Breast Feeding - confused, help :)

[greeneyes27]

Hi Everyone,

I wasn't sure about breast feeding at first. I suppose I'd never really had to think about it before and given my little boy wasn't planned, everything was a lot to consider at once.

Anyway, now I've got used to the whole idea of having a baby a bit more I decided that I'd probably like to give breast feeding a go. Only trouble is that I'm a little bit ill informed when it comes to what I'll need.

Can someone help me out? I've seen posts about breast pumps and bottles etc.

Thanks xxx

 

[bakelite]

Hi there! My recommendation is to read anything you can get your hands on about breastfeeding, then take a class if possible! My mom breasfed all of her children, but even with the support and some books it was bit of a struggle at first. In the beginning, it can be tough as the baby and mama are learning a new skill but I think it is worth it, it really helped me bond with my baby and she was such a happy, healthy little thing (she's almost three now!)
I think good online resources are Jack Newton's website, and maybe Dr. Sears. If you plan on supplementing or pumping, get bottles with slow flow nipples, I like the brand "breast flow" a lot. Best of luck!

 

[debgreasby]

All you need are your boobs, some breastpads and a comfy nursing bra.

I loved breastfeeding my 4 and i can't wait to do it again.

The midwives in hospital will help you get started, and your community midwife will be on hand to give you help too.

Don't worry about breast pumps and bottles ..... get your feeding established first, pumping and supplementing can cause confusion.

 

[amym]

Also check out the breastfeeding section on bnb - in baby bit I think, or might be parenting.... ladies on there are the font of all wisdom!

 

[evewidow]

All you need are your boobs, some breastpads and a comfy nursing bra.

I loved breastfeeding my 4 and i can't wait to do it again.

The midwives in hospital will help you get started, and your community midwife will be on hand to give you help too.

Don't worry about breast pumps and bottles ..... get your feeding established first, pumping and supplementing can cause confusion.

completley agree with this , dont worry yourself about pumping and bottles till you have got into the swing of things , and like someone else said read up on correct latching positions etc check out breast feeding support sites such as https://www.laleche.org.uk/pages/about/breastfeedinginfo.htm and most of all when you start ask your midwife in the hospital to help you and your community midwife/health visitor for advice , local breast feeding groups etc.
also if you know anyone feeding ask for advice and ask if they mind you watching !

 

[TattooedMama]

You've already been given some GREAT advice by the ladies above

Definitely pick up a few books on breastfeeding and read them through. This is the best thing I did for myself and I believe this is why I was so successful breastfeeding my son-we never had a single problem from the start!!

I also agree that pumps and bottles can wait. It is just too much at once and honestly unless you plan on going out and leaving baby at home right away (very unlikely the first few months!!!) then it is not something you will need immediately.

You will need breastpads, also lansinoh breast cream is a must have!!! I would not worry about feeding pillows are they are silly and a regular pillow or two work just fine and won't burn a hole in your pocket. Picking up a nursing bra or two is helpful too for when you start to go out. I didn't bother with nursing shirts as I just pulled my shirt up or down depending on the style and put a blanket around baby so I was covered.

VERY very important, do not supplement the baby with formula or glucose water!!! Do not let anyone tell you the baby is not getting enough from your breast and needs more cuz s/he is "still hungry" or tell you that you are not making enough milk. This is ridiculous!!! Putting baby to your breast and letting them suckle will stimulate your body to produce more milk. If you supplement then baby is full, will not suckle and your body is not getting signaled to produce more milk so it won;t get any better. I know some supplement then pump but I personally do not believe this works. Baby only needs you so don;t let anyone tell you that you aren't doing well enough or that you aren't producing enough milk to feed your baby.


GOOD LUCK

 

[Beanbabe]

Breast feeding support groups like la leche league love to see women who are planning to breastfeed go to meetings. find out about your local group and the girls there will be able to give you loads of advice about the possible pitfalls before they happen.

Prepare yourself for lots of feeding in the first few days. Ban visitors if you feel you need to. Baby will need lots of mummy time to get feeding established and you will need to rest when you can. There will be times at the start that you will doubt yourself but persevere - it is so worth it. There is a myth that bottle feeding is handier but its not. Once feeding is established breastfeeding is (dare I say it) the easiest thing in the world.

Oh yes and there is lots Daddies can do apart from feeding so dont let people guilt you into letting daddy feed the baby.

Good luck hun.

 

[aob1013]

You only need your boobs, breastpads and a good bra x

 

[Hannaaisha]

Same as above unless you want to express and let others feed the baby with a bottle sometimes. Oh and nipple cream incase you get sore nipples.

 

[rubyloo]

a good place to start is your midwife! she will be able to put you into touch with local groups etc there also ought to be some sort of breastfeeding workshop run by the midwife team/at your hopsital. i've been booked in for one in october. i would suggest 'real life' input is probably easier to work with than the stuff in books which, whilst very useful, has its limits! from what i've been told a bit of patience and perseverence can go a long way - it doesn't always come 'naturally' but that doesn't mean you can't do it at all. the advantage of breastfeeding is that its a) free and b) 'on tap'. the last thing you want to do is go spending a load of money for nothing. expressing is very much in fashion at the mo' and you'll hear all sorts about needing to - just think, women have been managing it for ages without it!

 

[momofmister]

Speaking from personal experience, it is a good idea to have one or two cans of formula on hand in the beginning. I BF my son and in the first few days I had no milk for almost a week. On day four I decided that he was getting dehydrated and introduced a couple ounces of formula. Thank goodness I did because he had terrible jaundice and if it weren't for the formula he would have had to be re-admitted to the hospital for dehydration and the jaundice getting worse. So while it is easy for some women right off the go, its not always the case and I personally think there is nothing wrong with trying both.

Just make sure you do what your instincts tell you. Don't let people try to tell you your wrong for using a pump or bottles and vice versa. You will know what your baby needs.

 

[Catters]

Speaking from personal experience, it is a good idea to have one or two cans of formula on hand in the beginning. I BF my son and in the first few days I had no milk for almost a week. On day four I decided that he was getting dehydrated and introduced a couple ounces of formula. Thank goodness I did because he had terrible jaundice and if it weren't for the formula he would have had to be re-admitted to the hospital for dehydration and the jaundice getting worse. So while it is easy for some women right off the go, its not always the case and I personally think there is nothing wrong with trying both.

Just make sure you do what your instincts tell you. Don't let people try to tell you your wrong for using a pump or bottles and vice versa. You will know what your baby needs.

That's so funny -- I was going to type almost the same thing... My milk didn't come in until 3 1/2, almost 4 days later and as I was at Lilah's first doctor's appointment, the doctor suggested we needed to supplement due to the same situation as stated above.... she left to get some formula.... fortunately, before the doctor could come back with the Enfamil, both boobs started leaking and I had put her to nurse before she made it back.

Overall, be patient with yourself and LO, relax and you'll do fantastically!

 

[evewidow]

see from my experience i wont have any formula in the house , i did this with my 1st son and when the going got tough i thought oh ill just give him one bottle then he wouldnt take to the breast , so with my second i wouldnt have any in the house so i had to get through it else he wouldnt have got fed.
but saying that my milk came in on day 3 so i can understand if you have jaundice etc or no milk.

the best thing with BF imo , is to take 1 day at a time and just see what happens

 

[Dragonfly]

You only need your boobs, breastpads and a good bra x

And linsinoh cream