First Time Mom and Breastfeeding - How Long Did You Do IT?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8 weeks

Finally! Thank you for your honesty, I know there are people who don't pump for 2 years, but barely any have posted here which is really disheartening for me, I HATE breast feeding, but am trying to hang on for at least the duration of my maternity leave.

The reason that it seems like people either quit after 6-8 weeks or seem to make it a year or two is that it generally gets WAY easier after 3 months or so. Once you and the babu really have it figured out, it may seem easier than mixing and warming a bottle. My goal was 12 weeks, and I'm still at it at 5 months. Didn't expect it, and now I'm thinking I could end up going a lot longer than I planned. Went back to work at 4 months, and for me, at least, pumping is kind of a nice break in the day, and nursing in the morning (and especially overnight) seems easier than formula.

That's how it was for me, too. It's hard to imagine that it will get that much easier when you're in the hardest part though (the first 2 months are so tough for some of us!) Good luck with whatever you do. Any breastfeeding you can do will have benefits!

Original quoted poster here. My LO is having latch problems, so I am using a nipple shield and supplementing with pumped breast milk. All I'm doing right now is feeding and pumping constantly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:8 weeks

Finally! Thank you for your honesty, I know there are people who don't pump for 2 years, but barely any have posted here which is really disheartening for me, I HATE breast feeding, but am trying to hang on for at least the duration of my maternity leave.

The reason that it seems like people either quit after 6-8 weeks or seem to make it a year or two is that it generally gets WAY easier after 3 months or so. Once you and the babu really have it figured out, it may seem easier than mixing and warming a bottle. My goal was 12 weeks, and I'm still at it at 5 months. Didn't expect it, and now I'm thinking I could end up going a lot longer than I planned. Went back to work at 4 months, and for me, at least, pumping is kind of a nice break in the day, and nursing in the morning (and especially overnight) seems easier than formula.

That's how it was for me, too. It's hard to imagine that it will get that much easier when you're in the hardest part though (the first 2 months are so tough for some of us!) Good luck with whatever you do. Any breastfeeding you can do will have benefits!

Original quoted poster here. My LO is having latch problems, so I am using a nipple shield and supplementing with pumped breast milk. All I'm doing right now is feeding and pumping constantly.

Latch problems tend to resolve when the baby is bigger/stronger. Go to an LC. It will likely hurt when you drop the shield, but only for a week or two. Usually your supply is better without the shield. If you want to BF, you can -- my sister had a premie and tons of latch issues and had to use a shield for weeks, and her sone BFed until he was 18 months. She told me to go to an LC early and often if I had the same issues (I did, and it was great advice). Good luck!