Help! Breastfeeding

[khartnett]

Hi girls hope everyone ok.
I have a planned
induction in ten days so
very excited. I really want
to breastfeed, when i
had my daughter now 6
years old i was young and
i didn't get on very well
at all infact i she was on
bottle by the time i came
home from the hospital
which was 5 days after
birth. So anyway this time
i'm ready and raring to
go. After you had your
babies how soon did u
feed, how long for and
then after what sort of
feeding schedule did they
have ie how many hours
etc. Also i have not
leaked any milk through
my pregnancy will it
come in straight after the
birth? I'm defo going to
ask for help this time and
not let the midwives palm
me off. Love to hear
back from you. Many
thanks Kasey

 

[Serene123]

I didn't leak atall in my pregnancy and when it came to feeding, she had her first feed about half an hour (if that) after she was born. We don't have a feeding schedule and never have, she eats when she wants. Sometimes she goes 6 hours, sometimes 1-2. If she was having a growth spurt she would feed straight through the night, screaming on and off. Sometimes she would be on me for hours, sometimes for minutes. It's really hard, but so worth it! My advice to you would be not to give up, for every low there is a high and it is so, so rewarding!

 

[Mervs Mum]

Toria just summed it up!

I didnt leak in pregnancy and still dont. I think half the battle is your commitment and belief in your own abilities. If you really want to do it you will!!!

 

[Jemima]

Well, I only leaked a bit but this has no bearing on your milk production post birth so don't worry about this.

Poppy fed about 2 hours after she was born. And she fed almost constantly for the first couple of weeks, particularly the first 3 days. Try and be prepared for this because I wasn't and I couldn't get over how often she needed to be fed!

For the first 6 weeks she fed every 2 hours or so and was up 4 times through the night. Now, she has slowed down a wee bit and feeds roughly every 2.5 -3 hours during the day and only wakes twice in the night.

Also, my milk didn't come in on day three and Poppy lost quite a lot of weight initially. This, for me, was the point when I was almost tempted to put her on formula but we perservered with the feeding and pumping when we were re-admitted to hopsital and it has all worked out in the end.

I really hope you succeed in feeding your baby in the way which is best for you and good luck for the induction! x

 

[Lucy&Pard]

I couldnt say anything else the girls have said it all! But I think its 50 per cent confidence and belief in yourself and your body and 50 per cent determination!

 

[khartnett]

Thanks girls x

 

[PeanutBean]

I fed about an hour or so after the birth. As soon as my stitches were all done and things were cleaned up they took Byron to measure and weigh and clean him up a bit (he'd been on my chest for ages before) then I went straight to feed. I don't remember how long we fed for but he was rubbish at feeding at first and wouldn't take, only sleep until he got jaundiced. It was a bit of a nightmare. He's pretty much got the hang of it now, has been great wince about 2 weeks. We feed on average every four hours but in the early night he tends to be wakeful and irritable and constantly on the boob, but then in the late night and morning he will sleep 6hours or so. I didn't leak any milk at all during pregnancy. The colostrum just comes in right away, I think it's the placenta coming out that triggers it, hormonally. I was worried there was none there but there was. It's important there is enough nipple stimulation in the early hours/days to keep it all coming freely.

 

[sam#3]

I fed straight away after birth and we dont have any routine!!
Ive had lots of problems but got through them all by asking for help, so dont be afraid to ask your HV or midwife etc.
Its true when people say it gets easier so just remember that and believe in your body xx