Were you able to breast feed your babies?

**homesteadmamma** · 01-12-2006, 07:37 PM

No I wasn't. I wished I had been able to.

**KimSecret** · 01-12-2006, 08:29 PM

Yes, I breast feed Olivia for about 8 or 9 months before putting her on a cup.
I breast fed Ethan for 4 months. I had to stop so I could be put on antidepressants (I'm bipolar) It broke my heart when I had to stop breast feeding my baby.

**AmyBoz** · 01-12-2006, 08:31 PM

Yes. I breastfed both Julia and Patrick exclusively for 6 months, then breastfed first thing in the morning and before bed while giving them baby food during the day for the next 6 months. Then we stopped when they were just about 1.

I was hoping to do the same thing with this baby, but having to go back to work may put a wrench in the works. I'm not sure how the whole pumping deal is going to work. I'm going to try it, though.

**Emerald_Mommy** · 01-12-2006, 08:55 PM

I breastfed Isabel until just after her first birthday. I'm still nursing Ingrid. We've got it down to morning & before bedtime but sometimes she still wants to just after naptime, too. I hope to have her completely weaned by the end of the month, but we'll see.

**YankeeMom** · 01-12-2006, 09:02 PM

I was

DD1- 6 weeks (put on meds, couldn't pump)
DD2- 9 months, she self-weaned
DS1- 11mos, self-weaned
DS2- 13mos, self-weaned

**StarvingStudent** · 01-12-2006, 09:10 PM

With DD, nursed for 3 weeks.
DS is still nursing at 8 months. Was taking solids really well but is refusing them now

.

**Kimberlina** · 01-12-2006, 09:15 PM

Yes- it was very hard at first- excruciatingly painful, which people don't ever tell you it can be, but I persevered and she self-weaned just before her 2nd birthday. She was exclusively breas-fed for the first 6 months, and I went back to work at 13 weeks and pumped like mad to get enough to sustain her while I was gone.

I really wish people would tell the truth that it CAN hurt even if you are doing things right. I think women give up because they think it will always hurt and they just aren't going to be able to get it right. For me, it was just a matter of time, and then it all of a suddden didn't hurt anymore. It was strange, because I generally have a very high pain tolerance.

**baxjul** · 01-12-2006, 09:57 PM

Yes, for one year.

**Valerie in WA** · 01-12-2006, 10:04 PM

dd1 self- weaned at 10.5 months and
dd2 self- weaned at right after she turned 3yrs - she had her first food at 8 months, and her first beverage (other than water) at 19 months.

Those were wonderful times.

**bevjean** · 01-12-2006, 10:13 PM

I didn't breastfeed my any of my boys. The first I was afraid to plus with him and #2 and I worked alot of really weird shifts and I didn't think it would work out well. I actually wanted to try on my littlest one but it just didn't work out. I didn't think I would be physically able to do it because my boobs were way way way too big, but the lactation specialist at the hospital insisted that I would still be able to "anyone can." I proved her wrong, I was really too big for it to work. I was still going to keep trying but I ran into medical complications after my son was born and was put on too many drugs to safely keep trying.

**mom2matty** · 01-12-2006, 10:16 PM

No and I tried desperately to do so! It just didn't work.......I spent many days with the lactation specialist at the hospital with both babies.......even after we were released......it just didn't happen for me and I truly wish it had!!

**Renee-2kids** · 01-12-2006, 11:15 PM

I worked with lactations specialists too. Four of them. I did nothing but nurse, pump, eat, and sleep for 2 1/2 weeks after the second was born. Nursed then pumped every two hours. I could not get enough to get either kid back up to birth weight. The first baby got lethargic and we couldn't wake her. So we supplemented with formula. I gave them what I could and then they got a bottle. Did that with the first for 6 months and 5 months with the second. Then they got formula.

It's a very emotional subject for me. I think it contributed a great deal to some PPD I had after the first baby.

**Logansmom** · 01-12-2006, 11:37 PM

I did for one year with my son-it was hard but worth it!!

**kaykwilts** · 01-13-2006, 09:10 AM

I wish I had been able to because I believe it is better for the baby's health and also beneficial to the mother's health but I have flat nipples so the babies weren't able to get a grasp.