fear of breastfeeding?

Question

im almost 37 weeks and am planning on breastfeeding...but i have a fear of it. I want to do it, i know breastmilk is best and thats why i am going to do it im just unsure of myself. I guess its becuase i would feel awkward "exposing" myself. Is this just a natural fear and it goes away? or did anyone else have this problem?

Answer 1

well i think its normal to be a bit afraid but just take your time and try. and fear should go away for after a while you will become acustom to it. people adapt to their surroundings and situations its ok to be a little scared when something new happens just don't let the fear control you. you have to think first for your child. and if you find yourself unable to breast feed then i would suggest using a pump which you should be able to find at your local wal*mart they sell breast pumps and then you can put it in a bottle to attemp to feed him that way. it is an alternative and may help if you find you cannot handle the breast feeding part. but its very natural i assure you. being a little scared and worried i completely understandable just take your time and try to stay calm and your maternal instincts will kick in. although i am not a woman or mother or father to a child i do know that when put in a new situation people tend to worry and get afraid. but just try to look at the good in it and how beautiful and natural it is.

Answer 2

It's fear of the unknown. It's very natural though so take a deep breath and relax. Don't be fooled, it's hard at first. If you stick with it for more that a couple of weeks it gets easier and easier. If you have to breastfeed in public, put a light blanket over your shoulder and the baby. Start doing that when the baby is really little. I never did that until my babies were older and then they would pull the blanket off. I nursed all of my children, and I'm still nursing my third. Good luck to you. It's one of the most special experiences as long as you stick with it. Don't doubt your milk supply or yourself. If you need help, get it from a lactation consultant. Remember, our bodies were made to do this and breast milk is supply and demand. The more you nurse in the beginning, the better your supply will be. Get the book, "A Nursing Mother's Companion" by Kathleen Huggins. It's a great book and will prepare you. I wish you well.

Answer 3

I really thought breastfeeding would be weird and uncomfortable, but knowing it was the best thing for the baby I wanted to give it a try. I took a breastfeeding class to learn all I could about it and make an informed choice. Once the baby comes you can decide one way or the other. I ended up breastfeeding and it was not at all what I thought it would be. It was a wonderful experience and I intend to do it with my second.

At the end of the day, it's your decision. Don't let anyone tell you, you have to do it one way or the other!

Good Luck and Congratulations!

Answer 4

The first time I *had* to feed my desperate, wailing, starving baby in public, I spent the entire feeding in tears, thinking everyone was staring at me. That was four years ago, though, and I managed to get over my hatred of "exposing" myself by questioning the ideals that made me not blink at seeing exposed breasts in media but being ashamed of feeding a child!

It's true that there are precious few private places to breastfeed (don't use a bathroom!) and it's true that people are going to say hurtful things - just wait until you have a baby on each side (twins). I would call it a natural fear, but it's worth exploring other culture's ideas of breastfeeding: it can be enlightening.

Practice at home until you can latch the baby on without being noticed. Use a sling as a carrier: they're great boob hiders. And learn to ignore the idiots around you: you'll do fine.

Answer 5

I had this problem. I had saggy boobs before I even got pregnant, so....anyway I was very self conscious. But I found, especially at first, you are mostly at home and pretty private. Which is good for adjusting and getting the hang of the whole nursing thing! I do see women whip it out at the store and in restaurants but i always went to a restroom and/or covered myself. Also I found with my last child if you carry them in a sling it is much more discreet to nurse them in it. You can snuggle them down in the sling and drape a blanket and ppl just think the baby is asleep.
Good Luck!!!

As an edit, I just read Nancy and she is absolutely right! If you don't feel comfortable with the breastfeeding your baby will be perfectly fine with formula. Often when we were in public, I would give a bottle of formula instead of nursing (since I had trouble pumping).

Answer 6

Breast feeding is the BEST choice... congratulations!! You don't need to worry about exposing yourself. You can go sit in your bedroom and nurse the baby while you're at home. If you need to nurse while you're out, you can just throw a receiving blanket over your shoulder and lift your shirt from the bottom on just that one side. When your baby is done nursing on one side, pull your shirt down at the same time you take your baby away from your breast, give him (or her) a burp and offer the other breast the same way. It will take some practice, but you'll get the hang of it very quickly I'm sure. I nursed my babies whenever and wherever they needed it. My couch was the easiest place for me. I sat cross legged with a pillow on my lap for extra support. The baby's head will cover most of the breast, too. When you check into the hospital, make sure to tell them that you are planning on breast feeding (if you haven't already) and they can send in a lactation specialist. She can help you make sure your baby is latching on properly and help you cover up quickly and easily. Congratulations, good luck and God bless :o)

Answer 7

That's completely natural feeling and one that I felt too, until I actually had the baby....trust me, you lose all fears of exposure once you're in a room of ten people all focused on your most private of parts.
At the beginning you're going to want the nurses to help you and encourage you and give you confidence with breast feeding, because it the hardest thing to do (yes even harder than the birth) It takes a lot of patience, sweat and tears and it'll be the BEST thing you can do for both you and your baby.
If exposing yourself is the only fear than you're way ahead of the game! There's blankets and capes that you can use while nursing, but at the beginning you'll be glad of people telling you you're doing it right!
Good luck and congrats!

Answer 8

It's amazing how quickly your idea of "modesty" changes after you deliver a baby. Maybe it's because you have tons of people in a room looking at your most private bits. Or maybe it's just because your baby is hungry and needs you and only you can stop the fussing. But I found that I got over my fears of exposing myself almost immediately.

Besides, if your baby is latched on properly, his/her head will cover just about everything except for the few seconds when you're putting him/her to the breast, or taking him/her off. Nursing goes better, generally, in a quiet place, so you'll find corners in which to sit and nurse. You'll also find that wearing button-down shirts and unbuttoning them from the bottom provides extra coverage; so do specially designed nursing shirts. And you can always throw a blanket over your shoulder if you're really feeling like you need to cover up.

Good luck.

Answer 9

Unfortunately I never had great luck with breastfeeding as I never made enough milk but it is the most natural thing in the world. You can do it discreetly without exposing yourself. Make sure you keep a receiving blanket with you at all times and there are even shirts that are made for breastfeeding moms. I wish you the best of luck. Nothing to be afraid of.


http://www.weeklypregnancycalendarandstretchmarktreatment.com/breast%20feeding%20tops.shtml

Answer 10

im 37 weeks too...also planning to breastfeed for several reasons. 1. its cheap! 2. its easy, no searching for sterile water for formula while youre out shopping, or lugging around bottles etc. 3. what a great way to bond with baby 4. its supposed to be "best" for baby, with regards to health. However, I like you am also afraid. I am not the hippie, mother of the earth type at all, in fact quite the opposite. This is what I always thought breastfeeding moms defined themselves as prior to becoming pregnant. I am also pretty conservative with my body, and always feel pretty awkward when I see other women just whip out their breast for baby to feed....im just hoping I get over these fears. i do think they are normal, looks like we are in the same boat!