how do you do it?

[tammy88]

okay my first kid was a formula fed baby. the idea of breast feeding every two hours doesnt sound fun especially if you are out in public or need your hands free. but its cheap. its free. how can you be the breastfeeding mom sometimes? what kind of schedule do you use? like bottles while out and ta tas while inside? i dont think i want to pump we try that with jayson and we had a manual pump doesnt work so well..i thinking of using forumla sometimes..can you do that? i want to be more frugal this time around with everthing...any tips? on anything?

its another boy!!

[Telephus44]

I didn't have a feeding schedule while I was nursing my son - I did try and make sure that if I had some control over when I left the house that we left after I fed him, but if I had to feed him while out in public I just found a quiet spot. I wore oversized shirts so I could just put him under my shirt - I found trying to cover up with blankets to be too hard to do with a hungry baby. I did some pumping, but only if I had to leave him with someone for a while.

[krissyre]

I agree with the oversized shirt tip. I also have a New Native sling, so when my youngest two were very small, I would be able to put them in the sling and feed them hands-free. (The sling is highly recommended, whether you BF or not...)

I think the inconvenience aspect is all relative. While it is definitely a pain to be breastfeeding every two hours for the first few weeks, it's nice to always have the food available, at just the right temperature. And you'd be surprised at how few people know you're BFing in public once you get the hang of it.

I only breastfed my oldest for a few weeks before I went back to work -- otherwise he was on formula. EXPENSIVE!!! Plus, it was SO inconvenient having to constantly remember to bring a bottle with us. And then God forbid that we were out so long that we had to prepare another bottle! We'd have to try to figure out a way to wash out the bottle and refill it...

Plus, when you bottle feed, you have to use one hand to hold the baby and the other to hold the bottle. With breastfeeding, you can hold the baby in one hand, and have a book, a remote control, a fork, a pen, or an icy cold Caffeine-Free Diet Coke in the other. (Just not all at once).

In all seriousness, if you decide to give BFing a try, you can certainly supplement with some formula after the first few weeks (once your milk supply is established). It doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing thing.

[tammy88]

you can put them under your shirt? with out smothering them?

[Telephus44]

Yeah - if you wear a loose-fitting shirt, you can just put their head underneath - people might see your belly, but you're not really exposed. I bought a set of shirts that were extra loose fitting just for that reason.

[Peaches]

I loved breastfeeding. I enjoyed the bond it created between me and my children. It was harder for me to stop feeding them than it was for them to switch to bottles when the time came.

the idea of breast feeding every two hours doesnt sound fun especially if you are out in public or need your hands free

After some practice, you'll find that you can feed in public and people won't even realise you're doing it. And frankly, so what if they do? You're feeding your baby. That's why God gave women boobs in the first place. If someone says anything to you, like, "You should do that in the ladies' room", tell them they should go and have their lunch in the bathroom. Loose tops are good, as well as having a little blanket or an extra cloth diaper along.

Breastfeeding allows for one hand free, sometimes even two when you get good at it. You have to hold a bottle, you don't have to hold a breast.

If you feed on demand (rather than on a schedule), you'll get to know your baby's needs and you'll be able to feed before you go out somewhere. But when you do go out, you won't need to worry about taking bottles with you.

Breastfeeding isn't for everyone, but I suggest trying it for 2 or 3 weeks first before deciding whether or not it's right for you.

[annymoll]

I think you will find it easy to do once you get the hang. I never knew when mothers were doing it. Most were discreet.I did have a woman once who breastfed in public exposing her breast for all to see. Had two sons with us(it was in a family diner). The whole time the boys never said a word, just ogled her. She had the nerve to tell us our boy's were being rude!!!!!I told her to cover her tit and it would solve the problem, but I was not going to stop them from looking!The whole diner clapped!!!Drama mama she was, and not the norm. Enjoy your baby. No one will harass you for feeding it in public as long as you use common sense.

[kittykatstrong]

In some ways it is easier than bottle feeding. At night I just took her to bed with me(no getting up to make a bottle). Now that she is bottle feed I have to always worry about bringing a bottle. And after you get your supply in you can always hand pump a bottle just to take with you so you don't have to breast feed in pulbic(not that there is anything wrong with that).

Katy

[ms. frugal kugel]

I, too, loved breastfeeding both of my children! One of the best experiences of my life, AND never an ear infection in either child!

Fortunately, the eating every 2 hours part doesn't last forever! My first daughter wanted to nurse all the time, so that was rough, but it slowed down eventually. I was lucky in that I was able to take 7 months off (unpaid of course) with both kids. I never had luck with breast pumps and in fact got a nasty clogged duct that really hurt from using a pump.

No one can really tell if you are nursing a child in public, generally, if you have a cardigan sweater or other drapey clothing. And if they do, 99% of the population willl have enough courtesy and sense to not pull up a chair or start a riot. There's always an exception though...

Tips...hmmm. Keep your nails short and clean (to break the suction when they fall asleep while eating). Have some food you can eat with one hand around. Oh! This is a bit odd, but if you nurse past age one, be sure to brush their teeth. My daughter had some cavities on her molars when she was 2 and I think it was due to the nitetime nursing and lack of interest in formula.

Congrats, by the way!

[ubumartin]

I bf my last two and it does take some getting used to but if you give it some time I am sure you will find that it is quite easy and convenient.
You learn to be very descrete. The oversized shirts, also a small recieving blanket will cover.

I worked 5 hours a day with my youngest one and I would feed her right before I left, my husband usually fed her one bottle of formula while I was away and she would be ready for me when I came home. I did not like to pump so the one bottle of formula on the days I worked was fine. She didn't seem to mind as she was used to it early on. Pumping though is a good way to get your milk supply established and you can have someone else give the baby a bottle so that they get used to bottles too.

[mom2bobsarah]

I BF both of mine and it does become second nature. But, I will say that I am a large woman and I did find it hard to be discreet even with nursing tops on (I am a 44DD and they just did not want to stay hidden) I would supplement with a bottle here or there when we were out but I also nursed in places like Red Lobster without people noticing. I also believe that God created boobies for this not for men to play with, so people who complain need to get a grip. I am not saying to flash the world mind you, but feeding your baby is perfectly natural and boy it was convenient at night. Good luck in whatever you choose, as a side note, I let them give my dd formula at night in the hospital so I could sleep through the night. I highly reccomend this. I had another one at home and I knew that was the only rest I was going to get and I took advantage of it. I never had any problem with my milk coming in. Also, do not get discouraged if you have any problems in the begining, my son was born at 37 weeks, had jaundice, and wanted no parts of nursing. I just sat a cried because they were threatening to keep him in if he did not start nursing. Little did I know that he was so hungry he just could not get out of his own way, so to speak. Allow the nurses to do their job, let them give the baby a little formula to spark their appetite and they will nurse like there is no tommorow. I am sorry of I babbled too much, just trying to help.

[zakity]

BFing is not that hard. I BFed all three of my boys (two of which are twins). It was so nice not to have to take bottles places. It was always available and at the right temperature. I only BFed the first one in public because I had to take my shirt off to feed the twins. I wore large shirts and I did use a blanket too. He was a wiggly child and he would lift my shirt up.

Part of the reason I did BF was because of the cost. It was cheaper back then for me to stay home and BF than it was for me to work and pay for daycare and formula.

[tammy88]

HI!

IM LARGER CHESTED WOMAN TOO! I HOPE I CAN KEEP THEM HIDDEN (42dd).....LOL

I REALLY WANT TO BF BECAUSE OF THE COST OF FORMULA..I REMEBER WHEN JAYSON WAS BORN AND ONCE HE PICKED UP DRINKING HE HAD TO HAVE ENFAMIL SOY..I WAS ALAWAYS SCARED TO CHANGE BRANDS ON HIM AND THAT COST $40.00 A WEEK! OR SO!!

MY HUSBAND JUST DOESNT THINK I WILL KEEP UP WITH IT

I JUST DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BREAST FEEDING...=)

THANKS LADIES

[pip]

Breast feeding has a lot of advantages. Always food available, right temperature, healthy, definately a $ saver. It takes a little bit to feel comfortable with nursing in public, but wearing a big shirt makes it do-able. I had a battery operated pump that worked great. I would pump when I felt full and baby wasn't nursing and freeze the milk for when I would go out. And, night feedings are so easy. Good luck!

[thrifty gal]

I was extremely nervous about breastfeeding my second child. But, what really helped me was to read, read, read all the info I could, and I had a friend at church who bf all of her babies, so she was willing to answer any questions that I had. Also, check with your hospital to see if they offer a bfing counselor or classes. A bfing counselor came to my hospital room after baby was born, and really helped me.

It does take a little bit getting used to, but I promise you that if you hang in there, you will like it much better than bottle feeding, and it is easier in a lot of ways.

Here is a good site to go to for info: www.kellymom.com

Good luck!