Breast feeding success stories

**finsmum** · December 30th, 2010, 07:13 PM

And good on you, Clover, well done! I'm very pleased for you and your little person! :-)

**Persephone1** · January 2nd, 2011, 07:22 PM

I've been thinking for awhile that there's not much to consider "successful" in my BFing journey cause it never occurred to me to NOT BF. But as we head for 7 months of BFing and still going strong, I wanted to jump in and say

for me and my DS for BFing so far. After all, whilst we haven't suffered the challenges that many other women have, and we've had oodles of support from the beginning, none of that should minimise the fact that I am so happy and proud to BF my son every day. The fact that I always intended to BF and it never occurred to me to do otherwise (I was BFed until 2.5, and was surrounded by positive BFing role models) doesn't reduce our achievement and we are truly a success story. I hope tms. It saddens me that we are quite possibly in a minority to have BFed this far, but I know BFing is the right thing for us and the best thing for my DS - and he is thriving as a result.

I

breastfeeding and am so glad I've been able to do it.

**MantaRay** · January 2nd, 2011, 07:31 PM

That is definitely a success story hun, and you are definitely a successful breastfeeding mum. Congratulations hun and thank you for sharing. This is my favourite thread!!

***TripleJ*** · January 2nd, 2011, 08:07 PM

All I can say is 10 weeks 2moro yay we've had a bout of thrush and that's it with DS I gave up after 5 days so we've smashed the record
go little Jazzy go

**MummaSue** · January 3rd, 2011, 08:22 AM

BF roolz! Well done everyone xxxxx

**MummaSue** · January 10th, 2011, 08:19 AM

Woooo hoooooo 9 months and still going strong. In fact, no sign of slowing down! Still feeds like a crazy woman and isn't hugely interested in solids.

It's all about the magic milk!

**Jellyfish** · January 10th, 2011, 08:32 AM

Similar to Persephone, I guess we are a success story but it kinda 'just is' for us! We are a week off 22 months now, not a drop of formula and no end in sight yet. I'm so proud of both of us and even though I'm still getting up 2-3 times in the night, I loooove breastfeeding. So nice to read about so many beautiful and successful breastfeeding relationships!!

**NaeNae** · January 10th, 2011, 09:31 AM

I love reading these sorts of stories.

Mine is a small success story, DD had all the initial problems with learning how to attach properly which resulted in very very sore battered boobies. She also had a side preference and getting her to feed from both sides was a real struggle. I ended up back in hospital for a day with the MW's watching me but of course DD performed like a champ when they were watching and I always left help feeling like a ditz because no one saw what was going on at home.
At the hossy they tried hooking me up to the dairy machine but I got a lousy 60ml between two sides after an hour of expressing. I was told that I had low supply and I should pump inbetween breastfeeds to increase supply or I would have to substitute with formula. I was also told to store all my EBM and give DH a bottle to feed DD so I could get a break.

ETA ~ It was only a few months ago at my local ABA meeting that the Leader suggested that I don't actually have a let down at a pump, obviously DD was getting enough even when it was her only source of food.

We did that, we gave her a bottle but it just about broke my heart as she reluctantly took it and sipped gazing into my eyes. I remember saying to DH that the advice was B.S and I was so determined to prove them wrong.
I got some really wonderful advice from the ABA and after a few calls about a few different issues we are still feeding today at nearly 14months. DD has 4-7 feeds regularly though mostly its because she feeds to sleep. the days we have more feeds is when we have bad nights and she spends so much time at the breast.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Looking back I am sure that if I was not the sort of person that I am, if I had not had the sheer determination to do things my way, to push through the pain barrier on more than one occasion AND if I had not had some really wonderful support from the ABA and my DH (and of course all you wonderful ladies) I am sure DD would have ended up on formula.

I can see how some women loose faith in themselves and resort to formula after some well meaning but really bad advice from MW and others. I am not against formula by any means BUT I am sure many women do not know what resources are available and are easily led to other method to nourish their babies.

I had a friend who was told to use formula after only 4 weeks, her son was gaining weight but was going through that horrible newborn phase of crying all the time as he got use to his system. She stopped BF because her MCHN told her it was the only way to get him to sleep.

Anyway,

Here we are at 14 months, I only ever hoped to get as far as I could. Even now I have times when I struggle with the demands of feeding when so many others have stopped. That whole "grass is greener" thing. But after everything we went through to have DD, after everything we went through in those first months ........ be buggered if I will let anyone tell me when its time to stop. Its up to DD!

Nae x

**fi1980** · January 11th, 2011, 06:25 AM

Congratulations girls - some beautiful stories!

**MummaSue** · April 4th, 2011, 12:24 PM

Woooo hoooooo 9 months and still going strong. In fact, no sign of slowing down! Still feeds like a crazy woman and isn't hugely interested in solids.

It's all about the magic milk!

One year in. DD is one on thursday and I can still say the same for when she was 9 months. Still going strong and no sign of slowing down - food still very much for fun.

**berrme** · April 4th, 2011, 12:47 PM

I am another one who has put off posting in this thread because BFing seemed too easy for us. When I was pregnant with DS1 I never considered not being able to BF and had no intention of giving my baby formula. Lucky it all worked so easily!

I never had cracked nipples or problems with attachment. I had a seemingly endless supply of milk. Both my boys just took to the boob like little champions and grew like weeds. I did get mastitis once with DS2.

I weaned at around 13/14 months both times as there was no sign of my cycle returning and we wanted to get UTD again. This current bub will most likely be our last so I am looking forward to finsing out just how long we can keep up BFing and keep AF away.

***TripleJ*** · April 4th, 2011, 01:47 PM

still here we got past 5 months woohoo no signs of slowing down

**Bella29** · April 4th, 2011, 02:55 PM

The last time I posted to this thread I had been bfing for 3 months. Now we are at 21months and 3 weeks along on our journey and going strong. DD loves my boobs and is very affectionate with them

If I am not feeling like feeding because she has fed heaps in the last day or so then she will lay her head on my boobs and press her lips to any part of my breast that is exposed and gaze at me winningly

Such a little boobie monster! I think at the moment that she is feeding between 4-6 sometimes more times a day/night which means still getting up a lot but she will only be this long for a short time, so I just go with it as best I can. She has gone thru a real spurt of feeding lately after seeming to wean down to 2 feeds a day in Jan which has been trying because it is a lot of work with a big demanding toddler, but I am proud of how big and healthy she is so once again I try to let her decide what she need.

***TripleJ*** · April 5th, 2011, 08:46 PM

Awesome Bella u are and inspiration to ne and jazzy

**Bella29** · April 6th, 2011, 02:05 PM

Nawww J you are sweet to say that. I have certainly been inspired by lots of amazing women..

**Danielle_NZ** · April 6th, 2011, 08:45 PM

Thank you for sharing all you lovely ladies... fingers crossed in three months time I'll be able to add part of a success story here. I haven't made it past 3 weeks before so my first goal is 3 months and to take things from there...