General Chat

I breastfed my daughter for 6 weeks, then supplemented with bottles for another 6 weeks before weaning her onto bottles exclusivley. She was a very hungry baby and I found it very tiring to keep up with her. I breast fed my son exclusively for 4 months and continued until he was 6 1/2 months. I was very lucky in that my midwife and Health visitor were extemely supportive and also my husband and family were very supportive also. I had no qualms about feeding in public (discreetly of course). I really feel for women who want to do this and have little or no support. It was tough for me at first and I can see why people give up sooner. We definately need more support. The hospital where I was had a drop in clinic with a lactation consultant but I don't know if this is typical. It should be! As for the health thing, while I am sure the benefits of breastfeeding are many, it obviously isn't true for everyone. My daughter has asthma and my son has excema. :o( Claire xx

Neeta.......nursing staff are rarley trained to support mother with breast feeding....its one of the issues we are trying to address in the project i am doing. health visitors and midwives have very little specialist training in breast feeding and are sometimes too pushed for time to be able to support mothers when they need it most. In my area we have set up a network of people who offer support to mothers. they have all attended 16 weeks of intensive training on all aspects of breast feeding care, support and management. We have about 40 women in this scheme at the moment and support about 400 women a year with thier feeding problems. i would like it to become a national scheme.....but need proof that its required to access funding......thats where you guys come in!

I wasnt breast fed..my mum wasnt either..nana sent her to a lady down the road.. LOL...its true!! I tried brest feeding in hospital for 3 days and 3 long nights...day shift nurses gave me loads of support..but night nurses just didnt want to know!! Much too my great dissapointment i gave up and gave hime abottle..he was 8 14 born and was a hungry baby and he wasnt getting enough from me ...my poor boobs were in a right state...but having said all that if im ever lucky enough to have another baby then i would defo try again im sure i would feel more relaxed this time. Anita xx

Im not sure i have ever seen any research that suggests breast fed babies are brighter than bottle fed ones. I am concentrating on the health benifits that are known. Perhaps i should be asking for IQ's and starting some new research?

This is very interesting! My sister and I were both breast fed (not sure for how long) but my brother wasn't. My sister and I excelled at school and are healthy. My brother has had health problems, is very easily distracted and struggles at school!

Should have added that although I was bottle fed my two elder sisters were breast fed and I'm every bit as healthy and intelligent as they are - although they might not agree!! Helen :-) Thank you Christine :-) I think nobody should be made to feel guilty, it's a very personal thing breast feeding.

Helen.......you did really well, The first 6 weeks are the most important part, you have no need to feel any guilt....

I was breast-fed, but my youngest brother wasn't. The difference between him and me is amazing. I excelled academically, he wasn't interested. He was often poorly, I hardly ever was. From this, I'm sure that it makes a difference, so I will do my best to feed my babies this way (when/if I eventually have them lol)

Thank Liz......all of this is useful.......people give up for so many reasons......you should never beat yourself up about it. I would only condemn someone who didnt feed thier child at all!!!!

There was an interesting bit about breast feeding on Woman's Hour last week - they came to the conclusion that it was lack of support available for mothers that stopped people trying. It was all very interesting and also highlighted the problem of guilt. Either the mother feels guilty for not trying, or she feels guilty because she tried but couldn't continue, or she feels guilty or uneasy about breast feeding in front of other people! It's very hard to be a mother sometimes :-) I wasn't breast fed but I fed my first two for 6 mnths and my last two for 2mnths and 6 weeks because of various 'problems' - the doctor made me feel guilty for wanting to continue when my baby wasn't putting on weight and my family and friends for giving up too easily!! Helenxx

about 52% of women start breast feeding by 10 days it has dropped to 26% at 6 weeks its down to about 20% at 6 months it down to between 11% and 14% after that it rather unknown as so many mums go back to work.... i often wonder what the reasons are for stopping......would you have continued if you had recieved more support and help?

I will yeah. surley it's got to be better for babies than powedered stuff, but saying that i know bu**er all about babies so i may be wrong! c x

i was although i don't know how long for.i did with my eldest daughter for 4 weeks,with my youngest i tried but she didn't want to know at all so i gave her a bottle Karen

would you have continued if you had more support val?

do you think you will....when you do?little ray?

I tried with my first but after a week went on to the bottle and it put me off with the rest

I was breast fed, but haven't got any children (yet!) c x

julie.......the fact that you tried is what matters.......even one day has a huge impact on child health for the first 14 years. Sadly there is very little support out ther for mums when they really need it. Thats why im doing this research for......to try and set up a support network for mums when they have problems. I just logged in to see what was going on here and thought i would survey those that use the site.

I was breast fed and I breast fed my children but not for long as I found it quite difficult. Julie xxx

I am doing some research on breast feeding numbers........how many of you where breast fed? how many of you breast fed your children. Are you all aware that less than two thirds of women try it? Benfits of breast feeding start from day one and have a huge impact on both mothers and child health.....not to mention the environment. breast feeding for 6 weeks reduces the risk of osteo-porosis and ovarian cancer in mothers and also greatly reduce the risk of chest infections and tummy upsets in babies........why dont more of us do it?