Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

I would love to BF if i can. I am very self concious about my body due to some traumatic events in the past. I would definately love to give it my all but when i go back to work i dont know what i am going to do. I am a nurse manager on a unit and not sure how it would look for me to lock my self away to pump. I do allow my employees to to do it but i am afraid i will lose my sense of control while im off the floor. I would love to pump exclusively if possible because i know this is one task DH really wants to be a part of. My mom and MIL both said they never had success in BFing so i feel like im set up for failure as well. This is a great topic considering it is one of those things i think about constantly.

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

I WAS on the fence. DH and I took a BFing class and now I am off the fence. I will give a whole-hearted effort to BF Ed-lie. When she hits 2-3 weeks, I will start pumping so DH or anyone else can feed her as well. I think iti s VERY important for him to be able to feed her as well. I do recognize that if I am going to feed her, it is better that it come from the breast (for her sake). This is the decision that DH and I made together at the class with information from the lactation consultant and we feel it is best for us. We were not pushed at all and will give a hearty mouthful of words to anyone who challenges us - and trust me, they already have started.

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

I think if you are on the fence, you should at least try...this way, there will be no regrets....the first few weeks are the hardest

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

with DD #1- i was pretty sure i was FF- i tried to BF when we got home from the hospital and she didnt take. I gave up very easily.
DS#2- i was open to it, i stuck with it in the hospital and when we got home, but he was a little jaundice and sleeping ALOT so the Ped told me to give him a little formula- so i did. My boobs were KILLING me, cracked bleeding, i cried in pain- so i stopped after 2 weeks with HUGE guilt.
with this one- im going to try again, i know what im in for. but i also will have a 17 month old and an 8 year old, so i wont have as much time/energy(or atleast thats how i feel now). Nontheless, i will try and as long as it doesnt interfere with everything else i have going on, ill do it until i go back to work.

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

I wish I could say I was at least on the fence.
I have no desire to do it whatsover- never have- and I thought once I was pregnant my mind would change.. nope.

I still can't even stomach the thought....

I feel bad about that- but it's a personal decision...

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

It's not that I'm on the fence about it--I definitely PLAN to breastfeed--but I wonder how it's going to work out when I go back to work ( will be 3 mos. old).

I'm a teacher, and I only get one prep period per day. It's 35 minutes long. Not only that, we don't have a faculty room (don't ask--we all eat in our classrooms...very weird) and only ONE bathroom for about 16 classrooms.

Luckily, it's district policy that we must keep our classroom doors locked at all times. So I'm thinking that if I just tell admin. not to come into my classrooms during my prep time, I can probably just put the black paper over the window in my door and pump in my classroom.

Very awkward--I also don't know how well it'll work out because I really do need that time to get things ready...

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

I am on the fence about it. One day I say I'm going to and the next I say i am not.
But, I think I am just going to at least try and see how it goes.

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

I'm totally on the fence and this is #3.

DD never latched
DS latched but had such gas issues that I only did it for 2 months. It was very hard for me to be the primary food source and take care of DD too.

I want that bond and to provide the best for DD#2, but I'm worried about the emotional stress it may cause.

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

me!! i'm on the fence too krista and its really starting to get to me. EVERYONE keeps telling me I should, but I really dont think I want to. More because Johnny is set to deploy a few days/weeks after my due date (if he's even here at all) and I feel like ANYTHING he can do, he should be doing and if I BF, thats taking a huge thing away from him. Ugh..... can't stand it.

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

I'm going to give it my best try. I will also supplement with formula as well. This is what my sister did with all three of her children. I'm not sure if I will BF for a year though. I plan on about 3-6 months. We will see when the baby comes.
I have to say, I'm not 100% excited about it though.

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

I had a lot of trouble breast-feeding my DD. I didn't produce enough milk, she had a shallow latch and it really hurt. We worked so hard on it but she still needed to supplement with formula. I plan on doing the same thing this time- try full-time breast feeding, supplement if necessary and try to keep going as long as I can. My DD breast fed until 6 months and weaned herself.

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

Message edited 8/6/2008 8:31:55 PM.

Re: BF'ing...who is on the fence??

Hi,
This is my first post & a topic I have approached alot. I BF my ds who is now 29 months for 14 months. It is HARD and don't let anyone tell you different. But with time it gets better. I had a friend who when I was still pregnant with DS told me to expect to walk around for the first 2 months with no shirt on & that you would feel like all you do is feed the baby. If you get that idea in your head then any time not spent feeding is a blessing.

BFing makes you take a time to yourself & this beautiful new life that you brought into this world. It has many benefits and like all good things come with work.

I hope this helps those who are not sure what it will be like in the beginning. I promise you it gets better. I was able to pump, BF exclusively the whole time, and go to school after the first 9 weeks. Everyones DH can help it will just take some time till your milk supply comes in completely which is at about 8 weeks then give those DH's a bottle of EBM and take a nap while they feed the little ones.