Ok I want some serious answers from some ladies who have done it. I really want to try and breastfeed this baby. For many reasons and I am sad that I never did it with my son. I mentioned it around my MIL the other day and she told me that every baby she knew that was breastfed was starving:mad I know that isnt true but she likes to irritate me. So my questions are...

How did you know if your child was getting enough?

Before you gave birth did the thought of it scare you at all?

How long did it take you before you could Nurse in public without being self concious(sp)

Were you able to successfully breast and bottle feed?

My sisters SIL answered lots of questions for me the other day and she was very helpful but I am so stressed about it:) I know I still have awhile before this one comes(18 w 2 d) but still. Thanks for any input:)

I breastfed all three of mine and the first two were in the 99th percentile for weight so I am sure they were getting enough. I fed them when they were hungry and your body usually will make enough to satisfy your child. I was never self conscious to nurse in public, I just made sure that my shirt or a blanket was covering any exposed part of my breast. I wasn't nervous about nursing before I gave birth because with the first child I was more nervous about giving birth and with the other two I had already nursed. My first is the only one who was bottle and breastfed and that was because I was weaning her so that's probably not alot of help. But if you have any other questions you think I can answer feel free to ask me in here or in PM.

I breastfed all three of my girls. #1 self weaned at 9 months, #2 self weaned at 5 months (she had croup, and a nasty bug -easier for all if she had a bottle), #3 I fed for 11months.

How did you know if your child was getting enough? #1 and #2 I had no problems feeding, they were growing and gaining like they 'should' I offered bottles too to keep the options open, but they were never interested. #3 was a problem baby, she was always starving, but that was a bad latch - once we figured it all out we did well.

Before you gave birth did the thought of it scare you at all? nope. It was always something I would just 'do' cause it was what you were supposed to do right? never thought anything different

How long did it take you before you could Nurse in public without being self concious(sp) Good one, I still couldn't. it didn't bother me as much - I found it much easier when they were bitty babies and easier and smaller to carry or conceal. But I also have a wrap that I could scootch them down and nurse and walk at the same time.

Were you able to successfully breast and bottle feed? Yes, I did for all three. I didn't want a totally dependant on mommy baby. for the most part I had pumped and fed in a bottle. 6 months I think it was that we started giving formula

I breastfed for the first six months. I only quit because I'm still in school and it got to be too much of a hassle to be worth it.

How did you know if your child was getting enough?

I always had a little milk left when he was done, before he started solids. At about four months we started giving him cereal, but only after he'd exhausted my supply. Just let the baby be your guide - you'll be surprised how much you learned by bottle feeding.

Before you gave birth did the thought of it scare you at all?

Not really. I was a little nervous the first time, but I didn't take any Lamaze or childbirth classes, so I think it might have just been leftover nerves from giving birth, haha.

How long did it take you before you could Nurse in public without being self concious(sp)

I always just covered up with a blanket, and tried my best to be somewhere comfy when I knew he'd be getting hungry. Most people don't realize what you're doing, anyway, and if they do it's probably be because they did it with their children.

Were you able to successfully breast and bottle feed?

Yep. I only had a crappy little hand pump, and I still got a good week's supply of milk saved up most of the time. It just didn't work for me to have him all the time, so there was always milk for when I was gone. He never noticed the difference between the bottle and breast, and even when he started with formula, we had no problems.

Be confident - your body was made to do this, and your baby knows how to do his/her part. You'll do great! :)

Thanks for the input ladies:) I really want to do this but also dont want a totally mommy fed dependant baby:) For selfish reason:( I figure I would be the type of person to cover up even if I was nursing in public but the thought of doing it still scares me a little.

I breastfed my twins, and i am going ot breastfeed this baby. i didn't have any problem with it, it was interesting with twins lol but they stopped at like 3 months and went to bottle feeding, i guess they just didn't like it anymore. Which was fine becuase they were killing me at three months!