re: Husband not really supporting BF idea

I had that problem. From the get-go I wanted to breastfed BADLY and my fiance was very very against it. Many various reasons all of which seem very illogical to me. He said it seemed unnatural to him (   ), formula is easier, I want to feed him too, what if he gets hungry in public, I don't want people being over or being out and you whipping your titty out, it's going to be too hard on you. All of it. I stuck to it and tried in the hospital. When the LC visited us I made him stay there so she could help him understand also and teach us how to incorporate him. He never was mean about it or anything but he was not encouraging broaching (sometimes even totally) discouraging it. Staying during the LC visit really helped and he tried to encourage me and I think he really did understand. Breastfeeding wasn't easy for me or my son and once we were home it drove my hubby crazy. He couldn't stand hearing Bradley cry and scream when I was trying to get him to latch on and he was frustrated. Then he couldn't stand the slurping and smacking noises of baby boy not latching on correctly and repeatedly trying. So I exclusively pumped milk for 3 weeks starting the first day home from the hospital (after about 4 oz of supplemented formula). When my milk came in and I was so engorged my milk flowed like a river and I got 10 oz one time 8 oz another time. Then slowly my production decreased to where at 3 weeks I had to give up my pump because I was spending literally ALL DAY pumping on the couch with the television up WAY loud so I could hear it over my pump, and I didn't even get enough milk to keep the formula/breastmilk ratio at half/half. I could not get sleep, I could not get chores done, I couldn't even spend any time with my son. It was very hard and saddened me a lot to decide that formula feeding was the right choice to make, but I know I tried very hard. It is worth it to be able to spend time with my son and not drive me into depression.

So that is my story. Hopefully you can take something from it. If it can inspire me to make any suggestion to you, it would be -- try as hard as you can to breastfeed naturally and do not let your husband discourage you because you have a million ladies on here who can help you out and encourage you also. Take your time at it and do what makes you feel best and you know will be right.

Quoting Genieperson:“ I had that problem. From the get-go I wanted to breastfed BADLY and my fiance was very very against it. ... [snip!] ... who can help you out and encourage you also. Take your time at it and do what makes you feel best and you know will be right.”

Thanks for your story. I really liked the idea about having him there when the LC is there, that should be a big help. I'm really sorry that it didn't work out for you, but there's always next time  

Quoting Baby Factory 2000:“ Thanks for your story. I really liked the idea about having him there when the LC is there, that should ... [snip!] ... the LC is there, that should be a big help. I'm really sorry that it didn't work out for you, but there's always next time  ”

You're welcome, and I'm glad I gave you a good idea  

Definitely next time (in definitely a few years!!) we are both going to try harder to make breastfeeding work. Even my fiance agrees with that idea now that we've been through trying and beginning formula (suck! lol). I'm completely comfortable with my journey now and enjoying being a mommy like I should be. And having WIC helps SOO much with having to formula feed. Good luck with your pregnancy and breastfeeding!

Quoting Amy {inlove with Sophia}:“ It bugs the crap out of me when husbands/SO try to discourage you from BF. My husband was one of them. ... [snip!] ... discourage you. Yall will fall into the swing of things and he'll soon realize that BF isn't a the sin he thinks it is, lol.”

I think so much of it is what they were exposed to, how they saw babies fed in their house. My hubby's mom bf all her kids my hubby didnt really say all that much about bf before the baby came .. i just kinda wondered what he thought but didnt really ask because i didnt need any negativity or discouragement( i would cried in my emotional state) but baby came and he actually wanted to help me get him latched on.. helped cover me and make sure ppl gave me my privacy etc. and asks all the time if the baby fed well and it saves him money so i think thats a huge part of it;-) but i think alot of it was just that, that was the way he knew babies were fed when he was younger and the birthing class talking about breastfeeding and prob alot of his dads encouragement saying that it was so good for the babies immune system. i think they dont have much info on the fact that its good..its not just apreferencething

Quoting Ashlee.mariee:“ I think so much of it is what they were exposed to, how they saw babies fed in their house. My hubby's ... [snip!] ... so good for the babies immune system. i think they dont have much info on the fact that its good..its not just apreferencething”

EXACTLY. its very much what the were exposed to. it just amazes me sometimes that men (and really, other women) can be so negative about something (breastfeeding) that requiresvery little, almost nothing, of them. My in-laws are very "concerned" that i am still breastfeeding. Everytime my hubby talks to them they ask "is amy still nursing?" and he says "yup, she and sophia are doing great with it" and they are just amazed that i am still doing it and they dont understand why i am not pumping enough bottles for him to feed her during the day and stuff. I wanna be like "you stick a pump on your boob and see how much YOU want to do it!!!" now that my husband has seen how awesome it is, and how easy it is, and howmuch money we are saving, he thinks breastfeeding is great and is very helpful. I have to use nipple shields and thats kinda his job-he gets them clean and brings them (and the baby) to me and helps us get set up and then he sits next to us and talks to Sophia and rubs her head and back and stuff. ppl that say that if you arent bottle feeding your babies that the dad isnt going to bond with the baby are completely ridiculous! I am glad that your hubby was so supportive of you from the get go!