Brides Helping Brides ™ - not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

meganNbobby Posted: Jun 01, 2004 07:27 PM

not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

i want to breast feed but only for the first time like right after the babe is born then go to normal formula, is this possible? Do I have to commit to the whole thing or is just once okay, I just want the first thing for the baby to eat is to be from my body. Can I do this?

Dee7772 Posted: Jun 01, 2004 08:05 PM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

I am not 100 % certain but I believe you can do this.

kptoys Posted: Jun 01, 2004 08:24 PM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

Yes, you can do it. The baby will only get colestrum from you. Are you going to feed once and then never again? I dont know if you are going to have the baby latched on correctly to do it once to benifit from it... maybe 3 days then stop... OR maybe youll like it and continue.

lisau18 Posted: Jun 05, 2004 09:16 PM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

I am as RN and working on the maturinty floor. I am surprised by all the moms that want ot breast feed their infants. For the first 24hrs most newborns are very sleepy and it is a difficult task of getting them to latch on, and even though clostrum is available the infant must properly latch to get it. We never push our moms to breastfeed but for those that want, we do encourage frequent feeding to help the learning process. Your milk actually doesn' t come in for at least anywhere from 2-4 days. Moms also are always changing theirs minds. Once you start you may enjoy it and if not that is fine too. For future reference to stop milk production make sure you ice the breasts for a few days once you start feeling like they are filling

Betty Posted: Jun 07, 2004 10:08 AM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

Is it really that much better TO breastfeed? I never really wanted to but people are always saying how much better it is for the baby. My mom never breastfed any of us.

usuk2004 Posted: Jun 07, 2004 10:46 AM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

I wasn't breast fed and I turned out okay

I'm actually not sure of the benefits of breast milk over formula, but I was talking with a friend who recently had a baby and she said that her doctor told her that formula is more difficult for the baby to digest--it's heavier and they get tired from the digestive process itself--the result? The baby sleeps better and longer!

Kelly9904 Posted: Jun 09, 2004 08:29 PM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

From what I have heard every situation is different! My one nephew breast fed but at 4 months he was barely sleeping 4 hours at a time! So they started him on formula at night and it worked wonders 6 hours no problem!
My other nephew drove my SIL crazy because he was SUCH a slow eater! By the time he finished, she only had a short time before he was hungry again! And my neice REFUSED to even think of breast feeding! If you didnt give her the bottle she wasnt eating!

I know they say their are health benefits to breast feeding but I agree with those who said they werent breast fed! I wasnt and I was a happy healthy baby and am fine now!

At this point I have no desire to breast feed but maybe that will change when I am TTC!

JENNCHRIS Posted: Jun 09, 2004 09:05 PM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

I found this info on a website....

Immediately after delivery, your baby should be placed on your chest or abdomen, skin to skin. Babies are very alert after they are born, and they are usually hungry, too! Your baby’s first feeding can take place within 30 minutes to an hour after delivery. The protection against infection that human milk provides is important immediately after birth. Your milk will also give the baby nutrients to prevent a low blood sugar level. This early taste of your milk also stimulates the baby to nurse better later.

Human milk and infant formula are different. Not only does human milk provide all the protein, sugar, fat, and vitamins your baby needs to be healthy, but it has special benefits that formulas cannot match. It helps protect your baby against certain diseases and infections. Because of the protective substances in human milk, breastfed children are less likely to have the following:

Ear infections (otitis media)
Allergies
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Pneumonia, wheezing, and bronchiolitis
Meningitis
Research also suggests that breastfeeding may help to protect against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Other reasons why human milk is good for your child include the following:

It is easier for babies to digest.
It does not need to be prepared.
It costs nothing to make and is always in supply.
It is even good for the environment since there are no bottles, cans, and boxes to put in the garbage.
Breastfeeding also provides physical contact, warmth, and closeness, which help to create a special bond between a mother and her baby.

There are also many health benefits for you because breastfeeding does the following:

Burns more calories and helps you get back to your prepregnancy weight more quickly.
Reduces the risk of ovarian cancer and, in premenopausal women, breast cancer.
Builds bone strength to protect against bone fractures in older age.
Delays the return of your menstrual period, which may help extend the time between pregnancies. (Keep in mind that breastfeeding alone will not prevent pregnancy.)
Helps the uterus return to its regular size more quickly.
The longer you breastfeed, the greater the benefits will be to your baby and you, and the longer these benefits will last. The World Health Organization (WHO) and many other experts encourage women to breastfeed for as long as possible, 1 year or even longer, because human milk provides the best nutrition and protection against infections.

aliciahelene Posted: Jun 10, 2004 05:25 PM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

Im going by my sisters experience because she just had her baby, she was torn whether to breast feed or not, she did until she got a wicked infection, then switched to formula, some babies are able to digest easier than others and there are so mnay different formulas out there that you can try..its trial and error...as for burning calories and losing weight quicker, that didnt happen at all for my sister. My mom had five kids and breast fed some of us..I rarely get sick and wasnt breast fed and my younger brother who WAS breast fed is always sick. My other sister had three boys, never breast fed and her boys are never sick..so I think its different for every child. Theys ay breast feeding is a big commitment and its not easy..so its all about what you can handle. I worked as a research assistant in an infant cogintion center, the DOc is alwasy publishing studies.and she had told me that if you dont want to breast feed DONT do it, she said babies will sense that you are unhappy about it and will cause them stress, only breast feed if you really want to! Of course..I dont know what I will do..Ill wait and see how I feel when its my time!

aliciahelene Posted: Jun 10, 2004 05:26 PM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

I personally get disgusted when a child can walk up to his mom, lift up her shirt and breast feed. grosses me out, but thats just me.

Rainmama Posted: Jun 21, 2004 09:44 PM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

At 19 months, I'm still breastfeeding my daughter. It is the best decision I could have made. She and I have such a deep and wonderful bond that I can't even describe.

What is so disgusting about doing one of the most natural human acts? There is no written law that says a baby should stop breastfeeding when he/she is old enough to walk, or old enough to pull up mommy's shirt. My daughter 'helps herself' all the time...at home. Although she does attempt to in public, I have to stop her from doing so because other's seem to find it 'innapropriate' or 'disgusting.'

aliciahelene Posted: Jun 21, 2004 10:45 PM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

I think its a personal decision everyone has to do what works best for them. It is very natural to breast feed your child and its wonderful that you do it...but I will never like seeing a child in public helping themselves. I dont know why it bothers me, it just does. Maybe something I need to work on, but just don't think its something I would be comfortable doing with my own children. Just my personal opinion on the matter.

aliciahelene Posted: Jun 21, 2004 10:49 PM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

I am thinking about it and I realize it was not fair for me to say it disgusts me. The decision is between a mther and her child, I dont have a child, so I know nothing about that bond. Just because it is something I personally don't like, I shouldnt have said it disgusted me..Im sorry for that..that was rude of me. You should not have to NOT breast feed in public because people don't like it..if I see it..i just dont look..thats all!!! But you should still be able to do it!

Rainmama Posted: Jun 22, 2004 10:21 AM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

Posted by aliciahelene

I am thinking about it and I realize it was not fair for me to say it disgusts me. The decision is between a mther and her child, I dont have a child, so I know nothing about that bond. Just because it is something I personally don't like, I shouldnt have said it disgusted me..Im sorry for that..that was rude of me. You should not have to NOT breast feed in public because people don't like it..if I see it..i just dont look..thats all!!! But you should still be able to do it!

Thank you!

aliciahelene Posted: Jun 22, 2004 12:49 PM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

I felt bad all night last night!!! The issue is with me, not anyone else. I see that now....Thats a bond I know absolutely nothing about and couldnt possibly understand until I have chidlren! again, please accept my apologies!

Rainmama Posted: Jun 23, 2004 07:28 AM

Re: not TTC yet but I have a question about Breast Feeding

Posted by aliciahelene

I felt bad all night last night!!! The issue is with me, not anyone else. I see that now....Thats a bond I know absolutely nothing about and couldnt possibly understand until I have chidlren! again, please accept my apologies!

Absolutely, girl!