Little advice for a newby please. Really long post sorry!

[gwiff]

Hi girls,
my son is 1 week and 2 days old and even though I was unsure of bf at the start, I'm glad I have done it and I am now determined to succeed. I have three sister and each of them decided bf was not for them within the first couple of weeks due to various reasons which makes me even more determined to succeed.
Both he and I have taken to it very well (or at least I think we have anyway!). I think he is latching on properly and he sucks (some big deep sucks and some little sucks) for about 25 minutes every 2 - 4 hours. He's happy and content, falls asleep after feeds, sometimes during feeds but wakes up if I tickle his cheek, he's having plenty of dirty and wet nappies, and he's alert at times during the day too.
I worry whether he's getting enough milk, like I'm sure everyone else does but the midwife assures me that he will soon let me know if he isnt! I'm not sure whether he's gained weight yet as the health visitor's first visit will be on tuesday, but the midwife has reassured me that babies can lose up to 10% of their birth weight so it's nothing to worry about if he hasnt gained weight. Both mt OH and I are usually very relaxed, chilled out people and our first week has been brilliant.
However, I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone will be able to answer about BF if you don't mind. Sorry about the long post and I'm thankful if you have read down to here:
1. I write the times of every feed and how long it took and which boob I used in a little book and have become a little obsessed by it, worrying if one feed is shorter than other or if he took longer during feeds etc. Did anyone else do this or shout I throw the book and just go with the flow?
2. When you take your little ones out? Do you try and hide the fact that you're BF with a blanket or do you just take them out and do it?
3. Is it too early to start expressing and giving him a bottle maybe a couple of times a week yet? My OH is very keen to be a part of this fabulous experience and although he doesnt complain I know he feels a little left out (even though he knows we're giving LO the best start in life).

Like I said, sorry about the long post, but I don't know of anyone else who has successfully BFed to ask. xx

 

[soon2b6]

Hi, I was terrified with my son that he wasnt taking enough, I had bottle fed my daughter and the reassurance of knowing she had taken 2oz or whatever was great!! I think if he is contented and has his wet and dirty nappies then he is doing well, the HV can confirm this when he is weighed on Tuesday.
All I did regarding feed times is make a mental note of the duration and frequency and as for which boob it was I started by safety pinning a ribbon to the brastrap on the side I last fed, gave up on this fairly soon though cause I could usually remember. I was told to give a feed fully from on breast before offering the other as there are 2 types of milk which your make for your baby, foremilk (watery and like a drink) and hind milk (the nutrtional stuff) its important they get both.
I dont like my body so I never just got em out in public but I did feed in public and I didnt cover baby, I just kind of draped clothing around breast/baby, didnt cover his face though.
I think the advice is that you get BF established before you express, about 6 weeks if I remember correctly.
All the best with your BF

 

[elm]

:wave: hello x

Kellymom is a great website about breastfeeding. https://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/enough-milk.html

WEIGHT GAIN:
If baby is gaining well on mom’s milk alone, then baby is getting enough. A 5-7% weight loss during the first 3-4 days after birth is normal. Baby should regain birth weight by 2 weeks. Once mom’s milk comes in, average weight gain is 6 oz/week. If these goals are not met, call your lactation consultant. More on weight gain.
WET DIAPERS: 5 - 6+ sopping wet diapers per day (after 1st week).
Expect one wet diaper on day one, increasing to 5-6 by one week. To feel what a sufficiently wet diaper is like, pour 3 tablespoons (45 mL) of water into a clean diaper (if baby wets more often, then the amount of urine per diaper may be less). Urine should be pale and mild smelling.
DIRTY DIAPERS: 3 – 4+ dirty diapers per day (after day 4).
Stools should be yellow (no meconium) by day 5 and the size of a US quarter (2.5 cm) or larger. The normal stool of a breastfed baby is usually yellow and is loose (soft to watery, may be seedy or curdy). More on infant stooling.
OTHER POSITIVE SIGNS: After a feeding, mom’s breast feels softer and baby seems reasonably content. Baby is alert, active and meeting developmental milestones.

I'd go by nappies rather than feeding times as babies vary on their feeding times (mine was feeding for 45 mins in the morning but it was because he couldn't feed properly!).

I'm sure your baby is getting enough and as long as the nappies are heavy enough you've got nothing to worry about x

I wear a vest top under whatever top I'm wearing (or a boob tube around my tummy!) then pull the vest top down and my other top up so I'm hardly exposing much flesh and your baby will cover loads of you up. Have a practice in front of a mirror so you can see what you're exposing and to reassure yourself that you can't see anything.

I'd leave expressing for now - some people do it without any problems early on but it can cause nipple confussion. If you really want to express you could cup feed but it can be really messy!!!

I think it's great you've go so much determination xxx

 

[k8y]

I started writing down James's feeds at the start because it felt as though he was constantly feeding and for aaages and I wanted to see what pattern he was in, But I soon got fed up and just went with the flow, My health visiter says a demand fed baby now makes a more content baby later on and I believ this is true

Something that worried me James started wanted to be fed alot and i worried he wasnt getting enough and considred jacking it all in, but when I got him weighed that week he had put on loooads. It was a growth spurt and so was stocking up, but I didnt know anything about these, they have them every now and then. I think its best to just go with the flow and feed feed feed.

As for feeding in public I do the same as elm, Vest top underneath a tshirt. Pull the vest top down over your boob, and the tshirt up. This way no one see's anything. I never try to hide the fact that I'm feeding I'm very proud of the fact that I do. x If someone doesnt like it they can go and eat thier lunch in the loo !! lol But seriouslky I know that some people dont feed in public and take a shawl to cover up, you can buy pecial bibs that you pop over your head and cover everything up. But its a personal preference. what ever you feel comfortable with.

If I were you, I'd scrap the book, feed on demand and for ever how long he wants. Get some dvd's and a good book. Another good way to rememeber which side to feed from is to use a bracelet and just swap that from side to side. sorry for whaffling on. good luck with ur feeding. x

 

[charlieann]

well done on getting this far, i found first few weeks the worse.
i'd get rid of the book if i was you. if babies happy and not rooting around after feeds then he's getting plenty.
bf in public- i tend to wear loose tshirts, that fall down around thomas' head and cover him up. i always have a burp cloth or tissue in my other had as occasionally he likes a break and a look round, and sometimes exposes me, also nipple doesnt seem to understand this and carries on squirting. i hold it close to his mouth so i can cover up quickly. i also prefer it if someone is sitting with me, feel more comfortable and confident then.

 

[thelilbump]

However, I have a few questions that I'm hoping someone will be able to answer about BF if you don't mind. Sorry about the long post and I'm thankful if you have read down to here:
1. I write the times of every feed and how long it took and which boob I used in a little book and have become a little obsessed by it, worrying if one feed is shorter than other or if he took longer during feeds etc. Did anyone else do this or shout I throw the book and just go with the flow?
2. When you take your little ones out? Do you try and hide the fact that you're BF with a blanket or do you just take them out and do it?
3. Is it too early to start expressing and giving him a bottle maybe a couple of times a week yet? My OH is very keen to be a part of this fabulous experience and although he doesnt complain I know he feels a little left out (even though he knows we're giving LO the best start in life).

Like I said, sorry about the long post, but I don't know of anyone else who has successfully BFed to ask. xx

1. Personally i think you should just go with the flow but that's just my opnion. Remember, if at one feed he feeds for 45 minutes for example, the next feed he may very well only feed for 15. I remember my midwife saying it was like eating sunday roast, just because you have that 1 big meal doesn't mean you want that every dinner time. There are other ways to remember which side you fed on last such as wearing a braclet or hair bobble on your wrist to signal that side.

2. I used to use a muslin just to cover myself up a little.

3. I think expressing this early may not be a good idea unless you need to. Mainly becuase you'll only get a small amount and it's quite off putting for many. In time you'll be able to pump ozs quickly but if you were to do it now you'd probably only get mls. My OH did the nappy change and that way he had an important job to do. I put it in, he took it out


Sounds like you are doing a fab job Good luck!

 

[sjnams]

Congrats on getting this far All the above advice is fab and I totally agree with it (Elm has given you great links to check out )

My own experience is similar to yours, the first week I wrote everything down from which boob, how much, when he slept and when he pooed....information overload for sure but peace of mind-deffo I did it mainly due to sleep deprivation and each day bleeding into the next so a simple question such as "has he pooed?" would leave me flummoxed The lists were discarded after a couple of weeks though.

The is he getting enough milk question is a common one for BF babies and it definitely sounds like you are doing everything right. So long as you are seeing wet/dirty nappies then you know he is feeding enough.
Don't worry about times of feeds varying, his needs will vary through the day so sometimes he will pig out on 3 courses, and other times he will be content with a snack. Go with the flow and it will all come good
Like other girls, I have stocked up in string vests (the type with the bra strap) so I can layer, top goes up, vest comes down and no-one sees anything apart from a happy baby. I would try not to introduce a bottle untill he is about 6 weeks (or when BF is well established ie your supply and his ability) as it can cause confusion and mess with your supply but honestly I fretted about public feeding for over a month so stayed home all the time and then once I finally did it, I realised nobody really cares, or looks at you the majority of the time and even if anyone does look less than happy, you come over all militant BF and feel strangely proud

Good luck hun

 

[Kitten]

I still haven't braved public feeding and have been practising at home but can't seem to cover up at all as my boobs are just so bloody huge I can't juggle him and unhooking/rehooking the nursing bra but like the others said, try in front of a mirror etc.