do you think breast feeding would be ok for me?

Hi i really want to breast feed my next baby but im worried i wont have the time. I already have 3 children and never breast fed before. But me and my OH have decided to have one more child and are currently trying for one. And because its is planned to be our last baby i really want to have the chance of breast feeding but im really worried because i have spoke to my freinds about it and they have told me its very draining and you dont have time to do anything else and that it would all be about the baby constantly so im worried that if i chose to breast feed that i wouldnt have time to spend with my other children and i couldnt bare that. could you please let me know your views on wether this is all true and if you think i will have time to breast feed my new baby and still have the time to spend with my girls or if you think it would be a bad idea THANKS

I think that the time you save not preparing bottles and washing etc, might balance it out.

It will take effort, and the first 6 weeks are the hardest, but that is the case for everyone with a new baby.

I strongly recommend that you should phone your health centre, contact your Health Visitors and get them to give you the number of the local breastfeeding support group. Get down there as soon as poss, before the baby is born. go and chat to them, and find out who lives local to you. Get a phone number or two, if you can. They will be more than up for helping you through every stage of your breastfeeding, and it's nice to know there's someone on the end of the phone who could also pop round if need be.

Please, try it. Give it your best. If it's not working for you then it won't be working for your baby - no one needs a stressed mummy!!! But give it your best shot.

xxx

I agree with Ladybug, give your best shot and if it doesn't work out, then you tried good luck with TTC too!

I BF all mnie and it does takke up alot of your time, i found i was constantly feedin all the time and didnt get time to spend with my other 2 children

but its so benefical for baby thats why i didnt wanna give up !

but like LADYBUG SAID, EVEN IF U WERE BOTTLE FEEDIN U STILL GOT TO PREPARE N STERILISE SO THAT TAKES UP TIME TOO!

so i really dont know hun, give it a go and see how u go with it

It might be worth investing in a sling that you can feed 'handsfree' in. I know that freedom slings make some (www.freedomslings.co.uk). That way you could feed your LO whilst doing other jobs or attending to your other children. It's definately worth a go at breastfeeding, if it doesn't work out for you you haven't lost anything but if it goes well you will be glad you tried.
Kerry
P.S. The freedom slings are really good for carrying LO even without using them to feed. I have two and I still use them to carry Millie now and she is 11 months.

its true that BFing does take a lot of time & is pretty all consuming in the first 6/7 weeks, but it does settle down & become easier & yes there is no preparing feeds, boiling water, waiting for it to cool, measuring powder, mixing, washing sterilising etc to worry about - you just flop em out whenever/wherever you need to no hassle.! you do need rest though to encourage the milk production & also plenty of fluids. I say give it a try, if it gets too much, switch to formula, at least you will have tried. xx

i have 3 children and im finding time.. if its what you wanna do then go for it.

I'm sure you wil be able and I'm sure with support you can do this!And enjoy!


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I tried to BF George but he wouldn't latch on properly so I expressed and half formula fed and gave half breast milk. Unfortunately it took a lot of time, I had to express at least twice a day which took 30 mins per breast which meant 2 hours where I couldn't do anything as I could only express by hand, pumps didn't work for me. In the end I gave up after 3 weeks as I was missing spending the time with Charlotte. I didn't have any support with BF but my friend has used a BF counsellor and she has found the support a great help.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do hun xx

Hi! I BF my baby boy for 4 months. It wasnt too much on demand and much better than having to warm a bottle in the middle of the night!

I didnt care if i was out in public as long as i could feed him!

I even fed in frount of my family! LOL

Good luck TTCing