Breastfeeding experiences??

Question

How strict were You guys with what you ate and avoided during breast feeding?
How strict were You guys with pumping and maintaining a schedule? 
I thought I had decided to solely do formula my second time around. But now I'm feeling guilty about it all if my milk comes in and I don't use it. I remember getting very depressed during my first time bc I always felt I didn't make enough, pumping made me feel horrible and feeding just didn't make me feel good in any level. I don't know what to do now. Any advice? I don't want to feel down about it again if I can help it. I just want to enjoy my two boys, but no matter what I can't help but to feel guilty.

Answer

I had great experience, my breastfed with bottle and without. It’s hard to be strict especially if you want your husband to help you. Sometimes my husband will feed baby with bottle so I can rest or go for shopping. The first 6 months I didn’t give her bottle and it was hard because baby was on my boob 24/7 and sometimes she was using it to soothe herself. That’s when I started introduced her to bottle. We only offered her bottle if I’m not with her. My baby was very healthy and chunky lol my doctor always asked what I feed her. We didn’t introduce formula, but we weren’t strict. I ate whatever I wanted, but I don’t smoke or drink. I think every mom will develop her own breastfeeding rhythm. As long as your baby is healthy then don’t stress over it.

Answer

I had a rough time last time due to lip and tongue ties that were never corrected. I nursed until he was 7 months. I wasn't too worried about supply until I went back to school and had to pump a lot more. Before that I rarely pumped, and I don't plan to do it much this time, but he gained great until I started school. Pumping is not an accurate account of how much baby is getting, so I would honestly nurse as much as you can if you plan to breast feed. 
Lactation groups/classes/consultants can be a life saver. 
As far as diet, I wasn't strict, but I now know he has allergies and so I should've been. I was only told to cut dairy, but he wasn't allergic to dairy, so it didn't do anything. I wish I'd known then what he was allergic to, but it's really hard to just guess. 
I was so miserable last time, that my threshold will be much lower this time. If you want to try, I suggest definitely going for it, but to not put so much pressure on yourself. There is no big award at the end of the first year that you get if you breast fed. Fed is best.

Answer

I eat normally. The lactation consultants said eat how you did pregnant. I pump every 4 hours during the day, 5 at night. I have a great supply. My baby is 5 weeks old. I do breast and bottle breast milk feedings

Answer

Thank you all for the support, encouragement and advice! I have decided ima give it a go, with a new mind set. I'll try and if I'm too overwhelmed I'll switch off. My sister has recommended me to the bumble bee manual pump. And I feel so positive about it. I'm very excited and clear minded. Thank you all for the non judgement!!

Answer

I avoided nothing while breastfeeding but the first 3 months were hell with my first.  Cracked bleeding nipples and the anxiety I would get when she was about to latch!  I had to be careful not to transfer it to her as that made it so much worse too.  I gave up trying to pump as even that tore me up and baby did not like the bottles I tried.  Finally gave up on ole “Lefty” and became “The One Titted Wonder”.  Baby girl would gag every time I tried feeding on the left, tried washing, pumping, etc as I thought maybe it was me or old milk, etc. Tried feeding both sides with baby #2 but again finally caved and fed on only 1 side.  Was self-conscious and sometimes tended to walk to the right but did what had to be done.  Honestly don’t know if I would have breastfed baby #2 if it was as hard as the first time.  Thankfully 2nd time around was easier. I breastfed my daughter till I was 36 weeks with my second daughter then I weaned her as I was not feeding 2 kids on one tit.  Lord help me if I ever have twins, lol.

Answer

I had a great experience with breastfeeding. My first son was very colicky so I had to watch my diary intake to make it not as hard on his tummy. I also started eating a ton of oatmeal as it helps increase milk supply. I had to be strict on my pumping schedule especially when I went back to work otherwise I would either decrease in milk or i would become too engorged. My advice is to not stress about it. If you want to give breastfeeding a try then do it but if it doesn’t work or your body isn’t producing enough it’s ok.

Answer

I just avoided peppermint and meds that would affect supply. Otherwise are normally. I was strict about nursing/pumping frequently at first and not excited about that part this time around. Early on it felt like foreverrrr and my last loved to cluster nurse at night so we wound up with a huge oversupply. All in all we nursed for over 2 years and in a lot of ways it was convenient and in a lot of ways it was more work.

Answer

I figure it’s good for him and good for me so I’ll do my best but won’t torture myself if it doesn’t go well.  It’s also free food/free weight loss so sign me up!  
I’m hoping to be a little more relaxed about my diet, maybe occasional sushi or lobster rolls that I’ve been missing if that’s lower risk for breast milk transmission than placenta?  And I def won’t be 100% abstaining from alcohol.  I’ll be as safe as possible/pump and dump but I think I’ve earned a celebratory drink or 10.
I’ve heard you want to feed/pump 8x per day to maintain supply but FTM so that’s not based on any of my own personal experience.

Answer

My son had a lip tie so I struggled with nursing but I ended up pumping exclusively. I pumped whenever he would eat (roughly every 3 hours). I’d wake up at night to feed him a bottle and pump at the same time. Once he started sleeping a little better through the night I’d wake up once to pump at night around 1 or 2 am. It wasn’t easy but I felt better being able to feed him my breast milk. Not that there is anything wrong with formula.

Answer

I breastfed my son for 2 and a half years. He wouldn't ever take a bottle no I was only doing boob feedings. It was so exhausting but worth it for us. I ate normally,  and I still had occasional drinks on weekends and such, my doctor old me if I feel drunk or tipsy then to wait to feed, but if I felt find then it was okay to feed. I made a pretty good amount of milk so supply was never a issue for me thankfully. I hope I can get my daughter to take a bottle this time around. Good luck on what ever you decide.

Breastfeeding experiences??

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