Considering Breastfeeding...

Here's my opinion. I tried it. I didn't really like it. I decided that the best mom for my baby was a happy mom. I have no guilt and a happy healthy son. Give it a whirl, see if it's for you. If it's not, that doesn't mean you're driving the bus to hell by any means!

You've had lots of answers, but I'll add mine too. ;) I breastfed both my children and I absolutely loved it! It was an incredible bonding experience, and I found it to be easier than bottle-feeding. I struggled a bit with my son and used formula as well (so that is always an option) and I also pumped so it would be easier to leave the house. Looking back, one of the greatest benefits in my opinion was being able to quickly feed in the middle of the night. It was so easy to stay in bed and feed and not worry about bottles. I say go for it, and if you decide it's not for you then it is no big deal!

After the initial learning time and soreness at first I thought it was easy. Didn't have to worry about how much formula to pack. Get a blanket or a breastfeeding wrap for out in public. no big deal. just takes practice.
Good luck which ever way you choose.

I think you should at least give it a try. I am breastfeeding my first baby and cannot imagine doing anything else. Obviously we all know the health benefits but there are "mommy" benefits as well.

1.You don't have to get out of bed in the middle of the night to prepare a bottle. I feel like this helped me get more sleep. Of course, Daddy can't help this way but it was worth it to me.

2. It's free!! Money in the bank, buy yourself something nice with all the money you save :)

3. You can nurse anywhere you are comfortable. It took me a few months to really get comfortable and even now I will bring a bottle to certain places but for the most part I'll nurse wherever I am. You learn quickly how to do it discreetly.

4. You don't have to worry about runnning out of formula and running to the store. You always have milk readily available no matter where you go!

5. The poo is not as stinky :D

Is it hard? Yes and no. It can hurt at first but if your baby latches on properly eventually the soreness will go away. It's gonna hurt at first until you find your groove and there are times that my baby has wanted to nurse for comfort for hours on end (the weeke I went back to work) but we got past it and it has been an amazing experience. I've been nursing for four months and my nipples have not been sore since the very beginning when we were learning and the time I returned to work. Lansinoh nipple cream works like a charm....and some ice packs for a few nights can be a breastfeeders best friend.

I don't think they neceassily eat more than bottle fed babies. mine had jaundice and had to nurse more frequently until her bilirubin levels went down. My friend who has a baby 9 days younger than mine feeds her baby the same amount of times I do and hers is formula fed.

As for leaving your house, eventually, yes you will be able to! You can always pump or nurse your baby wherever you go. For the first several weeks you probably won't want to go many places in public with the baby anyway. I limited my time away from home to in between feedings for several weeks because I did not introduce the bottle to DD until she was 4 weeks old.

I agree with another poster about the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and the Sears' Breastfeeding Book. I read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and it helped tremendously. It helps set you up for a successful experience. Contacting The Le Leche Legue is a great idea also. I planned on using them if I had trouble but my little one was a natural at latching on.

I have been breast feeding almost constantly for the last 9+ years and 3 kids. I nursed my first until he was 3, through my pregnancy with #2 and 2 more months after he was born. I nursed #2 until he was 2 months shy of 5 years old, I found out I was pregnant with #3 a week or 2 after the last time he nursed. I am nursing my now 14 month old. With my first there was a little bit of a learning curve and getting generally comfortable with it, as with anything new, but it wasn't super hard or impossible. I highly recommend 2 books: "The Womanly art of Breastfeeding" by Le Leche League International and "The Breastfeeding Book" by Dr William Sears. I also highly recommend 3 web sites:
Le Leche League International http://www.llli.org/
Dr William Sears http://www.askdrsears.com/
Kelly Mom http://kellymom.com/
Those 2 books and 3 website have been my saviour more times than I can count! They are amazing!
Yes, you can leave the house. We took our third child to Disneyland when she was 17 days old. We go everywhere all the time! Always have. I have never even needed a blanket or one of those little apron hidey things. It's not hard to nurse without flashing everyone. Wear a shirt you can easily lift from the bottom, a nice nursing bra, only lift as much of your shirt as you need to to get to the one breast. Your baby will hide everything else. People don't even know I'm nursing my child most of the time. I never pumped, not once. None of my children got a bottle and only got a sipppy cup when they started solids. I never lost my independance and ability to go anywhere, ever.
Breast milk is digested faster than formula because a baby's body does not have to work as hard to digest it so you may find that you have to feed them more often than a formula fed baby. It only takes a couple months before your milk is well established and your baby will settle into not needing to nurse as much. The "worst" is when you're already not feeling like doing much anyway because it's the immediate postpartum period. It's a wonderful excuse to not overdo yourself when you shouldn't be anyway.
You can do it! :)

Honestly before I got pregnant the thought of breastfeeding sounded gross to me. However as the months went by during pregnancy the more I felt like I should at least try.
It was hard at first for my son to figure out how to latch on correctly (that probably took a month to get right). Other than that its great! You are providing your baby with the benefits of breastmilk while helping yourself You will burn anywhere from 300-600 calories a day just from breastfeeding(within a year of giving birth I was about 15 pounds thinner than I was before I got pregnant) and you will lower your chances of cervical cancer. Also when you breastfeed it is very calming for the baby to be so close to you and your body releases oxytocin which is like a tranquilizer for you and baby making you both really relaxed.
It really just depends on the baby with the amount of feeding times as well if its easy or hard. If its hard in the beginning at least give it a month for all the kinks to get worked out.
Its great give it a try!

wow, that's a loaded question! From a mom who breastfed two, breastfeeding is wonderful and rewarding and has many pros as far as being the best nutrition for your baby, it's free, it's 100% natural, you don't have to prepare it before you feed baby, of course you can leave the house! and it's a great way to lose weight after birth. It's also a connection that no one else will ever have with your child. But it is definitely a commitment, it can be painful, not all babies catch on right away and it takes a lot of time and patience for the first few months. If you have support from people around you (join a mom's group if you can) and you're willing to try it and work through the difficulties, you can start off breastfeeding with an open mind and see if it works for you. You can always go back to formula if you find it too difficult. Just remember that the first 3 months is the hardest and it will feel like you're nursing around the clock.

These websites offer a ton of great advice: lalecheleague.org and kellymom.com

It is a very hard beginning to a very wonderful end. The first eight weeks or so will have you frusterated and second guessing yourself and everything associated with breastfeeding. But....one day it will just click, you two will get to know your own rythym. Every child is different. I had one eat every four hours like clock work and slept through the night at eight weeks. My current baby eats every two hours and sleeps all night. My first didn't sleep until he was over five months old. All were breastfed.

I go out all the time. I feed before I leave, and if necessary, in the car in the parking lot.

The worst you can do is try, and if it turns out it's not for you...well....you already know that formula is a great second choice and your baby will turn out just fine!!!

www.kellymom.com has some great information for women interested in breastfeeding.

If you really want to breastfeed, your whole attitude needs to change from the beginning. From reading your "so what happened" response, I can almost guarantee that you will not "be able" to breastfeed. Breastfeeding IS difficult at first--the first couple of weeks are rough. You'll be up at night a lot, it hurts (especially the first week), you have to think about medicines, foods, and drinks that you put into your body, plus it can just be frustrating. My point is: if you go into it saying, we'll see what happens, if it's wonderful I'll keep nursing, and so on, YOU WILL QUIT. It can be pretty bad for the first few weeks. Or, if you are not adament at the hospital, nurses will convince you that you are not producing enough milk and you need to supplement with formula, and then that will cause confusion with your body and baby, making it difficult to nurse. I nursed my son for 12 months, and it was WONDERFUL once we got past the first 2 weeks. Out of all of my friends who have recently had babies, I was the only one who was able to successfully breastfeed, and I was the only one who went into it knowing there was no other option. Coincidence? If you want to breastfeed, stick with it for at least 4 months, with no formula. Good luck to you.

Breastfeeding is definitely a learning curve. I am currently nursing my first child who is almost 4 months old and have been working (full time) from when she was 3 months old. Although compared to the others who have responded here, my experience is very limited, all I can say is the first 2 or 3 weeks are really hard. I had a severely cracked nipple that took almost a month to heal. Everytime my daughter was about to nurse, I had to take a deep breath and take the plunge (of letting my daughter feed). She would go at the breast like a hungry animal attacks the food- atleast thats how I describe it LOL. It sure was tough. I even remember a time when I broke down and cried saying I couldnt do it. But at the same time I was stubborn about not giving her even an ounce of formula. I guess that stubbornness helped me conquer the art of breastfeeding. Well all this story is to say.....there will be hurdles in the first few weeks, but once you cross that, breastfeeding becomes as normal as drinking a glass of water. Plus it gives you a great sense of satisfaction that you are the sole provider for that tiny little baby to grow strong and healthy.

About BF and going out: I BF in public. All I wear is a nursing top and dont use any of those fancy products that they sell for nursing in public. I feel that those products draw more attention to what you are doing than without it. This again need some getting used to. After about 4 or 5 times, I learnt to nurse her without exposing myself. People dont seem to notice that you are nursing and even some friends of mine who have walked by have asked me if my daughter was sleeping when actually she was nursing.

And if you are planning to work, this again is going to take about 3 weeks to get set. Learning to manage time between pumping and working. But these 3 weeks can be set even before you start working, so thats an advantage.

I know all these seem like a lot of hardwork. But BF is as rewarding as motherhood itself. Plus there are tons of materials out there to show the benefits of BF for your child in the long run as well as health benefits for you and not to forget the cost saving compared to formula.

Think about this, we as human animals were designed by evolution to provide all the nutrition to our little ones to survive the brutal world in order to keep mankind going.

Hi,
I found breastfeeding convenient, though I didn't bottle feed so have nothing to compare. I pumped and my husband fed him a bottle of breast milk if I needed to go somewhere. As far as them eating more often, I have no idea. I did breastfeed in public, no big deal, easier than trying to warm a bottle. Check out the lalech or other breast feeding groups.
Oh, and I breast fed my son for over 3 years, no problem.
S.

I didn't bf my 1st, but did my 2nd and really wish I did with my 1st, but that's hindsight. I took the bf classes at the hospital and when I gave birth I had the lactation consultant visit me 3 times (I asked the last 2 times to make sure I was doing things right). What I experienced is that the baby ate every hour - they have to, their tummies are the size of marbles when born. I had problems with latch and my nips hurt, but with the help of the lactation consultant I got it all figured out. It was hard at first and each day I was worried that I just can't do this - how do mother's do this? But you tell yourself, get through the day and maybe give up tomorrow. I took it day by day and continued till thru about 10 months. Both you and the baby are learning how to do this together.

I found it rather convenient that I didn't have to make a bottle. I just whipped out the boob, the little man ate and that was that. Lost a lb of weight every week even though I ate and drank like a horse, your uterus shrinks faster (this is a little painful at first, feels like a bad cramp) and bf'ing is just cheaper. You're still able to go out and do things. You can bf in a sling, or go to a bathroom and bf'd or I would go to the car and feed. They make hooter hiders, lol! If you're out for a while, pump your milk before you go and bring a bottle of your milk with. My toddler is healthier because of it too.

One thing I'd like to point out is to not be hard on yourself for not being able to bf up to one year. You're still a good mother whether you choose to bf, not bf or bf for a little bit of time. I recommend going onto BabyCenter for breastfeeding support.

Firstly, I think it is great that you are considering nursing your second child.I think too many people just do the same with the second as the first and that is not always what is best.

I wholeheartedly wanted to nurse my children for what I felt was the nutritional benefit, though I was very uncertain about what nursing would entail and how I would possibly do it in public.

I nursed both of my children, a son and then a daughter, and they nursed in entirely different ways. My son had a hard time figuring out how to latch on (suck properly). For the 1st 24 hours after he was born I had numerous nurses and lactation consultants in the room, each offering their own bit of wisdom to help my son get the hang of it. I was quite exposed, and I was surprised that it didn't bother me at all. I'm not suer if it was because I felt I had just bared all to give birth, or because I felt so strongly about doing it for my son, but I wasn't self-conscious in the least. I think that was important. I was very open to their advice and critique and tried my best to stay focused. After trying to get him to nurse every 2 hours around the clock, he finally caught on and from then on it was perfect :o) My son ate very frequently for the first few months of his life. He would nurse just about every 2 hours, night and day, and I was quite tired. After 3 months or so he nursed 5 times a day, so it was easy to schedule outings and what not. My son weaned himself around15 months old.

As for nursing in public, I honestly never imagined that would be something that I would do. When I first came home from the hospital, I even went upstairs to nurse, rather than do so in front of my MIL. With time, I got over it. I never once encountered even a scornful glance from a person while nursing. I was very discreet, and I never had a nursing cover. I realized how incognito I was, when on two separate occasions, my husband's uncles approached me to talk to my son, not realizing I was nursing until I told them! I never planned my day around needing to nurse. If we were at a park, I could just find a private bench to do so. If we at a friend's house, I would either private go to the couch or use another room. At home, I always nursed in my living room, no matter who was here. I always gave advanced notice to those present so they could choose to leave the room if they wanted, however.

My son loved to nurse and it soothed him. He would remain at the breast for 30 minutes to nurse, and would often fall asleep there. I had feared that weaning him would be difficult, but it was simple. He was ready, and he just stopped.

My daughter was entirely different. She literally began nursing when only a few minutes old. She caught on instantly. She was a power nurser, only nursing for 10 minutes at most. She was not comforted by nursing, but rather saw it as a mode to gain food :o) She did weigh slightly more than my son at birth (my son was 8lbs2oz, she was 9lbs) and I am not sure if that is why or not, but she never nursed as often as my son did. Even from teh very beginning, she never got up more than twice in the night to nurse, and she would typically go at least 3 hours during the day between feedings.

With my second, I had my husband more involved. I am a stay-at-home mom, so with my first, I felt it was my job to do it all. Remembering my exhausting with my son, we decided that in order for me to be at my best with two kids, my husband would get up in the night to help with my daughter. He simply got up, retrieved her from her bassinet, changed her diaper, and delivered her to me in bed, where I nursed her. When she was done, I'd whack him and he would put her right back. My husband has a much easier time going back to sleep than I, so he didn't mind at all. It was so much easier on me too, because I wasn't nearly as awake since I stayed in bed the whole time. I wasn't even tired with my second and nursing was a breeze. She also weaned herself around 15 months.

Well, I am sorry that this turned out to be so long. I just want you to be able to make an informed decision about something that I feel very passionately. The bond that you form with your nursing child is instant and amazing. I never saw it as a burden or something to be embarrassed about. I wish you the best!

You're going to get a lot of answers (and probably some well intentioned pressure) because people seem to be VERY passionate about breastfeeding. I can only reference my own experience... My second child is 4 months and I breastfed each child - but only for the first month. For me, I found it very painful (and yes, I sought out a Lactation Consultant - latch was fine, no tongue tie issues, etc - BFing WILL be painful to start and anyone who says differently is selling you something) but yet very rewarding. However, after a few weeks it became a huge frustration for me and I realized I was not only dreading feeding my child, I was resenting her for it. Everytime she'd stir in her bassinet I'd cringe. At that point - for me - it was time to stop. In my mind a healthy baby has to also have a healthy mama and I was heading down a not-so-healthy path.

If you decide to BF and can stick with it that is a wonderful gift to give your child. However - if you decide to formula feed there is NO shame and NO harm in that either. As long as your child is well fed, cared for and loved that is all that's important. Good luck mama!

It is an amazing experience, and so worthwhile. Don't go into it thinking it will be easy though, you have to be committed to it, and willing to get help if you need it. There are many breastfeeding support groups through hospitals too. Once you learn how though, yes it is easy - no bottles, nothing to clean, etc. As far as how often they eat, that depends on the baby and the mom. I have my daughter on a schedule, and I know bottle fed babies that eat more often because their moms let them snack. Yes, you can leave your house. With the baby is easier because you just bring a hooter hider and are set. Without the baby, you may need to pump, but they can take bottles too (not recommended until breastfeeding is established - a couple of weeks).

breastfeeding is wonderful and convenient. think about it: no bottles to wash, no formula to buy, no worrying about having enough in the diaper bag. babies love it. it's good for them. you can breastfeed anywhere (really).
at the very beginning it's a bit tricky, in part because you haven't learned yet to be feed discreetly and you feel like your whole boob is hanging out there everytime. but that goes away really fast, and by now i can nurse in a crowded setting without anyone really noticing.
yes, some nipple discomfort sometimes (in the beginning and then again when teething starts). but that also goes away.
so healthy. and will help you lose the baby weight!

I'm going to guess you're going to be flooded with responses.

Make the decision that's best for you. I started by nursing both kids because I wanted to. I have a degree in Biology, and I know the science behind it better than most. I made it to a year with my son but only to 3 months with my daughter (so I could start chemotherapy).

The first few days can be rough/painful. And, you'll get conflicting advice on how to properly do it, how often/long to feed, etc. The best advice we received from our pediatrician was to follow the baby's cues. Our son was a snacker. Still is at 4 years-old. Our daughter was completely the opposite both with breast and bottle milk.

Scientifically, breast milk is best for your child because it's created for humans by humans. Formula is normally either cow or soy based. No manufacturer has been able to replicate it.

All women produce slightly different breast milk, and it will change as the baby gets older as the ratio between foremilk (fattier) and hindmilk changes. I produce heavily fatty milk - almost like cream. Other people produce more like skim. So, it's not 100% accurate to say that they eat more. That's completely dependent upon the child and the milk production. You also have to keep in consideration that everything you put in your body from ibuprofen to alcohol, food, etc. will end-up in the breast milk. But, having done both, it's CONSIDERABLY cheaper, even with pump supplies, etc.

I'm personally not the biggest fan of the LaLeche league - no good reason. I will provide, though, the following link to the website for the American Academy of Pediatrics. Talk to your pediatrician and ask what they recommend before taking ANY of our advice:
http://www.healthychildren.org/english/ages-stages/baby/f...

Good luck!

i breast fed my 7 yr old until i returned to work. Yes they eat about every 2 hours because your milk is more broken down for the baby and easier for baby's tummy to digest...yes you can leave the house, if you breast feed just take a blanket to put over yourself while out in public. also so you don't have to get up every night ever 2 hours, it's easy to "pump" so daddy can take his turn. they have all kind of pumps to use but the easiest pump i found, is in the bathtub with a bottle literally milking myself like a cow. It's very private, sooooo much easier, and somewhat releiving. (really i did that) soaking in a nice hot bathtub and didn't worry about getting my milk everywhere

breast feeding especially at first is the healthiest way to go for you and your baby, it has antibiotics to help boost your babies immune system and also helps your body get back to normal and even acts as a birth control (wink wink).

it takes time for both baby and mom to learn to breast feed it's not something you learn genetically, but with proper support from friends and family, it can turn out to be very rewarding. took me about 2 weeks to learn, but she had no problem "latching on"

i miss it.

Dear K.,
It is great you are considering breastfeeding. I had a girl who is now 7 y.o. With her I did not enjoyed breastfeeding as much because I was a little concerned about body image and the problem of taking your boob out on the street. With my second son (1y.o.) I had a home - birth and it made more sense for me to breastfed exclusively. Also, being more mature and enjoying much more the connection with him since he first opened his eyes, breastfeeding was a blast! I love the time I get to be with him alone (without husband and daughter) and also it was a great option to go for trips to the jungle. In the jungle I just have to take out my boob and breastfed him, otherwise I would have been really concerned about the contamination of the water, the sterilization -or lack of it- of bottles, etc.
Sometimes it was painful (having your breasts really engorged the first few weeks) but a moms- support group (moms circle) helped enormously with tips and with sharing concerns. Try and join one when you are pregnant.. it is great to share stories and pathways while you see each others sons and daughters grow.
Good luck and hopefully you can give your baby the best of you

Breastfeeding takes some getting used to, as with all new things that you do. I am exclusively breast feeding my youngest, and it's going wonderfully. I tried with my twins last year, but was unable to keep up with the demand (I had enough milk, but it took a lot out of me, and it was a lot of work to pump enough to keep up!), and it was really hard. This time is much easier because I knew what to expect. My youngest will be 7wks. tomorrow, and we go out to run errands a couple of times a week. I feed him before we leave, and if he gets hungry while we are out, I feed him again. The nice thing about breastfeeding is that I don't have to worry about taking along bottles to feed him, or packing up formula and bottles and water when we are going to be gone for the day. If you are seriously considering breastfeeding with your next child, I would suggest that you speak to a lactation consultant. Breastfeeding isn't always easy, and doesn't always go well, for a variety of reasons. I spoke with a lactation consultant and even spoke with a group of breastfeeding moms prior to making my decision, as I wanted to be fully informed about what to expect.

Good luck to you!

I only breastfed my first for 3 weeks. Two I breastfed to 1 and number 4 was breastfed to 18 mo (I stopped because I was pregnant). I'm currently breastfeeding my 5th child. I love it. It isn't always easy but it is well worth it. You can leave the house. I breastfeed in public, some malls have rooms for moms to breastfeed if you need a private area. I pump at work so that my baby can have milk during the day. It is a lot cheaper than formula and a lot better for your baby. Breastfed babies usually eat every 2-3 hours in the beginning. My baby sometimes goes longer between feedings, sometimes shorter. Get some books on breastfeeding, talk to a lactation consultant, take a class before your baby is born, that way you will be more prepared. If you need anything you are more then welcome to contact me.

Here is a link with a section on breastfeeding questions. It should be very helpful because there are a few questions you might not even think about so I hope it helps out with your decision making!

http://www.theskinnyscoop.com/search/breastfeeding?utm_ca...

Well all babies and moms are different and can have different experiences but for me I love Breast feeding. I did with both my girls. I won't lie at first it is hard. My daughter had a hard time latching on every time and because I was new at it I had a hard time getting her to latch on and stay on. It was tough and yes it hurt a lot at first.....like for me for the first month. But then all the pain stopped she was able to latch on and then it was a piece of cake for the rest of the time. I truly enjoyed it and loved that I never had to worry about formula or bottles. I always had food ready for her and at the perfect temperature. Yes most breast fed babies eat more often at first sometimes every 2 hours but then as they get a little older more like every 2 to 3 hours. It is best to just feed breast fed babies on demand to keep your milk supply up and keep you baby content. And even some breast fed babies sleep good at night. That I think just depends on your baby. With my first she started sleeping through the night at 8 weeks. But as she got older she did wake up once or twice a night which wasn't bad. Also when they do wake at night you can bring them to bed with you and go back to sleep while they are eating. I did that all the time with mine. As for going out I would either feed her right before I left so I knew she was good for a couple of hours or I would just bring a nursing cover with me and nurser her whenever she needed to. I really think if you can just stick with it through the first month or so you will love it!

I bf with my first til about a year and am still bf my 11 month old. My first also took bottles of breastmilk. This one is more picky and does not like bottles and would only take them for her daycare teacher and when she went on maternity leave baby went on strike! However I do find it easier! and I am not a public nurser. We go everywhere! When she would need to eat when my oldest was at dance, we went to a dressing room.
I do agree with the poster that the best mommy is a happy one. So if it doesn't work, that's ok too! If you do try it, you may want to consult with a lactation nurse in the hospital to make sure the baby is latching on right and those sort of things. Good luck and Congratulations!

yes you can still leave the house, you can either breastfeed in public (they make these things called udder covers which cover you while breast feeding) or you can pump and bottle feed the breast milk while in public. I tried for a week to breast feed my daughter, she would scream until she turned blue in the face... hopefully the second will be a little more accepting to the idea.

I love breatfeeding. It does take some getting used to and it does sometimes seem like all I get done is sitting in a chair to nurse. But overall I think it is easier than always having to fix a bottle. I nurse everywhere I go. It does take a little while to get used to nursing in public, but I have nursed in just about every kind of place. Some places will have nursing rooms or chairs in bathrooms, but I usually find a bench. You can throw a blanket over your baby's head or you can buy nursing covers at places like Target. Check with your OB/GYN about nursing classes, or lactation consultants, or look for a local La Leche League that can answer your questions and help you get established. I nursed our daughter for 15 months and I'm still nursing our son who will be 1 next week. I love the bonding time that I get when I'm nursing.

With any baby, especially during the 1st year.. you need to feed on-demand.
Because this addresses their growth-spurts and varying appetites each day and needs.

Formula or not, all babies get hungry. So then you need to feed on-demand. A breastfed baby, does not conclusively eat more than a Formula fed baby. Some babies, have GINORMOUS appetites, either way.

Breastfeeding, saves money.
And yes, it takes time and is arduous... you can leave your house... but would need to return home by the next feeding... unless your baby takes a bottle in addition to breast.

It is really up to you.

For me, breastfeeding was 'easy' because my milk came in fast, my kids latched on properly, I had a lot of milk... and they nursed well and often. And grew like weeds and I nursed on-demand, 24/7, day and night. Which is how it is with any baby... Formula or not. You feed baby whenever they are hungry and even if 'cluster feeding.'
BUT... it takes time. Because each baby needs YOU to nurse... and each nursing session can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour.
And, if you are breastfeeding, is it YOU that will have to feed baby... waking up and nursing... versus, a bottle which can be given by anyone.
OR, you also pump milk in addition to direct nursing... so that sometimes, Hubby can feed baby too..... as an option.

But regardless, a baby feeds, gets hungry day and night, you need to wake to feed baby, and on-demand which can be every 3 hours or LESS. Which, many babies need to feed/get hungry even every 1-2 hours.

And, do NOT believe the 'myth' that breastfed babies wake more at night. This is a falsity.

all the best,
Susan

When I was pregant with my first and only (so far) son, I took a breastfeeding class offered by the hospital (FREE). It was 3 hours I think, but TOTALLY informative. My SIL was like "What do you need to take a class for?" but it helped me feel at ease and there was Q&A time for anyone to ask any question they had. Very informative. I recommend that.

I don't know how often normal babies eat, but yes, we were able to leave the house even thought I breastfed. At the beginning, I'd make sure to have nursing pads and a change of shirt in my car in case I leaked, and often, I would nurse the infant at my parent's house if need be, but not a big deal for me. I only nursed in public once or maybe twice. But they make covers for that. The one time I remember - I was at a fair and it was an all-day event, so I had to feed my son. He was hungry and my boobs were getting full of milk. Noone noticed, as a picked a bench out of the way and used a cover.

It's not easy at the beginning, but you get the hang of it. It really helps to have supportive friends, family, and husband. At the hospital, after giving birth, you can request that a lactation consultant come to your room to help you and baby latch on to the breast. Buy your lanolin cream, as you may need it the first couple of months.

Take the free class that I mentioned to help you make a better decision.

this email is encouraging! :)

just give it a try. all you can do is take it day by day. each baby and mom are different. it takes some getting used to, and sometimes there are hurdles to overcome, but it is the best thing you could possibly decide to do for your child. :) breastfeeding has many benefits, how many can you think of ?

one of the best is immunity from illness. breastmilk gives your child more than adequate immunity from colds, flu, earaches, intestinal trouble, and on and on. it reduces the likelihood of your child having allergies! :) there are so many benefits! :)

what you could do is go to www.llli.org; the website of the la leche league. write to the leader in a town near you or in your town and ask her about meetings, or just any questions you have. meetings would be great because other moms will be there to give you their experiences!

above all, just give it a try, and dont let obstacles get in your way! :) you will be able to leave the house, it just takes a little practice and time to get used to breastfeeding in public. just being confident that this is your decision, and no one has anything to say about it will help you to be able to be comfortable nursing in public. :) you can do this, even if you have to have some help. and a good start from birth is the best thing you could possibly do; so again, go to a la leche league meeting and see what other moms have experienced! :) good luck!

ive done both...........breastfeeding is SO much better, easier and bonding is stronger. You can absolutely do it in public just get a lightweight blanket you can weave through your bra straps, no need to buy a special cloth for it. After about 4 months there will be enough time between feedings that you will not have to do it out in public. Its actually easier than bottle feeding after the initial startup, and obviously cheaper. Other benefits are

nipple stimulation helps to shrink the uterus back to normal.
your risk for breast cancer goes wayyyyyyy down
It strengthens your babies immune system exponentially

Hi K.-

You ask some very hard questions because the answers lie within yourself and the relationship you and your baby create. Everyones BFing experience is unique. That said, I can tell you about my experiences.

I have BFed both children and plan to BFed our third (currently cooking...)

I found my daughter very easy going and the relationship was great. We actually nursed for 15 months or so. But, this does not mean it was easy. Despite everyone telling me that her latch was "perfect", I had a lot of pain. After lots of research, I discovered that I had microscopic cuts and tears in the breast tissue. I had to treat this condition with bacitracian and be extra careful to wash it off before a nursing session. I also had the pleasure of learning about cluster feeding. No one ever mentioned this to me. She would nurse for what seemed to be endless sessions, resting only about 10 or 15 minutes in between feedings. This aspect nearly had me in tears, especially since I thought she was not getting enough, but in reality she was fine and I learned she would usually do this when she had a growth spurt.

Now, my little man was much harder. The relationship was shorter but much more intense. When he hit about 10 months, I was just not able to keep up with him and we would feed him formula, especially at night time. He needed the formula, which I think sits longer in their tummies, in order to sleep through the night.

I actually found that nursing made it easier to take the kids out. Whenever there was a fit coming or a hungry rumbling started, I could "whip it out" and take care of things before it got out of control and a real scene started.

As for when they eat more, I actually found my little man ate more at night. I was told this was because I went back to work and he wasn't getting his "Mommy time".

If you have any more questions, feel free to email me.

Lots of luck and try your best - either way, it is SO evident that you love your babies!!

~C.

Please, please go for it! At least at the beginning to see how it goes. I would suggest taking a breastfeeding class before your second child is born, talking to the lactation consultants in the hospital, and even setting aside the amount that you would spend on formula for a month to spend on a lactation consultant. If you try it out, you should make sure that you have enough information to make a truly informed decision. (A good book might help, too, even now to get some ideas. I suggest "Breastfeeding Made Simple" by Nancy Mohrbacher and Kathleen Kendall-Tackett.) Keep in mind, too, that each breastfeeding relationship is a partnership between mom and child. It takes about 30 days to get that partnership up to speed; baby is learning as well as mom. After you settle in, though, breastfeeding is simple and nurturing. It took a few weeks, and I felt confident. You will never have to worry about running to the store for formula! And, yes, you can leave the house! You can nurse a baby anywhere. If you aren't comfortable in public, invest in one of those cute nursing covers. Best wishes!

They do eat more throughout the day, but their poops don't smell as bad and you lose the baby weight faster.

Also, it's so convenient to breastfeed. I loved it. At night, I could just roll over and nurse, instead of go and make a bottle and come back. Also, in public, you can nurse very discreetly with cute nursing covers. Or, you can also do both, nurse at home, then pump and take a bottle with you when you go out if it's at a place you don't feel comfortable nursing.

But really, if you run out of formula, or forget it, or spill it, and you are running errands, you cant feed your baby. But you don't have to worry about that when you breastfeed. I did it in the movie theater, at restaurants, if I was at the mall, stores would let me go in the dressing rooms.

The first few weeks are rough, if you have clogged ducts, but there are a lot of things you can do to help with that and soon enough, you and the baby will have it down. To leave your house, you just bring some nursing pads to stick in your bra, and wear a shirt that can be easily pulled up or down or unbuttoned. I was very leaky, had to change them several times a day (I recommend Johnson/Johnsons), but my sister never even had to wear them!

did it with both. my 1st had trouble latching on, the 2nd was a breeze. went 9 months w/first and 13 with 2nd.

I'd say just get comfortable doing it in public w/a blanket and you'll be fine.
otherwise it will be pretty hard.

I BF my daughter until she was one. I didnt bottle feed her at all striclty BF, so in the begining it was very demanding, but so rewarding, I think I found it easier then formula because when she woke up or was hungry, I just had to give her bood, never had to worry about havign a bottle or formula and heating up. Also I think the money we saved on formula was well worth it. When she was about 2 months she was on a pretty good schedule so I was able to leave the house and do stuff for up to 3 hours whiel hubby stayed home with the baby. I went back to work less then part time and we started her ion solids at that time ( I was only gone for 4 hrs at work so not very lenghty). I did Bf in public, I got what is called a Hooter Hider, way cute designs and the coverage is excellent. I was really comfortable with (soem arent). We are plannig in doing the same w/ #2. Its totally a personal and individual decision and I hope my experience helps you choose yours. ((HUGS))

I really wanted to BF my first and I tried so hard day and night. We had all kinds of problems with latching, milk supply, flat nipples...you name it! I started pumping exclusively and I liked that for a while, but after about 4-5 months I just couldnt' keep up anymore and had to go to 100% formula. With my second I gave it another try and he was more interested and way better at latching, but I longed for the ease of the bottle! I knew what I was missing and I wanted it back! ;) I am certainly not advocating either option...I have never successfullly breastfed so I can't really say if it gets easier or not, but I can say that I have now bottle fed two babies and it is really convenient!

The pros to breastfeeding are the constant contact with your baby, which I feel you will get either way, but it is pretty special that moment that they latch on and you are feeding them. It affected me more than I expected, but since it was so few and far between, I let it go! ;) (oh and I only ever got a successful latch with my second!). Plus, it's cheaper. You don't have to buy formula, etc. and clean all the bottles. But, anyone can feed the baby at any time, I like that a lot!

In the end, I think if you want to try it you should but do what you feel is best for you as a mom and your family. You already know how wonderful formula fed babies are so at least that's no worry!

I bottle-fed my first two w/out ever trying breastfeeding, both girls are happy and healthy children and I was happy w/ formula feeding.
When we were expecting our third and final baby, I started to consider giving breastfeeding a try. After consulting w/ fellow moms who had nursed, some successfully and some not, I decided to do it.
The first few weeks were hard. I was sore and sometimes dreaded feeding time...but friends kept telling me to stick to it and it would be second nature before long. I was also tired being I was the sole person able to feed my son. Fast forward a few weeks and things were going much better, my son was on a little more of a schedule and I wasn't sore anymore, plus the bonding experience was awesome.
As far as leaving the house goes, that was my one gripe. I never was totally comfortable nursing in public (although a couple times I had no choice so I had to) so I found myself home A LOT during the first few months especially. I just worked my schedule around his feeding times and it worked pretty well (though my outings could only be 2-3 hours.)
Another think that didn't work out too well for us was bottles...my son didn't really like them (although when I simply had to miss a feeding he would take a bottle if super hungry). Even if you're a SAHM, start an occasional bottle at around 6 wks so you can pump (be sure and get a nice breast pump!) and get a break sometimes.
I weened my son at almost exactly one yr old with no problems. In the end, I'm super happy I did the breastfeeding thing and my son is thriving.
Good luck with your decision!:)

Hi K.,
Kudos to you for thinking of breastfeeding your second child. I am nursing my first who is now 20 months old and I am trying to wean her off.

Once you have your baby, try to get the baby to BF within the next 2 hours. Babies are most alert and in need of the nutrition since they have just gone through the process of being born. If possible, don't introduce the pacifier until the baby is 3-4 weeks old. It can cause nipple confusion.

Flow of milk establishes itself within the first 2-3 weeks of birth. So it may take a while to get into the routine every 2-4 hour feedings that the books suggest. These guidelines are for bottle fed babies. With BF babies, you can't measure how much they drink so you must go by their cues.

Start pumping after 2-3 weeks and store BM in the freezer or fridge and it lasts 3 months and 1 week respectively. You can leave the house and BF in changing rooms or simply go to the baby Gap, Motherhood Maternity store or any baby store and nurse there. I used to nurse her in my car in the rear seat with a cover up.

Remember to use Lansinoh cream each time post breast feeding to eliminate and reduce the pain (if any).

Good Luck! You can do it and I am sure your baby will thank you for it by being a happy and cheerful little one!

I think you should give it a try at least. I breastfed for almost a year, my son is now 18 months, and Im pregnant again, and plan on breastfeeding this baby also. As long as you don't have to work much after having the baby, you should be good to go. Honestly, the first 2 weeks sucked. It was painful and I had cracked bloody nipples. But after that, everything went smoothly. My son started sleeping through the night at a month old, and was reaching his milestones before other babies his age. He also never got sick. He never had an ear infection or colic. Another plus is the money you will save. Formula prices are ridiculous nowadays.You can definately leave the house, just pump some milk beforehand and freeze it for times you need a break, and as far as numerous feedings go i think its the same as formula. Congrats and good luck on whatever yiu decide.

Hello,
I'm a Doula and have worked with many breastfeeding moms! Breastfeeding can be both easy and hard, but it's an amazing bonding experience between mom and baby. Breastfed babies don't eat anymore than a bottle fed baby, they still need the same amount of ounces per day! With the assistance of a breast pump you can store some of your breastmilk in the freezer and dad,family member or a babysitter can give your baby a bottle. There's wonderful groups out there for help and advice if your looking for some. You can talk to your Doctor, a Lactation Consultant, go to a La Leche League meeting. http://www.breastfeeding.com/helpme/helpme_la_leche.html

The right answer for you and your family will come to you!
~M. C.

It all depends on you and the baby. I've been lucky enough that both of my kids took to breastfeeding without a problem. I find it to be much easier to just pull up my shirt than measure out formula, add water and heat. I think breastfeeding is the easy (and cheap) way to do it. Since my kids have never had formula, I can't speak to the frequency of how much they have to eat. My son ate almost constantly for a while (though he was also born 8,11 and is now almost 19 pounds at 4 months) but the frequency dwindles down. With my first I was more nervous about feeding in public, but get yourself a good nursing cover and you're good! To add one last pro for the pro/con list you're probably making, breastfeeding helps your body get back to where it needs to be sooner. You'll have to hold onto a little extra fat during the duration, but it goes away once you're done nursing. Everything said, I nursed my daughter for 17 months (ackk-going to try to avoid that this time) and my son for his 4 so far and would not consider doing it any other way. Good luck with your decision and getting the second one in the oven!!

It's free-perfect nutrition-and helps boost your child's immune system plus protecting him/her from illness. I felt also that the nursing experience transported us both into a very high place of union and bonding. It does have some down sides: sore nipples, engorged and sometimes infected breasts-but the experience (3 times for me) well outweighed the risks. My daughter even uses the breast milk on scrapes and other infections for her and my grandson. J.

Breastfeeding is a skill, and as such takes a bit to learn. Take a class, buy the LLL book, learn as much as you can.

I breastfed 4 kids a total of 111 months. I loved it. It wasn't always easy (had thrush twice, plugged ducts a few times, mastitis twice) but I got through those times knowing it was THE BEST food I could give them. It did make things easier when we traveled, and I didn't give a hoot what people thought. And it was, relatively speaking, free. I never could have absorbed the cost of formula into my grocery bill.

Additionally, the bond that I felt with my kids was almost instant after birth. Nursing right after birth helps expel the placenta and stop the bleeding, as well as releasing "feel good" hormones.

They don't necessarily eat more often, they eat what they need, and I never had to count ounces, I just fed them until they weren't hungry. The poop never smelled bad and none of them had digestive problems or got sick very often, even when my other kids entered school, the breastfed baby didn't get sick with the germs they brought home. And I agree with the other poster who said she loved waking in the middle of the night, rolling over, feeding, and going back to sleep. I can't fathom having to prepare a bottle at 3 am.

All that said, I say give it a go. Even if it only lasts a few months (typical advice is to give it 3 months to get through the hardest part), at least you know the baby got colostrum (so important for a healthy immune system) and you started them off with the best food and bonding experience possible.

K.,
You've gotten a lot of great answers, I'm sure, but here's my two cents:

Yes, it's hard. It's hard to get them to latch perfectly right away and it takes a good 2 weeks before you really feel like you know what you're doing. The nurses will give you some help in the hospital, but when you're home on your own, you're home on your own. Sometimes you can get a lactation consultant to visit you at home if you're having issues. But honestly, once you get through that first couple of weeks and you and the baby get the hang of things, it's the easiest thing since sliced bread. People say bottle feeding is more convenient, and I suppose when you're out and about it's easier than trying to hide a big boob, but when you're home, it is SO much more convenient to plop down in a comfy chair, whip out your boob, and feed your little darling. With bottles, there are so many more steps!!! Also, consider the cost of formula over the course of one year versus the cost of producing your own milk!

I breast fed both of my kids for one year. Even though my 1 year old was a preemie and in the hospital for 2 weeks following his birth (being fed my breast milk through an NG tube (through his nose and down into his tummy), he still got the hang of breastfeeding and we did it for the whole year!

I would highly suggest a breastfeeding class before your baby is born. We did this with our first, and it was SO informative and helpful. We consulted the brochures they gave us many times after our first was born.

Also, don't forget that they digest breast milk differently from formula, so yes, they do eat much more often when BF. That doesn't mean you're not making enough milk! I can't tell you how many people I know that think they're not producing enough since their baby seems hungry an hour after they eat. Sometimes they take so long to breastfeed, that they're ready for the next round a few minutes later! This is only the case right in the beginning, though, and they do slow down to less feedings per day as time goes on.

As far as going out in public, just invest in a good cover up if you're nervous about whipping it out. I never had luck with blankets. People know what you're doing under there, and no one's going to stop and stare and try to see what's underneath. It's perfectly natural and everyone understands.

Best of luck to you! At the very least, you can give it a try! It is hard at first, but if you stick with it, it gets MUCH easier. And it is SO worth it in the end, both for the bonding you get with your baby, as well as the financial end of things!!

There have been so many answers I couldn't read them all, however decided to put my 2 cents worth in anyway. I breastfeed my daughter until health problems on my end made it necessary to stop and wouldn't trade that time for anything. BF makes mom actually sit down to rest, my daughter was seldom sick for the first 5 yrs of her life which I say BF helped beause she was getting antibotics from me through the milk. I went back to school when she was 6 wks old and when I was feeding her I could do my reading of school books (and highlighting) at the same time. And yes I left my house. Usually I used a blanket as a cover depending on where I was. It was easier for me anyway to leave the house. A couple diapers and toys in my purse and I was off. No it wasn't easy at first and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to do it but so glad I stuck with it. Also was easier in the night with no bottle to fix. Change diaper, feed and go.

The bet of luck to you. I'm sure you'll enjoy as will your child if you do BF.

I have an almost one year old that I breastfed for only 3 months because I ran out of milk. It took a while for my son to latch on and I wasn't sure if he really ever latched on right because my nipples started bleeding and that's when I had to exclusively pumped and I only used a manual pump so my milk ran out.

I think breastfed babies eat more frequent because breastmilk is easier to digest than formula. Breastmilk is for sure better for your baby than formula. I only breastfed for three months and was sort of bummed out because my son and I were just getting the hang of it and I stopped.

Most of the moms I know breastfed outside of their homes. Alot of places like the malls have areas where you can sit and breastfeed.

Give it a try and try not to think too much about it because it is a different experience for every woman.

We are also trying for a second child soon and I will see how long I can do it for this time. I am also thinking of renting an electric pump just in case.

I say at least give it a try. If it doesn't work for you, for whatever reason, then move on. You've gotten some links to some really great resources and I don't feel like there's anything else I can add.

I breastfed my first child for 9 months (he weaned himself) my next three until they were two and now, my fifth, I'm breastfeeding as well (he's 4 months old). Breastfeeding is the best thing you can give your child. My personal opinion is that everyone should breastfeed for the first 6 months, if possible. It's better for baby and for mom as far as the health benefits go. It takes getting used to and it will take practice for the first week or two (or more like it did with my 2nd child...LOL) Mine all demand fed but you can schedule feed. I'm not sure how it is with formula but with the breast, you can feed every 1-3 hours. If you have your feedings closer together during the day, they will eventually sleep longer at night. You can also pump. Pump a head of time and store your milk in the freezer or fridge. I don't pump but I keep my baby with me at all times. It's convenient for me but if it isn't for you, then try pumping. Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!!

Take a breastfeeding class from your hospital or maybe your ob can recommend one- they really help. You will get lots of information. It's true that on some days you feel like a human refrigerator (ALL I EVER DO IS FEED PEOPLE!!!) But that isn't every day. Sure you can leave the house! Invest in a nursing cover. Amazon has really pretty ones. Once you have nursing down, you can nurse anywhere! No bottles to sterilize or formula to prepare. The convenience of breastfeeding really can't be beat. Not to mention the cost just doesn't compare- it's free. That having been said, when my son was about 2 mos, I did get one can of formula a month for sanity. My husband took over a morning feeding on the weekends so I could sleep in-BLISS! So, you don't have to do all or nothing. One other bit of advice from my own experience: Bring a nipple shield to the hospital. For me, starting breastfeeding was excruciating. I was tempted- really tempted- to quit. But my 'bionic nipple' REALLY helped. I hope this helps. If you have any questions or anything, feel free to msg. me. Congrats on your little one.

I used both breast and formula with both of mine, and it worked great for us. I could breast feed when I had time and it gave me that closeness, and when I was out and about, or sleeping, than a bottle of formula could be used.

I breastfeed because I'm lazy! Once you get the hang of it it's so convenient and there are many resources out there, so you don't need to feel confused or isolated if you have questions. I don't like getting up at night so it's easy to feed my son and not turn on any lights or leave the room. Plus, I like that it's good for reducing risks of diabetes and breast cancer as well as many other diseases. With my first son, I was reluctant to "enjoy" it and I felt like it was awkward, but with my second son I've relaxed and allowed it to be natural. Breastfeeding covers are really in style right now too, if you want to be modest and you can find some on etsy.com.

You have a lot to consider, and obviously this is a heated debate. I breastfed my two children, my 1st for 11 months, and my second for 9 months. I am a SAHM, but with my first I did work for several months. From my experience and from talking with other women, there really isn't a cut and dry answer to this. My advice would be to try it and see how it goes. Every woman's body is different, and you might find yourself producing alot of milk, or struggling to keep up with your baby. You might find that your child will nurse every 3-4 hours, giving you a little time to accomplish other tasks, or your child my want to nurse constantly throughout the day or night. If you decide you want to breastfeed, I'd recommend discussing with your dr., and also check to see if there is a breastfeeding class or group locally (la leche league or hospital). I was able to request a visit from a lactation nurse at our local hospital, who also took phone calls at no additional charge while I was nursing. Her advice and tips were priceless, and helped me through challenging times. If you start and decide it's not for you, then all is well also and you can move on. But, I would recommend giving it a try. I loved nursing my babies and felt very close to them while doing so. Good luck!

My advice would be to take a breastfeeding class with your husband. They are usually offered through the hospital or doctor. We went to one and I learned so much, and really decided that I wanted to do this for my child and committed myself to it no matter how hard it may be. I think if you go into it 100% committed you have more of a chance of overcoming challenges that may occur in those first few days/weeks. but the most important part of that class is that my hubby learned it too, because having that understanding support is SO important in those first few months of breastfeeding. I couldn't have done it without him being 100% committed too. Good luck in your decision.