Breast is Best

My breastfeeding advice (not that you asked) is try it.  Just try it.  Give it two weeks.  If after two weeks you hate it and don't want to do it, don't, and don't feel guilty about it.  Or say, "I'll give it one more week" and after that week you might like it.  When Morgan was born I thought I would give it three weeks.  We're still bfing (at night only) at 13 months.  You might really enjoy it, or think it's much easier (I got so much more sleep with Morgan than Dagmar, because of the bfing I could just sleep with her.  Whole 'nother discussion.)  You might not.  But if you try it, you'll never wonder later if you should have.


And I don't think anyone needs to bf in public.  I don't care how natural it is-I don't want to see anybody's chests while I'm eating, male or female, adult or child, whatever.  Pump beforehand or go home before feeding time or whatever-I got this far without ever once having to latch her on in public (and only once did I have to sit in the car because we got caught out.) 
Not trying to stir up a storm, just my opinion.

I would say give it 4-6 weeks and then decide whether or not it is for you because it usually takes that long to get the hang of it and build up a supply. Breastfeeding IS natural, but it IS ALSO a "learned art" and takes some time to build up a relationship...not just for the mom to figure out what is what but for the baby to get adept at sucking also.

As far as breastfeeding in public...I always have done so, but NEVER showed my breasts and I have never seen anyone else do it (except one mom who came to a meeting and several of the moms spoke with her after about discreet nursing...it does promote more positive "public relations") In fact, when done discreetly, no one really knows if you're nursing or just holding the baby close.

A quick story...as my dinner is almost done...with my first child I was out to dinner, he was about 6 months (?) anyway...the service was soooo slow and there was another baby at a table close by. During dinner the child had gone through all his formula I guess and the frantic mom was trying to eat and calm the baby etc. Another table close by was of 4 young college guys (we were in college town) and they came over to me afterwards and said that when they married and had children their wives were going to breastfeed because it was always available no matter what! (and, they didn't even get to see my perky breasts!)

Oh, I plan on trying it. Don't worry - heck, I'm not even sure the hospital will give me a choice! But I agree with Geally, I want to be able to do it 'in public' if I need to. And I do mean covered up by the way!! I have heard that some babies who are given a bottle will not go back to breast feeding so if I do find success with it, I'd be very cautious about pumping and bottle feeding to start with.

Wow, I'm behind on this thread
Just wanted to address, as everything else has been said and debated so well Is that I breastfed my dd in public but you would never have known, I used to put a blanket over my shoulder and she'd just snuggle underneath and get her milkies.
I think the woman who adopted the Chinese baby was a wonderful human being who was just trying to do what she thought was best for her and the child, major kudos to her.
7 yr old, err weird, husband even weirder!!

I have heard that some babies who are given a bottle will not go back to breast feeding so if I do find success with it, I'd be very cautious about pumping and bottle feeding to start with.

It goes the other way, too.  When my son was about three months old I decided to try letting my husband give him some expressed milk in a bottle.  He wouldn't have it at all.  We tried for about 2 weeks, using every ploy we could think of, but the little bugger just wouldn't take a bottle.

<steps on soapbox>

I know I've said this in other threads, but I think that it warrants repeating:  Whatever decision a woman makes regarding whether or not to breastfeed is the right choice.  No one should feel they need to cave to pressure from either side.  Only you know what's best for you and your child.

<steps off soapbox>

The hospital and my midwife put so much pressure on me to breastfeed. The hospital didnt even give me a choice. Courtney couldn't latch on properly when I was still in the hospital and the nurse made a big deal about me wanting to give her a bottle instead. I told her I'd rather her have a bottle then her not getting any milk from my breast. After I got out the hospital I tried to breastfeed her again but she still couldn't latch on. So I decided at that point to just bottle feed her. My midwife made me feel so guilty.
But its not no ones decision to breastfeed or not but the mothers. And for the hospital/midwive to put so much pressure is uncalled for. Its one thing to recomment it,but its another thing to not give the option to bottlefeed

I tried to breast feed with my 3..It just wouldn't happen.....I think ppl that have C-sections do not get the proper hormone released as do women who give birth and it is sooo much harder for them.

The 2 girls are sooo weird...I am watching the rerun on it............what a freaky woman!!!!!!!!!! and her mother breast feeding her newborn baby? I know she wasn't giving milk but still euuuwwwww

I am sure breast is best but you have to let go at some point!

I tried to breast feed with my 3..It just wouldn't happen.....I think ppl that have C-sections do not get the proper hormone released as do women who give birth and it is sooo much harder for them.

I think that as well.

and her mother breast feeding her newborn baby? I know she wasn't giving milk but still euuuwwwww

I know! My jaw dropped at that!

My milk didnt come in for nearly a week with Coby and Jack. Im not sure if that was due to c/sections or not. I was never under any pressure from the midwives. They asked how I would feed and I said bottle and that was that. Maybe it had something to do with my age as I was older than some of them or maybe because I was a veteran mom. At any rate, Jack was born just shy of 11lbs. I cant imagine how hungry he would have been if I was trying to breastfeed. About two hours after his birth he took nearly 3oz of formula. While we were in the hospital there was this poor Asian woman across from us who insisted on breastfeeding. Her daughter screamed day and night. I know it's a mother choice but that poor baby was so hungry. Finally on day 4 she relented and gave her a bottle and the baby slept soundly.

I have heard of hospital midwives being really militant about not letting you use a bottle. I know one woman who was essentially told 'no'. And to try to help the baby learn to latch, they pinched the back of her neck to make her yell so her mouth would then be open 'properly'! This lasted about 3 days until the woman went home and got going with the bottles. It was just too traumatic for her.

I have heard of hospital midwives being really militant about not letting you use a bottle. I know one woman who was essentially told 'no'. And to try to help the baby learn to latch, they pinched the back of her neck to make her yell so her mouth would then be open 'properly'! This lasted about 3 days until the woman went home and got going with the bottles. It was just too traumatic for her.

WHAT??? THAT IS HORRIBLE!!! I have given birth twice in the UK and twice in the US and have never been pressured once. You are the mother and its your choice. If you have concerns about it discuss it in advance with your midwife at your next appt and also at the hospital when you go for your tour (if you choose to do so).

 and her mother breast feeding her newborn baby? I know she wasn't giving milk but still euuuwwwww

I

I must have missed this bit.. What do you mean by breastfeeding a newborn baby? 

I must have missed this bit.. What do you mean by breastfeeding a newborn baby? 

I think she is talking about the mother of the older girls. When the second girl was born the womans mother let the other daughter (her granddaughter) suckle from her.

The show is being repeated tomorow night on More E4.  I got to see about half of it before my husband got back with the takeways and the channel was changed! 

One thing I noticed was all the families seemed to be very middle class and I think they were all two parent families.  I don't see how that woman with the twins could have done it if her husband hadn't been looking after the older kids or if she'd had to go out to work.  The one that freaked me out was the one where the grandma had breast fed the baby in the beginning. 

As for the husband who did it ... I got the impression that was a bit of a joke and not something he did on a regular basis.  I don't think it is very uncommon actually.  Still not something I would want to encourage in my family though!

And Balmerhon ,yes it is up to you what to do.  But like Saf, I would suggest giving it a try.  The most important mlik is what they get in the first few days so even if you only do it for a day or two it will benefit your baby so much - that is when they get all the antibodies and all that good stuff.  Oh and to get the baby to open their mouth you just stroke their cheek gently and stroke your nipple against their lips.

I think that as well.
I know! My jaw dropped at that!

Just feel like I should make a comment about the c-section and breastfeeding posts...because I don't want anyone reading who might consider breastfeeding in the future to think it just can't be done and not try it.

I had a c-section with my first child, two vaginal births, and then a c-section with my preemie twins (16 years after my first birth...more importantly, 11 years after the last previous one so I hadn't lactated in 8 years) and I never had a problem with milk. In fact, the day after I gave birth to the twins I pumped out ounces of it, which just blew the nurses over as they were preemie and hormonally I shouldn't have been that ready to produce milk.

I have counseled many c-section moms...the only difference with vaginal, c-section moms is that there are certain positions that are more uncomfortable after a c-section. It could have been other factors and not just the c-section that caused the difficulties, do you think?

There are so many myths and misinformation about breastfeeding, which is where I feel like I need to step in and clear that up, for the sake of women who want to breastfeed in the future.

BUT, I totally agree with you ladies who said that you did not want to breastfeed and felt pressured by health care professionals or made to feel guilty. I totally disagree with that approach and say that mothers should make their own (informed) decisions about their own children and what is best.

I hope this post, and my others on this thread, haven't felt confrontational in anyway because that is not the spirit in which I've written them.

I have heard of hospital midwives being really militant about not letting you use a bottle. I know one woman who was essentially told 'no'. And to try to help the baby learn to latch, they pinched the back of her neck to make her yell so her mouth would then be open 'properly'! This lasted about 3 days until the woman went home and got going with the bottles. It was just too traumatic for her.

Wow...that's horrible! See what I mean about lack of knowledge concerning breastfeeding management...even by health care professionals (actually, in some of my experiences it is ESPECIALLY in health care professionals!)