This is silly..

taylorj1995

how do you breast feed and what all do you need? I want to at least try it when my baby gets here. Little girl, due April 2015 and I'm 23.4 wEeks

Tch4lfe

I was completely clueless as well. My baby is now 13 weeks and I feel like an old pro. I would suggest reading up on it as much as you can. Kellymom.com is a great website. Good luck!

kendy20

Kellymom is an awesome resource, but as far as what you need...I would definitely make sure you have some nipple cream. There's a good chance baby will cause cracked nipples and that stuff helped me so much! My DD is 7 months and all I can really say is keep at it! It was hard for me at first but like pp said, you feel like a pro once you get over the first few weeks. Congrats and good luck!

mommatotwo2

I definitely reccommend Kellymom.com. excellent resource. I'd also consider taking a class, they're usually offered by the hospital. Ask to see an LC in the hospital to help get you started. I didn't need any nipple cream, but a lot of moms find it to be a lifesaver. The biggest thing you need to do for a successful nursing relationship is to nurse baby on demand, around the clock in the early weeks. It sounds daunting, but its not bad. some of the ladies around here have posted some great links about getting started, what to expect, etc, you will find them if you scroll through the threads.

Good luck to you. I am just in process of weaning my 18 month old and while it hasn't been always easy, it has been so rewarding.

amackattack

I exclusively breastfeed my 6 month old. I didn't do any research before hand except I made sure I had a pump and I got a boppy (which I could've done without in hindsight). The lactation consultants at the hospital were a lifesaver and taught me everything I needed to know. Make sure you see not just one but a few of them while you're there. 

I do think it takes commitment. The first few weeks are hard hard hard and without commitment it would've been very hard to get through them. Now it's the easiest thing I do all day and a surefire way to calm the baby/get her to sleep/quiet her. I feel like everything in months 2-6 would have been much harder without nursing as an option. 

I couldn't do without my hands free pumping bra or my nursing cover. Congrats, and good luck

mamayo26

I had A LOT of issues with my first (I got some really bad advice from the lactation consultants at the hospital and then the nurse who did the home visit). I have 3 friends who were very successful BFing, so I am going to be reaching out to them for advice this time. Read up on it, but trust that you know your body.

kmos816

I would suggest that you and your partner take a class along, but I would wait until you are closer to your Edd so you don't forget what you learned!
Take advantage of a lactation consultant- I was lucky that many of the nurses at tthe hospital i deliveries were also lactation consiltants so I had a lot of help!
The first two weeks were the most difficult- but it gets better!
I found expressing breast milk worked better than nipple cream.