Breast feeding issue?

Question

I have 3 children ages 9,8 and 6. We are trying for my fourth child. I was really young when I had my children. My first one was 3 months premature weighing only 2lbs. I pumped to get the colostrum out and to him. I never have tried breast feeding. My husband wants me to try it. I am on the go all day long. I have 3 other children and I love spicy food. I'm also scared it will hurt because I remeber it hurting when I pumped. I know it is a healthier choice for my baby, but my children are perfectly healthy and they used formula. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

First off, pumping feels nothing like breastfeeding. It's a totally different experience.

Second, breastfed babies are so portable! Nothing to pack or warm up. You can take the baby everywhere and always have food ready.

Third, there are gonna be adjustments for the older kids and there may be things they have to learn to do for themselves or to help out more with. This is good for them! Just be sure they get one-on-one attention too.

Fourth, you can eat anything you want unless you notice that your baby has a specific problem. Don't worry about restricting your diet. I eat Mexican and Italian all the time. I've exclusively nursed all three of my kids with no problems. Just think, in other countries where the diet is mostly spicey, what do those moms eat? Just what they normally do!

Five - if it hurts then you are probably doing something wrong (or baby is doing something wrong) and you need to see a Lactation Consultant or a La Leche League Leader for help. (LLL will help you for FREE and may even be available to visit you at home. Try to get to some meetings before the baby arrives if possible so you know your Leader and can build up a support system.) Think of it this way - the first time you shovel the driveway in the winter or the first time you try a new exercise program, it's uncomfortable! You may be sore and tired from it. But as your body learns it's new job, it's easier and you aren't so uncomfortable from doing it. Nursing is kind of the same way. Discomfort early on as your body learns the new job is normal.....but pain is NOT normal and means you need help.

Answer 2

You have to do what is right for you and will fit the best with your lifestyle. Yes, breastfeeding is a very healthy choice for your baby but only if it doesn't create stress for you and your family. I just had my first baby in May. I elected to breastfeed her. I won't lie, it is a lot of hard work. You will feel like the baby is always attached to your breast and they are in the beginning. Breastfed babies typically eat more frequently (every 2 hours or less in the beginning) than formula fed babies because the breast milk is digested quickly. I don't have any other children and I was able to take a significant amount of time off from work, so I had the time to devote to breastfeeding and make it work. It was painful for me in the beginning, mostly due to sore nipples. Once you and the baby get the hang of it and you establish a good milk supply, it stops hurting. The hospital staff are very willing to help you learn how to do it. I also recommend taking a breastfeeding class before your baby is born. It was very informative. Pumping has not been painful for me. My daughter is now 5 and 1/2 months old and I am still breastfeeding her and using some formula as a supplement. Overall, I have found it to be a great experience for me and my baby.

Answer 3

Its your decision not your husband's. I can understand if you had done it with all your kids or if this was just your first but you shouldnt be pressured into it. Aside from the spicy food that you could quit for a while, you could pump it and feed your baby as you would formula on the go or not.
I breast fed my baby even though I had made up my mind I was not going to I did it for 7 months in the end. It did hurt but only for the first few days..I knew what the ceiling looked like up close cause every time she would latch on, thats about the height I would jump up to.
All boils down to is do not feel guilty if you decide not to do it. Sure its better for your baby than formula but formulas these days are so complete its practically the same thing, minus the pesticides from the fruits and vegetables we eat..
You are a mother and this should be your decision alone.

Answer 4

More than likely you will still be able to eat spicy food and breastfeed, so I wouldn't let that be the determining factor. For the first week or so breastfeeding does hurt, but once you and the baby get the hang of it, it is perfect. Talk with the lactation counsellor at the hospital and they will give you the assistance you need to become adjusted. It is the best decision I ever made. Here are some pros and cons:

Pros
Breastfeeding is nature’s food for babies, and there is nothing better. It is uniquely balanced to suit your baby’s feeding needs at any stage, so as he grows older, its constituents are perfectly suited to his needs. Pre-term babies particularly benefit from this quality
It is much more easily digested than formula milk, and it produces less smelly nappies
Breast milk contains antibodies, which protect the baby from certain germs. Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from gastrointestinal or middle ear problems than their bottle fed counterparts
Breast milk contains certain constituents that help to develop the brain and nervous system
Breastfeeding is the simplest of all infant feeding methods. There is no need to buy it, prepare it, warm it or sterilise it: it’s all there waiting for your baby
Breastfed babies are unlikely to be overfed
It can benefit you, too: the hormones that are stimulated when you are breastfeeding help your uterus to return to its normal size quickly. Research also indicates that breastfeeding can give you some protection against osteoporosis and certain forms of cancer

Cons
Breastfeeding can sometimes be hard to establish. You should get all the help you can in the early days, as this is a skill to be learnt, not an instinct
If a baby is not attached to the breast properly, feeding can become distressing and painful. However, most problems can be remedied by changing the feeding position
Breastfeeding puts all the responsibility of feeding onto you. Many partners would like to share in the feeding, and although once feeding is established the occasional expressed breast milk feed can be given by your partner, in the early days this is not really practical
Some babies prefer not to take a bottle after they have become used to the breast
Some women are embarrassed about breastfeeding and dislike the idea of feeding in front of other people
Some partners dislike the idea of breastfeeding. Your partner’s support and approval is a strong influencing factor for successful breastfeeding

Answer 5

Breast pumps hurt WAY more then breast feeding! Your nipples will be sore at first, but the Dr. can give you stuff to put on them to help. It only lasts a little while anyway. If you have never done it before, I must tell you to try it. It's something I think all mothers should experience. You could breast feed in the morning, then pump during the day, and breast feed at night. I was on the go all the time too, but it's not that hard, it only takes a few min.

Answer 6

I say go for it. At least the first few weeks. You may find that it is easier than you think. I breastfed and I still ate spicy food sometimes. I don't remember that being a problem. I don't think it hurts as much with a baby as it does with a pump. I don't think that being on the go would be that much of a problem if you can take your baby with you. You don't have to worry about heating up the milk. Try it for a few weeks and if it's not for you then you can switch to formula. You'll be glad you tried it and it will make your husband feel good that you took his advice. But if you don't try it, then you won't be able to change your mind after your milk is gone. Good luck with your decision.

Answer 7

I breast fed for six weeks with both of my children. It was also my choice if i wanted to or not. If you are on the go all day long you may want to rethink the thought of breast feeding. Also if you like spicy foods the baby will not do well if you eat them while you are nursing. I know this because with my first son not thinking i ate something that was spicy and i couldn't understand what was going on with his bum. It was all red and sore. I felt so bad because of that. There are also other foods that you cant eat . Foods that will give the baby gas like broccoli and some other vegetables. This is something you and your husband really need to sit down and discuss! And with all of that said...just remember this is YOUR body make sure you remember that.

Answer 8

I think every woman that has a baby should at least try to breast feed their babies. Talk to your doctor about Breast feeding there are way to make it more comfortable. It never bothered me. I have two children I didn't breast feed the first, but I am glad I did with the second child. It is an experience I will always cherish.

http://www.breastfeeding.com/

Yes it is your body; but remember your husband has a part in making the child. It is his child and he probably wants the best for that child. It wouldn't hurt to try to breast feed for at least the first few weeks. Then if you hate it or just can't find the time you can say I tried.

Answer 9

My now 2 year-old son was also born almost 3 months early and weight 2 pounds 15 oz. I pumped for him for the 10 weeks he was in the hospital and the nurses put it into his feeding tube. He went on formula when he came home and he is now comepletely healthy with no delays and has hardly been sick other than a couple of ear infections and minor colds. Don't let people...even your own husband, force you into doing something that you are uncomfortable with. If breastfeeding is not for you your baby will sense it and you will both be miserable. Do what it best for you to keep yourself and your baby happy!

Answer 10

My first child was also premature and I had to pump. For my second child I decided it couldn't hurt to try breastfeeding and at least I can say I've done it. At first I was unsure about how to do it but the nurses in the hospital are very helpful when you tell them you want to try. It isn't as painful as pumping and it is definitely an experience I wouldn't give up especially after what I went through with my son and watching the tube in his throat to feed him. It's so nice to be able to hold them knowing how else they could be eating.