Breast feeding success stories

**luna moth** · July 8th, 2011, 08:00 PM

15 months on, still going strong. Loving every minute of it and DD remains, as ever, a total boobie monster.

That's such an awesome effort Sue. You have given her such a wonderful start to life in so many ways. You're an amazing and selfless mother.

We are headed for 7 months tomorrow. I'd love to say my journey has been easy, but ther have been bumps. The first 3 months were a dream, but we have battled bouts of breast refusal since then, and will always struggle to feed in public (or even at home if there's visitors!) BUT I am so glad we're doing it. I have no intention of stopping.

**MummaSue** · July 8th, 2011, 08:06 PM

The same to you Audax my lovely. I admire your strength when things are tough, you're doing a wonderful job

**nickle730** · July 8th, 2011, 08:23 PM

Lovely to read all these positive stories of BF! Congratulations to you all.

Miss P is my third child and the only one I have successfully BF. I had breast reduction surgery at 17 and again at 21. When I gave birth to my DD1 I was told by the MW 'not to bother' trying to BF as I wouldn't succeed. I was disappointed but somewhat uneducated and DD1 was fully FF.

DS came along and again I was discouraged by the MW's from BF, although I wanted to try. He was born with some health issues which meant it was particularly important to ensure he was adequately hydrated. I began comp feeding him at about 10 days old and he was full FF by 3 months.

Miss P came along and I was determined to give BF my all. Here we are, more than 7 months down the track and she is a complete booby monster! She is comp fed, usually about 2 bottles per day, but BF on demand and feeds I-don't-know-how-many times each day! We have struggled with supply (I'm taking Motilium) and cracked nipples early on, but we persevered and I am so proud of our achievement so far. I think my favourite thing in the world might be when she comes off the boob and milk dribbles down her chin while she smiles up at me. Or maybe it's the way nothing else can settle her but mumma and her boobs, or the way the snuggles in to me at night and latches on, or kissing her fluffy little head while she feeds...

I am planning on weaning her... by the time she reaches secondary school!!

**entreat** · July 8th, 2011, 08:25 PM

Sue, you & Miss E are a total inspiration to me. Xx

**Mrs P** · July 8th, 2011, 11:11 PM

I demand BF my DD for nine months, at which point she self weaned to one feed a day, and fully weaned herself at 11 months. We struggled in the beginning and I used a nipple shield for a few weeks. DD had terrible wind pain, especially as I had to take heaps of antibiotics due to mastitis and a bladder infection when she was 2.5 weeks old.
But we made it, and I loved BFing her, it was a wonderful time we spent bonding together. I am sad that she has weaned herself but it's what is right for her - we do baby led solids and she loves her food, so I know she is ok without my milk. What a journey to share. Can't wait to be blessed with another bubba and do it again

**Summertime** · November 24th, 2011, 12:13 PM

Today marks the day that I have been exclusively breastfeeding my gorgeous DD for 6 months.

I never thought I would make it this far, as I had such difficulty in the beginning. I had to overcome latch problems, reynauds/vasospam, cracked and extremely sensitive nipples and pressure to give formula. Now Im getting emotional, it was just so challenging and I am just so happy that my baby and I worked at it and are still going today.

I would like to say a Big THANK YOU to all that offered me such support on this forum when I was struggling. I love breastfeeding, its such a special bond and I know I am doing my best for my DD.

**nickle730** · November 24th, 2011, 12:16 PM

Congratulations, Summertime! 6 months is a fantastic achievement!

Update from me, 12 months yesterday and going strong!

**Bella29** · November 24th, 2011, 06:34 PM

Good on you Summertime.

My update is that DD weaned herself about 5 months ago, when I was 12 weeks pregnant, I think just due to low milk supply. We had nursed together for 25 months. I am very proud of both of us. She still likes to have a nurse occasionally for a short period of time(ie 3 secs) randomly and asks to see the milk(because I have started making a few drops of colostrum). I am pleased that is was so untraumatic for us to stop because it was in our time and I am looking forward to nursing the next one!!

**~ Mylitta ~** · November 24th, 2011, 07:29 PM

I was always determined that I would try my hardest to breastfeed my babies for at least two years, and after that I wanted them to self-wean when they were ready. It was a personal goal of mine, and still is.

My son has been breastfeeding now for 2 years, 6 months and 3 weeks.
My son has breastfed through two IVF cycles, and my daughter's pregnancy.
My son and daughter have now been tandem breastfeeding for 10 months and 2 weeks.
I'm now 21 1/2 weeks pregnant and they are both still breastfeeding. I'm so proud of them both (and me!).

I wonder if I'll need to grow a third breast for the new baby? Hehehe

**~ Mylitta ~** · November 24th, 2011, 07:30 PM

Sorry, double post

**Bella29** · November 24th, 2011, 07:39 PM

That is an awesome effort Krystie!!! I kinda wished that my body had kept producing milk when I got pregnant but it just wasn't to be. I am pretty sure DD will go back the breast when I have this baby so I may be coming to ask you for your tandem tricks

**~ Mylitta ~** · November 24th, 2011, 07:58 PM

Thanks Bella

DS loved it when my milk came back in after DD was born!

I've been very lucky and thank my stars all the time that when it comes to breastfeeding I've had a pretty easy run of things. I've never had any major problems, and have even expressed and donated milk to a couple of other needy babies. I'm what they call a "prime galactogogue" lol. I'm actually having the most amount of problems right now with the pain that comes with breastfeeding and pregnancy. It's absolutely excruciating and I'm often brought to tears when they first latch on for a feed. I know it eases further into the pregnancy though (well it did during DD's pregnancy, so fingers crossed!), so I'll just keep gritting my teeth and push through.

**~ Mylitta ~** · November 24th, 2011, 07:58 PM

Sorry for another double post. My computer is having serious short term memory issues and forgets it's already posted

New computer coming soon!

***TripleJ*** · November 24th, 2011, 08:14 PM

K

13 months 2moro for us definately a success =]

**trishalishous** · November 25th, 2011, 01:10 AM

I have Sheehans syndrome, but Im proud to have made it to 18 months, with no weaning anytime soon!

**Melnmar** · September 29th, 2012, 06:53 PM

Just wanted to share my story and give this thread a bump.

I'm 7 weeks off of breastfeeding for 12 months. If you had told me at one week, one month or even three months that I'd make it here I wouldn't have believed it.

My DDs birth was traumatic, she was born OP and my labour went for days. I was bullied into an epidural that later resulted in two blood patches for the headache I ended up with. One top of a lot of internal and external tearing.

Because of the headache I had to learn to feed lying down immediately with my size 14I breasts and not one support person. My own mother was very anti breastfeeding and I have only known one other person to breastfeed. I had no access to LCs and the midwives at the hospital were a mixed bunch of knowing nothing or not really caring to help.

I initially had blistered nipples when I started using a nipple shield but it was still excruciating. I fed for two weeks with sheilds before I got thrush, from there I got mastits. My gp was hopeless and all I had was google/forums and the ABA helpline.

Two months on and every day i would scream through the night feeds. On one particular night i punched myself in the head to distract from the pain, i would pinch myself til i bruised to get through a feed.

I knew something wasn't right and when I posted on another forum about my pain, white/blue/red nipples I discovered what I was experiencing was vasospasm. I started on magnesium and got hold of someone who had done some LC training who helped me with DDs latch.
It improved significantly but was and is still painful every other day.

I also had oversupply and DD has ( undiagnosed until recently) silent reflux.
I was also suffering a bit of PTSD and PND and I ended a long abusive relationship with my family after constant put downs about breastfeeding.

So that's a compacted version of my story but I wanted to tell people that even after all that breastfeeding is worth it. The relationship I have with my DD wouldn't be this way without it. I am so proud of myself for persevering and it has shaped me as a person.

Breastfeeding helped me love my body as someone who used to self harm, breastfeeding taught me to appreciate my breasts after past sexual assault left me extremely ashamed of them.

Gosh it can be tough but it is worth it.

**~ Mylitta ~** · September 29th, 2012, 10:08 PM

Melnmar - What a harsh journey you have had. You deserve a huge pat on the back to push past even half of what you have been through. Well done Mumma!

**Melnmar** · September 30th, 2012, 04:32 PM

Melnmar - What a harsh journey you have had. You deserve a huge pat on the back to push past even half of what you have been through. Well done Mumma!

Thank you. It was one hell of a journey alright