able to breastfeed....

hi just wondering if there are people who couldn't breastfeed or didnt breastfeed? my mum couldn't with me nd my boobs haven't got any bigger since i got pregnant. just wondering how the midwife and everybody dealt with it breastfeeding is so pushed these days which would be great if you can or want to but im a bit worried i wont be able to.

Hi, I couldn't breastfeed. My breasts didn't increase in size during my pregnancy (which wouldn't have mattered) and I had high BP which had to be controlled by medication. I was induced 2 weeks early, bubs didn't latch very well and would munch down quite hard on the nipple! I did try for 3 days to get us there and had decided enough was enough. The lactation nurse talked me into trying again - so we had to do finger feeding, tube ... in the attempt to get her going, after striking a very nice nurse on the ward she said I had made my decsion and that was it and TOLD the lactation nurse to back off (she was a bit pipped!). My midwife didn't have much to say at all. All I can say is don't stress whatever happens happens, and don't be scared to say this is what we are doing. I was the only 1 in my antenatal group to bottle fed and I feel so judged once again for making that decision - but at the end of the day bubs is healthly and thriving! Good luck.

According to my friend's lactation consultant, there are only 2% of people who can't breastfeed, so I wouldn't worry too much about it at this stage.

Breastfeeding is great when it all goes well, and worth some effort to get it established in the beginning. However, like others have said, don't beat yourself up if you can't manage it. Bubs will be just as happy on the bottle.

My mum didn't breastfeed, but it was not the 'thing' to do back in the late 70's in the uk, lol! And i'm onto BF my 2nd baby!

My boobs didn't really grow during pregnancy, they were big enough already, DD's.

I wouldn't worry until bubs is born, talk over your concerns with your midwife or lactation consultant then just go with the flow once baby is born. You might surprise yourself. But you have to do whats best for you and baby in the end. BF is not easy, it's painful to start with and tiring. Wow not selling it very well am I.

I agree with PP as far as i know only 2% of woman cant BF.

However in saying that it all comes down to how you feel once your child is born.

While i was pregnant i always said i will give it a go. But to be honest it completly freaked the Sh*t out of me lol

Once i had DD everything just came so natural, it was amazing. I didnt have any latching problems however. Its always good to have goals, like 1 wk, 6wks, 12wks, so on.

Good luck im sure you will be fine.


I think its always best to give it a go. If you or your child arent happy and formula is the best opition so be it

My mum fed me no probs but it was really hard for me with Jake. I used nipple shields coz he couldn't latch properly and none of the medical people round were any help whatsoever and actually made things hugely more difficult!
At 6 weeks things really started to gell (try to stick with it coz it does get better!) and I suddenly began to enjoy it then I got mastitis and Jake had a massive reaction to the penicillin medication they put me and ended up in hospital lol its sucked since it really had started to click. He did great on formula though.
I'm def gonna be trying BFing again with number 2 though, I think next time round I'll have alot more confidence in myself and more understanding of how things work.

Also I wana add - don't let the medical staff bully you! I asked for a bottle after 8hrs of not being able to feed Jake after he was born (yeah I had to ask coz they were paying so little attention even though he'd been inconsolable for almost 5 hrs!!) and they refused unless I signed something saying I wasn't going to BF. Since I didn't want to do that they said I had to express then let him suck off my finger and since Jake was a big baby he got really frustrated!
The other thing that happened was that in the first couple of days while we were still in hospital was that I did actually get him on and feeding and it didn't hurt, we were both perfectly happy, and the nurses would pull him off me and say he wasn't attached properly. If it doesn't hurt the baby is fine! Thats what I learnt later and I wish I had more confidence when I first had him I would've told those people where to stick it!

Anyway sorry for the novel lol this subject has just been such an issue for me! Good luck hun