re: breastfeeding with 4 kids under 5?

<blockquote><b>Quoting L&B +1:</b>" This is going to sound ridiculous haha....do you not have to burp a bf baby? I feel like such a retard when it comes to this stuff!"</blockquote>

It depends on the baby really. I would when she was little little and had a hard time expelling gas on her own. But they do swallow air like bottle fed babies do so they get less trapped air. Unless they are constantly latching and unlatching like when dd got sick and was all stuffy.

<blockquote><b>Quoting L&B +1:</b>" Good lord, I would hope baby wouldnt be up 6 times in the night for bottles  "</blockquote>


No but bf babies can be up that much cause bm doesn't take as LO FTP digest so they are hungry more usually in the night. There's no way I'd get up and sit up to nurse all night. Plus at night that's when babies typically boost your supply because they will suckle all night if you supply is struggling.

Quoting •mommy of 4•:" Thanks!   She was a very difficult baby, she was colicky and only liekd me. She wanted to nurse ... [snip!] ... that! So, hopefully yours wont be like her! lol I wouldnt trade her for anything, but she is the hardest baby I've had so far!"

My 3rd has definitely been the most difficult. Milk allergy, horrible spitting up issues and he has a bottle every 3 hours. My girls ate every 4 and rarely ever spit up or cried. Liam is extremely fussy.

I dont know why I'm so scared to try bfing...I want to SO BAD (I would be the first person in my family to bf) but Im also afraid I will overwhelm myself. I have anxiety and depression and am actually on a pill for it (not even sure if thats safe while bfing now that I think about it) and I tend to get stressed and overwhelmed easily. But you guys make it sounds like its super easy haha.

From what Ive heard and read, most formula fed babies eat every 3-4 hours and bfed babies eat more often. Id be worried Id end up with a baby on the boob constantly as opposed to once every 3-4 hours for 15-20 min.

Quoting babybaker:" I had four 4 and under and breastfed all of them (they were 4.25, 3.25, and 13 months when baby #4 arrived), ... [snip!] ... so may tandem we'll see). Unless my baby was maybe in daycare I honestly couldn't imagine nursing not being the easiest option."

Congrats on baby 5!

I just always had it in my head that it would be more difficult than bottle feeding. Guess not though! Honestly, I wont know until I try. I'm just afraid I wont be able to handle it and will feel like a failure for quitting or something

<blockquote><b>Quoting L&B +1:</b>" My 3rd has definitely been the most difficult. Milk allergy, horrible spitting up issues and he has a ... [snip!] ... eat more often. Id be worried Id end up with a baby on the boob constantly as opposed to once every 3-4 hours for 15-20 min."</blockquote>




It is hard, I won't lie, but if you can make it past the first month or so it's much easier! No bottles to make/clean! Input Addie in bed with me so she nursed while we slept. She was on the boob constantly though. But I bought a moby wrap and a sling and I figured out how to nurse her like that so I could have my hands free! It is the best decision ive ever made! If you ever need any help/advice, don't hesitate to message me!  

Quoting •mommy of 4•:" <blockquote><b>Quoting L&B +1:</b>" My 3rd has definitely been the most difficult. ... [snip!] ... my hands free! It is the best decision ive ever made! If you ever need any help/advice, don't hesitate to message me!  "

I will do that...thank you!!

Quoting L&B +1:" Congrats on baby 5! I just always had it in my head that it would be more difficult than bottle feeding. ... [snip!] ... I wont know until I try. I'm just afraid I wont be able to handle it and will feel like a failure for quitting or something"

Thanks  

If you don't like it or baby has issues you can stop and you shouldn't feel like a failure at all. You do your best and just try, that's all we can do in the end after all. I have definitely grown with each of my kids and I have regrets I didn't breastfeed longer with my first three honestly but I'm still very proud of each of our journeys that we made it as far as we did. My first I breastfed till 4 months because I got pregnant (my OB said I should stop) and we'd had NICU time at the beginning which did make things more challenging but 4 months is longer than many do after all. My second I breastfed 8 months, my third 10 months (she self weaned because of pregnancy). Now with my fourth we're still going strong at 13 months.

In my experience it's best to make short term goals and be ready to adapt to you and your child's needs. The colostrum baby receives right after birth is the most important to them so first goal maybe 1 week breastfeeding. If that is awful stop after and be proud of your goal but if not maybe try for a month, then 3, then 6 and so on. Each time you meet a goal reevaluate. In some of the rougher moments (which are rare but with teething or sickness do happen for sure) knowing you are so close to your next goal and then you can decide if you want to stop or not then can help you keep going that much longer and calm down and figure out what's really best for you both.

Good luck when the time comes!

Quoting babybaker:" Thanks   If you don't like it or baby has issues you can stop and you shouldn't feel like a failure ... [snip!] ... you keep going that much longer and calm down and figure out what's really best for you both. Good luck when the time comes!"

Yes, I definitely need to set goals. Thank you!

I've been thinking about giving it a try with this one but I'm so scared lol. I have issues when it comes to my boobs and it's so bad when theyre swollen during pregnancy I cant even touch them myself without cringing so I can imagine how hard of a time I'll have with a baby latched on  

When do you guys plan on trying for another?

<blockquote><b>Quoting L&B +1:</b>" This is going to sound ridiculous haha....do you not have to burp a bf baby? I feel like such a retard when it comes to this stuff!"</blockquote>




Yes   it's not as big an issue as bottles can get air in them easily, and you can nurse baby in a more upright position, but it's good to give them a quick burp just to get any bubbles out!

Quoting Cae♥BaBae[+Blake]:" I've been thinking about giving it a try with this one but I'm so scared lol. I have issues when it comes ... [snip!] ... cringing so I can imagine how hard of a time I'll have with a baby latched on   When do you guys plan on trying for another?"

I missed that you were expecting again! Congrats   We're due pretty close

Quoting L&B +1:" I will have an almost 1 1/2 year old, 2 3/4 yr old and an almost 4 1/2 year old when we have our next ... [snip!] ... this time around. Am I absolutely nuts? Im afraid I will be so overwhelmed by it with 3 other small children running around!"

NO! You are not nuts! Bfing is SOOO Much easier than bottle feeding. Less to wash, no waiting while baby screams for a bottle. Yeah your walls will likely get drawn on a time or two but holding a bottle would be no different.

<blockquote><b>Quoting L&B +1:</b>" My 3rd has definitely been the most difficult. Milk allergy, horrible spitting up issues and he has a ... [snip!] ... eat more often. Id be worried Id end up with a baby on the boob constantly as opposed to once every 3-4 hours for 15-20 min."</blockquote>


Bfing actually can help with depression. I felt amazing when I was Bfing. Idk if it releases endorphins or what. But what meds are you taking? I've been medicated both of my pregnancies and bf dd after and plan to bf this one.

<blockquote><b>Quoting L&B +1:</b>" Congrats on baby 5! I just always had it in my head that it would be more difficult than bottle feeding. ... [snip!] ... I wont know until I try. I'm just afraid I wont be able to handle it and will feel like a failure for quitting or something"</blockquote>

It's harder at first because you're both getting used to it. But once they become a pro it's so easy!!!

<blockquote><b>Quoting lolajessup:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting L&B +1:</b>" My 3rd has definitely been the most difficult. ... [snip!] ... or what. But what meds are you taking? I've been medicated both of my pregnancies and bf dd after and plan to bf this one."</blockquote>




It does release endorphins