Be grateful if you are able to breastfeed. My daughter needed to supplement while I was breastfeeding and it does get very expensive.
MORGANNED
Posts: 517
9/30/11 3:59 P
I recently read an article about this. Breastfeeding does not cause the breasts to sag. It's actually the pregnancy that does it. Also, I read, the more pregnancies you have the more they sag. I'll try and find that article.
I find a lot of benefits with breastfeeding and not just health either. (My first girl is 3 and has only been on antibiotics once. My 2nd has never been on antibiotics. They are never sick) I have saved so much money not having to buy formula. Formula is not cheap. Also, I breastfed both my girls and I can tell you, I never had pain with either of them. I only had some discomfort in the first week or so with my first, but once she got the hang of it and her latch improved it went away. Good Luck with your decision!
Morganne March, 2008
Willow 2010
Sullivan 2012
SAGE_MAMA
Posts: 11
9/26/11 9:46 P
My husband has already set up a savings account. Not for our daughter's college tuition...but for the boob job he wants to get me after we're done having kids. lol I say it's nothing a good bra can't fix.
That being said, breastfeeding is awesome. The first month it hurt like hell, but what helped was pumping my breast milk and feeding Sage that way for a day. It gave my nipples time to heal.
RLVEST01
Posts: 3
8/20/11 7:00 A
Hi there. I realize this is a bit after your initial post, but I have recently been telling my husband that I want a forum to be able to encourage new moms in breastfeeding as I am a new mom myself, my son is 6 months old. Pregnancy is what does the damage to the image of the breasts. Usually, breastfed babies are sick less often, which is why the Surgeon General (among other reasons) really is pushing breastfeeding, and typically, breastfed babies are not as fussy of eaters later in life. I don't know if your sibling story may just be an anomaly or perhaps even just their individual preferences/manner. I have to tell you that it is good to "psych" yourself up to be able to handle some pain with breastfeeding, but honestly, I had none. When my milk came in, I had a little discomfort from feeling really engorged, but I had already gotten the Medela Pump In Style so I just pumped a little off (so he could latch) and used some cold cabbage leaves as a compress on my breasts and that totally took care of it. I never had sore nipples, I never had any problems. So, it's not to say that you won't feel some discomfort, but it doesn't HAVE to happen and it certainly doesn't cause pain for everyone. STARTING breastfeeding was a little stressful; we live in a society that really values quantity and measurement of that quantity. I prepared myself during pregnancy by reading the Le Leche League book, "The Womanly Art of Nursing" as well as the chapters on breastfeeding in the Dr. Sears Baby Book. That was pretty much all I needed. I took notes on how many soiled diapers babies should have in the beginning and then as they get older so that I knew that my son was getting enough. I unfortunately had to have a c-section due to him being my first baby and being a frank breech (and large, external version didn't move him), and I STILL was able to nurse (of course, I wanted a medication-free birth but that didn't happen). It's really important in the early days to make sure to stave off visitors enough to spend some good body-to-body time with the baby; preferably with you with no shirt on and the baby skin to skin with you. Lactation consultants, well, I have to say their help varied as it relates to my reaction to them. Most of them gave me the vibe that I didn't prepare for this and I knew nothing and they were really pushy and made me feel in adequate. And they made me feel like they thought I wasn't committed to it. They also did that to my friend in a different hospital when she had her baby 3 months after I had mine. That's when I would just ask them to leave the room. Your body was made to do this. It's more a matter of just letting go and allowing it, and being patient. Also, everything I have read has said it can take around 4-6 weeks to really get the hang of it. So take your time and don't give up. You have support out here to help you. If you go into it with a relaxed attitude, you've won half the battle ;)
TZGREY
Posts: 6371
7/29/11 12:01 A
Don't be scared. :) Your boobs grow during pregnancy and whether you breastfeed or not, your breasts will become engorged with milk immediately after birth. It is a myth that breastfeeding causes boobs to sag. Age, weight and gravity cause this. Breastfeeding is something you have to learn to do, so like any new thing it can be overwhelming. But once you get the hang of it you will truly love that bond with your baby.
There are so many health benefits to breastfeeding too. Here are 101 reasons to breastfeed. If every women knew these benefits, I believe people would stop putting formula and breastfeeding on almost equal footing. Because they are not at all equal.
http://www.notmilk.com/101.html
I was more afraid of putting my babies at risk by not breastfeeding. That's not to say that a baby can't thrive on formula alone. Plenty do. But the studies don't lie. 900 babies could have their lives saved each year just by exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months.
Whatever you decide, at least choose to breastfeed initially. You can always stop if you don't like it, although I highly encourage you to give it at least 2 months before you make that decision.
Good luck and congrats on your pregnancy!
Edited by: TZGREY at: 7/29/2011 (00:02)
Are you wondering if you should breastfeed you baby? Here are 101 reasons to breastfeed.
www.notmilk.com/101.html
KONTKARMA
Posts: 17
7/28/11 1:55 A
ok, so this may sound terribly selfish, but im scared of breast feeding because of the pain involved, and i dont want to end up with saggy empty bags for boobs...my mother had a boob job because of this reason. and she told me that she did not breastfeed me, yet i was a perfectly healthy baby. whereas my brother and sister were breast fed and still healthy babies, but sick more often, and are now both picky eaters....comments? help me!
BabyFit, BabyPoints, BabyPages and other marks are trademarks of SparkPeople, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
BABYFIT is a registered trademark of SparkPeople, Inc. in the United States, European Union, Canada, and Australia. All rights reserved.
