breastfeeding the first day?

[mom2ariana]

im not planning on breastfeeding, but i am considering doing it the first day or two while im in the hospital so that my baby will get colostrum. the only thing im concerned about is nipple confusion...will the baby transition okay from one of two days on breast to a bottle and formula? and if she has trouble with it eventually she'll take it if she's hungry enough right?

[freya25]

Im going to try & breastfeed, Im nervous that I won't be able to tho :( A close friend of mine really wanted to BF but her baby girl Imogen wouldn't latch on-she was so upset & thought it was because she was doing something wrong-I really hope I don't have to go through that :(
I SO want to BF-If I can't, I can't....

Ive just brought a scarf from Mama Scarf-There fab, you can BF in public with complete privacy :) I don't know what the US is like but most people in the UK are V prudish!

Do you have a service in the US to help new mums with breastfeeding? They have just started something over here :) Anyway enough rabbiting!

mom2ariana-as far as I know baby will have no problem changing from breast to bottle-when there hungry they will suck! lol! Not long for us now hun :)

xXx

[MissmyAngel]

This will be a concern for me as well, as this will be my firstborn. I'm not sure if I can do it, and not sure if I will be able to either. I was allergic to my Mom's breastmilk. I figure I will give it a try though, and if it works, will most likely switch back and forth to make feeding easier.

[connorethansmom]

Funny, I never thought of myself as breastfeeding person either. Too weird, too may questions, people telling me it was hard, etc.  I ended up exclusively breastfeeding my DS and DD for 18 months.  With my DS I was working and pumped.  I guess I would say try to keep an open mind (sounds like you are), it might just work.

[mom2ariana]

well thats good to know, thanks! im still learning about all of this..i guess we'll just have to see. :) breasfteeding doesn't seem like my thing but like i said i might feel differently later on.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Well I found that with my middle two, I breastfed partially (supplemented with formula) for the first 4 months and after the initial engorgement I had less trouble with my breasts than the time I exclusively breastfed and my milk dried up faster becuase I didn't produce as much.  I figured even if I had very little BM atleast they were getting some, but I still had the convenience of bottle feeding when it was easier.

[mom2ariana]

yeah i have, but i think i would prefer drying up completely after the first few days. i might change my mind though, who knows.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I agree completely and commend you for wanting to do that.  Have you thought about atleast partially breastfeeding while you are on maternity leave as well?  

[faye83]

The only bad thing is the engorgment of the breasts that follows the colostrum. It huuuuurts

[mom2ariana]

yeah i thought about that..and at first i was determined not to let my milk come in, but now i think i want to make sure that she gets colostrum..its so important and breastfeeding her for the first couple of days while i have colostrum and we're in the hospital shouldn't make a difference...i know how full of antibodies colostrum is and i dont want to deny her that part.

[tiredbuthappy]

the baby shouldn't have any problems going to the bottle- nipple confusion is usually the other way around. It is easier for a baby to feed from the bottle, so he will quickly adjust. Any breast milk you give your baby is a gift.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

The baby should transition fine, considering s/he won't really have time to get THAT used to the nipple.  Keep in mind though that by BF'ing the first couple of days it's going to trigger your breasts to increase milk production so it may take longer for your milk to drive up than if you didn't at all. Just fyi to think about.  

[julianovak]

yesss. babies will eat from anything once they get hungery.