how long should/did you breastfeed for?

[fifi folle]

that's fab!

[PlainQB]

My little one's two months old and I'm still exculsively breast feeding and not expressing into a bottle. I'm starting to come accross pressesure to start either expressing and using a bottle or supplementing with formula. I don't want to use formula as I have pleanty of milk myself and I don't want to use a bottle as I don't want the expense of buying bottles, pumps etc. or the hassle of sterilising. It's two GPs and one relative who are putting pressure on me to do this. I'm also coming accross lots of advice in books. The thing is, I also have a wonderfully supportive husband so we're working well with the night feeds and not getting too tired. I never expected this, especially as breast feeding is a stomping success for both me and my baby who is putting on weight really well.

[sammyh]

I know a lot of people who had real pressure to bottle feed, with no real reason to. Little H was fab at breast feeding then I had to give it up as I had to go on a course of treatment which meant I had to give up. It was heart braking and I hated all the fuss with cleaning and sterilising.

As a child minder I would put in a plea to mums who know they are going back to work, to get their babies settled on a bottle with expressed milk or formula, I have 2 friends struggling with babies who won't feed from bottles- not good. But hopefully all you ishy mums are staying at home for at least the first year!

Sam

[chickenchargrill]

Contented mum, contented baby. Simple as that. We all know breast milk is best for baby, but if it doesn't work for someone that's fine. There should be more support either way, and more attention drawn to breast milk donors.

My youngest, I only breastfed exclusively for a matter of weeks. He was/is a big boy with a big appetite and I only have use of one breast - had a lump form after getting mastitis with number 2, which I had to have removed along with the milk ducts. Midwives were amazing about it, GP was amazing too. Health visitor pretty much bit my head off about topping up his feed so I could actually go and do something.

[fifi folle]

Ah the joys of health visitors! I had fought for 10 days to get my son on the boob and only managed to get him on with a nipple shield and the HV decided to tell me how awful shields are and my milk would dry up!!!

QB why are your GPs pushing bottles?

[JuzaMum]

I have found doctors are not pro breastfeeding and don't see it as the norm. I broke my foot when my daughter was 8 weeks old and was in A&E with her on my lap. When I saw the doctor he offered me some strong painkillers as it was very painfull - I told him I was breastfeeding then he said I couldn't have them . Obviously he assumed I bottle feed.
When my youngest son was 10 months old I needed antibiotics for a post operative infection. The emergency doctor seemed to think it was very inconvenient to have to look up breastfeeding safe antibiotics and made a big deal of going through his Mims.
My GP suggested I should stop breastfeeding if I wanted to concieve again - have concieved twice whilst breastfeeding!
Anyway when I am breastfeeding I can sit down and go on the internet

JuzaMum

[sammyh]

Juzamum, that's funny!!!
Breastfeeding is one of those crazy things that a lot of people get very opoiniated about when I do feel women should be supported either way. I had a really militant friend tell me I should delay my treatment to breast feed- considering I had H induced to start the treatment it was a bit crazy. I kinda decided it was better to have me around and H bottle-fed! The mad thing for me was those 9 /10 days I had were really easy, ONCE I HAD REALLY GOOD MIDWIFE support. Most of my friends had huge problems breast feeding, we just don't seem to get it right in london.
I do think it is a lovely sight to see breast feeding in public, I have to stop myself from staring but out of love and respect! It still seems unusual.

Sam