I am still breastfeeding my 3 month old- the only one of my NCT group still exclusively breastfeeding. I love it, but feel that it was only due to my obstinate nature and the support of my husband that I carried on and did not give up in the first few weeks. I feel that being left in the hospital with no idea what to do was a contributing factor for many of my contemporaries giving up very quickly. There is so much encouragement to breast feed before you give birth, but not the man power to help you with the reality once you have delivered!
My son is now four months old and i am still able to breast feed him a couple of times a day. Since he was about three months old he started to struggle and get frustrated when feeding and subsequently wasn't getting enough milk. I reluctantly started giving him both formula and breast milk and am finding this is working well as I use tommee tippee bottles. He breast feeds the bottles!
I am posting because when i was experiencing difficulties with feeding i could not find much information or support for someone who has established breast feeding and comes to a problem. All the help is for people when starting breast feeding. I think that this lack of advice for mums who have been breast feeding for a while probably leads to a lot giving up as i nearly did.
I did phone the NCT for advice but i felt it was very one sided and that my idea of combining breast and bottle was ignored! However I did persevere and am still able to give my son a good breast feed in the morning and am currently feeding him more while he is unwell. I am experiencing reluctance to give up totally and think it is down to the bond i have developed with him through the breast feeding. To give up totally which I will have to do eventually will be an emotional event for me, i will probably miss the bond and this special relationship we currently have.
I just wish there was more people who talked about breast feeding down the line and the problems which develop as your baby gets older.
I have two children. My eldest is 5 years old and I breast fed him for 6 weeks with formula top ups as well. I gave up due to Mastitus, sore nipples and also through feeling I'd failed him as he was not gaining weight as I'd hoped he would. I've always regreted giving up.
My daughter is now 2 months old and I'm exclusively breast feeding her and this time it's a pleasure. This time around it was so much easier to get her to latch on. Unfortunatly I got Mastitus again around 4 weeks in and it was awful, but my tip is to 'feed it through'...it clears the infection out quickly but it hurts like hell. I have vivid memories of sitting on the bed feeding with tears running down my face, but my OH kept me going and I'm so glad I didn't give up.
It took me a long time to bond with my son and even now I feel immense guilt over this. Breast feeding does help bonding as this time around I bonded much quicker. I have two wonderful amazing children and breast feeding if you can do it does make the early stages a much for rewarding experience.
my daughter is 4 months and im exclusively breast feeding her i think its great i had loads of support of midwifes and healthvisitor's i have 1 flat nipple so didnt think i would be able to feed her off both sides but 1 midwife at hospital told me to buy nipple shields and try that and it worked and when i had mastitus i fed through it and expressed to try and clear it im loving feeding her think it will be a bit emotional to stop hoping to feed her on a morning and night myself till she is 1 then give up.
it's so nice to hear about other mum's breastfeeding. i'm 26 and have a 5month old girl and I have been breastfeeding exclusively since she was born with no probs at all. i'm now trying to get her to take a bottle because i will soon be going back to work and she just won't do it!! she likes her wee cup, but it's more of a game than for feeding!! i've started weaning her on to solids which she loves and she's not feeding near as much thru the day, just a last feed at night, one thru the night and then in the morning but she does still like 2 feed during day, but just short feeds, the only thing is, i won't be able to do this when working so i'm thinking about taking additional unpaid leave. i did try her with a bottle when she was 7 weeks-10 weeks and she wouldn't take it then either!!!! as with all of you, the bond was instantanious, coupled with a very quick labour i think i'm incredibly lucky!
Despite the enormous pressure on mothers to breastfeed, I have been very disappointed in the lack of one to one support available when needed. Like many others, I believed that breastfeeding would not only be best for my baby but also that It would be easy. This was largely due to the information I recieved from health professionals promoting all the benefits of breastfeeding and failing to prepare mothers mentally and emotionally for the potentual problems and difficulties. I have called on all the help available, only to be given more numbers to call and being directed back to the beginning again. The current trend seems to be placing all of the emphasis on support groups and mothers supporting mothers. This has resulted in there being no personal support available to me at a time when the thought of going to a group, baring my breasts and having someone fiddle about with feeding in front of alot of new faces is quite horrifying! I have been very tearful and felt like a failure. I now have mastitis due to difficulties with latching/ attachment to one breast. If you are having problems with feeding, it can be isolating because of fear of needing to feed in public. I am determined to continue and believe that I am doing what's best for my little girl. I just think that all the leaflets and DVD's in the world don't compare to a bit of individual attention. It would help alot of mothers to continue feeding.
i breastfed with my dd and it was such a struggle in the first few weeks. but i am pleased to say it does get much easier and i was able to feed until 9 months. i didn't want to give up at that point, but got married and went on honeymoon. i expressed the whole time to keep my milk in but when i got home (after just4 days) she wasn't interested anymore. the sheer guilt i felt not being able please her anymore with breast feeding was immense but i soon realised that it was her choice and my guilt was really just because i would miss it so much.
there were so many times in the first few weeks/months where i was tempted to give in. but i kept setting myself goals each time. and as each day came and went it got more and more easier. it is very important to have help and support from freinds and family and to not feel embaressed to feed infront of people. i would try to keep my dignity (hum!) by having a blanket cover me and baby but there is no need to worry as most find it so natural and would be pleased to see a mother breast feeding.
for this next baby i am hopeing i will be able to do it all over again. but realise it wont be a walk in the park. but if i do manage it i will learn to be more open and less embaressed and take it all in my stride. i will also forget about how the house looks and if the washing up has been done and take care of myself more. a happy mummy is a hppy baby.
but the main thing to remember is that even if you only manage one feed and have to give up that child has been given the best possible start. dont feel ashamed or upset if you dont manage it. almost every women who has ever experienced breastfeeding will understand how difficult it can be. so even the shortest time doing it is something to be very very proud of. you did good girl!!!
