I chose to breast feed my son.  We had a ton of problems and he wasn't gaining any weight, so I had to start supplementing around 2 months old.  My particular bfing experience was horrible!  Every BFing session took 1 1/2 hours and ended with both of us frustrated and in tears.  I pushed thru to 6 months with BFing, but the day he turned 6 months was the last day I nursed him.  I wish we hadn't have had such a hard time.  I was really looking forward to that bond with him. 

I'm now pregnant with baby #2 and I'm looking forward to trying BFing again.  This time I'm armed with a lot more information and experience, plus I have already found a good LC.  Wish me luck!  I'll definately need it!

I  breastfeeding very much!  It has been one of the best parts of my whole birthing/baby experience.

I ewas determined to breastfeed, even tho no one in my family had been successful for at least 3 generation.  So no, I did NOT struggle with the choice.  However I did struggle.  I ended up with the worst mastitis the drs and specialist had ever seen, it was double mastitis and lasted three weeks.  I would still breastfeed my daughter but she wouldn't get much so after she would reefuse the breast I woudl give her suppliment, and then once I did get rid of it, nothing I did, and I mean I tried EVERYTHING, would get my milk supply up.  And at about 4 months my breasts dried up.

I felt like such a failure, but I gave her all I had, and that was all I COULD give her.

I got pregnant right after that, and am due anytime now, and again, the choice to breastfeed is not something I struggle with.  I just hope my bodies works properly this time around.

I breastfeed my daughter.  I say that in the present tense since we are still at it.  She is 13 months old and I have no plans to stop before her 2cd birthday unless she decides she is done.  Of course she does eat solid foods now...but the only milk she gets is mamma milk.

The decision to try was an easy one.  I knew it was the best nutrition my baby could get and that was that.  However, I will say I was NOT prepared for how difficult breastfeeding can be!  I read all the books.  I went to the classes.  I FELT prepared.  But once I had a real live baby trying to suckle... I was NOT prepared. 

First, in the hospital no one made sure baby was taking something every 2-3 hours and due to an emergency c-section I was too drugged up to really realize that she had only eaten TWICE in about 10 hours!  EEK!  By the time the lactation nurse made her rounds baby was HUNGRY!!! So hungry she didn't want to take the breast... we had to force her a bit.  But, she did get on and then I made sure that we ate every 2-3 hours thereafter. 

We were textbook latching.  I was doing everything the way the books said to do it.  Even so, every. single. suck from my baby was excruciating PAIN!  When my milk came in it CAME IN!  I had enough milk to feed a small nation.  I was so engorged it hurt to hold my baby.  My nipples were bleeding.  I was getting no sleep.  And not only was I just in constant pain from the bleeding nipples and the engorged breasts... when  my daughter would nurse I would practically drown her in milk. 

After 7 weeks of this, I finally called a lactation consultant.  I couldn't take anymore.  I felt like my body was never going to adjust to what my daughter was taking and I felt as if I couldn't even go one more day let alone at least 6 months of nursing!  I was getting discouraged.

After a 1 hour session with my angel of mercy our problems were on their way to being solved.  First, we were doing a text book latch.  She said she wished she could video us and show it to her classes.  BUT ... for us, it wasn't working. The shape of my daughters upper palate was creating a weird suctioning thing that was elongating my nipple too much and it was pulling.  So, she helped us find another position and a different approach that worked for us. 

Second, the supply/demand cycle was obviously a little out of whack.  So, she had me pump just enough to relieve pressure.  I wasn't to time it... just do it until I felt like there was SOME relief.  Also, I was to nurse only on 1 side at a time. 

Within a couple of weeks we were golden.  I nursed on 1 side for several months.  Eventually I switched to offering both and that is what we are doing now.

I say all this not to commend myself for sticking with it through all of that... but to say that I honestly believe there just isn't a great deal of support for those who wish to breastfeed.  Many women have very little knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding.  Or they think if they work they can not breastfeed.  NOT TRUE!  There is that old saying 'it takes a village to raise a child'.  Back in the day, there WAS a village.  Today, we are little islands trying to be super mommys.  Yet... it STILL takes that village! 

I think if we would come alongside one another.  Help one another.  Offer support.  Educate one another... then more women would understand why breastfeeding is such a wonderful choice and I do believe more women would choose to breastfeed. 

I don't really have issues one way or the other regarding breastfeeding, but I definitely don't buy into the "breastfed babies score higher on IQ tests" thing. I mean, that could very well be true.. but I don't attribute too much of that to being breast fed. I'm not sure that I would ever breastfeed my kids. And I guess it's because I have an odd view of it to begin with.

My brother and I were both adopted as babies, so we weren't breastfed. (Obviously). We were formula fed, and we were every bit as healthy and smart as a baby who was breastfed. In fact, I graduated valedictorian of my senior class in high school. It's not that I have anything AGAINST breastfeeding.. I believe it's a personal choice.. but I don't believe one is necessarily better than the other.

I probably won't breastfeed my kids, but that's partly because I wasn't breastfed and the whole act of breastfeeding is just so.. awkward.. to me. For example, the first time I ever saw a woman breastfeeding her child, I was 10, at an airport in France, and I was mortified.

But, I'm only 19.. just about to get married.. and could very well change my mind in the years to come. I don't feel it really matters either way, though. If I do plan on breast feeding, I'd be much more comfortable using a pump and then bottles rather than "straight from the tap" as my cousin says.

Again, being adopted, I was never breastfed.. and I turned out perfectly fine.

This is a great post. I agree with you 100%! Breastfeeding was a struggle for me at first too...I think it is with the majority of first time moms...it's something your body and your breasts have to get used to, and even though its natural, it doesn't always come naturally. It is a learning process for both mom and baby. But I am SO thankful for the LC's that I met with, my Doula, and my mother who helped me and taught me all about breastfeeding. It is so valuable what you can learn and the support you get from experienced women about breastfeeding.

I definitely love to encourage other women out there to breastfeed. I tell them to try to stick it out for at least 3 months, and if it is just not working well for you, or something is very wrong physically, then you have other options. I know it took me a good 7 weeks or so to really fall in love with breastfeeding....it's a process! If moms after that time choose not to BF, then at least they gave their baby the best start in life. I'm not saying formula fed babies don't get a great start too, but formula just lacks some of the benefits that breastmilk has. There are just so many benefits to breastfeeding...I hope that more women would realize all of these benefits, find a support system (which is key to being successful), and be able to stick to it! I think if more babies were breastfed, it could help to reduce the occurances of many childhood illnesses.

@babybooties33@xanga - I know I'm not a failure, and I know I really did succeed, but my feeling are what they are.  Ya know?  I planned to breastfeed exclusively til 6 months and then until 18 months or she weened herself, ya know?

I know I have no reason to feel the way I do, but my mind can't convince my heart.  I just hope my body gets it this time.  but my mom's didn't, nor my grandmother, nor her mother!  So we will see!  I have already been more succeessful than any of them ever were so.....we'll see if I can be even MORE successful THIS time!

@ReneeBrowning@xanga - oh yes.  I do know what you mean, completely.  When I was having so many issues and was in so much pain and thinking about quitting ... I too was feeling like a failure.  Our feelings are what they are.  I do hope things go better this next time around.

I was wondering if you have considered meeting with a lactation consultant when you get a little closer to your due date.  You could discuss your previous issues and see if she can offer any advice on maybe how to avoid those problems.  Just trying to think of things that might help ... I'm sure you've done lots and lots of research yourself.

i'm not a mother but i definently plan to breastfeed my baby. for however long he or she wants.

@ReneeBrowning@xanga - as a breastfeeding counselor, may I suggest that you acquire the book "Breastfeeding Made Simple:"  by Nancy Mohrbacher.    The information in there may change how you look at breastfeeding and how to get  started on the right foot.   There are so many breastfeeding books out there etc, but in my opinion, this is one of the best.  Also, check out:   www.ameda.com/latchon for a simple video clip on how to help your baby achieve a good latch.    Wishing you all the best!!!

I feel very strongly about breastfeeding.  EVERYONE should do it.  Unfortunately, today's society views subjects such as this as "taboo."  Yes, BF is a private moment between a mother and a child, and should be kept that way (in my opinion).  I went to church with a moman when I was very young and she just popped her boob out in front of everyone all the time.  I thought it was inappropriate, even if it was 'natural' and to feed her child.  Women should cover themselves when BF in public.  Seeing a woman's bare breast like that can be traumatizing, as a woman above said.

As for me, there was no question that I would BF my daughter.  As soon as she was cleaned off, I was VERY vocal about the fact that she was to be given to me IMMEDIATELY to nurse her.  Within 30 minutes of being born, she was at my breast.  She was completely natural at it.  We had 0 problems.  The only issue we had was when I got home and my milk came in.  I became sooooo engorged, and nothing was coming out.  It was one of the most painful things I've ever been through.  BUT, my nipples were fine through it all.

I used ice packs to help numb the pain, and hot pads to encourage my milk to flow while my daugter was eating.  It only lasted for a few days, and I'm glad I stuck it out.

I started supplementing with formula when I returned to work once she hit 8 weeks.  She has been sick 2 times (she's 7 months now).  Once she was sick b/c she was exposed to another child with Croup.  :(  The second time, she just had a cold and ended up on an antibiotic.

So, I guess, what I'm getting at is that everyone should at least try to breastfeed.  It's an amazing, rewarding, bonding experience.

yay for encouraging breastfeeding!!

It is less expensive too!

I nursed all six of mine and now am encouraging my daughters through the process of nursing their babies. It is not always easy for everyone with every baby but it is worth it!!!