hello, I am newly pregnant with my second child and I am trying to decide if I should breast feed. I have weird concerns that I don't know if its just nerves or what. I didn't breastfeed my other child because I was so young and their were other issues. Is this normal to feel this way?
I just wanted to say that my mother in law is a Lactation Consultant. She has been teaching new and us older moms how to breastfeed for 19 years. If you would like I could call her and ask her to either call you or you can call her. She is the very best at least that is what i think.
E.
Just do what you can. When I had my second my oldest was 2 and I was only able to breastfeed for a short while, but I thought whatever I could do was better than not at all.
J.-
You should breastfeed your baby if you can. I have 3 children and I breastfed each until 13 months (the youngest is 7 months now, but will probably be about the same). I really enjoy it. There are lots of resources in the area to help if you have any problems and I see lots of breastfeeding moms. It is very accepted and you can do it anywhere. I suggest you try and see where it takes you.
Good luck!
L.
I know a lot of moms will say that they LOVE breastfeeding. I am not one of those. I just didn't get into it very much. I did like knowing that my baby was getting what he needed as far as nutrition. Here are a couple things to consider while making your decision...
1. you can always "pump" your milk and then bottle feed (I did that a lot and it helped)
2. you also have to consider your needs in the decision. My first child, I nearly went insane trying to exclusively breastfeed (no pumping). For the next three children, I supplemented, which freed me up a little. consequently I felt much better, had better mental health and was able to prperly care for the children. For me, that off-set the "risks" of bottle feeding.
3. they make formula so great now, that a child can really thrive on it. It is true that it may be harder for the baby to adjust to it, but there are a variety of kinds.
4. you are the child's mother and will have no problem "bonding" with your child whether or not you breast feed. bonding comes from caring for your child.
Don't get me wrong, I think breastfeeding is best -- when the mother can do it. But I think too many mom's guilt them selves into doing it. Others believe if they don't, they are bad moms and their babies will suffer. The truth is that a happy mom makes a good mom. For me, it works to pump an then feed my baby by bottle, with occasional breastfeeding in between. For my sister, it worked to breastfeed for only a couple months and then switch exclusively to formula. For my sister in law, it works for her to breastfeed exclusively until the baby is two. We are all good moms who love our children and they are all thriving. Choose what is best for baby AND mommy -- combined.
breast is best..everyone will try to talk you out of it
but think of your childs needs first..find a lalache group
Hi J. I have 3 children only my last one I breast fed. I think it depends on how you feel your comfort level. Oh and the weird concerns are normal we all go through them. Take care
I never thought I would breastfeed until I got pregnant. There are so many benefits for you and your child. I breastfed my son until he was 10 months old. I got help from a store called BestFed. They helped me choose a pump when I went back to work. It is a very personal decision to make, though and only you will know if it's right for you. (I say this because it is something that often evokes very strong opinions.)
There is absolutely no question that breastfeeding is the healthiest choice, so I would encourage you to do that if at all possible. I breastfed my son for the first year and I'm so happy I did. I enjoyed it and it was very bonding. Not everyone feels that way, and it can be hard at first. If you do decide to try it out, be patient at first and seek help if necessary. It can produce overwhelming feelings at first when you nurse, also. I believe that release of hormones helps you produce milk, and it filled me with overwhelming emotions when I'd nurse. They were mostly positive, loving emotions, but sometimes the emotions came on so strong that I didn't like it. My aunt had overwhelming feelings that were negative for her and she hated how she felt every time she nursed, so she quit. You need to decide for yourself what you can do, but remember that it is the healthier alternative. But there are plenty of healthy babies that drink formula, so don't feel guilty if you try and it's just not something you can do. My milk started drying up at 7 months, so I took a tea called Mother's Milk that worked wonders. You can also use an herb called Blessed Thistle. You can get both of these at a health store like GNC. I started losing too much weight (another plus of breastfeeding!) so I probably should have listened to my body when it tried to stop nursing. Good luck making your decision!
its totally normal to be concerned. i have a 17 month old boy and i breast feed until he was 14 months. i got alot of help from the store "baby, mother or more" they are located on the southeast corner of gilbert/southern, they have supplys and nursing consultants. i also took the breastfeeding class that my hospital offered, i learned so much and was grateful I did it. breastfeeding was something that i had to get used to and work at. i worked full time for awhile when i was nursing and i had to pump in a stall bathroom. i thought that if i didn't work at it and put my best into it, it would be only for selfish reasons. but my sacrifices and patiences was so worth it. breastfeeding is such a wonderful gift to give your child. just educate yourself and do what feels best for you. good luck and have a safe delivery :)
