Breastfeed or Not to....?

Question

I am going crazy here im 37 weeks and 5 days and I can't decide which i rather do... want to breastfeed but only for a month or two. For her to get all the important enzymes and ect. But if I do that it would be pump and feed in day and boob before bed time and during night. Then I hope to turn her over to formulla after 2 months. My point is this healthy? would it be o'kay and what can I do when my breast swell w/ milk.. I can't find any breastmilk donation centers here in ohio. Will a medication be able to stop it? Help

I'm not single... This is my first child and I am new to the whole mothering deal... Haven't knwon anyone who breast fed.. just curious.. I work and I go to college fulltime.. I support myself.. I don't need any1 to support my child and certainly not the goverment. I simply dont want to have a 1 yr. old still whinning for the boob and I figured it would be easier if I only fed at night to wen her off. I just wondered if after 2 months is it hea;thy to switch to formula, and how to stop producing and did any1 know of any b/f donation clinics in ohio.. so after i quit i can donate,.

Answer 1

I would definitely recommend breast feeding. At least give it a try. Trust me, you don't have to have a "plan" of when, how long or how to do it. The whole motherhood thing can be a bit scary and overwhelming the first time around. You will know when it's the right time to feed, wean, and switch to formula. You may be surprised to know that your baby may wean him/herself before you are ready. lol I recommend using a bottle as little as possible until you are ready to wean. Bottles are much easier to suck and less work for the infant. Your child may refuse the breast and opt for the easy route. Don't stress about it, talk to your doctor and just do what comes naturally and what feels right for you and your child! You're off to a good start already in my opinion because you are considering the health of your child and the options you have in front of you! Good luck!

Answer 2

I breastfed for about 2 and a half months, and my son is perfectly fine. I agree, I think they really need the mothers milk at first, but couldn't do it when I went back to work. Once you stop breast feeding during the day, your boobs will swell (and you will NEED nursing pads) and you can either pump and dump... or just deal with the pain. Eventually your body will only make milk when the baby needs it. For example if you only breast feed at a certain time of night, then after about a week maybe 2 weeks, your body only makes the milk at that time.
No medication doesn't stop it... Although birth control slows it down greatly, low hormone or not...

Answer 3

I'm not sure where you have gotten your info about breasfeeding but I think you've got some misunderstandings about it. You can breastfeed for as long or as short a time as you choose and the best thing you can do for your baby is breastfeed, if you can. You can stop at any time. When you give birth, your breasts will be ready for your baby to nurse. If you choose not to nurse, your breasts will slowly lose their milk supply and that will be that.The same thing will ahppen when ever you choose to stop breastfeeding. If you breastfeed your baby for a couple of months (which would be great, you will be giving him all those immunities and enzymes that are very healthy for him) you can choose to stop then and let the milk suppy decrease from your breasts (simply by stopping to feed the baby) just as you would have done even if you had never breast fed. Your baby will still be young and will probably have no issue at all going to formula. Even if you choose to breastfeed (and you don't need to decide beforehand, you can just "try") for a really short time (like 2 days) and you find you don't like it, you can switch to formula. The baby will actually have gotten very important nutrients just in those first few times of being breast fed.

Answer 4

You should really go here
http://www.lllohio.org/
and find a meeting close to you. La Leche league is a group that is made of moms who are trained in the ins and outs of breastfeeding, and they can talk to you personally about what you need.

When you breastfeed, the first six weeks are the hardest, because your supply is building and then settling. Pumping makes it more difficult because it cannot match up to the demand that your baby has, it often takes two or three months to get that balanced and settled. It would be technically okay, but it would be healthier to nurse for six months. And by then you would be quitting. Why would you want to nurse for only two months (with six months as what is recommended as a minimum because of the perfect ratio of fat to protein) and then donate your milk to someone else?

I guess I'm confused about that. I think it's great if you do want to donate, but it is complicated, for the one my friend looked into, you start with blood testing, you can't take very many kinds of medication, caffeine is very limited. you have to save the milk in special containers, until you have a certain amount, send it all in together in special mail packaging. There are six milk banks in the US, I don't know if the NC one or the CO one is closer to you.

Answer 5

It's wonderful that you've made the decision to breastfeed your daughter for at least the first couple of months. She will benefit greatly from that. Breast milk is obviously the ideal nutrition for a baby and I am a mother who is still breastfeeding her 16 month old son ~ so I am all for it. But I myself wasn't breastfed and am pretty healthy, so I'm sure your daughter would be fine. It sounds like you have a lot on your plate with work and school.

What I would recommend would be to buy a Medela pump (backpack style) and pump when you're away from her at least once a day (beyond 2 months, if you can stick it out) and nurse her at night. You can always give her BOTH breast milk and formula instead of weaning. You will be sooooo glad to still be able to breastfeed when she's older. It helps to soothe, get them to sleep, etc.

I work part-time and go to school full-time so I understand how busy you must be. I also considered weaning early but after going to La Leche league meetings I decided to continue. Breastfed babies are sick less often, and when they are sick it usually doesn't last as long and isn't as bad -- which = less time missed from school and work. I have friends who have to miss work often because their kids are sick and the daycare won't take them. Just a thought.

Best wishes.!

Answer 6

Breastfeed for as long as possible. I know it's the easier thing to do to quit - but it makes life so much easier, believe it or not. Baby is sick less often and you have an easy way to get her down for the evening. I breastfed my first for 4 months and supplemented with formula. She had quite a few ear infections and colds her first year. My second I breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months after the doctor recommended it (and worked full time) and she was NEVER sick until I weaned her at 7 months. Just wean gradually and try to do it as long as you can. If you wean gradually your breasts won't hurt. They'll just slowly decrease their supply until you no longer produce milk. Stopping abruptly isn't good for baby or your breasts.

Answer 7

LOL... you sound just like me when I was pregnant. It's not such a big deal. Yes, it IS healthier for you to breastfeed, although it's not life threatening if you don't do it for 12 years. Most hospitals offer classes about it, check into it. If you are really not sure, then prepare yourself to do it, and see how it goes. If you decide to stop, then start weening. I pretty much got scared of if, and didn't try at all. Now he's 2, (in perfect health) and I kind of wish I did knowing he's going to be my only child. It can't hurt to try, and it's what's best for her. If you decide not too, then make sure you're ready for the comments, cause you'll get them. Good luck and congrats!

Answer 8

There is a tea called "no more milk tea" that you can buy from Earth Mama Angel Baby. I think they sell it at kidbean.com

But you should definitely breastfeed that little one! As long as possible. You're investing in her LIFELONG health. It's such a short time. 6 months isn't that big of a deal. I managed to breastfeed beyond a year while working and going to school, and teaching yoga!

Answer 9

Breastfeeding has proven for millenniums to raise healthy babies, whereas the artificial stuff has been around for much less time.

Second, the alternative nutrition is mass produced by corporations who can/have jeopardize the well-being of nature/humans. Therefore, it is an excepted practice to cut cost, corners by providing second grade and not so beneficial ingredients.

I say, let the bugger suck away :)

Answer 10

It's good that you're planning on trying. I think breast is best, but I'm biased... never formula fed. I think it's the best gift you can give your baby. It would be MUCH better for your little one if you made the commitment to breastfeed to at least 6 months, exclusively. It will help to make her smarter, leaner as an adult, her jaw alignment better (less risk for braces and crooked teeth!), she'll smell better, her skin will be softer... she'll get less colds, less intestinal problems, etc. And you'll reduce her risk of childhood cancer and even breast cancer as an adult! Just remember the first few weeks can be tough... but after that... smooth sailing.