Breastfeeding - Columbus,OH

I found breastfeeding easier than bottle feeding and I was young and not completely sold myself. LOVED it. It does take work sometimes but it cheaper and faster than bottle feeds.

You an always try! My first two children where not successfully breast fed. My last 3 where and it became enjoyable the first few weeks where uncomfortable. I'd suggest joining a group like LaLeache to get support.

I see what you are saying about how if you aren't a hundred percent gung ho about it, you are more likely to quit. That is probably true somewhat. BUT, you might find that its easier than you think. You might find that you love having that quiet time in a crazy house. I'm not going to go over pros with you, you already know them. But one thing to keep in mind- every day that you give some breastmilk is better than no days of it. So even if you don't do it for long, doing it for any length of time will have benefits. You can be proud of yourself for trying and doing it for any length of time.

I do think setting little goals for yourself is probably a good idea. Like, make it to one week because that is when the milk comes in. Then when you accomplish that, making it to 3 or 4 weeks because after that it is smooth sailing (at least for me it was hard work for about 3 1/2 weeks, then was so easy). Then make it to 4 mos, etc... Just see how long you can go. If you decide its not for you that is fine, and you can look back and say, "I tried and I did a good job for that long, that's better than nothing."

Do whatever you are comfortable with, but give it a try, you'll be proud of yourself no matter how long you do it. I don't think you are setting yourself up to fail, because I wouldn't look at that as a failure.

*PS, think of all the moms who were 150% committed to doing it and ended up not being able to for some reason. What is important is that they tried.

I think it depends how you define failure. My heart was never in it. In fact, I hated breastfeeding (possibly because I had PPD and also supply issues from the very beginning), but I kept up with it for my son. I was only able to breastfeed for 6 months before I dried up, and I was never able to exclusively breastfeed (I supplemented from the moment my son was born). But I feel good that I was able to breastfeed as much as I did. As both my pediatrician and my OB told me, every single drop is liquid gold, and even if you can't feed exclusively, feeding some makes a difference. And who knows? You may have an easier experience than I did! I'm expecting my second soon, and I hope to go into breastfeeding with more confidence because I know that, even if I face the same struggles, I can give my child something even if it's not everything! I wish you lots of luck.

I did not want to nurse my baby either. My MIL is a midwife, so between her and my husband, I got talked into it. And I heard the same thing about your heart being in it.

But guess what? He is 8 months old and has had no formula. I absolutely love it and I am so glad that I gave it a try. I definately think its worth at least a try. My favorite time of day is when my little one wakes up in the morning and I take him to bed with me and have some cuddle/nurse time!

Good luck!

I think whatever you decide is TOTALLY fine. You have to know that in your heart. People may tell you what their opinions are, but what truly matters is, what is best for YOU.

What is MOST important is that your baby will be fine regardless of what you choose to do.

Best of luck to you and be kind to yourself, regardless of what you choose.

If your heart isn't into it because you are nervous- think about what you would tell your children if there was something they were nervous about and you knew it would be good for them. Tell yourself the same thing. Breastfeeding is challenging in some ways and in other ways- easier than bottle feeding. Breastfeeding is definately convenient requires less clean-up/bottle washing, etc. However, it can be hard when first getting started and requires you to stick with it and to "fight for it" a little bit. My heart was definately into it and I was actually really upset when I thought it might not work out. In the end it did, and I am glad I stuck with it. Good luck no matter what you decide.

No you are not setting yourself up for failure! Just give it a try. I was super lucky with our first. She just went to town! I had NO IDEA what I was doing. We nursed for 6 months. (18 months with our second because I was more comfortable AND NURSED ON DEMAND.)

You won't know till you try. Just give it a shot! Nurse on demand (ANY time the baby seems fussy, cranky, cries, etc.) and see how it goes. ANY breastmilk is better than no breastmilk.

You are not setting yourself up for failure. Many moms feel the way you do. I think it is true that it does take some effort to breastfeed, especially if the baby isn't as 'automatic' as we thought they would be. Sounds like you could use some support. If anyone in your family or friends have breastfed, I would talk about it with them. Meet with a lactation consultant sometime in your third trimester to discuss your worries. And make plans to have her visit you very soon after delivery (sometimes they don't come for a day after you've delivered) to help you and the baby get latched. There is an amazing thing babies can do after delivery called 'self attachment'; they sort of nose around and crawl up your belly to find the breast. My first baby, which was only 6 pounds, was too small to do this and I had to pump milk for my husband to give her with a catheter. However, my larger two babies crawled right up and latched on without me hardly doing anything.

I'm glad you're thinking about breastfeeding. There is lots of help out there; you just might need to seek it out a little bit. Best wishes!

I loved it. My first time was the hardest. Each time it got easier(4 kids). WHat a stress reliever. I fell asleep many a time with a child feeding on me. I wish I could experience again. There is nothing more natural. Maybe you will be relaxed more for this pregnancy. Just relax. Hopefully you have ways to relax(breathing exercises, yoga, stretching, walking, etc.) Praying always helps me.

Not really... you could just try it and see how it works out. You won't really KNOW if your heart is in to it unless you try it. Like so many things in life, you've got to try it to know how you're going to feel about it. What have you got to lose?

The benefits are huge for both mom and baby. If you are at all nervouse, get a recommendation for a lactation consultant before you have the baby and talk to them. See how they can help you make the experience comfortable for you. Breastfeeding is natural, but not always easy, and a lactation consultant you like can be a huge help. I got shingles 3 days after giving birth and it royally screwed things up for me. It took 3 months to get back to 100% breastfeeding and we kept it going till my son was 2.5 years old. Relax, enjoy, get help so you feel comfortable :)

Oh you HAVE to do it --- everyone should! I was kind of nervous with my first child... going to LaLeche meetings before she was born, helped. It is the BEST thing for your child and it saves you so much work... NO BOTTLES needed... they say breastfed babies don't need any supplements not even water! If you have any questions, check the book called the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding... I got it from the library and kept renewing it then finally bought it. If you want any more answers, send me a message! R.

none of my family ever nursed their babies so I just figured I would use bottles, too... I'm SO GLAD that I didn't!!!!!!!!!!

Give it your best! I didn't get to breastfeed my first daughter due to poor hospital care, stress from inlaws, and a health condition. I pumped for a few months then lost my milk. I am due with my second in a few weeks, and this one will be breast fed!. I have the mind set that I CAN DO THIS! and I will not let anyone tell me otherwise. You still have time to get into the mind set. You have full right to be nervous, and a little wishy/washy, lord knows I was at 17 weeks. I just took a little time (which is way easier said than done) and looked up a few things online that were very helpful. Look at motherwear.com it's actually a site you can shop for nursing clothes, but they also have a good guide about breastfeeding with tips that can help, and maybe even give you a little more confidence that it can be done. I know it helped me sooooo much! It also helped me to look for things to make breast feeding easier and more comfortable for me, and pleasant for the baby. (things like nursing capes/covers) You have good thoughts coming your way and I hope this was a little helpful!

Don't be so hard on yourself. I think you should be really proud of yourself for considering it. It isn't easy, but, you're right, the pros do outweigh the cons. If I were you, I would set a goal--say, 6 months or a year. Then try it. It is hard at first, but I promise you, it gets so much easier! Once you get into the routine, it is super easy and you don't have to worry about all the bottles and cleaning and the cost of formula. You might try calling the Elizabeth Blackwell Center for advice. They are super helpful and knowledeable (some may come off a little cold). They were incredibly helpful to me from the very beginning!
I wish you the best of luck! If you want to talk or have any questions, I'd be happy to share what I can.
Julia

You can do it! And should. :) I've breastfed all mine (3boys) and can't imagine the hassles of warming bottles and mixing formula, not to mention the cost!
You've gotten good advice in just the last few responses (that's all I read), but I wanted to add that it can hurt at first. The short term goals are good, I think doctors recommend six months, but getting through those first two days is the toughest. It was for me anyway. Get some lanolin, it amazed me how quickly that healed me. For me that first 24 hours was rough, but I wanted to tell you it was just that one day, so maybe give yourself a week, or even tell yourself you're going to nurse while in the hospital. Don't worry about your heart, set your MIND to it.
Best of luck!!!

I don't think you are. The benefits are enormous so maybe you can just breastfeed for 6 months or so and then go from there. Maybe if there is a light, you won't feel so nervous. I'm now breastfeeding my 5th child. I breastfed all my others from 9-26 months. They told me I couldn't breastfeed my first because he was in NICU for 8 days and on formula and bottle and he was allergic to my milk at 3 months. But I worked through every issue and was successful. He weaned himself at 9 months otherwise I would have nursed him for a year. My other kids I nursed for closer to two years and they are all healthy. Good luck!

I say give it a try. You really have nothing to lose. You may love it as many of us did, or you may not, but give it a try. The only other advice I would give is to remember that it gets a lot easier as you go on. At first you and the baby will be trying to figure things out, but then it gets so much easier! Also, your nipples get a lot more used to it and stop hurting. At first, your nipples will be sore, so don't let that discourage you. I also never kept formula around. That would have made it way too easy to switch and give up.
I breast fed 2 daughters and wouldn't change anything. I never had to worry about not having a clean place to mix the formula, forgetting the formula or the expense of formula.
Good luck to you, whatever you decide to do!

Hello!!
I understand that you may not "have your heart in it", however, I breast fed 3 boys and can honestly say that I didn't LOVE it at first. My sister told me to just "stick it out" for 3 months, it would get easier. And you know what? It did!!It really helps to have a supportive partner, and/or incentive such as how healthy your baby is, and how much $ you save on formula! Also, diapers don't smell as bad, and breastfed babies have the sweetest breath:) It does seem like a pain in the you-know-what at first, b/c breastfed babies eat ALL THE TIME. They just do. Sometimes I would wonder why I bothered putting a shirt on! BUT, trust me, after about 8 weeks, seriously, it gets better, easier, and before you know it, you are a pro. This is a decision you will never regret, and you will never wonder "what if?". Like Nike, JUST DO IT! Good luck :-)

You're probably as nervous as any first time Mom who is considering breast feeding. If you want to do it, you'll be fine. Hang in there, though. It took about 4 days for my daughter and I to totally figure it out. Take advantage of the support in the hospital and any local group for after. The hospital had a 2-day a week group for support led by a LaLeche nurse. It helped me a lot! Good Luck!

Breastfeeding is a commitment, but not an absolute. Just give it a try, and if it doesn't work for you, you can stop. I don't think you're setting yourself up for failure. Every bit of breastmilk your baby gets will do wonders. Have your husband on board with you, and go for it. You can do it!

I disagree. You have to make the decision to just do it, but your heart doesn't have to be in it. I know women who went into it saying "I'm going to do this for a month and then see how it's going." The first 6 weeks are the hardest, so if you just keep formula out of the house so it's not an option, if you can get through the first couple months, you may find that you love it and can't imagine stopping:)

My kids were adopted so I never got to try breastfeeding but my sisters both did . My older sister was a real advocate and I know it is the best thing for your child, both physically and emotionally.

I would suggest getting in touch with the La Leachi League. i'm not sure of the spelling on that, but they will put you in touch with a supportive woman who will help you.

Best , L.

I say just try it. You can always stop if you don't like it, but you can't decide 6 months in that you want to give it a go. Every resource says that even a little breast milk does the baby good since that beginning is filled with antibodies. Give it a whirl - you might be a natural and never know!

I really don't believe that you have to be TOTALLY committed to doing it before you try...just committed to trying. Be educated about possible hurdles and complications...go into it with realistic expectations.

In my mother's group and La Leche meetings, I met all sorts of women with all sorts of challenges. It is good to have support and hear about someone else's challenges...it can put yours in perspective.

For instance, I had a LOT of milk. Seriously, I had pumped FOUR EXTRA gallons by the time my daughter was 9 months old. That is just the milk I saved not counting the stuff that got dumped because I was on a business trip and couldn't keep it refrigerated until I got home. While I was desperate to stop the gushing flow of milk, there were many more women who suffered with low milk supply. My negative got turned into a positive when I was able to do a direct donation to one of those babies and ensure he got breastmilk as long as possible. I never would have been able to do that if I hadn't been part of some supporting groups.

I went back to work whem my daughter was ten weeks and I managed to keep her only on breastmilk. I stopped pumping at a year, but continued to nurse for 18 months. Honestly, it was the pumping and the cleaning and the bottles that got on my nerves. I loved how easy it was to get out of the house...not having to remember yet one more thing at the store...and worry if I was measuring something wrong or if it was the right formula. I was SO happy the day I stopped pumping.

Don't be nervous. Get answers to all your questions. Ask for support when you need it. Remember that the "right" way can actually be different for everyone. Don't confuse support with pressure...hormones can distort things a bit.

Don't get me wrong, it would take a lot for me to give up on trying to breastfeed. BUT we all need to make the decision we can live with.

I would say give it a try. Maybe things will work out just fine. I was always a shy person especcally around people I did not know and thought maybe would be wishy washy about it in public. I became a tigress with my boys. I had a very modest way of nursing and unless you watched me constantly you just thought I was holding them. Once a guy said something about doing it in the bathroom which was public and very nasty. I told him I will if you take your food in the men's and sit in the floor too. Needless to say he shut his mouth. If there hd b een more mcomfortble place to nurse I would have. On the flip side I was nursing in a ladies lounge at the mall and an older woman came up to me and congradulated me on being so forward as to nurse in public. She said she thinks it shows a loving mother and more should do it. My sister nursed the first but because she went right back to work found it a drag pumping there. So with 2 and 3 it was bottles only even though she stayed a stay at home mother for years aferwards.

I decided I was going to breastfeed with my son, but I also felt nervous and unsure. There were many times I doubted whether I really wanted to keep going (especially in the first three weeks when you're not supposed to give a bottle). My husband was great and helped a lot. He would get the little guy in the middle of the night and bring him to me, then stay awake to make sure I didn't fall asleep, burb, change, put him back to bed. He was very encouraging and would say, "just a few more weeks until you can pump and then I can get up with him." Once I started pumping, I'd do a bottle for my husband and then we'd take turns getting up in the middle of the night.

The thing I found about breastfeeding is that it gets easier and easier. I told myself I would try to BF for 6 months, but I ended up going a year and I didn't really want to stop but my son was ready. I would just try to commit to a set amount of time and tell yourself that you need to give it a try for at least that long, maybe a month, then tell yourself 3 months more if you want to continue. I'd say it took me about a month just to get really good at what I was doing. After that, it was sooo easy to breastfeed and I was so happy I didn't have to carry around formula and worry about keeping bottles cold or making them warm!

Maybe just give yourself a short commitment and then see how that goes. Anyway, you are not alone in having mixed feelings. I'm sure there are lots of us who wanted to breastfeed but still had doubts and conflicting feelings. Like others said, anything breastfeeding you do is beneficial.

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