Breastfeeding General Chatter #13

I share similar experiences with mothers group and am also in a very well educated area, and after reading recent other bf threads that got very heated think although it is true that alot of people don't bf through lack of education/understanding it is also a fact that plenty of people do understand and know benefits but choose to ignore them or don't believe them. For those of us who are pro bf it is impossible for us to understand this but there are alot of things people do which I can't comprehend. Spreading the education is still very important as I think unfortunately alot of people are just happy to follow the majority so if bf was the norm as it used to be years ago and is physiologically less people would stop bf so quickly.

My parents recently sent me an article called when breastfeeding goes on too long.I was a bit angry (will post when am home) as was full of ridiculous statements. My parents have always been pro bf but seems now DD is 16 months they think should give up. She only feeds first thing and before bed anyway, I am back at work full-time but even when am home shows no interest in the day. As I am working bf also makes me feel close to her still even though our time is limited so no way am I giving up until she refuses.

Persephone the first four aba meetings I went to was just me and the counsellors whose kids are grown up and I was a little disappointed as thought would be good for socialising but I persevered and now there are more mums coming along and I write the bulletin. I really like the meetings as are quite different to mothers group.

Hi everyone, only just found this thread, but I'm glad I have cos I really feel passionate about bf, not that I get to talk about it much, and I love the idea of being able to share experiences with you girls. Especially some of you who are feeling a bit bummed out about MG's etc, or are in the early stages of bf and not feeling overly confident or whatever.

I am very proudly still feeding my 26month old (albeit generally only once a day now, sometimes two, sometimes none - although she doesn't appear to be thinking about stopping completely anytime soon) and am 37 weeks pg with my second. I can only applaud my dd's tenacity as we went through what I am sure was very low supply during my second trimester when I couldn't even really squeeze anything out myself - although she's always been the expert in getting it out, lol. supply does seem to be building again now though as second baby is nearly here. It always proved to me that bf is about much more than just physical nourishment, the emotional nourishment is amazing as well. Anyway I am most definitely the only one in my mg still bf, and have definitely bitten my tongue at times, especially when at around 3 months one of the girls in my mg said she was changing to formula as her baby had reflux on breastmilk, and because formula was thicker it wouldn't come up as much. I think she just wanted to stop, but didn't want to say that.

I must admit that as much as I have loved bf my DD, the idea that with the birth of my next baby impending, my consecutive years of bfing will likely be at least 4 years probably 5, I am a little freaked out. It just seems like such a hugely long commitment, and there have been times that I have craved underwire bras and not being quite so tied to my little one, and just as she can skip a day here and there, and I can see a bit of bodily freedom, it is all about to start again. does that make sense?? Like I love it, and I wouldn't change it, or give my next child any less than what my DD has been given but another 2 to 3 years is a long way in the future and is tiring just to think about lol. So I guess no matter how long you've been doing it, you can always use a bit of a support from those around you, so I guess it's lucky I've found this thread now.

Persephone - my only thought is to try not to think about what the other mum's in your group are doing. Mostly if they are talking formula up as the way to go, it is because they are feeling insecure about their choice and are looking for everyone else's ok. I can promise you that when they are all complaining about their bubs having colds or excema or other allergies, or that their children are up all night teething and not being able to settle them with a quick bf, or having to use panadol to lower a low grade fever when you can do it with a quick feed, you'll be thinking how you are the lucky one. (I better clarify that yes I know bf babies can get colds etc but in my experience the bf babies in my mother's group and with other friends too, were far less likely to.) Also the more you get to know girls on bb the more you will find you aren't the only one. I have been lucky enough to know a couple of other girls (just through my first belly group) who are also still feeding their 26 months olds - and we've even met in person. We're like in the 1 or 2% (can't remember which) in Australia still feeding our children at this age, and without bb I might just think I was the only one... lol.

Anyway that's enough from me, I look forward to being a part of this thread in the future.

oh and I forgot, Jellyfish - your stories were so cute!!! I loved the one about your daughter, how sweet.

This breastfeeding gig is making me hungry ... if I dare venture outside and do *gasp* physical work *shock horror* I have to stop really soon and shovel in a tonne of food. Its just silly ... and you should see the size of my evening meals. Which need to be followed by dessert, a post-dinner snack, and an evening snack. And yes, I'm losing weight.

Meanwhile Lump here is a great big barrel of roly-poly cuteness with rubber band wrists/ankles/everything and Michelin man legs. Geeee I wonder where all my calories are going :rolleyes:

wow rumpled elf im jealous. i dont loose weight like that and i've had to ditch most deserts cause doc said i have high cholestorol

Hi Ladies,

DS was doing some crazy 2-hourly overnight feeding recently, and then only feeding once or twice during the day :o which was driving me mental. I managed to turn it around a bit by settling him with the dummy overnight rather than with the boob at the first sign of hunger (co-sleeping = booby settling, sometimes a bit too much!). He's now feeding 2-3 times a night and lots more during the day, which is good BUT has made me more conscious of making sure he's feeding adequately during the day (more feeds during the day = less feeds at night).

This of course means more BFing in public. This is, and always has been okay in theory but in practice is not always pleasant. It's not so much the "BFing in public" that I find uncomfortable, it's more that DS gets distracted and pulls off the boob, milk goes everywhere, he squeals, then tries to do a poo at the same time, that I find stressful. Would much rather be at home for his simultaneous feeding + bowel movements :rofl:

Anyway, so I was at the Finders Keepers market today and had to feed DS. I found a seated area and pulled up a chair. Another lady sat down at the same table (seating was limited) and fed her bub, whilst chatting with her pregnant friend. Another lady came along and said "I see this is the feeding table, can I join you?" and sat down to feed her bub. Five minutes later ANOTHER lady came along with her bub and fed him at the table as well. Four BFing women at the same table! It made me realise that BFing in public can be enjoyable - I felt like we were part of a secret club - and lots of passers-by smiled as they saw us all feeding our bubs together. No bottles at all! 'Twas very nice to be part of the club and share knowing smiles. And no one noticed DS's loud bowel movements either :lol:

What an awesome experience!

My bub gave up her dummy recently, and if we put it in her mouth she will just spit it out again. If we put it in her hand she will sometimes give it a suck- but usually holds it by the nipple and sucks the handle. I keep trying though!

that's a sweet story Persephone. Mothering, as breastfeeding, has it's ups and downs. There are days when you really want a break, and it seems to endless. It passes very quickly, though, in the whole scheme of things

Hi guys. Just wanting to introduce myself, my name is Beautitude and OMGosh i am breastfeeding!!!:dance: After a horrible experience with DS1 i was determined to do my best but not stress out with DS2 and we have had a bit of a tough journey with a stay in neonates and we needed to use bottles and formula yesterday for a few reasons but luckily for us it has actually done us a world of good and ds2 is back to the breast today with gusto and i think it is going really well!!! I am so proud of us as yesterday i was gutted that our breastfeeding journey was over but today ds2 has turned a corner and my milk has come in and he is in 7th heaven. I look forward to getting to know you guys and sharing my journey.

Ahhhh- how refreshing to read the posts here....how beautiful!!!

Unfortunately, I am not bfing my DD3months :( but I am EMB...but gosh- I miss bfing :cry: I won't go into the details of why I don't breastfeed (for fear it will bore you all to death...LOL) but I fought very hard to keep bfing but it just didn't work :(

At my MG only one bf's. All the rest (7 of them) FF and have FF from early on...most of them say the FF because its easier.... grrrrr...it makes me soooo cross...what I would give to be able to breast fed my babe right now :(

Such beautiful stories on here and what wonderful women you all are!!! Keep it up!! :grouphug:

Persephone that sounds like a great experience..... nice to hear it!

Welcome Beautitude and congrats, sounds like it's all going well!!

Delphmoon good on your for feeding EBM, I know what you mean about Mums saying FF is easier, doesn't make sense to me?

We're going well here, dealing with a very easily distracted DD, at the moment I can't make eye contact with her while feeding because she breaks into a big smile and then blows raspberries. With my nipple in her mouth still. She is very cheeky, and whilst I'm not encouraging it, I can't help but smile when she smiles at me! She 'hums' alot when feeding too, especially her night time feed, and can get quite loud - any other LO's do this?

Congratulations Beautitude and hooray for the BFing!!!

Delph - hiya! Good on you for making the effort to express for you LO, I do a combination of both (as I am back at work full time) and expressing is hard work!

Congratulations Beautitude and hooray for the BFing!!!

Delph - hiya! Good on you for making the effort to express for you LO, I do a combination of both (as I am back at work full time) and expressing is hard work!

Hi Ladies,

Welcome Beautitude! And well done to Delphmoon for expressing - I raise my glass to you, 'scuse the pun :D and another glass to SAK too. You ladies are legends.

I had wanted to go to my local ABA meeting last week but annoyingly they only sent details of the meeting 24 hours earlier, and I'd already made plans. Instead, I had lunch with another Mum who is as pro-BFing as me, and it was really nice to talk passionately about BFing knowing I wouldn't get her back up.

DS has given me a couple of nice pink hickies on my bbs in the last few days, from me not watching his attachment and him sucking a hole in my areola :rofl: He always looks surprised that there's no milk coming out despite his strong suck. He's also easily distracted at the moment and wants to watch Daddy rather than the boob. I'm having a go at adjusting his position - up until now I've basically had him in a cradle-hold across my lap, which is becoming harder now he's so big. We're trying it with him sitting up a bit more, but so far that's leading to clicking noises and more hickies - we shall persevere!

Just a question for those who are BFing beyond 12 months - how many times a day do you BF? I'm just curious, because I intend on going back to work when DS is about 12-13 months old and I want to know how much I might be expressing during the day.

Have a nice weekend ladies!

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Just a question for those who are BFing beyond 12 months - how many times a day do you BF? I'm just curious, because I intend on going back to work when DS is about 12-13 months old and I want to know how much I might be expressing during the day.

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I'm still BFing and expressing for DS. He's about 15mths now. I express for 2 bottles during the day (120ml / bottle); at 12 months I tried to make sure he had 3 bottles a day available as he was starting to cut down his bottles. I attempt to express 2 -3 times a day depending on what I'm trying to do during the day (I'm a secondary school teacher librarian working full time). Usually I manage at least 2 expresses at school and sometimes need to top up with either frozen EBM or do another express after DS's gone to bed. (I usually have a couple of the lactation cookies during the day to ensure supply - morning tea is usual for these)

We won't mention the amount of times we're awake for a night feed though :rolleyes: - teething has it's moments too.

I am still BFing DD (almost 17 months) but just twice a day, first thing (6:30AM) and last thing (7:00PM ish), I am back at work full time now but she cut herself down to this around 13 months. She would probably drop these two feeds too as she doesn't demand them (and sometimes seems to just prefer to lie there with thumb in mouth and hold boob in other hand) - but I like them so until she rejects them will keep doing.

Persephone - from friends and ABA seems all babies are different so is quite difficult to know what your bubs will do, I did the same thing trying to work out how much would need for going back to work but in the end DD just dropped the in the day feeds before I did. She is a big eater (of solids) and has never really been a comfort feeder either as she sucks her thumb for comfort - so the whole process was very easy for me. She just dropped the feeds because we would be busy doing something and I would forget and she wasn't fussed and then the pattern would just repeat.

Does anyone know - at DD's age 17 months, is my lack of proximity to her while I am working 5 days a week, likely to affect my milk supply at all? Recently especially at night during the week she doesn't feed for so long and was just curious as to whether I might have a bit less milk because I have so little time with her in the day. I am going back to working part time soon as although I have enjoyed work feel like I miss out with DD so have managed to turn my contract part time - so I guess in a few weeks I might be able to answer my own question.

Hi Ladies - I'm new to this group :-)

I already have a gorgeous little boy who's know 16 months old and sadly I couldn't BF him...he attached well etc, but Mummy had NO MILK! I used to sit there for 2-3hrs and get no more than 40ml. Needless to say he was FF, but that's fine with me, he's a healthy happy little boy and that's the main thing!

I'm now pregnant with #2 and really keen to give BF another go - but I want to do everything I can to increase my chances of getting a decent amount of milk. So any suggestions?

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Hi Ladies - I'm new to this group :-)

I already have a gorgeous little boy who's know 16 months old and sadly I couldn't BF him...he attached well etc, but Mummy had NO MILK! I used to sit there for 2-3hrs and get no more than 40ml. Needless to say he was FF, but that's fine with me, he's a healthy happy little boy and that's the main thing!

I'm now pregnant with #2 and really keen to give BF another go - but I want to do everything I can to increase my chances of getting a decent amount of milk. So any suggestions?

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Suggestion #1 - get in touch with the ABA - see if you can do one of their BF courses

suggestion #2 - look into hiring a lactation consultant

(sorry for the short post - currently expressing for DS and I'm not so good typing one handed
PS you're only supposed to have 1 ticker)