Wondering about Breastfeeding ....

I am currently 37 weeks pregnant and I wanted to know what are the conditions behind breastfeeding ... I am nervous to breastfeed but I know it would be a great fort he baby in the long run. Also I would like to breastfeed and do the pump simply because I am a working mom and well it would be more convenient once i go back to work. How can i prepare myself and what kind of diet is suitable for me?

[Whitneylauren]

Congrats! Breastfeeding is one of the most beautiful experiences a mother can have with her baby! It is the one thing that I look forward to the most when my next son is born (in March). The bond you are able to form with your baby is unreal!
When you nurse you want to eat as if you were pregnant... that is, the same types of nutritional intake plus LOTS of water. If you are interested in pumping I would locate and contact your local Laleche league. The nurses there can get you set up with a nice pump and show you what you need to do as well.
Your breasts should already have colustrum in them, which is an important supplement for the baby until your milk comes in. It is packed full of vitamins etc. Once your little one is born you need to be sure to nurse him/her within the first half hour. The only thing babies are born knowing how to do is suck so this will help your infant latch on as well as identify where her/his food is coming from. Your milk will come in within a few days after the birth... your breasts are going to be really sore. Then your milk supply will adjust to what your baby needs. Your nipples are going to be sore for the first week because they have to get used to a little one sucking on them for hours a day, but that pain subsides.
Hope some of this info helped!

[AndiJ78]

How soon do you need to return to work? That will help establish when you should start pumping and/or introducing the bottle. If you have a few months, I would avoid adding the bottle for a few weeks to work on getting your supply established.

Drink to satiate thirst, don't overdo it as it can and often does cause the tissues to swell which makes letdown difficult.

Keep taking a prenatal vitamin and eat roughly  2500 calories a day. Be prepared to nurse at least every 2-3 hours minimum around the clock.

[tahariel]

Congratulations on deciding to breastfeed. It is best for your baby and you will enjoy the bonding time too.

Preparations are just getting nursing pads (I prefer the Lansinoh brand, available in big boxes at Walmart) and perhaps a boppy pillow which may help with positioning baby for breastfeeding. If you plan to nurse while out in public, a nursing cover up may be worthwhile too. Also, you may want to check with your hospital or health care plan if breastfeeding classes are available to take prior to baby's arrival. And if any breastfeeding support groups are available after baby is born.

Plus, see if your hospital had certified lactation consultants on staff, or if there are cerfied lactation consultants or la leche league leaders available in your area. Many women find having a lactation consultant present for your first few nursing sessions in the hospital extremely helpful. They are so knowledgeable and will help you and baby with a successful start to breastfeeding. Remember that breastfeeding is a learned art and not instinctual, so guidance from other experienced women is essential. Baby's latch is the most important. If done correctly, you should have little problems and experience little pain after those first few weeks of sensitivity. You can search YouTube.com for breastfeeding latch instruction videos too.

Continue a healthy diet with plenty of water and make healthy lifestyle choices (avoiding first or second hand smoke, alcohol, etc.) Keep in mind that the first 3 weeks of breastfeeding are usually the most challenging while you and baby are still learning . . . after that, it all becomes much easier and so worthwhile. Best wishes!

[tahariel]

Oh, and getting a good nursing bra or two. You will probably want to go up one or two cup sizes from your current bra size to allow for your milk coming in. Sleeping nursing bra are great for wearing at night . . . you may want to consider one of those too.

[babydreams9]

Congrats!! You are about to give your child the most amazing, priceless gift. Your milk is made just for your baby - no two "recipes" are the same - it's always the right temperature, always available, and baby always gets just the right amount. It's a truly remarkable science and you should take great pride in your decision to experience it.

Definitely buy some nursing pads. I've tried several and love the Johnson & Johnson brand the best, they're really soft and absorb leaks well. Nursing bras are also a must - purchase them at least 1 cup size up from what you are right now. I highly prefer the sports bra type that slide over on either side. As someone mentioned previously, prepare to nurse at least every 2-3 hours around the clock at first - and that may be difficult at first b/c it's demanding on you, and your nipples may be a bit sore (if they're painful or cracked, see a lactation consultant or La Leche League leader asap! Small problems & discomforts can and will become bigger if not addressed right away, which is one of the main reasons people give up on it early). It gets better!!! Stick with it.Think of it as bonding time with your baby. A nursing cover-up is a great investment too -you'll use it a LOT, especially once you and baby have nursing down pat and want to go out and do things!

I was surprised at how many offers for free formula I received, and how persistent the hospital was about "supplementing" with formula until my milk came in (they even sent me home w/pre-mixed foruma already measured out! It went right in the trash when I got home- I was determined not to settle!). Stick to your guns. Your breastmilk is ALL YOUR BABY NEEDS... don't doubt yourself that you are able to provide enough for your baby. Your colostrum is designed to provide for your baby until your milk is in. Don't fall victim to the "supplementation" argument unless there is some medical condition or you feel in your gut that it's necessary. Supplementing opens up a whole new can of problems - nipple confusion, preference, milk supply problems, etc..... which often lead to early weaning.

I have a Medela Double Electric and it was well worth the money. If you plan to pump frequently - which it sounds like you are, when you return to work - invest in a high quality electric pump to pump quickly and effectively. You can also rent a pump from your local hospital for as long as you need it.

Breastfeeding the very best decision I ever made and I'm sure you'll feel the same. It's okay if you have doubts in the beginning, when you and your baby are in the learning stage - it's not easy at first. But listen to your instincts. You know what's best.

Best wishes in your last few weeks of pregnancy!

[girlsrock]

Hello, I'm new to the forum, I've just discovered this website and I love all these great questions getting answered.  I have a few questions myself.  I am currently pregnant for the 3rd time, I have a 3 yr old but i lost my last baby in july.  I am crossing my fingers this time.  I was reading your response about B/F and I absolutely agree with you that breastmilk is the best thing for babies.  When I had my first daughter I didn't know much about how to kick start the whole breastfeeding thing and like you said, they push towards suppelementing at the hospital, that's what they did before my milk came in.  It resulted in nipple confusion and after that my daughter didn't want to latch on anymore.  I ended up pumping for months, I'd have rather breastfed her though.  This time, God willing everything goes well, i'm planning to breastfeed.  I was wondering though, if it takes a few days for milk to come in ( I think it took 4-5 days last time), how is the baby surviving without food for those first few days.

[babydreams9]

Hi girlsrock -

I won't lie to you... my son was less than content the first few days while we waited for my milk to come in (remember of course, that you do have colustrum during that time)... he was born at 11 pounds and was SO hungry literally right out of the womb. I also had the added problem of flat nipples, so breastfeeding was incredibly hard for the first 3 days after he was born. We cup fed him because he was literally unable to latch on. He slept the majority of the time, waking up to eat and then crying pretty hard, then back to sleep... and the cycle repeated over and over for 3 long days. After that my milk *finally* came in - of course then I became engorged, which was painful and frustrating, but I was just glad my milk was in - and my son was SOOO happy! He had a drunk look on his face after every time he ate.LOL.... Colustrum will sustain a baby for up to 5 days. Your pediatrician will want to monitor the baby's weigh gain carefully. Keep in mind that your baby WILL lose weight after he/she is born and that is normal. Despite frequent nursing, my son lost more than 10% of his body weight, which is typically cause for alarm and pediatricians will start pushing forumla "supplementing" at that point.... I REFUSED, so my pediatrician had a lactation consultant meet w/me and she provided me with a nipple shield, which allowed my son to nurse much more easily. Within ONE DAY he gained 10 ounces!! lol... they were only expecting him to gain 1-2 ounces. From then on he gained like crazy and it's been gravy ever since. He is now 3 months old and in the 95th percentile for weight and is healthy, happy, and breastfeeding wonderfully. I followed my motherly instincts and I'm so glad I did. Granted, if your baby is premature or significantly underweight, supplementing may be more critical (I suggest cup feeding, to avoid nipple confusion)... but otherwise, your body has everything your baby needs. Don't doubt it! It is amazing that we not only carry and sustain life for 10 months, but we provide the nourishment it needs too. It is miraculous!
Congrats on deciding to provide your baby with the best nutrition you can offer! I'm sure once you get past the first couple days, you'll be just fine. Best wishes for a happy remainder of your pregnancy. :)