Comments on: I was a breastfeeding failure

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:10:04 +0000

I had a horrible time the first time around, and an awesome experience the second time. I think every mom needs to do what is best for her and her baby.

By: Kathleen Bunn

Kathleen Bunn — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:13:15 +0000

That is a lovely post. I breastfed my first two sons until they were each 12 months old, but that is because I either was a stay at home mom or had my own business where I took them with me.

When my third son was born I had to go back to work after only a few weeks and I worked outside the home. I breastfed him until I started working, but when I tried to pump it made my breasts bleed (literally) so I had to stop. I felt even more guilty at that point, not only because he had to go on formula, but also because his brothers had been breastfed. He thrived just as much as they did and is just as bright and connected to me as them as well.

By the time my fourth son came along and I was still working outside the home on weekends, I did not even consider breast feeding. My oldest is now almost 10 and throughout the years I too have learned that there is no cookie cutter for life and everyone has to do what is best for them.

By: Brandy

Brandy — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 04:16:17 +0000

Great post Trisha. I think it’s great to hear another side of this. I mean I know how important breastfeeding is but for someone who may not be able to for what ever reason it can make someone feel bad. I wanted to at least try to breastfeed Owen but I was way underweight after I got done with morning sickness (they had me down as 90lbs) and my OB told me she was very pro-breastfeeding but wouldn’t recommend me to breastfeed and it made me really sad. But Owens’ healthy, happy, and very energetic 5 year old boy now lol.

By: Jenn@FFP

Jenn@FFP — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:43:37 +0000

My experience with my first born a little over 12 years ago was very similar to yours. Everyone assumed I would breastfeed. No one asked if it’s what I wanted or was comfortable doing. I gave it a shot. Like you, I felt like a total failure as a woman and mother! My BF had a baby a year before and was still breastfeeding, loving every minute of it. Needless to say, that did not make me feel any better about myself. I gave up after 6 weeks. I told everyone it was too chaotic to work outside the home AND pump AND raise my daughter by myself but secretly I just hated breastfeeding.

I never produced much either and felt like I was just some milk machine! After 3 kids, getting a bit older and wiser, I no longer feel like a bad mom! I’ve actually discovered LOTS of women felt like we did!

Too bad blogging wasn’t really around 12 years ago! ;D

By: cara

cara — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:23:24 +0000

I had the same experience, only I lasted a lot less time than you did. Thank you for sharing this!

By: Claudia

Claudia — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:52:05 +0000

I tried with both and had two completely different experiences. My first son hated it. I pumped until he was 6 months old. My second son, took to it well (perhaps I was more educated on what to do and not to do the second time around) and I breastfed him until he was 10 months old. It might have been that I did things differently, or it might have been that the baby’s personality was different. Who knows.

By: claire

claire — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:50:26 +0000

Aw, Trisha, thanks for sharing. I went from never thinking much about what I’d do, to being a 4 year long nursing mama. I’ve seen & heard stories & struggles & I always like to hear those shared. It’s never helpful to be told,preached to or judged, guided is much more helpful =)

By: Allison

Allison — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:26:45 +0000

I tried with both and failed with both. My first had an infection and had to stay at the hospital. I pumped while she was there, but she never did latch on when she got home. With my second I tried, and had to try those nipple things to get her to latch on. That worked, but the help gave her nipple confusion and she would never just latch on without help. I then pumped for 2 weeks straight so she didn’t get formula. I was caged up and couldn’t go anywhere at all. I was so depressed and figured a depressed mother is worse than feeding your child formula. My oldest was a formula fed baby and she thrives in all parts of her life. I understand breast is best, but it honestly doesn’t work for everyone. I wish it did, but it just doesn’t!

By: Shandra

Shandra — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:59:33 +0000

I have three kids and have breastfed all three of them. I do enjoy it and love the time that I spend doing it. On the other hand, I’ve only made it to 9 1/2 months with each of the first two, and am working on weaning the 9 month old down as well. I think it’s horrible that doctors tell new mothers that they’ll automatically lose weight by breastfeeding, because for some moms it’s just not true! My first two kids were weaned because it was just time for them, not necessarily for me, but this one is getting weaned because I just can’t afford to keep this weight on and I don’t lose it until I finish nursing. I’m grateful for the time I spent nursing, and will miss it, but at the same time, completely understand why moms choose not to and I commend you for doing what felt right for you and your daughter! You CAN be a great mom and not nurse!

By: breast feeding information

breast feeding information — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:41:35 +0000

The important long term benefits of breast feeding include reduced risk of asthma, allergies, obesity, and some forms of childhood cancer. The more that scientists continue to learn, the better breast milk looks. In addition to making your baby healthier, breast feeding may also make him smarter. Many studies have proved that breast fed babies tend to be more smarter than babies who were fed with formula or other methods