Comments on: Monday Musings: How Much Thought Did You Give To Breastfeeding When Pregnant?

By: 9 Things Pregnant Moms Need & Pocket Dots Giveaway | Breastfeeding Moms Unite

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:59:08 +0000

[...] 9 Things Pregnant Moms Need & Pocket Dots Giveaway Hello there! Welcome to Breastfeeding Moms Unite! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to my RSS feed. I hope you enjoy your visit today and come back soon!If I knew what I know now and was pregnant for the first time, I would do things a little differently. I would wear a couple of new products, I would read a couple of new books and I would inform myself in other ways, like attending a La Leche League meeting. [...]

By: Lois - Cushie Pushie

Lois - Cushie Pushie — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:10:03 +0000

Unfortunately I gave very little thought to breastfeeding while pregnant. I spent so much time worrying about all the little details I missed a huge one in studying how I was going to feed my little one.

By: Melodie

Melodie — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:29:17 +0000

I love Monday Musings and reading everyone’s different thought and experiences. Thanks to everyone for commenting.
@Jenny – You make a good point that LLL is not for everyone and some groups just don’t fit some moms. I’m glad you agree that setting up a support system is an important thing to have on hand. Like you said, an LC is an excellent resource as well
@Brenna – I think commitment to bfing can really get a lot of moms through any rough patches.
@Stephanie – I’m surprised they are asking moms what they plan on doing. Perhaps it isn’t the most pc thing to do but I think drs should assume all moms will breastfeed. Then maybe the rates would improve because other moms will realize it’s the expected thing to do.
@Amber – Good point. Feeling like you have to memorize anything is not constructive to the bfing relationship and the jitters of a new mom.
@Alina – Yes, the misconceptions we have about the abilities and helpfulness of hospital staff…. So unfortunate.
@Sam – It sounds like breastfeeding was just in your DNA the way breathing is perhaps. No questions, no thoughts, we just do it so we can live.
@Toni – Reading your response just reminds me of my own experience. I’m so glad that you didn’t have any bfing problems either.
@Libby – WOW! You are an inspiration!

Melodie’s last blog post..Monday Musings: How Much Thought Did You Give To Breastfeeding When Pregnant?

By: toni

toni — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:27:32 +0000

I honestly did not think about breastfeeding at all. I knew I was going to try it, and I knew I wanted to be sucessful but that was about all the thought I put into it. I was way to focused on the labour and birth part, reading books and learning about everything your body needed to go through. I was invited to a free breastfeeding class, but wasn’t avaiable at the time. It wasn’t untill after I gave birth and my midwife told me to try breastfeeding that I relized I had no idea what I was doing, she sent me home with a book about breastfeeding. that book and the internet was all I had and we did fine, thank god we did not have any issues or I’m not sure we would have breastfed till 15 months.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:47:07 +0000

Like a previous poster, I never even imagined that I wouldn’t breastfeed, or that I would have problems–so it all happened quite naturally! I spent my whole pregnancy convinced I would breastfeed. I never considered another option (as a breastfed child myself, I have never considered formula an adequate substitute). When my baby was born without drugs, she was able to latch on within minutes. 14 months later she is still nursing beautifully. Sure, it was hard during the first 6 weeks or so–intense soreness, mastitis, supply issues, etc. But quitting was just never an option so none of it fazed me too much. It wasn’t that I gritted my teeth and said “Dammit–I will breastfeed!!!” It was more like I just couldn’t imagine feeding my child any other way, so I did what I needed to do. Which made it all pretty easy.

By: Sam @ babyREADY

Sam @ babyREADY — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:38:25 +0000

I never thought about it or didn’t think about it. I planned to breastfeed because it seemed like the only logical thing to do but I don’t remember ever “deciding” to breastfeed. Does that make sense??

By: Libby

Libby — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:58:23 +0000

Twenty one years ago, when I had my first baby, it never occurred to be that I would do anything other than breastfeed. I didn’t by any formula milk or bottles “just in case”; the same way as I refused a ‘hospital birth’.
To me both are entirely natural, and i had faith in my body and my innate ability as a woman.
As it turned out, my first baby weighed 9lb 6oz and was a ‘problem delivery’ – but still home birthed. My 7th baby was also a home birth in a pool and latched on as soon as she surfaced, despite being told I was too old and had to many births to ‘risk’ a natural birth – it was totally wonderful – and we bf for 2 years.
I am now expecting my 8th baby, and will prob b/f her for 2 years like the rest.
Now I am older I have lots of experience and have spent 20 years either b/f or pregnant or both! I now know the problems that can happen, and worked as a NCT instructor when in the UK.
However, I think my of my early success was my ignorance. I expected it to work…and it did.
I later did post grad research on breastfeeding, and became passionate about it from the political side too. I often lend my books to midwives who are fascinated by my collection.
In my 8th pregnancy I am aware of all the risks, and I am more anxious and almost looking for problems.
None of my family BF, and my mother still starts muttering about weaning at 4 months, but I KNOW I will b/f on demand, sling wear and co sleep as it works for us
Luckily I run my own business, so can combine baby and work (kinda – lol).
its great there is help and support for women..but I think the technical side and list of potential problems aren’t the best place to start