What would you give up in order to BF your bub?

[skeetaboat]

Hi barb, of course one can go out and about and breastfeed. I did this with my first and with my second too for a few months until she began refusing to feed anywhere but in bed. I can still go out with her, I just have to time it between feeds and keep it short. What I was referring to is bing able to do something by myself like clothes shopping, see a movie, catch up with a friend - if I had FF my babies then I could have done these things but because I BF'd I haven't been able to.. Except for a short while when the first was a bit older and the second hadn't been born yet. My firstborn fed 12-18 times per day until he was about 22-23 months old, so my experience might be a bit exceptional.

ETA: I would still do it over again as I think the health benefits are too great to give up and I enjoy BFing very much.. But I have definitely "given up" independence and "me" time in order to BF. I can now get out of the house alone for a couple of hours which is a big improvement on months gone by, and it will only get better with time, so all is not lost. But I think about this a lot. Would my experience of motherhood been better, more enjoyable, less isolating, if I had formula fed? Would I have been able to retain some friendships and not feel so lonely? Would I have a better more relaxed realtionship with my children as a result? Would my marraige be under less stress? Would I be less irritated with what my life has become and more appreciative that I have been blessed with two healthy children? Probably. When I compare the experiences my FFing friends have had of motherhood with my own, and their mental health with my own, they have ALL had superior outcomes to me.