Worried about breast feeding...

[welshsarah]

Ok this is my third baby. Wasnt able to bf my other two children. But this time I really want to be able to do it and not feel like a failure. Theres a few things that are worrying me through. And Im hoping previous breast feeding mums will enlighten me a little.

1.I have got low iron and feel so tired all the time. How will i manage the night feeds will have partner with me but so terrified at falling asleep with the baby while I try and feed. (Sorry but do babies need more feeds at the beginning than babies who are formula fed?)

2. Breast feeding and school runs. Dont really have the support when partner is back in work and will be picking up DD at 3.15 and DS at 3pm. How will I manage if my baby needs a feed?

3. How long does it take to get established and does it take a lot of time out of your day. I dont begrudge the time its just my little ones demand so much attention and DS is at the moment potty training, just worried I will be able to successfully potty train while baby is breast feeding.

4. Sore nipples Are you always in constant pain while feeding.

Despite all these questions please dont think im making up reasons to myself not to breast feed. I really want to do this but Im scared about the above and how I will adjust in the real world, especially as it be all new to me. xxx

 

[optimistic1]

I've only been doing this for 3 weeks so in my answers are a bit inexperienced.

1. I don't know much about this. I know I was super tired at night the first week and dozed off a few times while feeding. My OH would stay up with me so he could wake me if I fell asleep but that's about all he could do as far as helping me at night.

2. There's been a couple of times when my daughters doctor appointments would last longer than expected (one actually lasted so long I had to feed her in the back seat of the car in the parking lot because we had another appointment immediately after) but usually I just give her a pacifier (if were in the car and as long as I'll be able to feed her soon) and she would be content until I'm able to get home or somewhere to feed her.

3. I've been told it takes 6 weeks for your milk supply to be established. Newborns that are breast fed eat every 2-3 hours day and night and the time on each breast I've noticed varies, my daughter eats about 10-20 min sometimes longer. I don't always switch breasts but I make sure not to feed from the same breast twice in a row to keep them from becoming lop sided. Its only really time consuming if there cluster/comfort feeding or going through a growth spurt then it can feel like there glued to your boob and your glued to the couch. I don't have any other kids so its easy for me to just sit in one spot while she eats all day long with very short breaks in between. So for you since you have 2 other children I recommend looking into baby carriers/wraps/slings so you can get up and move around while feeding.


4. My nipples were only in pain the first few days and the pain was extreme so stock up on lanolin ointments. Once my milk came in my daughters latch got better and she didn't have to suck as hard to get stuff out like she did with the colostrum cause its so thick its harder to get out. Plus the first few days there latch can be poor and it can take time for them to figure it out but I found my daughter always latched better if I was relaxed and comfortable.

Hope that helps some..

 

[I Love Lucy]

I don't have a lot of experience but hopefully my experience can help some.

1. Breastmilk digests more quickly then what formula does so a breastfed baby usually eats every 2-4 hours. DS and I co-sleep which does make the night feeds easier because I can just pop a boob in his mouth before he gets fully awake and becomes more difficult to get back to sleep so that may be something to consider. If that's not something you're comfortable with, you can pump breastmilk and DH can handle some of the nightfeeds or you can supplement with formula. As for the iron, you will want to continue taking your prenatal. I'm assuming you would want to take one that does contain iron if low iron is a problem for you.

2. If your baby needs to be fed you can purchase a nursing cover and nurse in your car. Or you can bring expressed breastmilk or formula if you choose to supplement and feed from a bottle if your baby needs fed while you're doing the school runs.

3. DS and I had a decent routine going about a month in. Of course every baby is different so I can't really tell you how your baby will be. Each nursing session typically takes about 30 minutes for us but as they get older they do get more effective so it can be a lot faster then that.

4. I'm never in pain while nursing. The first couple of weeks I would be sore right when baby latched on as my milk let down but I don't even notice any soreness these days. Growth spurts were hard on my nipples since it was pretty constant nursing but thankfully those only last about 2-3 days and then things go back to "normal". Personally I found the most painful thing about breastfeeding was the AF like cramping I experienced in the hospital since breastfeeding helps the uterus contract. It seriously felt like I was having the period from hell.