Breast is best my dears! (Breastfeeding in General)

Member Name: Claribella

Product:	Breastfeeding in General
Date:	04/11/08 (63 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Free available anytime and such an amazing bonding experience

Disadvantages: Have to express if you want to leave the baby

When I found out I was pregnant I knew that I wanted to really have a crack at breastfeeding. Not only was it best for your baby but apparently one of the advantages for mum was the fact that you burned 500 calories a day.

So after 9 months of sciatica, sickness and feeling like a beached whale, along came my first born who I instantly fell in love with. When he popped out he took to the breast straight away and I loved hearing him guzzle away. I stayed in hospital for an extra night to make sure we were getting the 'latch' right but the staff were so overun that they didnt have time for me. Once we got home my midwife was amazing and really got us on track because by this time my nipples were so cracked and sore I would wince everytime I attached my son.
We overcame the early stages and I ended up feeding him until he was 17months at which time he self-weaned because my milk changed taste because I was 7months pregnant. I was absolutely gutted when he gave up because despite having a couple of weeks of hard-core pain and sleepless nights (up every two hours) it has been one of the best experiences of my life. I found out whilst I was feeding that when a child breast feeds it releases endorphines into the mothers body which will give her a 'feel good' feeling and when you are feeding at night you get a 'sleepy' feeling which enables the mum to get back to sleep quickly after a feed. (My husband used to hate that because I'd go right off to sleep and he'd be lying there twiddling his thumbs for a little while)

Child number two is just 9wks old and it has been a totally different experience this time. He isnt a 'little and often feeder', he takes huge amounts and is fine for four hours and he has only woken up once in the night for a feed since birth. I didnt have sore nipples at all and my milk came in within a day of having him. So its different with every child.

Personally I felt empowered when breastfeeding my children. I think its that fact that I have provided something that is proven to be the best for them and its so satisfying listening to them drinking from you. I also love the fact that its free and available anytime they need it.

After speaking to alot of people I have come to the conclusion that people just arent prepared for the early stages of breastfeeding. Yes you are told its best for you and baby but you're not told that it can hurt so bad, you will be soooooooo tired because you are constantly feeding day and night until your milk supply comes in and on the day your milk does come in you have these two balloons on your chest that you are not quite sure what to do with them!

I think if I was giving advise I would tell every pregnant woman, firstly to give it a try even if you think you wont like it. I have a lot of friends who were pregnant and adamant that they were not going to do it and have given it a go and really enjoyed it. Secondly I would say that it isnt easy at first but it does get better.

Its a myth that a breastfed child wont sleep through the night for a long time because my first born was sleeping through from 11wks old and my newborn has just started and hes 9wks.

The only thing that could be seen as negative is the fact that you can't go anywhere but I got into the habit of expressing milk and freezing it so we could go for a meal.

Over all breastfeeding has been such a positive experience for me.

Summary: An amazing free gift from god