happy mum=happy baby (The Breastfeeding Debate)

Member Name: jess1erin

Product:	The Breastfeeding Debate
Date:	04/03/02 (80 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: no preperation needed, perfect recipe for baby, protects baby

Disadvantages: partner can feel exculded, can be painful

Before I start I have to say I feel my experiences with breast-feeding my daughter is more down to luck then anything else.

Before I gave birth to my daughter who is now 10 months old, my husband and myself discussed how we would feed the baby and we decided that I would try breast-feeding but if it became problematic we would switch to using formula.

I was quite concerned about breast feeding as I had heard so many negative things about it, the pain and discomfort you can get, the baby who feeds constantly, lack of sleep and so on.

When our baby was born I tried feeding her initially it was difficult as she just did not seem to want to latch on to the breast.
I was given some wonderful support from the midwives at the hospital who were so patient with me and even shown my husband how he could help me to latch the baby on when my milk came through at around day 3.

My experience of breast-feeding is a very positive one with regards to the practical workings of the actual feeding and I still continue to breast feed now.
Our baby feed well, she did not feed for prolonged periods of time, and she put weight on well and was a very happy, contented little girl.

The only problems I have had are with regards to family members and various friends who seem to have a problem with the fact that I breast-feed my daughter.
Initially I was told I was feeding her to much as she wanted to feed every few hours during the day, but at night she would sleep between 6 and 8 hours (she has done this since being 3 days old.)

Then I was told that I would never be able to leave her with anyone. In fact I returned to work full time when our baby was 13 weeks old, I expressed at work and she took it from a bottle.

But here was another problem a few people at work did not see why I should be able extended breaks so I could express my milk. When in reality I took no longer then I was allowed and certainly less than they
did for the entire cigarette breaks.

My husband has been a great support but he did feel a little left out in that he could not share the experience of feeding our daughter in those very early weeks. Though this was not something he shared until a very short time ago.

I do feel disappointed that the only issues I have had with breast-feeding has been down to the lack of support I received from people who are close to me.

I have only ever had one issue of some being rude when I was feeding my daughter in public and that was after I had finished feeding her and she broke lots of wind, it was after I had finished feeding that this person realised what I had been doing.

I had a very relaxed attitude towards breast-feeding our daughter and I feel that plays quite a large part in the lack of problems I have had with getting the hang of breast-feeding.

I found the support from the midwives in the hospital to be so invaluable and I would recommend for anyone who is unsure of the mechanics of breast feeding to ask your midwives I know without their support I would not have found it as easy as I have done.

Summary: