Breast Feeding Class/Open Forum

Me again. ;)
Did any of you take the breast feeding class and if so did you learn a lot??? Everyone is telling me not to since after she is born a lactation consultant will come by to help me and that the class is a waste of time. Also said you cannot "practice" in the class yet when Quinn is born is when I will learn the most.

TGIF and use as an open forum as well!!!

[jd1419]

I never took a class and nursed both of my boys--the hospital I was at gave you videos while recuperating, and the nurses were really helpful.  I am in a small town so it was like having two nurses to one patient when I delivered.  Just remember to relax and you may experience some pain--you may also have cramping/contractions when nursing int he 1st few days.

[BusyMom92960206]

I breastfed my youngest two boys and the nurses are really a lot of help.  If needed they should have a Lactation Consultant available in the nursery and also one that will come to your house after you get home and are settled if things are not going the way you plan.  I had one come out the first time I breastfed just to show me how to prop the pillows and the best hold, etc.  I did attend one class with my last pregnancy and it was really a waste of time, we watched a video, you can probably get the same video at your local library.  It is a very rewarding feeling to breastfeed and it may take some getting used too.  Especially if there is any pain.  I wish you the best of luck!  Take care!

[kris123]

Hate to throw in a qestion, but I have posted before that I have a pain after sex sometimes.  This pain is so bad that I cry.  Last night it happened after I ran ??  I am about 8dpo, but I don't think the pain is connect to be maybe being preggers ??  I am still soar from the bab pains I got last night.  It is all in my bottom.  No sure what to call that area.

[petanka]

Harley, do not worry, it will either happen or not. (I hope it does) I think yu would be waisting your time and $$$. When I had my first DD, I did not take any classes and I delivered and breast fed here for beautiful 13 months. I look at it more like there are babies which will latch on and there are babies which will not. I think that your hospital or whatever place you will deliver him will give you plenty of advise. I would rather spend the money on a good nurse or whatever they call them after you deliver and need help at home if family is not around. We are delivering 2 days apart, I will call you and walk you through it!!! HA, HA

[Harley-girl]

I may take you up on that offer. :)

[Harley-girl]

Kris, have you been checked for endometriosis. One of the most noteable signs of that nasty disease is painful intercourse and pain in the rectal area.

[sherryroberson]

I think a breast-feeding class is a good idea! I intended to bf with my 1st child. But i tried and tried day and night, the nurses came in to help me and everything. But my dd wouldn't latch on. So finially the nurse suggest (after 2 1/2 days of trying) us go ahead and bottle feed b/c my dd looked malnutrished. So maybe a bf class might help? Which you may have no trouble at all and your baby may latch right on! Good luck!

[baby4Staci]

I agree about the bf classes to be a waste of $$.. you just just as easily go out and buy a how to book about breast feeding and get the same info.  Our bodies and babies are MADE to breast feed.. soo... if the ancient people did it we can do it too.. it is after all, a survival skill..  There should be plenty of people in the hospital when you give birth to Quinn who should be more than willing to help you through it..

GOOD LUCK GIRL!!

4 more months till our kiddos are born.. (YIKES)

[Harley-girl]

Has your little one been kicking the heck out of you yet? Quinn is a fesity one. ;)

[Jenny77]

I too can't imagine them teaching anything that's not in all of these books I've read. I say if you have the time, it can't hurt to learn a little more and even meet some other pregnant women. But, if you busy and don't have time, I doubt you'll really be missing anything by skipping the breastfeeding class. Like the other ladies have said, there are lactation specialists in the hospital after you give birth that will help you one on one once you actually have your baby in your arms.

[Harley-girl]

I have decided to skip the class and will learn to latch Quinn on with the help of the nurses and lactation consultant.
My pervert DH has also said that we can practice using him. :) MEN!!!!

[nikita2477]

Waste of $, I think. I read a good book about the basics of breastfeeding and learned a ton about how your body works as far as supply and demand, different latches, troubleshooting, etc. Armed with that knowledge and the help of the nurses, we did great. After I left the hospital, we had a little trouble and used the lactation hotline at the hospital a few times. They are your best resource. You can even make an appt. and go back for a weigh,feed, and weigh to see how many ounces she is taking if you are concerned. They are great at most hospitals! Good luck!

[nikita2477]

Ewwww...I had a mental image of some dude latched on to his wifes breast going to town! That said, I think a lot more guys are interested in what it tastes like than they let on. I'm sure most don't want a boob or bottle full, but a little taste "just to see". My DH took a pull off one of her bottles to satisfy his curiosity about what his little angel was eating and quickly decided that was a mistake. He said it tasted awful, but I told him if he thinks that tastes bad, try some formula. Now that stuff tastes bad!

[Harley-girl]

Unf that has not started yet but believe me when it does I am not going to clue him in first. :)

Unsure how you all feel about this but I had a friend who would fill with milk very often and if she was out without the baby her DH would drink it. I am sorry but that is so gross. I know it is a natural beautiful thing for a baby to do but a grown man latched onto a boob sucking away makes me ill. I do not even know of too many men who wuld want to taste it. Did any of your DH ever want a gulp??

[pearl451]

I wouldn wast the $ or the time. I was on bedrest so I couldn't take BF classes or birthing classes & guess what, I had a very easy labor DD came right out & latched on with no problem. Now I know I am lucky as many women have a very hard time with BF. The nurses were very helpful & you could always go to see someone if you are having trouble after the baby is born this way you have the baby with you & they can see what the problem is.

[kris123]

Hey you.  No I have never been tested for endometriosis.  I had very bad pelvic pain last night, so bad that I am soar today.  It was unbearable, it lasted for 1 hour 1/2.  We bd last night and he had to stop because it hurt so bad.  It is worst from behind sorry so tim.  I always have heavy periods and they last at least 7d.  Since the m/c and before the pain has occurd more often.  I have had 3 bad days with this pain.  I couldn't even move.  I am going to call the doc today and see what he says.  Could this cause a m/c if I have endometriosis?

[Harley-girl]

You have a lot of symptoms of endo so def look into it more closely. I have not heard of endo causing a miscarriage but I have heard of it causing infertility.

[Harley-girl]

Yes, I had 2 surgeries and was on continuous BCP so the uterine lining did not have time to build up.

[kris123]

did you have endometriosis?  How do they treat it?

[baby4Staci]

I swear this little guy is a soccer player.. haha.. He kicks when he feels like kicking..  He moves and changes positions a lot which i can tell because of WHERE he is kicking..

They are fun arent they??  haha I love it

[lib and jrs mom]

i bf both of my kids, 1st one for 16 months and second for 12months (stopped early d/t biting issues).  i never took a class because i too thought it to be a waste of money.  the nurses at the hospital were a great help, even though they did encourage me to use a bottle with the first one because my "milk hadn't come in".  they didn't tell me that it can take up to three days for your milk to really come in.  but they helped me with latching issues, and when the time came it just felt natural.  with my dd i had a lactation consultant help just with positioning because i had a csection with my second (vaginal with the first) so i needed to use different positions to avoid bumping the incision.
i'm sure when the time comes you'll just kind of know what your little one wants.  all babies are different, and mine each liked to be positioned differently.
good luck to you and your little one.

[AndiJ78]

There are some things that I don't think can be taught in a class. Nursing is one of them. Between my two boys I have nursed a total of 29 mos and will probably nurse 14 or 15 mos with this next one. Perhaps the most valuable piece of advice I ever received didn't come from a book, but from a friend who nursed and had i not gotten that piece of advice, I may have given up. She simply told me it will hurt like hell the first 7 days and then it magically gets better. You know what? She was right. The first 7 days had me doubting my ability to do it, despite the strong commitment I had made to doing it. But sure enough, the end of day 7 it got better. I had hiccups in the road with each, but made it through.

This truly is one of those things that nature and instinct will guide you through. I still remember the absolute wonderment displayed by my husband the first time our oldest went to latch in front of him. He was amazed at how he instinctively knew where to go to find it and how to latch, the motion it took to draw the milk out, and how my body knew how to respond to his cues. That is simply not anything anyone can teach or read about.

So after writing my own novel, I agree. Save your money. You have a wealth of information and support right here for you on this website ; )

Andi

[HIS GIFT TO US]

I'm in a hurry today so I didn't get to read all the others comments so I hope I'm not repeating :) I didn't go to BF classes since DS came early but the BF consul. at the hosp. was very quick & rude (I'm very easy to get along with & don't carry my emotions on my sleeve) but she almost had me in tears before those 3 days after delivery were up. My point is my son didn't latch on til he was 3 days old so don't worry if it does not happen all at once also when you get home it will just naturally fall in place so don't let a mean person have an influ. on you changing your mind:) Good Luck maybe you'll have an easy latch-on babe:)LOL LOVE & PRAYERS

[nikita2477]

Just let him get a taste of a little colostrum...that'll teach him! :)

[who_dis]

I'm going to be the odd one out and suggest that BF classes might be a good idea.

Anytime you can get some new information, tips, and techniques on BF it's a good thing.  Most classes are taught by the lactation consultants themselves.  Not everyone has the easy time that most of you apparently had.  Some babies tongue suck, some have weak effort, some are tongue tied, and not everyone's nipples are the most ideal.

Often at the classes, the LC teaching the class will go over nipple prep so that you have some time to bring out flat or inverted nipples.  They will go over basic physiology of breastfeeding, which believe me, many women don't have a clue about.
They go over the most common problems and frustrations in advance, so that when the baby is born you might remember back and try out what you learned.

Not all nurses in the hospital are well educated about BF, and sometimes the LC isn't immediately available for consults.  So if you do a bit of learning before hand, it's better than nothing.