Breastfeeing question...?

Question

I am pregnant with my second child and did not breastfeed my first child. I am trying to decide if I want to do it or not this time. I will be returning to work around eight weeks or so after she is born and also am a bit uncomfortable with trying it. Why should I or should I not breastfeed?

Answer 1

Why return to when when you've just been blessed with a beautiful baby?

I agree with the others. Why not adjust your lifestyle to stay at home with your children and get by on one income. Your kids need you!

Your life will be too hectic trying to care for a house, 2 children, hold down a job and pump at work. All the equipment you have to haul around....freezing milk....etc. It wastes time and money. Then you have to hire a nanny or someone to watch the baby and give them the breastmilk you've been storing. It's really a pain. I would not try to do both.

Breastfeeding would be a lot easier if you were a full-time mother and could relax at home. It's cheaper than formula and helps you bond with baby. I envy women who do it successfully - I've always had nursing problems (infections, etc.) but I still try with every baby.

Answer 2

This is my first pregnancy, and I am pondering the same question. I will be staying home with the baby, so I am leaning more towards breastfeeding. Everyone knows that milk from the mother is the best in every way versus formula milk. You can read about studies where they challenge a mother's milk versus formula milk and a mother's milk blows formula out of the water. Breastfeeding you will have to feed more frequently, and you will have to pump milk for when you are away. You won't have to pay for formula. Breastfeeding you will not know how much the baby is getting unless you pump and measure. Formula can let just about anyone feed the baby. If you choose to breast feed, then you will just be pumping a lot since you are returning to work. It's just what's gonna work better for your situation. I do think that if I were returning to work then I would succumb to formula feeding, but more power to you if you do breastfeed (which is obviously the healthier choice). Ahhh, anyway, good luck!

Answer 3

Breast milk is healthier for your child. It builds their immunity. It will also help your uterus to shrink back to it's regular size. Plus it is so much easier to breastfeed in the middle of the night than to have to go in the other room and get the bottle. If you are breastfeeding you can just bring the baby into bed with you and lay there and doze while they are feeding. I kept both of my kids in a bassinet next to my bed and it was so much nicer not to have to really get up when they woke during the night. I have two children. My oldest I was only able to breastfeed for 7 weeks. My youngest I breastfed for 14 months. My younger child has always been healthier than my oldest. You should definitely give it a try. At least for the first few weeks. It is recommended that you breastfeed for the first year, but even just the first few days when all you produce is colostrum is better for your baby than not doing it at all.

Answer 4

I breast fed my daughter for the first 9.5 weeks of her life and in my opinion it has done her the world of good. She has not had any ear infections, only one bad cold around christmas. no cough's, no chest infections. Only the one single problem which turned out to be a 24 hour stomach bug. Whereas my sister did not breast feed her son and he has had about 8 antibotics in the first year, and he is only 5 weeks younger than my daughter. the only reason I gave up breast feeding was because I got mastitis and I decided to let it dry up and get daddy to help with the night feeds

All the best, Don't fret over it too much just do what feels right to you and your baby :)

congrats btw

also with regards to preparing your nipples there is a tube of stuff called Lanisoh which is a bit like petroleum jelly and it is avisable to use before you have the baby at least 3 times a weeks and then use it after each feed along with some breast milk. You simply masage it into the breast.

another reason for breast feeding a baby is the benefit it has for you. It can help reduce the risks of breast and cervical cancer and also osteoporosis

Answer 5

Well, if oyu do decide to breastfed, Be Prepared! Go into this armed with all of the information you can get your hands on.

Take a class and make your partner go, too. You'll need his support as breastfeeding, while wonderful, is also extremely time consuming for a few months int he beginning. You'll need his help.

Once piece of advice: When your baby is born, breastfeed her as soon as you get your hands on her. And even if
the nursery at the hospital offers to let you sleep through the night, tell then NO BOTTLES, bring my baby to me when she is hungry. Get her on the boob early and often. no bottles.

Good luck-it's really a wonderful thing...my nipples were sore for a couple weeks there, and I had 3 plugged milk ducts in a year, but overall, it was easy, cheap, and incredible bonding.

Having said ALL that, I did not breastfeed my first little girl because I wasn't prepared!! I got the WORST piece of advice from the nurse...she said, "that first night you have the baby, you need to sleep, let the nursery keep her". Well, by the time I got my wee bird in my arms again,. she didn't want to breastfeed. I tried after but really? My lack of preparation (and committment, too, I think) had already failed me. Wee bird was on stinky, expensive, messy formula shortly thereafter).

Answer 6

Even if you only breast feed for the 8 wks you are home it will benefit your baby. When you breast feed you give your baby all the immunities you have already built up in your body at the time. Babies were made to drink breast milk. Some mothers can't breast feed for some reason and should not feel guilty if they can't. Breast feeding is a way to connect with your baby and to bond. Breast milk is naturally made for the baby to process it without all the additives and stuff they put in formula. Your body will naturally keep up with how much or how little your baby drinks/eats. One of the best things aside from a healthier baby is that you burn around 800 calories a day from breast feeding alone. Our nurse told us this.
If you are concerned about the going back to work part a week or so before you go back start switching to a bottle gradually. Get a breast pump and pump your milk for while your at work so the sitter or hubby or who is watching the baby can feed your baby all those nutrients he/she needs. Then feed via breast when home or just stick with pumping and bottle. When our baby girl is born on Oct 4th (or before, when she is ready) we are going to do both, breast feeding and pumping. This way my husband can be involved in feeding her and bond with her too.
With my 12 yr old i was only able to breast feed for the first 3 months because i just could not physically keep up with him. He was literally eating every hour and i was just exhausted all the time. The pumps they had back then did not work very good and i gave up on pumping and gave him formula which stayed with him longer. The doctor suggested mixing a bit of baby cereal in with the formula so it would stay with him for a few hours before being hungry again. He was 10 lbs 10.5 oz when born.
Good luck in your choice.

Answer 7

First off -it's a LOT CHEAPER!!!! (-NOT that that should be your MAIN concern.....) It's also a LOT EASIER!!!!! And most importantly, HEALTHIER!!!!!!!
If you did NOT "breast-feed" your first child, I'm sure you remember the "bottles"....."have to 'make' the bottles"..... pain in the butt!!!! Think about this -3 AM, screaming baby.... just 'pop your boob in' and that's IT!!!! Woo hooo!!! EASY!!!!-That is , if you don't mind 'bigger bras' and a little 'leaking'('spraying'?) here and there....!
And think; which would you rather "lug around"? A bagful of bottles AND formula AND water that has to MADE the 'right' temperature, then MIXED....... or a few 'bra-pads' and a blanket(to "cover" yourself with...)
Yeah, I've had some embarrassing moments, like being on the subway, FINALLY being 'able' to wear a 'little' tank-top again, when 'SSSSPPRRAAAAYYYYY'.....oops...had to 'borrow' 'Daddy's' shirt......oh well!!!! The fact that we weren't spending all our money on "formula" left us money to go to a concert! (Ergo, the 'subway incident'....)
And YES, you CAN "go out"; you can "bottle" "breast milk" and 'store' it...! Even if you "go back to work" you can still "breast-feed"; buy a "breast pump" and you're 'good to go'...!!!
I "breast fed" my first baby and due to circumstances wasn't able to "breast feed" my others....if I had a choice though, I WOULD have "breast fed" them all!!! Apart from some 'discomfort'(who am I kidding -a fair bit of discomfort), it really IS the 'way to go'!!! It's FAR MORE HEALTHY for the BABY AND YOU!!!! "They"(boobs) were put there for a reason after all...!!!
Congrats & happy feeding!!! ;)

Answer 8

You've already been given all the pro's and con's inregards to breastfeeding, only one person mentioned though the benefits to you. Your uterus will shrink back a lot quicker, you do get pains, similar to a period like pain while it's happening but believe me, you'll be more back to pre-preg body a lot quicker and who doesn't want that! lol

I had my first child when I was 16 (if anyone wants to have a go at me then do it through email, not here, it's not appropriate) and as I'm sure you can imagine the thought of hanging out my boobs in public was more than a little frightening. Plus we shared a house with a guy a couple of years older than me and when I got home I always got the feeling he was trying to get a gander. I used to turn my lounge chair the other way so he couldn't see or my husband would kick him out the room. lol By the time my little baby girl was about 2-3 months I couldn't care less who was around. Feeding is natural and normal and nothing to be ashamed off. I know this can often be a concern to some Mum's and fair enough too. I had a flame war with one guy who said women shouldn't be allowed to feed in public places like restaurants, cafe's etc. Rubbish, you feed where you want when you want and that's all there is too it. So if that is one of your concerns don't let it be. You will get used it, believe me. It's also a whole ton easier going out. A change or two of clothes, some nappies and whatnot and away you go. No worries about bottles and whether you'll be able to warm them and whatnot. The milk is already pre-prepared and at the right temp. No need to pop them in the microwave or in a pot of boiling water. =) lol

As for problems you may encounter. Been there done that too. With my second, I got a severe case of mastitis (blocked milk ducts) along with thrush on my nipples at the same time. I had to hold a towel between my teeth to prevent myself screaming. I ended up back in the hospital for a week having intravenous anti-biotics and my boob's massaged ever four hours or so for the first 4 days to get the lumps out and I had to pump until the thrush cleared up. Still persevered though because I knew and know that nothing in this world beats breastfeeding. I had photo's taken of my thrushed nipples so they could be posted in the nursery for other mother's to see what to look for it was that bad! lol So if anyone reading happened to be in the Women's and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, South Australia around '96 and saw a photo of a pair on the wall, say hello to the owner. =) lmao

Either way, the choice is ultimately yours but I've got to agree with most of the posters here and say why not just stay at home a while longer, another couple of months or so, enjoy the new one while you can and relish that experience of providing her with something nobody else can, something will help her throughout the rest of her life. It's a closeness like no other.

Good luck to you and your little girl and whatever decision you make will be the right one for the both of you, your a Mum, nobody but you knows what is best for your babies.

Answer 9

Obviously, the medical evidence is there that breast feeding supports the immune system, healthy growth, etc. It's just hands down better for baby, and no one can argue otherwise. (well, they'll try).

If you're uncomfortable doing it, or have difficulty and want to give up, i strongly urge you to try pumping for around 6 weeks, and then taper off and either switch to formula, or pump and formula, since you have to go back to work. Baby will be much healthier for it, and you dont have to do the "breast feeding in public" thing. I pumped and used the little coolers with freezer packs whenever we went somehwere, so baby could just have a bottle. I ran it under warm water for a few minutes to warm it up, and gave it to her. No embarassment/discomfort at all, and she still got the great nutrition. It also saves $$ and helps you lose the pregnancy weight.

Answer 10

You should try it if you want to and if you don't then don't. You are the only one who can decide if it is right for you. You already know the reasons to breastfeed so no one really needs to tell them to you. The reasons not are very personal and only you can decide. Remember if you are going to breast feed and work you will have to pump and from what I have noticed... that is a pain.. But that is just how I feel about it