https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 14 May 2026 18:37:49 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pointless#post-185416 Mon, 11 Jun 2012 09:18:05 +0000 TubeAlloy 185416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the input (it sounds like we are in a similar boat, Skibobrown)! I have on my list to try and get in touch with the local La Leche League and the lactation consultant who was at the hospital. For all my whining, the actual breastfeeding part has gotten much easier (when he'll latch on!). The pumping is still awful, but it appears to be necessary for supply reasons and to avoid lots of pain if someone else takes a feeding. Plus, a very kind friend of my husband's just gave us a Medela Pump In Style last week that she was gifted and didn't need, so now I feel like I HAVE to keep going with pumping, at least for a while (I realize how many women would love to have that problem, heh).</p> <p>If it's benefitting the baby, I am inclined to keep at it, and even if my supply stays low, so be it. I made it to one month when I was ready to quit before two weeks were up, so I want to push for two months. And then why not three? And then it's just one more month until I'm back at work... One day at a time, like everything else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pointless#post-184973 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 20:14:51 +0000 sulli301 184973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It took me at least 6 weeks, if not 8, to really feel confident with breastfeeding! We just had so many issues &amp; it was so hard at first. I breastfed LO for 13 months, &amp; it gets SO much easier!! It is not for everyone, but it gives your LO many wonderful benefits &amp; even just a little bit is great for them. Have you tried reading any books or speaking to a lactation consultant? That helped me a lot. I read <a href="http://www.breastfeedingmadesimple.com/7-laws-posters.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.breastfeedingmadesimple.com/7-laws-posters.html</a> this book &amp; although a bit one sided, it helped me so much! Good luck :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pointless#post-184846 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 18:30:02 +0000 lemondrop 184846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is very hard, I can't say that I really *love* it, and I felt very similar around 6 weeks pp. Every time I would see the lactation consultant I would feel much better, then I would start to feel down again. I started going to BF support groups at my hospital, which also helped quite a bit.</p> <p>By 8 weeks things got much better. I was able to wean off of the nipple shield, my supply started to stabilize, I got more sleep, and I felt more in control. The more sleep I got, the less depressed I felt.</p> <p>I definitely see so many benefits to breastfeeding mentioned above, some are more vain though- one of my favorite things is that for now I can eat whatever I want and still lose weight!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pointless#post-184801 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 16:26:05 +0000 T.H.O.U. 184801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I understand what brownie is tryin to say. If you wantto make this work then for most women there are steps to make it work. Seeing a LC could be a good idea. Again this is just saying that if you have a goal of 4 months then try to seek out some help and meet your goal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pointless#post-184757 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 14:25:18 +0000 pastemoo 184757@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. Breast feeding can be ridiculously hard.<br /> 2. It is helping! human breastmilk has lots of oligosaccharides (short chains of sugars with special chemicals on them) that cannot be replicated in formula--at least not yet. every bit of breastmilk LO does get is a victory for both of you. Go ahead, be proud of yourself for doing this for 5 weeks!<br /> 3. i had the issue with feeding being a fight--i started giving him a little formula FIRST, so he wouldn't be so hungry he couldn't focus on eating. then he could latch and stay on (though i did have to work on the latch, le sigh). Now, he's completely off formula and I only keep 2 bottles of pumped milk in the fridge--one in case he needs a little to start breastfeeding, and one in case my nipples hurt SO bad that i give up for that feeding.<br /> Hang in there! Sounds like you're doing everything you can! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pointless#post-184717 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 13:44:21 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 184717@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just want to point out that even 2 breastfeeding sessions a day give a baby the benefits of being breastfed. So what you are doing in this case is actually giving your little one all the decreased infection risk and all the other benefits of breastfeeding.</p> <p>I wonder if you can forge on knowing that it is beneficial? Save the meager amount you pump too, because in the event you just can't stand to continue, you can have a small frozen stash to continue to help provide those two feed a day benefits :)</p> <p>Ultimately, you have to do what's right for you and your family, but don't dismiss the very real benefits LO is getting :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pointless#post-184714 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 13:33:26 +0000 brownie 184714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@zippylef: I don't mean to be rude. And in no way am I trying to point out inadequacies. </p> <p>I am trying to support women who may want to breastfeed. If they don't want to, there is nothing wrong with that at all. But, I strongly believe that women who want to need to know that they can do it. So often, woman are told they can't or shouldn't do things. If you are told it is impossible, it will be impossible. For example, girls are often given the impression that they shouldn't like math and science careers. I want to girls to know that all women can do those careers. If they want to. It may not be the career path for all of them. </p> <p>My sister had twins and breastfed and supplemented for 6 months. That is amazing. Just like all of your attempts where amazing. Just like formula feeding is amazing and there is nothing wrong with any of those.</p> <p>It is really hard when you want to do something and you weren't able to do it how you dreamed about. I really wanted to breastfeed immediately after birth and I wasn't able to because I was passing out for the first few hours. It makes me sad that I missed that but I can't let that define me. It makes me feel terrible that my breastmilk hurt my baby so much. But I can't dwell on those feelings, I have to look at all the good things. My son has a wonderful personality and can go out to dinner with us. I have to remember all of the good things and not focus on all of the woulda, coulda, shouldas. This doesn't make me inadequate, it makes me a mother. We will always feel like something isn't right. All we can do is keep streaming ahead and know we are doing what is best for us, our kids and our families. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pointless#post-184700 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 13:14:44 +0000 loveisstrange 184700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: I don't want to be rude or start drama or anything, I swear.... but comments like "everyone can breastfeed" are really hurtful to those that tried and couldn't. It makes women who already feel inadequate feel even worse. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pointless#post-184654 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 12:15:35 +0000 skibobrown 184654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>First of all, you shouldn't feel bad if you decide to stop breastfeeding. But... have you tried going to a lactation consultant or a breastfeeding support group? If you can find a group that has a good digital scale, then you can weigh your baby before and after a feed to figure out how much he is actually eating during a breastfeeding session. </p> <p>I actually have a similar problem. My daughter is 10 weeks old, and my milk never really came in. She gets about 1 oz from me total from each breastfeeding session, and then I top her off with formula from a bottle. I have continued to breastfeed throughout my maternity leave, but I'll probably stop once I go back to work next month. I hate pumping, and I don't see much of a point if I only produce an ounce each session. My daughter has taken really well to breastfeeding though, which is one of the reasons that I continue even though I produce such a small amount of milk. If I was in your situation, then I probably wouldn't have continued with the breastfeeding. </p> <p>Still... if you can find a way to increase your supply by working with a lactation consultant, that might be worthwhile to you. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pointless#post-184649 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 12:04:24 +0000 brownie 184649@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You must do what you want to do. I believe that everyone can breastfeed (barring some physical deformations etc). But there is a lot of work to do. Have you talked with a lactation consultant? or La Leche League? Support is the number 1 thing I think helps in this situation. If you talk to them, at least you will be fully informed. </p> <p>I am amazed I made it as long as we have which is 1 year. Take it one day at a time and don't stress out. Take 1 weekend and don't give formula just you and the baby in the bedroom with good tv. Enjoy yourself. And then if it is time, give up but take that time with our LO because you can't ever get it back (especially going back to work). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pointless#post-184642 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 11:55:54 +0000 loveisstrange 184642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I strongly feel that there is a point at which breastfeeding is more for the mother than the child. When breastfeeding is nothing but stress and negative emotions... I think it's time to quit. I was unable to breastfeed because of factors beyond my control, even though we tried and I even tried relactating after the issues were resolved. At that point, she had been fully formula fed for 4 weeks and seemed happy and healthy. I tortured myself pumping all the time, taking supplements, drinking tea, eating oatmeal... in the end I stopped. It had just become a giant mess and I honestly don't think my LO cares what the heck she's eating as long as she's fed. I feel alright about it now too. I feel like I did everything I could to get it to work and it just didn't for us. There is no shame in that.</p> <p>Some people just don't like breastfeeding or don't want to. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. If you quit, don't feel guilty. The most important thing is that you and your baby are happy and healthy. If that means formula... eh, no big deal. </p> <p>I am fully pro-feeding choice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pointless#post-184633 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 11:44:38 +0000 mrsjazz 184633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Breastfeeding is not for everyone...but I just wanted to say that what your son gets when he breastfeeds versus what you pump is probably going to be different because babies work better than pumps.</p> <p>Pumping increased my supply--so you might want to pump after he feeds, even if a lot doesn't come out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pointless#post-184607 Sun, 10 Jun 2012 11:17:53 +0000 TubeAlloy 184607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure my attempts at breast feeding have any purpose beyond making me feel like I'm doing what I'm "supposed to" do. I welcome any thoughts.</p> <p>My son is five weeks old. We start his feedings on the breast, and he'll go anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. He always needs formula after (we're supposed to supplement with Neosure anyway). I seem to have a very paltry supply. Based on what I get when I pump, and what he eats when he just takes a bottle, I seem to produce, at most, a bit over an ounce per feeding. So many women seem to get ounces and ounces per session!</p> <p>And I wonder what the real benefit is of doing all this. He's obviously getting some breast milk, but most of what he eats is formula. He's growing well and seems content. Getting him to take the breast (with nipple shield) frequently involves a protracted wrestling match. Pumping is a nightmare, so I'd prefer to feed him from the tap as much as possible, but given my low supply, anyway, am I doing this for him or for me? I've tried Mother's milk tea, and such, to no avail.</p> <p>I'd like to continue until I go back to work at 4 months, but not if it really isn't benefitting him much, given that I sort of hate it. But I'm having a hard time finding guidance that isn't pushing one agenda or another. </p>