Breastfeeding teens

Annalyn - posted on 07/30/2009

sarah you are way lucky! I've had three real periods so far (and he's only 3 1/2 months old! Not fair!

Heather - posted on 07/29/2009

I am 20 and I have been breastfeeding Allie since she was born and she is still breastfeeding now at a year and 3 weeks. So keep up the good work and hang in there.

Samantha - posted on 07/29/2009

I got pregnant with my first when I was 15, and had him when I was 16. I nursed him for a year. I have yet to meet another teen mom who nurses. I am glad to hear you are sticking with it! =) I am having my 2nd baby in a few weeks, and I know nursing is the only way to go!

Tara - posted on 07/29/2009

Good for you and the other teen moms who are choosing to breastfeed! Being a teen mom must be quite challenging, with school and other things that demand much of your time. How wonderful that you are also able to make time for breastfeeding as well! You are providing the best for your lucky little one!

Chelsea - posted on 07/29/2009

Im 19 and still breastfeeding my son who is 8months now. im starting to wean him of the breast now as his milk has arrived in the chemist ( he is allergic to dairy so had to wait for a soya based milk to be delivered.)

Chloe - posted on 07/28/2009

hi there i am 17... im still breast-feeding my 21 month old and my 4 week old :)

Julia - posted on 07/28/2009

I'm breastfeeding and i am 19 i am actually trying to break my son of it now... i planned on stopping at the same time-9 months but he is 13 months now and i'm having a hard time of breaking him but it was a great decision because he has only gotten one cold since he was born it was hard because i had gotten a mastitis in my left breast. I cried and bled but i got through it all the same and i am so glad that i did

Sarah - posted on 07/28/2009

Let me tell you another plus if you're lucky enough... No period. I am one of the lucky ones who hasn't had a real one since she was born. Another reason why teens don't normally breastfeed is because of WIC. they give free formula so why not use it>??? I was 19 when Genesis was born and I decided to breastfeed her because that's why we have breasts and most women I meet- no matter what age either are disgusted by the thought of breastfeeding or admire me because I am doing it and they regret not doing it.

Rachel - posted on 07/27/2009

good for you momma! im 23 and am breastfeeding my 2nd son...but the first is a different story...i always thought it was gross just because of what people told me and i was too ignorant to get the real facts. i regret it sooooo much to the point of tears some times! i say knowledge is power and especially for new moms!

Samantha - posted on 07/27/2009

hey i had my baby right before i turned 15 ive been breastfeed her since she was born and she is now 16 months i wanted to stop at 6-12 months but she choose other whies but i would have never chose to not breastfeed my daughter unless it was basically impassible but that was what was best for us

Meagan - posted on 07/27/2009

i was 18 when i had my daughter... i breastfed her till she was 9 months.. i would have continued to a year but she started to get teeth and she was grining and biting.. i tried everything to get her to stop but she wouldnt.. so i switched her over to formula..and because i was starting to go to school more so it was more convinent then pumping all the time

Catina - posted on 07/27/2009

im twenty.. so that made me pregnant at 19, but anywho.,..i know what you mean alot of other mothers my age didnt try or not weant to breastfeed..ive been mommy milking for almost 2months and plan to continue. lots of young moms look at breastfeedung as weird/gross..i look at it as a gift for me and my daughter...

Shannon - posted on 07/27/2009

i had my first at 18 and shehad problems. so i tried, but it didn't work, and i had my second one at the age of 21 i breastfeed him till he was 6 wks and i had to give it up cuz the dr's wanted to put me on meds, and well my newest one is 4 months old and im 24 and i breastfeed him, im still kinda embarrased to do it in public, but sometimes i try if i don't i also pump too morning and night. but he also gets 1 bottle of formula at night so that he will sleep a little longer.

Felicity - posted on 07/27/2009

i was 20 when i first breast fed and i did it till he was nearly 18 month old cus he wouldnt take a bottle or have food but one i finaly stopped when i was pregnant again due to making him ill from a change in hormone he eats more than i would have ever eaten at his age but that was due to health visitors not helping when i asked for help i have also got a new born 2 months old now and i am breast feeding him now at 22 and i have given myself a goal to stop at 6 months because i felt my other child didnt get anything from it it was just a comfort thing and we find it hard to get im in his own bed because he likes being next to me and my boyfriend hope this helps in some way alot of my friend dont like it tho and they were in there teens when they had kids and they say that they dont no how ive done it but they wished they could have but still wouldnt no if they had another

Courtney - posted on 07/27/2009

I am 18 and my daughter is almost 3 months. I'm so glad I chose to breastfeed. I absolutely love it, and so does Raeleigh. I plan on breastfeeding till she is at least 6 months. Although it will be difficult when I start school in September, I will pump so she is only receiving breastmilk.



I hate that teenage moms are scared to breastfeed. It is not hard if you just put your mind to it (unless you can't for a medical reason). It is the best thing for you & your baby! Why would you ever deny your child of that?

Sarah - posted on 07/26/2009

I've heard that too from a nurse that the majority of teen mums don't breastfeed their babies. I am 18 and my daughter almost 8 months is still breastfed. Now that she has solids as well, she has only 4-5 breastfeeds in 24 hours.

Every mum, including teenage mums, need to decide what is best for them and their baby. That doesn't always mean breastfeeding, especially if the baby isn't putting on weight or losing weight. It can also be hard to perservere if you don't have support. (Just thought I should stand up for the teen mums that tried and maybe didn't quite make it as far as they would have liked)

I plan to breastfeed my girl 'til she is 12 months. At that age she can go straight on to cows milk. Good luck with everything!

Sarah

Amber - posted on 07/26/2009

I am 21 with my first and for me breastfeeding was the only thing I ever wanted to do. from the time I was younger I knew it didnt matter how old or young I was when I had my kids I would BF only! I'm very impressed by the young moms I know who breastfeed b/c most i know do not. I have severel friends who are around my age or younger who had children around the same time as my daughter was born and id say about 80% of them formula feed. most didn't even try breastfeeding becuase they said it was too much of a hassle but I think its SO much easier to breastfeed, its always right there and ready when my daughter is ready to eat. Keep up the good work!!!

Annalyn - posted on 07/25/2009

I agree Teresa! And not only is it free but it has really helped me lose the baby weight too! Just more added bonuses! :)

Jessica - posted on 07/25/2009

im 21 now but i had my kids at 18 and 19. my 1st i tried really hard to breastfeed, lasted 6 weeks but i could not get him to latch on properly and he ended up tearing my nipples and making them bleed which was waaay painful. My daughter though was great, she is now 14months old and we are still bfing :)

Teresa - posted on 07/25/2009

I didn't become a mom til I was 25, but good for you for nursing your child!! I'm actually surprised that breastfeeding isn't more appealing to younger mom's considering the fact that it's free. :)

Annalyn - posted on 07/25/2009

Michal is right about the saggy boobs. My breasts sagged during pregnancy!

And thanks Nicole! It's nice to hear about another teenager breastfeeding!

Nicole - posted on 07/25/2009

I was going to ask the same question,,. im 18 and 17 when i had my daughter. she is now 9 months old and still breast feeding.. i made a goal to not have any formula in my house or no bottles.. my daughter cant drink out of bottle but a glass or a sippy cup.. people constantly ask me isnt she old enough to stop.. and i just figure because im young that i shouldnt feed until a year.. thats my goal.. but you never know. breast feeding is amazing... my daughter loves it.. and thank goodness at 9 months she doesnt have teeth yet.,but at the moment she is.. if you have any questions,, you can ask me.. add me to your circle it would be nice to keep in touch.. its hard when your the olny teen mom that BF,, good luck with everything : )

sorry i wrote so much

Jodie - posted on 07/25/2009

I also applaud you in being so mature to make a decision like this at your age. Of course, you were right on when you said that most teens would probably not even bother...heck, many adult women don't even try bf'ing cuz they don't want to bother with it or they think they just don't want to take the time to do it, etc. Good for you and your baby!

Michal - posted on 07/24/2009

Body image is a big issue for young mum's as well as older ones. Culturally breasts are viewed as being sexual objects rather than being there to feed children. Breastfeeding can be made a lot harder than it needs to be because very few places practice baby led attachment allowing uninterrupted skin to skin contact between the mother and baby for at least an hour. I have met a few breastfeeding young mums, they are very confident and determined. By the way, it's pregnancy that causes breasts to sag, not breastfeeding. You're doing a great job!

Hannah - posted on 07/24/2009

That's wonderful!! I'm not a teen mom, but close. I had my girl at 21, and have been breastfeeding for the whole 7 months, and plan to keep going till at least a year, maybe two. I get a lot of people telling me to put her on formula, because my boobs will get saggy, but it's not about me anymore, it's about what's best for my daughter. Good luck, and keep up the good work!