Im 32 weeks pregnant, getting quite uncomfortable even though im not that big compared to other pregnant women.

Im thinking of breastfeeding my baby, purely people say breast is best, and i cannot afford formula at like £6-7 a tub! (why is it so expensive!)

Are you breastfeeding?
What are your opinions on it?
Did you find it hard at start?

Also When you give birth, how long after do you start breast feeding, Is it literally when the baby has arrived??


All opinions welcome!
So confused to what to do!

As stupid as it sounds il be well embarrased having my boobs out and the midwife ( ive got a horrible one!) showing me how to put boob to baby...



:S

I would like to breast feed when the baba is born but i am also aware that it is not always easy.
A friend of mine breastfed her baby in the hospital and as soon as she got home the baby would not feed so in the middle of the night her husband had to find somewhere open to get formula (it was a few years ago before Tescos stayed open!)

So now im going to be prepard.. I have bottles already! and will make sure there is formula in the house at all times!

Im keeping an open mind with regards to breastfeeding..

Nikki 18+3 (and shopping already!)

and the posts and breast feeding and formula. I expected to breastfeed but it didn't work, like the post below, I got baby blues as a result. Ignore unhelpful 'breast is best' type people.

xx

hi just read your post and thought i would reply. my advice would be to keep and open mind-i was really wanting to breastfeed and even went to workshops to learn how to do it!
when my son was born he got put on my chest for about 20secs but then they took him away to check on him. the midwives then handed him to my husband whilst they stiched me! i was getting stiched for about 2 hours and meanwhile my son had fallen asleep!
i tried him repeatedly on the breast and even though he was latched on he wasnt taking it-he just kept screaming! i tried solidly for 2 days-even on the express machine but in the end it seemed very apparant that i hadnt produced any milk!
meanwhile the midwives were still forcing it and were reluctant to give my son any formula milk so he went 2 days without any food! in the end i but him on formula after a huge fight with the mw and he loved it!
because i was so adament to breastfeed and couldnt i became really down and the baby blues kicked in. but i thought to myself my son is happy and at least this way hubby can help!!! plus my son is very greedy so think i would have had my boobs out all the time!
so keep an open mind and just see what happens!
best of luck with you apending arrival! x x

take the post underneath too seriously. This is not a helpful attitude and the woman in question sounds very fortunate not to have been sitting in complete distress with a hungry baby wrastiling around unable to latch or neglecting your other children due to prioritising the breast fed one. I get so angry when I think of what I went through emotionally each time I made the decision to switch to formula and can't believe another woman would think it simply through choice and lack of effort on my part.

I really doubt that breastfeeding worked for her because she 'wanted' it to as I have 'wanted' to be a size 10 all my life and, guess what, I'm not!

Had a quick look on your profile and also note your strong views on working mums. I think perhaps this is where your very young age comes as not working must be a luxury you can afford. By the time your my age your financial commitments suit your earnings, therefore opting out for 3 years is non negotiable, does this mean I shouldn't have had any more babies?

Laurenand bump asked for opinions, your post sounds like an instruction all designed to make her feel guilty and neglectful is she experiences problems with breastfeeding.

Jen

Isn't this the same person who posted about how everyone should give birth naturally and had a real go at older mothers?

In nature, without medical help, a large proportion of children would die in infancy and many women would die in childbirth. If everyone I know who'd had a CS birth had been left to do it naturally they, or their children, would probably have died. I'm sure if you needed your appendix removed you'd have the op rather than let nature take it's course, how is this different?

Grow up!

2nd half of post f.a.o Clarelouise not laurenand bump. Sorry

I'm sorry but this post (clairelouise) makes me sick, how dare you.

yes lots of women do get jealous of me. I am entitled to an opinion like the rest of you.

completely entitled to your opinion...however there is a difference between giving your opinion and forcing your opinion on everyone around you...we dont want your opinion shoved down our throats...so please think in future of the feelings of others before you voice them.

You say you are pro breast feeding and that is great for YOU! but not everyone can or even wants to breast feed..that doesnt make them bad mothers...it makes them human, I tried breast feeding and neither me or any of my 4 children took to it..so why cause myself and inadvertantly my baby stress, as babies do pick up on mothers stress...but being so perfect you wouldnt know that would you.

So please in future keep your opinions light and dont try and force them on others, im not jealous of you by the way, i actually feel sorry for you because when REAL LIFE hits you it is going to be really hard for you.

I DONT THINK SO MY LOVELY, MAYBE IF YOU WERE A NICE, DECENT PERSON WHO GAVE ADVICE INSTEAD OF CRITISISM PEOPLE WOULD TAKE NOTICE BUT AS YOU ARE SO OPINIONATED AND NASTY WITH YOUR COMMENTS, I THINK WE ALL KNOW HOW TO TAKE YOU NOW AND THATS WITH A PINCH OF SALT!!!!!!

WHY DONT YOU JUST GO AWAY AND STOP UPSETTING ALL THESE LOVELY PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM WHICH HAVE BEEN SO MUCH HELP TO MANY WOMEN ON HERE THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES.

ANYWAY THATS ENOUGH OF MY TIME WASTED ON YOU, YOU DONT DESERVE ALL THIS ATTENTION FOR BEING A BULLYING WEIRDO!!!!

im 21 and i plan to have a natural birth and breastfeed IF i can!

who do you think you are accusing people of being jealous of u! You are SOOO pathetic.

What u sed to jen bout not judging people from a forum, how about leaving a forum where you're not wanted - i dont think that you have had one positive response to your 'opinions'. does no one in your 'real world' want to hear them - is that why you feel the need to impose them on this forum!

All the girls on soFem deserve better than having to put up with opinions, or in better words SH*T from you!! People like you are not only pathetic they are SAD!

if my post makes you feel that i am jealous then feel free to reply and we'll all let you know how jealous we are!

Ash.

I'm staying at home until DS is a bit older, had a natural birth and breastfeed and you still make me sick. You're mistaking disgust for jealousy.

Hi

It's me again - I saw your profile and see you a young mum like me and I think that's wonderful and all the more reason to believe in what your body is capable of as you are the best age to have a baby! How exciting!! Don't let those midwives scare you either. When I was in hospital with Nicolas I found them quite comforonting and a little pushy, perhaps as they could see I was a young mother. They made me fret a little and I found Nicolas would not feed when they were around, just be confident and let your body tell you what to do, not so much the midwives, it's all about taking big deep breathe and relaxing.

Goodluck.

hello there

Breast feeding is purely natural. In my opinion you should not be thinking twice about it. Don't even think formula unless of course your nipples drop off. It is the best for you and your baby and don't let people's stories scare you. Some women these days are so far from being in touch with their primal selves and are too wrapped up in the modern way of life i.e choices like weather to breast feed or bottle feed.This can confuse a woman as you are saying and it's ridiculous! I'm sorry to mother's out there that cannot breastfeed but really! Stick with nature and go with your instincts and they will tell you to breastfeed! I am a 24 year old mother of a five month old and I wanted to breastfeed from the start, there were no other options for me. If you WANT to do it you will- relax. It has worked from me because I WANTED IT to work .Your baby will benefit greatly and you will find you will have a much more settled child too. It is lovely to lie on your side with your baby in bed feeding as you watch them drift off. When your baby cries he/she is telling you to stop whatever else you are doing, sit down or lie down and relax with your baby. It's beautiful, saves organising a bottle while your little one is crying for minutes. What a nightmare. Anyway, keep all your choices to do with babies simple and close to nature. I am no hippy, I just feel I have a wonderful way with my baby and find motherhood a breeze.

Don't be embarrassed about your breast either, especially not around a midwife. I find it uncomfortable feeding in public but always manage to find a private spot somewhere or to be safe, just express your milk and take it with you when you go out!! GOODLUCK X

If you are unfortunate enough to get sore
or cracked nipples theres a brillaint
cream called LANSINOH you can get it in boots
its well worth getting it just in case...
good luck

but to start with it was painful and difficult. No-one seems to tell you beforehand that you practically have to wrestle with this tiny, fragile looking newborn to get them into and keep them in the right position.

I found the night feeds worst as I think I was too tired to get the positioning quite right. Used to dread it getting dark as I knew once I'd gone to bed the feeds would be really sore.

Now we both know what we're doing it is so easy. I'm really glad I don't have to mess around with sterilising and making up bottles. Also don't have to cope with a screaming baby waiting for bottles to warm up - unclipping a bra strap is much quicker.

Hopeful have you tryed swaddling your
baby at night time..
then the babies arms stay put
good luck x

Hi
My eldest boy is 17 now. When he was born I did try to breastfeed him but he had problems latching on and couldn't feed properly so I was advised to bottle feed him.
However when I had my second child - now aged 13 - I was able to breastfeed him easily. In fact I breastfed him for 7 months and only that long cos I had probs getting him off the breast so to speak!
I've just had baby number 3 and he also is breastfed. I put him straight to my breast after birth to get the pre milk stuff - colostrum (SP?). Then my milk came through 3 days later. I definitely would recommend breastfeeding. In my experience it is far easier than sterilising bottles and making up formula, etc. In fact my fridge freezer packed up 1 week ago so I've been without it for 1 week.(new one just been delivered thank god!) I don't know how I would have managed if my baby was bottle fed! I think I would have had to go live with my mum or summat! In fact baby has been the only one who's been ok since we've had no fridge. He still gets his dinner! So in this case the breastfeeding has come into its own!! The rest of us are really struggling! Couldn't even send my 13 yo son to school with sandwiches as I can't keep any fillings. He's had to take in dinner money and he HATES the schools food!!
Hope this helps.
Sarah and 17 day old Daniel

Hiya,

I breastfed from the start - think about thirty mins after birth - and to be honest have so much to say on it I feel I could write a book!

First couple of days were fine, but when my milk came in it was a different story. Max latched on perfectly immediately (mw and hv both agreed) but it was agony! I was in tears for most of the first two weeks, my nipples were cracked, bleeding and so so sore... I'd breastfeed Max sometimes and he'd pull off with blood round his mouth and cry feeding him the first week! It was awful. I asked for help with doctors and mw but Max was def latching on fine and they kept saying to me 'thats how it is sometimes' - wish someone had told me how painful it could be - at least I wouldn't have kept worrying I was doing it wrong.

HOWEVER, after a couple of weeks it totally stopped - and I'm sooo glad I kept doing it. Now it doesn't hurt at all and it really feels like bonding - whereas before I resented Max slightly for the pain ... I know!).

It is time consuming also - sometimes 2 hours minimum per feed, and on growth spurt days I'd spend all day feeding which was knackering. But if you do do it please know it does get better. Now my milk has sorted out I can feed Max in half an hour and no pain or engorgement. And Max is so healthy and fat now - am mixed feeding a bit now to get him through the night, and when I'm out etc...

SO yes I am breastfeeding, and glad I am still doing it seven weeks on, but it can be painful even if you are doing it right in the beginning, takes time and effort, but obviosusly has its benefits - sterilising is a pain in the a** too - and cost of formula is bad!

And lastly about being embarrassed - after birth breastfeeding is nothing - I will happily get my boobs out in front of anyone - my mum, sister, dad, OH, OH sister, etc... you really aren't embarrassed - weird as I was totally embarrassed and freaked out by idea before - it just happens.

Having done it now - I'd say give it a go and try as hard as you can - but at same time if it is too much try formula to give you (and ur nipples!) a break - however don't feel bad to totally formula feed if you can't as there is no point being in pain and sad when you've got your little one to look after. Do whats best for you!

Good luck

xx

oh my god! i cant imagine how pain it is!