Due March/April/May 2016

[TiffSal]

Thanks Pearl. Im just scared to be in labour. My first was a very painful long labour and didnt want to go through that again for my second or even this one. With my second being breached i had to have an elective and recovered quicker. Maybe i knew what to do...but ill ask for that skin on skin contact in the recovery room. I had that with my second and it was amazing!

[TiffSal]

Taytum you do whatever feels right.

With my first I only did 5 weeks. With my second i handled it better and did about 7months. And with this one ill be aiming for little bit longer.

My sil did 8 months with her first and only 5 days with her second. A gf of mine went straight to formula and went firm with the nurses she wanted formula.

Im sure everyone will tell you bf is better and the best but your at the end of it is your baby your decision x

[Junie]

Taytum it is totally your decision and if you have to go back to work quickly then formula can really be a blessing. I would however give bfing a try before you decide anything. First off no matter how you feed your baby they will bond with your husband. Seriously get those thoughts out of your head!
2nd: the first weeks will probably be tough (everything not just bfing) and try not to make any decisions until you get out of that haze of the first weeks.
3rd: honestly bfing can make things so so easy. I'm a lazy mom and breastfeeding is so fast (especially once they get a bit bigger), there is no clean up, you always have it with you,etc.
4th: you'll know baby is growing due to check ups, how they look, etc.
5: you might find bfing super easy. I'm very lucky in that it never hurt for me, never had supply issues (even though my chest is nonexistent), I bf exclusively big 10 pound babies and they were happy and healthy.

But I also think formula is totally fine! I just think you should not worry about bfing yet. Try it out, and if after a few weeks you don't want to do it anymore, then stop, and know that a good mom is a mom who feeds and loves and cares for their baby-it doesn't matter how

[Hitmebabyonemoretime]

On the breastfeeding thing for Taytum. With my first I had these same concerns. I took some prenatal classes and the nurses at the hospital helped us get started. I bf'd for a long time but I can't remember how long - Close to one year. I also formula fed sometimes too. I didn't see it as a big deal to switch back and forth, and did what seemed convenient. Pumping wasn't an option - I'd never even heard of it actually lol so if ds went to grandmas formula it was. He also had a pacifier since day one. My others were all breast fed. I too am "lazy". I find it incredibly convenient and I think if you give it a shot you'll be pleased you tried.

On home birth: I'll never give birth at a hospital again, and I'll never give birth on land again lol!! It's home water birth for me all the way!


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[TaytumJ]

So that's a good question, Hitme, you can supplement formula as well? So like, if baby goes somewhere to stay for a bit or hubby wants to take over, he can bottle feed and baby will still be able to go back and forth to breast feeding and bottle? I can handle that! I just worry so much all the pressure will be on ME, but if there's a small glimmer that I won't have to freak out if I leave for a few hours.

[Atsaukina1]

I have bf all 5, never pumped or bottled fed. I have nursed more than 10 years of my life and still going lol.
I never leave to go to other rooms but if you did choose to do that then babe might eat at most every hour the least every 3 hours sometimes as lil as 10 min or as long as 30 so you won't be hidden in a room forever. Hopefully as u gain confidence you will nurse wherever as that is what our babies were meant to eat and their should not be any shame. Even the pope encourages mother to nurse in church and w/o shame.
Pacifier- if they are nursing they are nursing for a reason. I'd rather it be me than plastic and they are being comforted and fed.
How will you know if they get enough- same as formula- set diapers and weight gain. Even more simple than that when you let them nurse to they are done that is what you know vs bottles and some moms trying to give babe a set amount to not waste formula or they just don't know how much they need so you are always worrying. Babe will let you know.
Breastfeeding- no bottles to clean and sterilize. Babe wakes you nurse them and go back to bed
Daddy bonding- my husband holds babe, changes diapers, bath, anything and everything besides feeding. Everyone does not need to feed babe. That is your time.
Breast milk has so much in it they cannot duplicate. This is a fact. Some women choose not to bf and some women a very small percentage truly cannot but all evidence shows breastmilk is best and there is no denying that. I would talk to lactation consultants they provide them here at hossy or you could get a home one. The key is just nurse and nurse to keep supply up.
All that said I know a mom and I believe she truly doesn't like nursing or she thinks its like formula and puts babe on a schedule. Her babes are so tiny and fussy cuzshe never wants to nurse them and in her case I wish she would formula feed so at least they would get the fat and nutrients they need.

[Atsaukina1]

So that's a good question, Hitme, you can supplement formula as well? So like, if baby goes somewhere to stay for a bit or hubby wants to take over, he can bottle feed and baby will still be able to go back and forth to breast feeding and bottle? I can handle that! I just worry so much all the pressure will be on ME, but if there's a small glimmer that I won't have to freak out if I leave for a few hours.

You would not want to do that until your milk was well established as every feeding you miss your supply tanks. Some women might be fine with this and others might not. Also formula is a lot harder to digest than breastmilk. Could always pump just a lil to have a couples bottles on hand. Again no bottles until milk is established and babe is doing well. At least a month. Unless you are working mom a d will be full timepumping going straight to bottles.

[Atsaukina1]

Bee- are u in the US?
This will be our 5th homebirth. My first was a natural hossy birth but had me fighting w the nurse and I said never again.

[Hitmebabyonemoretime]

Watch this video ladies.... There should be no "snobbery" or judgement in motherhood. The way we raise our babies is completely our choices.
Taytum I'm sure you're doing all kinds of reading, but if you're looking for answers from experts I highly recommend a trained lactation consultant, or even calling Laleche League. Your midwife (if you go that way) can also help you with obtaining info to help you make informed choices. You have all kinds of time to decide too

KMOCI - Similac Commercial: The Mother


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[Atsaukina1]

Cool born and raised socal- SD but all the way on the east coast now
Hitme- I never ever go up to moms and ask whether they formula feed, bf, hb, CD, circumsize( should be illegal!) But IF a mother asks then I will do my best to show the real pros and cons because too many women are losing the art and experience of breastfeeding and who will teach our children what is normal? You have a lot of ffing moms that offer breastfeeding advice when they are really very different. Once the choice is made and they are happy with it fine but sometimes women have no irl support and just seeking information is important