breastfeeding support

I read an article today that Jax posted and got me to thinking about breastfeeding and support. I bf Jake exclusively til 3 months when I stopped, and Taine was only 6 weeks when i stopped. BUT I had no problems with the feeding side, it was just the emotional side that made me quit.

So my question to you - did you stop bfing because you physically had to, or do you think with more support you could have continued?

Me first: I really wanted to continue bfeeding Jake, but once I started work I had NO support whatsoever (was in japan). the daycare claimed to not be able to accept breast milk, and my work had no understanding of pumping. If they had been more accepting, and given me more support, there is no question I would have continued. I bf him at night for another 2 months, but then stopped completely.

with T, the plunket n urses seemed to assume because he latched and fed well, all was well. but it wasn't. yeah, I had had a baby before, and could deal with that, but i had never had a toddler and baby before and was really struggling with the guilt of getting pregnant so quickly again. Mum, bless her, had never had two kids (i'm an only) so rather than saying ":what you are feeling is normal and here is how I dealt with it," said "here is the easy way - formula". i think the guilt feeling that comes with having two kids (and possibly subsequent ones), is what bfeeding cponsultant need to [provide support with as well.

So with both my cases, I feel like if I had more support, i would have feed longer (not to say the support doesn't exist - just that I didn't get it)

how about you?

With Janaya I would have probably gone on longer if I had support/the knowledge to do so. I was very young and really didnt know what I was doing. When we visited DHs grandparents his cousin told me Janaya was very hungry and that I must not have enough milk, so I gave her some formula and she seemed much happier. Looking back I feel stupid for believing her, but I didn't know how great BF was for babies back then either.

With Jackson I was adament I would "get it right" and make a really big effort to breastfeed. I was in absolute agony, dreaded breastfeeding and would stamp my foot at every feed crying. I saw the plunket nurse and MW on various occasions and everyone assured me it would get better, and that a bit of pain during let down was normal. I got to 6 months and Jackson started biting, so I decided I had endured enough pain and it was time to stop for my own sanity. I also got mastitis every month as well.
Breastfeeding was certainly more of a "pain" and not a joyous experience for me. Would have breastfed for 2 years had it not been so damned painful for me!

With Daniel it was sort of both but neither at the same time.

Daniel was a horrible feeder from day 1, it wasn't that it hurt or anything, I didn't have pain, I didn't get infections, I had lots of milk, but he was a right ass to latch.

I found it really difficult to do it with such massive boobs and I was very very self conscious about the way I had to latch him and hold my boobs, I had to have one hand on him, one holding my boob in place cause if I let it go he would pop off and get suffocated lol.

It was never relaxing and I hated every minute of feeding him. After 3 months I had just had enough of fighting and stress to get him to feed. I didn't need more support because I had support from DH and a LC/MW. I couldn't go breastfeed in public because I didn't want to expose myself in that way (cause it was alot of boob that got exposed lol).

I just got fed up with it, I made it to 3 months because I had had enough. Switching to bottle just made everyone so much happier

I know this sounds odd but being able to breastfeed is the thing I am most anxious about in terms of the baby. I have chest disfigurement so one of my breasts points into the other one and I have flat nipples. So I've already got this nagging thought that my body isn't going to be able to do it.

I really wanted to BF Carys and definitely want to BF future babies.

Carys was a great latcher and feeder and I had way more milk than I needed (huge oversupply). But I experienced severe and debilitating pain in one breast when feeding. I never got mastitis but was treated with several rounds of thrush cream and 3 lots of ABs - nothing worked. The MW and doc eventually told me that it was probably just slight muscle damage and that it would get better. It never got better and after 3mths of crying through every feed I gave up. I was so disappointed. I would've fed for a year if I didn't have so much pain (I would've settled for less pain than labour)

My pain has eased but, almost 2yrs after I started BFing I still have ongoing pain and issues with that breast. I am having my issues investigated (due to a lump) and it is looking likely that I have had Fibrocystic Breast Disease all this time - which cannot be treated but in itself is no great major.

My fear is that I REALLY want to BF next time around and if I do have Fibroids it is highly likely that I will have the same problems reoccuring

Does anyone else here have Fibroids? I'll pop another thread up so that this one doesn't get hijacked.

i saw a lactation person with my first, but that was related to his tongue tie not any specific feeding problem... i had a lot of unsupportive freinds and family with regards to me fully breastfeeding but i had made up my mind... i used to use the bottle as a threat to my babies when they got too tricky - and i used a dummy to sort out my problems with the middle child...

the problem with support systems is that sometimes we as mothers think we are super women and dont need help - we can do it all on our own! and damn you if you say otherwise! so even if support is there, its accessing it or wanting to access it even.

(oh and my opinion probably isnt worth much seeing as i didnt stop breastfeeding but i love to give it anyway )

Thomas was BF for 3 weeks - I quit because I had no supply and no amount of people harassing me to try harder was going to make it happen, and I didnt really want to do it anyway.
The next one will be bottle fed.

have you read that article Deb? It's really cool and eye-opening. although I completely agree with the 'superwoman" comment, the support given to this canadian woman was more like an expectation that of course you breastfeed and isn't it great. taxi drivers saying how wonderful it was she was breastfeeding and what a great start she was giving her son - i think he was like 2 years old though - a time where if you are still breastfeeding in NZ, you get stares - i would imagine.

lizt hat was a great article - i expect toby to become a wrestler now! but i dont know if i want that for eden! LOL!

Edited by Bizzy

Kellie wrote: Lemongirl, the hospital will have a lactation consultant who will be able to help you as soon as you have the baby. Even if it means using nipple shields etc. Have you told your midwife about your concerns?

Good advise, I was induced & got to see the lactation consultant before & after baby was born, she was great, they also gave me the shields & heaps of support from the ward m/w.

I suggest you talk to your mw & she will arrange support for you. BF is not easy for everyone,