Comments on: Survive breastfeeding

By: Tee Jenkins

Tee Jenkins — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 20:22:05 +0000

I have a 2.5 year old daughter who still nurses often. I will be walking my 3rd marathon (after a 2 year break) in a week or so and I was planning on leaving her with daddy and big brother for the weekend (it’s in Columbus, OH). I’ve exclusively breastfed my other 2 for 3.4 years roughly and when they were 2 they did not nurse as frequently as my last child does . I’m having second thoughts about leaving her because now I wonder if it will be too much for her not to nurse for 2 days. My husband said it will be a challenge for him, but he assures me that he will be okay. Any advice?

By: Today’s thoughts « Westmama’s Reviews

Today’s thoughts « Westmama’s Reviews — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:52:31 +0000

[...] was writing a comment to a post on Rookie Mom, and I said that I truly understand now why women become breastfeeding activists [...]

By: What nobody ever told you about motherhood » RookieMoms Blog

What nobody ever told you about motherhood » RookieMoms Blog — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:52:18 +0000

[...] how many people have been shocked at the challenges of breastfeeding, or the surprise of incontinence, an absolute lack of sex drive, or the body “betrayal” [...]

By: hillbillyswamp

hillbillyswamp — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:12:27 +0000

pantrygirl, don’t stress about your pumping production — the longer you do it, the more you’ll get. I started off with even less than you’re pumping now, and by the time I finally quit at 9 mos. or so I was getting 6 or 7 oz. per session. It takes time to learn to pump just like it takes time to learn to nurse. My baby and I got off track somehow with nursing in the first few weeks and never really got back on, but I stuck with pumping, and after a couple of weeks supplementing with formula I was pumping more than enough to breastfeed him exclusively, even though he drank most of it from a bottle. It was a major time commitment, but on the other hand, it was nice having several times a day where I couldn’t do anything other than sit down and watch TV or read a book for 20 minutes.

By: Pam

Pam — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:46:52 +0000

I am an advocate that even though you might be pressured to stop or feel like you just can’t do it – keep on doing it! I listened to peer pressure from hubby, mom, MIL and others not to nurse my first and only nursed her twice a day for 6 months. With my second, I said, no I’m going to do this even though we had problems in the beginning (she was a sick baby), I nursed her until she turned 10 months. With #3, I nursed her for 16 months, only stopping b/c I was pregnant with #4. My son is still nursing at 16 months and he doesn’t seem to want to stop. This is it for us and I’m enjoying it! Get support, don’t give in and just take it one day or one our at a time if you have to.

By: workout mommy

workout mommy — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:00:37 +0000

lol! no, you are not a sucker and you are not alone here. I didn’t bring my pump though, instead I brought my cranky 11 month old who squeals with hungry glee when I get back to the room!

great advice for new nursing moms, it is hard but it gets easier.

By: mama k

mama k — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:53:58 +0000

You go, mama!

I totally agree with preparing for the worst! Heck, if you do that it will most likely be easier than you expect.

I started out with the goal of 6 months, then 1 year. Now we are almost to 2 years and winding down. I’m just taking it month by month and when I’m done, we’ll be done. It’s only 1x a day if that now, but I know it’s still good for him. Studies show that nursing moms of toddlers produce milk that has a higher concentration of fats and antibodies and all that other good stuff because your body knows the little one is nursing less. Cool stuff.

By: April

April — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:16:15 +0000

If there was a breastfeeding issue/complication, I had it! Baby wouldn’t latch properly, somewhat flat nipples, extremely sensitive/painful nipples, mastitis compounded with LOTS of traveling in the early months…but, I survived. I hung in there, and just like Evonne said before, I set goals for myself: at least 6 weeks, and then at least 4 months, okay, let’s shoot for 6 months. And we are happily just chuggin’ along (I guess actually, that’s the baby that’s just a chuggin’). And I’m so glad I did it! My little girl is happy, healthy, chubby, and I’m planning on continuing to BF until her 1 year b’day. So, I just offer my encouragement and support to everyone.

By: pantrygirl

pantrygirl — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 07:24:03 +0000

wow go you!

i am trying my darndest to bf. i am on day 10 and it has been hard. i’ve read tons, attended classes, worked with consultants at the hospital and at home.

i’m having production anxieties. i am only producing 1oz per pump.

thanks for posting a positive and encouraging success story.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:52:30 +0000

Yay for you! Breastfeeding is hardwork. It took me and my 8.5mth old a good 5 weeks to get in the swing of it, and it was so hard, painful, emotional and demanding. But we’re still breastfeeding and it has been some of the most special time together. I hope to feed her for as long as she wants it but return to work approaches and that means pumping.

I just can’t stand pumping. If anything makes me feel like a cow in a cowshed, it’s pumping. Especially with the squeaky hand pump. urk. Best of luck with your 2 day stint.

By: Antonette

Antonette — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:37:10 +0000

I have to say, my husband was extremely supportive of my nursing. When our son came home from the hospital and immediately pulled a nursing marathon overnight, I was so exhausted and sore (nursing and emergency C) that I literally BEGGED him to give our son some formula from those darned samples. He brought me ice packs, he brought me water, he said we’d get through it. He even took the little bugger to the nursery and let him suck on his finger for an hour so I could get some rest. (he would never take a paci)
I had plugged ducts, I worked (and pumped) outside the home, and managed to nurse until 24 months. I stopped due to illness. The meds were bad for him. Even now, at 3 1/2 he still asks if I have milk. He came up with the idea that if I drank cow’s milk, it would make my breastmilk come back.
I would not trade those 24 months for anything, and I feel bad for moms who want to nurse, but aren’t able to.

By: Evonne

Evonne — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:19:05 +0000

I knew from the start I was going to breastfeed and I hoped to make it to the 1 year mark but really didn’t know what to expect. It was HARD some days, especially in the beginning, but I just set very small goals for myself. First I just wanted to make it a week, then 2 weeks, then 4 weeks, then 2 months, and my next goal was going to be 4 months, but by that time it was smooth sailing. My first son stopped nursing by 13 months, but my second kept going until about 22 months old! I never envisioned going much past the 1 year mark, but it just seemed so normal. I didn’t realize I was being green without even trying to be!