Why do you love breastfeeding?

[JanetF]

Give us your top five...or more!

1. It's so satisfying to watch a baby grow and learn and all from my milk!
2. I love the smell of milky baby breath...ahhhh...
3. I love how boobs fix everything - falling over, separation anxiety, illness, tiredness, shyness, teething....
4. I love that he can ask with his own special words for booby now.
5. I love knowing he's been optimally nourished his whole life!

How about you?
:D

[draught]

In no particular order
1. It's convenient
2. I know I am giving them the best possible start in life
3. It is great for my weight loss
4. Fantastic for travelling, especially on a plane
5. Excellent for putting a baby to sleep
6. A lovely excuse for a big cuddle
7. The only time my very active littlest person will stay still these days
8. Justifies the large breasts I have always had as being more than just good cleavage in low cut tops!
9. Before they start solids their poo doesn't smell too awful.
10. I could go on.........

(And in editing - I agree with everyone else's reasons too!!
A further one - I never had to worry if they were getting enough vitamins, iron, etc, etc, etc when they were exclusively breastfed - now I am constantly worrying that there is a good balance in their diets!)

[H&B'sMum]

what a great thread Janet.

I love:
1. The fact that my body is all my DS needed to grow and be healthy.
2. The look of satisfaction on his face when he was feeding.
3. Looking in to his eyes and having a "conversation" with him through our looks.
4. The time I got to rest and just "be with him", our time, being in the moment.
5. The way my breasts solved all his problems and for that time I was the centre of his universe.
6. That lovely milky smell too!!!Mmmmmmmmm love it.

Opps when 1 to many oh well. You get the idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Milly]

1. Having something special that only I can give that makes my baby grow.
2. Custom made and adapts for my child
3. Convenient and so portable. ( & I did not need a nappy bag for the first 6 or so months as all I had to carry was the odd nappy and some wipes)
4. Great for comforting when your baby is very upset.
5. Closeness
6. Great for travelling overseas or interstate. Or just anywhere.
7. A great fixer upperer. Not just to drink, but as a topical treatment for odd spots etc.
8. It's free and always on tap!
9. Boosts their immune system.
10. Their poo smells like bornhoffen yoghurt and not the least bit offensive :).
11. Relaxing. Breastfeeding calms you and bubs down.
12. Great for weight loss.


Oh, I could keep going :D

[JanetF]

Woohoo great answers! Very inspiring :D

[rachdent]

I love breastfeeding because it's something that only me and my ds can share. Also it's easy - I don't think I could cope with sterilising and making up bottles. Other reasons include the special things we do when bf - reading, singing, giving kisses.

I reckon all your reasons are fantastic and I would love to hear from you for a book I'm currently researching/writing on breastfeeding. If you'd like more information on the book and how to contribute, please email me at Pink.Ink077@gmail.com

Cheers,
Rach!

[Artemis]

What lovely responses :D

I love the breastfeeding relationship I have with my daughter... for lots of the reasons that everyone has written. It is so intimate and I love the bond that we have.. her babymilk smell was so intoxicating and at 3 it is still her favourite thing.

[AM]

1. Ilove the fact that my milk has helped to grow this wonderful, healthy little being
2.I love putting him to sleep on the breast
3.I love that it seems to be an instant pain relief, tantrum soother, comfort.
4.I love the cuddle time
5.I love the absolute convenience

[Nickster]

How can I possibly add anything - everyone has said it all :)

1. Pride that I alone can provide her with the best start in life/optimal nourishment
2. The cuddles and closeness and little jokes and giggles
3. Being the perfect way to get her to sleep
4. The joy and pride in my DH's eyes when he watches me feed her
5. The absolute convenience

And that's just for starters...

[Briannabear]

I agree with everyones answers!! :D
I also love the closeness it gives my daughter and I. Its our 'special' time! :)

[ThomasMum]

I BF Thomas until he was 3 months old.

But the special moments DH and I have with him from bottle-feeds lives on. Especially when he looks at me with his HUGE eyes whilst he drinking his milk (from his bottle), or the occasional smiles he gave now and then. His little fingers playing my face whilst he drinking his milk (from his bottle).
His cute breath smells still the same…
Oh and most importantly, he’s healthy, happy, very smart baby, the only times he goes to doc is for his immunization! All from BF and bottles!
Isn’t he lucky! :p

[sopolicha]

In no particular order

1. The little tiny fingers on my boobs as she feeds

2. The gummy mouth coming for me (but can be scary)

3. The milky breath

4. How she goes "limp" after a big feed and looks so relaxed

5. The 'milk drunk' look on her face afterwards, with the little trickle of milk out the side of her mouth.

6. How my ds, 2 and a half calls her the "gummy boob shark" (this one could nearly be my favourite one)

7. The nicer poos, even though there are so many of them.

[nemosmum]

I truly didnt enjoy bf for the first 4 months (very depressed and unhappy) but I love that fact I persevered and kept bf until DS was 10months old. (after the first four months) I loved the eye contact, the way he only had eyes for me, as if I was his everything......I still get misty eyed thinking about those special moments. It makes me feel sad that I didnt cherish/enjoy those first few months of bfeeding but I suppose you cant control how things make you feel.

[Rainbowbrite]

For me its

the closeness i feel watching her feed,
the smell of her breath,
the smiles while feeding,
the sound of her drinking,
the look in her eyes,
the tickles i get from her little fingers touching my side
and what everyone else has already said.

I only wanted to do it for 3months max, now i don't want to stop. It's so private & I just love our quiet time together :D

RB

[JanetF]

Aww RB that's beautiful! Lucky bub and lucky mama! :D

[BugBias]

Why Do I Love Breastfeed

As I type this while bf my son I can write (slowly)

1)that it is the best thing for my boy!
Yes I've been there through the pain and missing out on tones of things (going out with friends at night, working, being by my self) but at the end of the dat whats a year of your life?

2)My son is carlmed by feeding and my three year old feels safe crying into my boos as she hugs me.

3)Yes I admit I'm darn lazy,

4)yes I admit it's a great way of making sure my MIL does steel my boy for longer than 3 hours!

5)But I love it cause I was mainly brought up to think that was what boobies were for.

It's so great to read other peoples loved, unlike some forums! :p

[draught]

Sopoli - I LOVE "the gummy boob shark"!!!! LOL!!!

My sister's 5 year old used to ask her to do things while she was bf and he would say - "just sky feed her mum" - in other words keep feeding while you walk around!

[Rockett]

Why I love breastfeeding..

* I know DD is getting the best possible start in life
* The feel of her warm little body snuggled up next to mine
* the milky breath smell
* the way her eyes half close when she's getting the hindmilk
* and our little ritual when she is fininshed...DD brings her hand to mine,palm to palm,and we stay like that for a few seconds, smiling at each other... we do it after each feed..so cute!

[Aprilsmum]

I agree with everyone's reasons, so I'll just add: I love the way my DD reaches her hand up to me while she is feeding and I bow my head just a little so that her hand is on my mouth and I kiss it whilst she is feeding. Just beautiful! :)

[nemosmum]

I used to do that to Aprilsmum, its so sweet........oh and I LOVE the name April its beautiful and I havent heard it in ages!

[JeSsIkA]

the main reasons i loved breastfeeding my daughter
1. didnt have to get up in the middle of the night to make a bottle
2. didnt have to bother about trying to heat bottles in shopping centres or anywhere
3. no sterilising
4. easy and convient always at perfect temp
5. smells much better than formula

[eli's mum]

Because nobody can interupt,

nobody can take over,

nobody can do it.

Only i can do it,

I am responsible,

nobody else, except me. I just love that.

Breastfeeding for 8 months and it is my special time with my daughter...

:)

[Aprilsmum]

Thanks Orlandosmum for your kind words. I can sympathise with you previous post about not enjoying breastfeeding for the first few months. But I think that it really makes you appreciate it all the more when things finally come good. Soooo worth the effort.

[sopolicha]

Another thing - when I am breastfeeding - nothing else really matters for a little while.

[Rainbowbrite]

Another thing - when I am breastfeeding - nothing else really matters for a little while.

So true :) When i'm feeding, I can't concentrate on anything else. Its like MJ & I are in a bubble that nothing can penetrate. DH gets annoyed at times because he'll be telling me about something and i honestly just don't hear him. He'll never get it :rolleyes:

RB

[Milly]

Oh, and I left out before..

13. When I have had to be away for a while, I can express and leave milk for my baby if I ever get caught out. I can always have a freezer full if I ever get caught in an emergency situation or need her to be babysat. So I can pump it and have it on hand if I am unavailable for a feed.

14. Oh, and even with demand breastfeeding, my daughter slept through the night from 8 weeks of age. :D

[alicesmum]

fantastic thread!!

i loved all the same things everyone has already mentioned.

i also loved the fact that my breasts were serving their function. THEY ONLY HAVE ONE FUNCTION. (Being attractive to the opposite sex is nice, but it's not their FUNCTION!!).

So, I am grateful to whoever or whatever made me confident enough in my own body to be totally cool with the idea of whipping out my boob and sticking it her gob!

I must confess I feel sad when reading other threads where women say they just felt all "wrong" about the whole idea of it. It's sad because it's the equivalent of feeling wrong about wizzing out your urethra or "weird" about chewing with your teeth!

On this, I just feel like saying I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY THAT I GOT TO USE MY BODY PARTS FOR WHAT THEY WERE INTENDED (i.e., my vagina for birthing my baby and my breasts for feeding her).

I think it's important to be able to say this and not feel guilty. It is not at all meant as a criticism to others who were unable to do these things!!

Phew. That feels better!!! :p

I also had moments when the bunny rug feel off and my boob was exposed for the whole world to see (and it was big and pink and not the most attractive thing in the world). Who cares!!! If anyone gets offended, why should I worry. I mean what's the worst thing that can happen.

Good on all you gummy boob-shark feeders! :p

[JanetF]

Hooray Alicesmum! I think you're my better looking twin ;) Yes, the function of the breast is to feed. Sing it, sisters! :D

[H&B'sMum]

I also love that milky drunk feeling. I got the whole "body doing what it's suppose to do" feeling when I was pregnant. I couldn't understand how some women did feel womenly or sexy while pregnant. This just carried over into Breastfeeding and love that my breasts were doing their job and loving it.

"Give me a b.....B
Give me a r......R
Give me a e.....E
Give me a a.....A
Give me a s.....S
Give me a t......T
Give me a s......S

GOOOOOOOOOOOOO BREASTS YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[JanetF]

ROFL Karena. This thread is a tear jerker in so many ways!

[JanetF]

I thought mamas might like to read this. I love this site!

101 Reasons to Breastfeed.
http://www.promom.org/101/index.html

[petster]

Ooohh!! I love this thread!! Why do I love breasfeeding?

I love the convenience, the "whenever, wherever"... I love the fact that it's my milk that has resulted in a healthy "chubby bubby"! I love the fact that I'm actually doing something natural - that my body hasn't failed me entirely (damn that caesarean birth!) I love the hungry little smile as my bub opens her mouth wide when I offer her my nipple... I love the contented little snuffles as she feeds and the feel of her fingers on my face... I love watching her eyes half-close as she sleep-feeds... I secretly love the fact that she has issues taking the bottle - a bit stressful, but it makes me feel so wonderfully indespensible!!

I think that's all for now...

Thanks Janet for starting this thread - it's made me stop and think a little - and get a tad teary too...

Cheers!

[JanetF]

You're welcome, Miranda. And yes, you are the most important thing in your babe's life! As it should be :D

PS It's not usually women's bodies that fail them, it's their careproviders ;) but we can talk about that another time...

[Peaceangels]

I did it with both mine after not such a good start (severly grazed nipples), but I was determined to perservere and DID! It's been 10mths since I stopped bf DS2 (who by the way used to rub his hand across my chest gently while he was bf), but I have such fond memories - thanks everyone for reminding me about how wonderful it was! :D
Here's a few of my reasons for loving it
- eye to eye contact with a love so strong your heart melts
- knowing you are building your baby's immune system and giving the best possible start in life
- enjoying a closeness only mum and bub can
- its always the right temperature and amount
- makes outing's a little easier
- I just love that lovely milk breath too - mmmm

[red crayon]

I love him snuggling up to me
I love the little masages I get from his hands when he feeds
I love that look of ecstasy when he starts feeding
I love the convenience
I love watching him grow day by day in my arms

[sopolicha]

I think this is the nicest thread that I have ever seen here. Thank You Janet.

Catherine and my gummy boob-sharks.

[Milly]

Another thing was the reward of success after starting out in the early days.

I was also glad that my perseverence paid off and was rewarded by something truly amazing. Our bodies are marvellous! It took me some time to establish ( like it takes most women & bubs 6-8 weeks to establish and three months for most things to settle. It ain't always easy to start, but it becomes so very easy in time) and after all the start up pain and tears, I was rewarded with the most amazing thing to be able to do for my baby. I was so glad I hung in there. It was one of the most rewarding experiences.

[Briannabear]

Catherine and my gummy boob-sharks.
Ha ha!! Funny! :D

[Briannabear]

What a beautiful thread! Good on you girls! :D

[csackett]

ohhhhh you made me cry.... hope that I too can do this amazing thing to feed and bond with my bubby in not that many weeks.............

[JanetF]

Hey Cathy, do you have boobs? ;)

Now is the time to get that support in place for bf so you're not doing it at the same time as learning about your beautiful new baby. Go to your local ABA meeting. They'll be thrilled to have you and then you'll know them all so you can go back with bubs and get all the support you need! I put a lot of work into learning how to bf when I was pregnant and never had a single problem. No grazes, no crying, no problems at all. It can be done but you need to prepare for bf like you prepare for birth. And your bf relationship lasts much longer than birth does! Just PM if you want any help :D

[justtwogirls22]

i love it for the convenience (no bottles to wash or formulas to mix up)

i love it cause no one else can give her booby :D

[katesmum]

This is a beautiful thread - like many of you, reading it brought a tear to my eye....

I have been BF DD for 5 and a half months and just adore it for so many reasons.

1. The way she stares into my eyes when feeding
2. The way she comes off and spends what feels like hours just gazing up at me whilst she has a rest from feeding and then gets back on.
3. The power of a boozie is greatly underestimated.

I have had many ups and downs in breasting feeding - low milk supply, nipple shield, blocked milk ducts etc, well meaning but undermining family & friends but after all this time I have come to realise that I have to have faith in my body and let it be my guide.

When starting out, I found it the smallest 'well meaning' comment could really shake my confidence..... Comments like 'are you sure she's not hungry', 'are you sure you have enough milk' would send me into a tail spin for days!!!!

I used to (and still do sometimes ) stress about - do I have enough milk, is she getting enough..... but try hard to remember that we have managed so far and with a bit of luck and dedication will continue.

Anyway I am rambling now so I better move off and read some other threads

;)

[H&B'sMum]

You're so right Katiesmum. You do have to trust your own body. I got told when I was breast feeding Harry, from a male no less that the reason why Harry was long and thin was: "Are you still breastfeeding?" - Male
Me- "Yes"
Male -" Well that's the problem your not feeding him enough, put him on formula and that will fatten him up".
My response was to get up and leave and never see them again. The reason why Harry was long and thin was because his mum is 5"9', his dad is 6"4' and all 4 of his Uncles are over 6"4'.
That sent me spinning for days. I had to gain confidence in my body's ability to feed my child again and realised the only way I could do this was to put trust in my breasts and yes they did see me through.

[katesmum]

I just wish that families were as supportive as the health and medical communities!!!

I think that as BF has come in and out of fashion over the years, this really influences the advice that friends and families give. For example, my mother was told 'her milk was no good' and so she stopped feeding after 6 weeks with all 3 of her children. So I think she has this inbuilt belief that babies are better on formula.

I have heard from other family members of similar age that 'their milk dried up'..... and so the stories go.

Who knows by the time my DD has her own children the wisdom of the day may promote some geneticall modified super food!!! :eek:

[JanetF]

LOL I think we're there already. Despite knowing what we do about how inadequate ff is, it's what is pushed onto women all the time. Hopefully with some info and support we can help mamas go the booby ;)