'm going to breast feed" attitude instead of "I'm going to try breast feeding" and I think it'll make a big difference. I know that sounds cheesy but I think it's key in doing what you want and making it happen. It can be a lot of work (as some of us can attest to) but it can also be incredibly easy. I was determined to breast feed this time around come hell or high water and dagnabit I'm doing it! :twothumbs:

There are lots of us here that can help and support you if needed. Heck, I think between Jo and I we've run the gambit of nursing issues! :hehe:

[Goosey]

All you can do is try. Follow your heart and give it a shot.
I think genetics plays a bigger role then what they eat as far as the getting sick thing goes.

I tried breastfeeding with all 3 of mine(although my last I didnt try too hard)but in the end I wasnt able to do it much or well my flow sucked. My kids got some and got formula and they have great health but thats genetics...Dan and my family's arent overly sickly people except occasional sinus attacks LOL.

Go with your heart...it wont steer you wrong.

[Heather]

You'll have tons of support on here if you need it! And I agree with the others about genes and such. Cohen rarely got sick until he started daycare at 14 months old, but Aven got RSV at 2 weeks old and they we're both breastfed.

[lilbunnygirl]

Go into it with an "I'm going to breast feed" attitude instead of "I'm going to try breast feeding" and I think it'll make a big difference. I know that sounds cheesy but I think it's key in doing what you want and making it happen.


:exactly:

[Jojo]

I think genetics and exposure play more of a role than anything. I used to have a horrible immune system (for some reason in the last 10 years it's been boosted) but my husband rarely gets sick at all. Other than a few colds and a stomach virus Ben hasn't really been sick so I think he got my DH's genes in that respect. Hopefully Thomas has too.

Go into it with an "I'm going to breast feed" attitude instead of "I'm going to try breast feeding" and I think it'll make a big difference. I know that sounds cheesy but I think it's key in doing what you want and making it happen. It can be a lot of work (as some of us can attest to) but it can also be incredibly easy. I was determined to breast feed this time around come hell or high water and dagnabit I'm doing it! :twothumbs:

There are lots of us here that can help and support you if needed. Heck, I think between Jo and I we've run the gambit of nursing issues! :hehe:


:ditto:

My only advice is to make sure you have someone rooting for you. Even if it's just one person that makes all the difference! And determination. :support::support:

[Elaine]

My only advice is to make sure you have someone rooting for you. Even if it's just one person that makes all the difference! And determination. :support::support:
Determination is a big one. I was damn determined to breast feed this time around. Come hell or high water I was going to nurse the baby and so far so good! :hula:

For me hindsight is what's helped. I read all sorts of things beforehand but nothing prepared me for the issues I was up against. Looking back I was able to pinpoint the problems and find solutions.

Also I didn't have easy access to my computer when Ben was an infant (it was in the basement) so getting advice from other moms wasn't possible. Once I got a laptop it made all the difference in the world. I wonder if I'd been able to post about my issues if other moms could have given me advice to help me along. I know that I've passed on my learnings to more than one new mom and it's helped them.

We're all here for you! Any questions, concerns, anything at all just ask and one of us is bound to have an answer. :twothumbs:

[Leah]

I agree...breastfeeding or formula feeding does not make your baby sick. They can be sensitive to certain ingrediants, like lactose or soy, but your breastmilk will not make your baby sick. Your body produces it for the very purpose of feeding baby.

I am also an advocate of to each their own and formula feeding or breastfeeding is not worth driving yourself mad over. It's most important that you are happy; with what you decide to do and then your baby will be happy too.

I chose to breastfeed and was determined. I agree that to be really successful at it, you have to set your mind to "I am going to do is" rather than "I'll try it" because it will be challenging in the beginning and you may struggle a little or a lot depending on your baby and it will somewhat painful, and you will be tempted to just give up. But once you get through the initial issues it gets so much better, enjoyable and doesn't hurt or anything like that. It feels amazing to know that your body is providing the sole nutrition for your baby and it is what is making them grow, at least I felt that way. It was so nice to always have the option to feed the baby without worring about bring or preparing bottles where ever you are or in the middle of the night. It felt amazing to be such a comfort for my baby and to be able to snuggle and nurse him to sleep.

I also agree that to be successful at breastfeeding you will need good support. Whether it's here or another friend that's been through it. Use a lactation consultant as much as they are willing to help. I found free lacation consultants in my area and saw one a couple different times when we initially getting going on breastfeeding and it helped tremendously. I don't think I would have been able to continue without them and without the support from my online mommy friends.

[Anjyldream]

You girls are awesome. Thank you so much for all of the advice you have given me. I'm pretty determined this time ~ just so dang nervous! I think my husband is nervous too. My next door neighbor is my BFF and she went through HELL BFing...but stuck through it and did it for 10 months, so I do have her support which is good. And my husband will definitely be supportive, but probably just nervous.

Thank you, girls!

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[Leah]

Good for you! I just thought of one thing I forgot earlier. The thing that really helped me to breastfeed my son for so long (15 months) and to stick with it, is that I set small goals and I think this will help you too. When you first start tell yourself I am going to breastfeed for 1 month. Then after you make it to 1 month you say I am going to make it to two months. Then after 2 months maybe you'll say ok this is getting much easier and I am going to make it to 4 months, etc, etc. ;) I wish you all the best. :support: Like I said the beginning is a bit rough, but it's worth trying to get past

[Elaine]

Just an FYI - So far I have had no issues this time around. No pain at all whatsoever and Thomas latched on perfectly from the get-go. It can be a bit of work at the beginning when you and baby are getting into the swing of things but it can also be very easy. :twothumbs:

[lilbunnygirl]

Everyone told me the first week is the hardest, but if you make it through the first month, you're golden. It was definitely true for me, though finding a good lactation consultant (not the moron at the hospital) saved us. I was in excruciating pain when Cash was 5 days old & this lady was able to come to my house (for free!) and watch me nurse him...she showed me two minor minor adjustments to how I was holding Cash and the angle of his head that changed everything and set us off down the path to 18 months of happy BFing. So definitely look now into resources in your area (Healthy Start, LLL, etc...) so you know who to call if you have any questions or problems. It helps to do this now as opposed to scrambling trying to find the info when you're exhausted with a newborn.

But as everyone else has said, you have a really great wealth of BFing info right here! Having support is so important.