I'm sneaking in for a minute from 2nd tri

[Duffy6684]

I'm considering bfing but have some concerns and questions. Hoping you ladies can help me lol

I didn't bf with my first son and I'm worried I won't be able to with bump. I had an emergency section with my son and was under a general. He was given the bottle as I didn't want to bf with him.

My biggest worry is I was told the last time my breast's may leak and may get sore but I got neither. Does this mean I never produced any milk? Could this happen this time as well?

I really want to at least try with bump as I felt I was hasty in my decision with my LO. I never leaked right through my pregnancy with my first and so far nothing either (although I know there is still time) My breast's are itchy some days but that's it.

I never got skin to skin contact with my first as I didn't really come to till back in the room and out recovery. I really would like to try but scared I won't be able to give my baby any or enough.

My family isn't really saying anything apart from "I don't think you will" My mother laughed when I told her as she said no way will you do it, you didn't last time. I understand where she is coming from and in someway think the same. My comment to the midwife after I had my son and she asked how I was feeding was "I don't do nipples!"

I don't think my MIL is too happy at the thought of me bfing as it will cut her time with my bump down. My OH is happy to support me with whatever I decide but did I ask that if I do bf I express so he can feed baby too.

I have no idea if I have made my point in this thread or not, I think I've just more or less ranted rubbish lol....If you have got this far then well done! Thanks for reading xox

 

[Sonyax]

Hi I have simular situation daughter 9 years ago bottle fed as I was under from c section although once home from hospital a week later wished I had BF. Am going to breast feed this one due next week.
As I haven't breast fed I cant really answer the BF questions but I have noticed itchy type feelings in my boobs too. And occasional dried stuff in nipples so I presume all is working. with the last child my milk came in I leaked one night a few days after she was born and was huge for one or two days thats all.
Remember that we are all made to do this maybe you didn't notice anything last time cos of the birth you went through. I found it quite traumatic and only thought about BF later on.
Hope it all goes well for you x

 

[Arcanegirl]

I never leaked or got sore at all during pregnancy.

 

[Shifter]

Don't worry about what happened last time, this time is a whole fresh start and if you're determined you will succeed!

As you never BF last time it's likely that your milk didn't dome in at all. Basically you start off with colostrum (and I didn't leak in pregnancy at all so don't worry about that) and your milk comes in about 3-5 days after birth with the stimulation of baby sucking frequently.

Expressing is a great way to make sure you have a good supply, so I recommend starting early and freezing it until you have BFing well established. It's recommended that you don't introduce a bottle until 4-6 weeks in as it can confuse your LO. But this isn't always the case.

Good luck on your journey and don't be afraid to ask questions! There are lots of ladies here with lots of experience and great advice.

 

[Mervs Mum]

First of all what happens with your boobs in pregnancy has absolutely no bearing on BFing. I never leaked - nothing. In fact I still dont leak and I'm going to be hitting 8 months soon.

It sounds to me like you are surrounded by a massive amount of negativity. And if you believe it isn't going to work, it wont.

Skin to skin is great but not essential. It's a myth that c-sections affect BFing. If you want it you can have it.

The reasons mum's and MILs say these negative things are for a few reasons IMO. Firstly, if you do anything different (and you will find this will ALL things concerning parentinf; dummies, potty training, sleeping, weaning etc etc) to the way they did, they might not say so but a part of them is thinking you are implying that the way they raised their children wasnt right. We both know that's not true but anyone who isnt very confident in their own choices may think this.

YOU need to have a different mindset. If you dont believe that you can do it then you are setting yourself up for failure. You HAVE to trust your body. Ask yourself this: do you trust that your body is keeping your baby safe and nourished NOW? Do you ever think that your womb cant do it's job? I'd hazard a guess that you dont. Well why on earth would your body produce such an amazing miracle from a tiny speck of nothing, nurture and nourish and protect that tiny clump of cells, help it to grow in to an amazing human with all it's potential, feed it through a complex and amazing organism that is capable of taking the correct nutrients and passing them through to your baby, only to stop looking after it the second he or she comes out of your body into the world and expect it to fend for it's self? Why wouldnt your body be capable of continuing what it started? Nature gives the mothers of humans and animals the ability to feed it's young and until 100 years ago that was THE ONLY way to feed your young! Humans have existed for hundreds of thousands of years before artificial milk was invented. Yes is can be hard work BUT it's not THAT difficult or the human race wouldnt have survived!!!

Believe in yourself, believe in your body and try to get the support you need. It's horrible that everyone is making you feel a failure before you've even started. Would they do that about learning to drive or sitting a qualification for work? I should hope not.

You CAN do it.

 

[Samantha675]

I never got engorged after the birth of my son, and never leaked either. We have just hit the 12 month mark in BFing, and he is not eating solids much, so he is still getting about 95% of his nurishment from me. So, I think you shouldn't worry there as my little guy has plenty of pudge and a little pot belly, so I know he isn't starving.

Don't listen to your mother or your MIL being negative. Just believe you can do it, and do. I had a c-section with my son, and I just didn't let it interfere at all with my BFing.

A fantastic book is The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by the Le Leche League, it is wonderful!

 

[Duffy6684]

Thank you ladies. I felt like I had no one I could talk to about it without some sort of negativity coming my way. I'm going to hunt for the book and have a read of it so thank you for that.

I really appreciate your support and I am determined to try breast feeding with this little bump and your support just makes me all the more determined to succeed.

xox

 

[Mervs Mum]

That book is available on Amazon. Another great one that it very a very simple reference point is this one:

Bestfeeding:How to breastfeed your baby

 

[Samantha675]

Another great thing is to go to a La Leche League meeting before you have your LO. You can talk to other women who are nursing mothers and get mother to mother support. I go every month to a meeting now, and I love talking to the pregnant mamas.

 

[Logiebear]

My current lo is my first breast feeding experience and she is my 4th baby, all my others have been bottle fed. She was also a section and 6 weeks early so I can totally relate. Your body will make milk after delivery. I have never leaked during pregnancy either hun.

Each baby a woman has is different to the last so there is no need to compare your current pregnancy/baby to your last one and you have every chance of succeeding hun. Determination is the key hun and well done you for trying. Just make sure your delivery team know that you want to bf and you can get your bubs latched on as soon as you are in the recovery room and get skin to skin.

I hope you decided to atleast try and then see where you go from there