I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

what EXACTLY are the benefits??

im just thinking it is probably easier in the middle of the night to not have to warm up formula, etc.

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

it's supposed to help build the baby's immunity, fosters mother/baby bonding, etc. there's lots of benefits i'm sure, but i think the biggest one is helping with the antibodies so that the child is less likely to get sick.

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

I'm reading the Breastfeeding Book by Martha Sears and heres some of the benefits:

BENEFITS FOR BABY:

Bright Brains- Have IQ scores averaging 7-10 pts higher

Leaner Adult Bodies

Better Hearing and Better Eyes

A Nicer Smile- Pediatric dentists report that breastfed babies have better jaw alignment and are less likely to need orthodontic work

Better breathing- develop a larger nasal space, lessening snoring and sleep apnea later in life

Reduced risk of Diabetes
Immunities
Healthier Skin
BEtter taste


WHATS IN IT FOR MOTHER:

Faster weight loss
faster postpartum recovery
Hormonal Health
Reduced risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers
Less Osteoporosis
Natural Child Spacing
reduced Cost

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

BBenefits of Breastfeeding

Some benefits I've found
-Lose baby weight quickly.
-It's free
-always available at the right temperature
-you don't have to deal with bottles.
-nice bonding experience for mom

Some disadvantages:
-You are the one responsible for feeding the baby, unless you pump & have SO bottle feed.
-Some people find it stressful

In a nutshell, if it's something you are committed to, try it for a few weeks. While it's the most natural thing to do, it does not come naturally. It does take some work in the beginning but if it's something you really want to do, I have no doubts you'll be able to do.

My thinking was to give it a shot & see how it went. Because my son was premature, my body was creating exactly what he needed as a preemie. He needed to be bottlefed until he worked out feeding issues because I could only nurse for a total of 10 minutes before he'd exhaust himself. So I would pump or give him the preemie formula they had. Then he took to nursing fullforce. I did have to supplement at 8 months when I went back to work, but I was able to do it until 11 months.

The other thing was losing weight. It was a huge factor in my decision. The only thing I would caution is when you are nursing, you can eat A LOT & not gain any weight because the baby is sucking a ton of calories from you. When you stop nursing, you need to stop eating like that. I packed on weight very quickly.

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

thanks!!!!!!

i'm going to give it a shot. if it doesnt work out so be it, if it does, great. i also plan on pumping so that BF and other family members can do some feedings.

BF was kind of adamant about me BF... ultimatly its not his decision but it seems to have alot of advantages. and i wont lie, call me shallow, but the weight thing helps my decision alot!

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

The BFing classes are very informative and they can even help you decide. I am all for giving it a try.

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

Another benefit is all the $$ you save from not having to buy formula and all the time you save from not having to wash bottles.

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

Thats also a big factor, its FREE!! You only need a small hand pump really if you are successful bf'ing...so thats minimal $$ outlaid.

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

there are SO many benefits. If you are on the fence, I strongly urge you to at least give it a try

it is an amazing bonding experience

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

Well - at home it is easier b/c you don't need bottles or warming up the milk you can feed on demand. Even if you buy a pump it is still cheaper than buying formula in the long run. There is a belief that your DC will get your antibodies which will protect them and help them from getting sick while you are BFing. I have no idea how much truth there is in that - but that is what they say and I will say that DD was not sick once in the 13 months I BF - she didn't get sick until Oct (I stopped in July). There is some research that shows that BF can reduce your risk of certain cancers like Breast Cancer.

I will say from personal experience there was nothing like (esp since I had a csection) that DD was in the bassinet next to my bed so I could just reach in, feed her, put her back in and go right back to sleep without ever having to get out of bed.

The disadvantage is that unless you are comfortable with BFing in public (which I wasn't) then you either have to - find a quiet place to BF, pump and give bottles of pumped milk when you go out of the house or supplement with formula when you go out. So in that respect it is more difficult in some ways - whereas with formula you just pull out a bottle whenever you need it when you go out.

Etd to add - I forgot also it speeds up your metabolism so you lose the pregnancy weight faster.

Message edited 1/8/2009 8:36:56 AM.

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

Definatly the whole not having to get up out of bed at night and getting a bottle ready is a bonus. But negative is your the one who has to get up at night.. cant have dh do it.

It was great not to have to worry about having clean bottles.

But the BIGGEST BONUS I have to say is the feeling you get.. just looking down at your baby while bfing and knowing your the one supplying for that him/her... its such a warm feeling.

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

I was very against BF with my daughter- it just seemed so bizarre and weird to me, but my DH asked me to try, so I did.

I'm not going to lie - we had a great latch, and even then, the first 3 weeks were difficult and painful. But the payoff is absolutely incredible.

I lost all my pregnancy weight within 10 weeks, and at the same time, passed all my immunities to my daughter, who is just so incredibly healthy, it boggles my mind! That, and BFing is definitely easier. Anytime I wanted to leave the house with her, I would just leave - I wouldn't have to pack a bottle, formula, run around trying to get warm water, etc. If she was hungry, I would just stop somewhere, lift my shirt, and voila.

Definitely makes it easier at night too - instead of fumbling around the kitchen getting a bottle ready while baby is screaming their little head off, you just sit down in a recliner, and sleepily and quietly feed baby.

I bought a pump and started using it at 3 weeks post-partum so DH could help with the feedings too.

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

I am going to give BF the old college try because of the many benefits (saving money, health of baby, my health, bonding, etc.). If it doesn't work out for some reason however, I am not going to beat myself up.

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

It is suppose to built the babies immunity...help in bonding and help you recoup faster from giving birth...

I wasn't able to breastfeed from the start...so my dd was bottlefeed first..so when I tried in the hospital she wouldn't latch on..I decided to pump instead which I did for the first 3 weeks..

It is a personal decision that you would have to make...do what is right for you and your baby...

Good Luck..

Re: I've always planned on NOT Bf, but i think i've had a change of heart

I wanted to try BFing my DD and I did. She did not latch well and I spent the first 2 days in the hospital crying everytime I tried to feed her. So I gave up, but did commit to pumping. I pumped and pumped and pumed some more, even when I didn't want to. I will admit, it was alot of work. Not only did I have the bottles to clean that I was using to feed her, but I had all the pump parts & accessories and milk storage supplies to clean. I did it for 5 months, and had enough milk in the freezer to get me through another month. I stuck to it despite many difficulties because I truly believed I was doing what was best for my DD. The only reason I stopped was because I had to return to work and I work 12.5 hours a night (3 nights a week) and I can't pump while I'm here so I just felt I couldn't continue so I weaned her to formula. This time, I'm really going to try to continue for a year.

I can tell you, when I was weaning her to formula, a few times I thought she was getting a cold and put her back on strictly BM and she never ended up getting sick. Aso, I lost all of my baby weight in a little over 2 months. But what Barb said is right -- be sure you cut back on your eating after you stop BFing or you will just put the weight right back on again!