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Breastfeeding? Opinions?
Added: 355 days ago.
Added by: 2babiesforme
Section: General.
Status: This question is Closed. (Questions will be closed after 10 days.)


Sooo Im super torn this time whether or not to breastfeed. Im due Oct 13th and this will be my second son. My 1st boy os 3 years old. I have many concerns :( First off my son won`t even let me hold my Yorkie - gets super jealous. Second Im a super private person when it comes to breastfeeding so I know that will be hard this time because I will be with my 3 yr old everywhere and I cant drag him back to the car all the time. I did 5 months months with him but this time Im not sure I want to? Im having the hardest time deciding because I know breastmilk is best but it would be sooo much easier if I formula fed this time. Not too mention hubby could help with feeding equally. I just dont want my 3 yr old to feel neglected while I feed allll the time. I feel horrible that Im even thinking of not breastfeeding, I guess part of me is being selfish :( I don`t know what to do. This is a super hard decison Booooo!

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MichelleMc(pink!) - 351 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Awesome! You can do it! Feel more than free to ask for any more help, too. :)

2babiesforme - 352 days ago Thanks EVERYONE! I see all 21 answers say I should so I will give it a try even if its just for the 3 months Im home - some is better then none I suppose! If you all can do it then so can I. My son yesterday did notice my boobs were bigger obviously and pointed to my nipple and said "whats that" I said "Well honey thats how mommy is going to feed your brother Cameron". He kind of looked at me and moved on so thats a start. He also saw a woman at an event the other day and asked her and she said she was feeding her baby and he peeked under the blanket (I was horrified) but she didnt mind at all. Maybe the more he sees it the more he will understand it when it really happens. Thanks all - your answers mean alot to me xoxo!

kamy107 - 353 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I agree with lisseo and MichelleMc(pink!). I bf both my boys and didn't have problems with the older one feeling jealous about feeding. Plus it is so convenient. My youngest is 3 now, and I am 31 wks with baby #3. We have already talked with him about bf and how that's where the baby's gets its milk, which is all babies can eat. Kids are smart, and they adapt easily. Your 3 year old might have other jealousy issues, but I think feeding will be ok. You can also explain that you did this for him and now it's this baby's turn. No matter what you decide, try to bf for as long as you can. Don't feel guilty if you can't, but don't give into your older son either. Being a sibling means that you have to share. I know it is much easier for my youngest to accept sharing than it was for my oldest b/c he didn't have to share for so many years. I also liked some of the other suggestions about reading or playing games on the floor. Good luck and try not to stress about it!

MichelleMc(pink!) - 353 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Oh, and I want to mention how incredibly easy breastfeeding gets once you get your groove down. Baby gets fussy, just pop him/her right on! Also, if baby is hungry, you can feed him/her in one arm or in a sling or carrier while you help your 3 year old, rather than having to take the time to mix a bottle. :)

MichelleMc(pink!) - 353 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I would definitely give breastfeeding a go and give it your best shot- that first colostrum is so important. As stated below, your son will adjust, and sometimes jealous kids surprise you with how well they do! :) I like the idea of having him cuddle up with you while you nurse, or maybe have something fun he likes to do that he only gets to do while you're nursing- he might start looking forward to baby's feeding time! :) if you're on Facebook, consider joining the group "The Leaky B@@b" - tons of supportive moms on there who have great advice- I know they'd have even more suggestions for you. Also, I'm a really shy, modest person, and I have been surprised how easily nursing in public has been for me- I don't even use a cover, I've been successful at being very discreet without one. A nursing tank is your friend (you don't have to pay big bucks for one- they have them at Walmart); I wear one and I just keep the bottom of my shirt close to baby's face after I pull it up and NOTHING shows. Best of luck! Feel free to message me if you need any help, as I've really learned a lot about breastfeeding both by reading a ton and through my own experience. You can do it! :)

laura2 - 354 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Don't worry too much. Your 3 year old will catch on that mommy has to take care of baby. My daughter was 3-1/2 when my son was born and she was super clingy. To help her I would sit down to breastfeed and then at the same time I would help her play a game on the Ipad or read books to her or even sit her at the table to draw. She was fine with it and became very accustomed to me having to feed the baby. I am very private too which was hard with my daughter but I found that I didn't care quite as much when I had my son. So I breastfed anywhere but I bought a Hooter Hider cover to use and it gave me all the privacy I needed. Trust me you really don't care when you are out with a toddler and have a crying baby that wants to eat lol. But you do what is best for you. No one can decide what is best for your family besides you and your hubby :) Good luck!

babygirl (pink) - 354 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) that good advice harrycat. I hated breastfeeding with my first because i didn't know about nursing bras and my milk leaked everywhere. I did it for two months before my son refused. This time around am better equiped but its still a challenge. I have to wake up at night to pump. The only motivation is that am doing what's best for my dd. Just like you, am sure when i go back to work, i will wish i hadn't spent so much time pumping at night instead of sleeping.

tto - 354 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Very valid concerns!! Can you do both? Casually nurse when it's convenient but rely more on formula? Pump whenever you can too. You know, there's no way of looking at a baby and telling whether it's been breastfed of formula. Sure breast is best- but formula nowadays isn't too shabby!!

harrycat - 354 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) You're not horrible or selfish whatever you decide. I didn't enjoy breastfeeding and found it difficult with my second for the above reasons you described but pressurised myself to do it for 6 months due to the benefits. With hind sight it ruined my maternity leave, and I was much happier when I stopped. If I were to have another baby and do it all over what i would do is breastfeed or combined feed for 6 weeks so the baby had the early benefits and then see how I felt thereafter. If things were going well I would continue, if not I would stop. Personally i would also pump and give a bottle a day from very early (or give a bottle of formula) so the baby was used to taking from both were I to decide to stop at 6 weeks. I know there is a risk of nipple confusion doing this, but if you are not sure you want to exclusively breastfeed you may not want to get into the situation where you have a baby who will not take from a bottle if you really want to stop. Whatever you decide please do what is right for you and don't let people or yourself put pressure on you or make you feel unhappy. Good luck x

babygirl (pink) - 355 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) my 3yr old is not a problem at all. When he hears the baby cry, he wants to sooth her or he tells me baby needs milk. I am breastfeeding but sometimes i have pumped milk in the fridge. He will at times get the milk from the fridge and tell me to give it to the baby. He also asks to help with feeding. My advice is to give it a try and see if it will work out than not trying at all and wondering what would hav been.

babygirl (pink) - 355 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) my 3yr old is not a problem at all. When he hears the baby cry, he wants to sooth her or he tells me baby needs milk. I am breastfeeding but sometimes i have pumped milk in the fridge. He will at times get the milk from the fridge and tell me to give it to the baby. He also asks to help with feeding. My advice is to give it a try and see if it will work out than not trying at all and wondering what would hav been.

lisseo - 355 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I don't really know much advice to give you. But, I do want to say, your son will get use to it. You have to remember, even if your sitting down feeding the baby a bottle, that still requires the same amount of hands and breastfeeding, and the same amount of time. So whether it be by bottle or boob, your son will have to get use to you feeding the baby

mommyharts - 355 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I wanted to breasfeed this time as well. I have a 3 1/2 yr old & a 2yr old & now a newborn. Nurisng wasn't successful with my 1st 2, I nursed & pumped & wasn't making barely anything, after pumping every 2 hours all day I barely pumped out 3oz total. I tried latching baby #3 on in the hospital & it wasn't going so well. So I did pump some milk at home & he got alittle of my milk, just like the girls did. There is no way I can sit at home & be 100% relaxed like your suposed to when your nursing with my 2 girls, so we are formula feeding & I'm not even stressing over it. Give it a try & it doesn't work or is too difficult then don't beat yourself up over it, it doesn't mean you love your child any less because you can't or choose not to breastfeed :) Good Luck & hope it's successful if you do try :)

Anotheroneiscoming - 355 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Another suggestion is if you brestfed at home and bottlefed out in public. I like the idea someone said about reading a book to the older child while brestfeeding. Also explaining to the oldest child that that is one way of feeding a baby. And when your out or have company or you are too tired during the night maybe you could have a bottle prepared with expressed brestmilk.

frenchie23 - 355 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I also have baby #2 on the way... My daughter just turned 17months and I'm 31weeks, I am definitely planning on breastfeeding... My daughter does get very jealous and I know it will be a challenge but my fiancé is taking time off work and my daddy is coming down to visit for a couple weeks, they will try to make my princess feel special while I take care of our lil man and so we can get a hang on breastfeeding lol... I breastfed my daughter for 10, almost 11months but it was tough at first so I'm not expecting this time to be super easy either lol...hopefully I can make my daughter feel like a lil helper with other things and make sure she still feels like #1princess, she will just have to get used to make room for #1 prince :P

jamie86 - 355 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I breastfeed my daughter and my son was only 2 when she was born. The first little bit was rough but we made it through it. I plan to bf this baby too but like you I'm worried because my daughter is super jealous. I'm hoping she will be ok though. As for when being out and about you could pump and bottle feed then. I just wore nursing tanks under my shirts and used a nursing cover. I don't want anyone to see anything either and with the cover no one did.

angie2008 - 355 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I think you should give it a shot! I breastfed both of my kids. My daughter was only 16 months when I had my son. My daughter didn't have a clue what was going on- your 3 year old should understand if you said something like "i have to feed your little brother/sister." Or you can do things like read a story to him while you are feeding the new one. It was easier for me to just pop out my breast instead of trying to juggle a toddler and a newborn while i was trying to make a bottle. Your hubby can help with your 3 year old whild you are caring for your newborn. If it doesn't work out- you can always move to formula and know you did the best you can. IF you start with formula you will always wonder if what you did was right and if you realy could have breastfed. I think if you want to really give breastfeedding a shot than you will find out how to make it work for you and your family. Also- I used the breastfeeding covers when in public and gave my toddler snacks to keep her quiet while I was feeding the baby. good luck:)

itsaboysmomlifeforme - 355 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Long story short, i ended up pumping and bottlefeeding breastmilk exclusively for 3rd baby. i did this for nearly 10months! I am like you, in that I am also a private person so I wouldnt want to deal with baby needing to nurse in public, especially trying to control 2 active boys while i did so. And I NEED to get out during the day, I hate staying at home all the time. PLus you have doctor appointments, playdates, shopping trips, etc. So even though I had to take out 20 minute intervals to pump at home (like every 2-4 hours), I was able to sit with them or watch them play during this time and they never felt jealous and or upset by this (they were 3 and 1). Bottle feeding is SO convenient!! Other people could help feed the baby when they came to visit (and that was sometimes when I actually got to shower!), and of course my husband handled lots of feedings:) I hope you find what works best for you, and congrats on your new addition!

FarisMama - 355 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) This is our 4th child due in jan (my third time breast feeding-my oldest is a stepdaughter). I too am not very comfortable bf in public but if needed I went into fitting rooms or the big stall bathrooms and fed my LO. I have only made it a month with both my babies- got mastitis with oldest and she cudnt feed properly and my son had colic and something bout me did not agree with him at all :( it is hard at first with the older siblings wanting you and ur tied down to a nb but just talkin to ur child about wars goin on can make a big difference...I let my girls color or build blocks by me so I cud still engage verbally in their play. I'm gonna give bf a try again and hope 3rd times a charm! I sat try it. U can always switch to formula if and wen it gets to be too much :)

SamplingNo2 - 355 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Maybe you could try pumping for a bit? I pumped for the first couple weeks with my DD (she couldn't latch because of a tongue-tie), and then switched to formula after that. I found the bottle feeding convenient because at night, my DH and I would take turns with the feedings, and if you choose to bottle feed again, your son might enjoy helping to feed the baby as well. I'd like to give breastfeeding a try this time, but I'm perfectly fine with bottle feeding if breastfeeding doesn't work out. I'm like you - I'm a private person and I'm not like the ones who can just whip their boob out wherever they are (not that there's anything wrong with that - I totally respect those who can do it!).

mybabysuprise - 355 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I think you should just make your older son cuddle time offen and special too. Breastfeeding is very hard but best like you said. It might be helpful for you to nurse every 2 hours instead of on demand. When out, you can bring special toys and use fitting rooms to nurse.

emmyslittlegirl - 355 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Don't feel bad, with my first 2 I bottle fed. With this baby I'm breastfeeding in the hospital but formula feeding at home. If u could give your next baby breast milk for the first few days that is better than not at all. The only reason I'm breastfeeding in hospital this time round s the experience it.

2babiesforme - 355 days ago Any ideas would be helpful - if you have 2 or more kids what did you do!?