breastfeeding concerns

[hiltonvslohan]

well, i decided months ago when i first found out i was pregnant that i was going to breastfeed. Ive been reading so much stuff and its starting to worry me. What if i can't do it!!! all these people have all these problems with latching and supply and pumping and schedules and working etc. Plus i know absolutely nothing about actually doing it. i have read ALOT but i still don't feel as though i could go at it on my own ya kno. I'm only 20w 2d but i'm a person who has ot be ready in advance (im having my baby shower in feb even though she isn't due til may lol) I don't want to formula feed i want to breastfeed im just worried that since i want to so bad it will turn out horribly. any advice any help? i do take a BF class jan 6th as well. maybe this will help some too

[hiltonvslohan]

thanks so much for all the advice i just really like to be prepared

[Brittny27]

I was like you. I've always wanted to breastfeed and I was so worried I wasnt going to be able to I tried to get information before hand because I always like to be prepared and was told you have to wait till after delivery.

It was aweful! She wouldn't latch I didn't get a pump for over 12 hours. Which the second LC said I should have had the pump within the first 3 hours of her not eating. She went almost 24 hours before she ate from a syringe. She wouldn't take a bottle or anything. We finally got her on a bottle and had to use formula while I pumped some but took 3 days before my milk came in since I waited so long to start pumping.

I pumped every 3 hours for 5 weeks we feed her with a bottle. I would try every so often to put her on the breast but she just screamed. I went to a le leche league meeting and helped to get her using a nipple shield. I used that for 4 weeks and at 9 weeks old she finally started breastfeeding with no support. It was a long hard battle to get here but now at 3.5 months old she eats great like she never had any problems.

If you are determined you can do it DON'T GIVE UP! I could have easily given up and said it just wasn't going to work. I also think if I hadn't bought a good double medela pump I wouldn't have been able to get a good supply established. She gets a bottle of pumped milk once a week when I work. She now hates the bottle after using it for 5 weeks.

I'm not trying to scare you but to let you know that no matter what you can breastfeed. Try and find the local La Leche League and start going to meetings now. My group only meets once a month but it is such a great group of support while pregnant wanting to breastfeed and while breastfeeding.

[Clysta]

A lactation consultant is a wonderful person to talk to when trying to work on latch and proper positioning. I personally never took any classes -I just read up on it- but I've heard they are really good to take in advance. When you deliver you need to make it very clear that you don't want formula used, nor pacifiers. (They can cause nipple confusion in some babies) It's also good to have the baby with you at all times in your room, or if you have them stay in the nursery have the baby brought to you. Check your hospital as well and see how they are with breastfeeding. Some offer no support because the nurses aren't well informed while others are amazing at it. Breastfeeding likely will hurt and cause pain at first. I bled and was cracked and sore for a week or two. It's also really exhausting at first while. You're the only one who would be feeding baby which results in waking frequently. Baby may also seem like they're attached to you 24/7, but it's normal and after 6 weeks it should become less frequent. The key is to make sure baby is on properly and you're positioning them correctly, (Improper latch and hold can cause more soreness and baby won't get as much milk) and to be persistent. It may be hard at first, but overtime it can get much easier. Try to avoid supplementing at first if you can. It can drop your supply and might make things more difficult. It also helps to not have any formula in the house. It can tempt you to bottle feed when you might not really want to. Good luck!

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I agree /w julianovak.  I have 6 kids and have breastfed all of them.  The class will help you and you will have a lactation consultant help you in the hospital.  Plus the nurse can help you w/ the latching.  The main thing on latching is to get as much of your nipple in the baby's mouth, as you can.  This should help you baby get a "correct" latch and also help you to not be as sore.  But do know that some soreness is to be expected so don't worry if it happens.  If it becomes unbearable, ask for help.  You should be able to contact your hospital lactation nurse anytime, free of charge, even after you are discharged.  Good luck!

[hiltonvslohan]

thank you! :)

[julianovak]

Firstly, no one can prepare you enough, to be "ready"..... ITs sort of like childbirth, you just dont know how itll go. You can do your part by asking for a lactation consultant to come visit you once you give birth, request no formula be given to your baby at the hospital. Be careful with what you eat, make sure to eat in moderation... Not like five oranges, in case babys stomache doesnt agree with you. ONce you start BF be sure to continue your daily prenatels. GOOD LUCK!!! As long as baby gets a good latch from the begining you should do fine. In terms of saving your nips, buy some lansinol. =)