breastfeeding

taby1205

Having my second child in June and I want to try breast feeding but nervous and have no clue what I will be doing how long breath milk is good for ect.

lovethatcolosun

This is my second as well. I bf and supplemented with formula last time because of low supply. I picked up The Womanly Art of Breast Feeding from the library to help me with the process again. Fingers crossed I can just rely on breast milk this time. If suggest picking up a few books to give you the info you need or attend a few classes. I know the hospital where I'm birthing does one called The Milky Way. Also look into bf groups in your area. La Leche League is a good one.

karaelaine1991

taby1205 said:

Having my second child in June and I want to try breast feeding but nervous and have no clue what I will be doing how long breath milk is good for ect.

I'm a FTM so I don't have the answers to your questions, but I think that if you checked out the breastfeeding board you'd be able to find a lot of really good information. Here's the link: 

https://forums.thebump.com/categories/breastfeeding

mrs1374a

Take a breastfeeding class at the hospital you're delivering at before you baby is born. Also, take full advantage of the lactation consultant at your hospital. This is also our second and i breastfed our first for over a year and I would have gone longer but she weaned herself. It's not easy at the beginning can be painful and it's a learning experience for you and the baby but it's so worth it.

sschwege

As pp said, take a BFing class, if baby is doing well at birth insist on immediate skin to skin contact and BFing, even if all seems well see a LC in the hospital and ask for help right away if something doesn't seem right, don't wait!  And try to avoid a paci or bottle in the first month or so.

The best advice I got was from an LC and she said, "Watch the baby not the clock" which is to say, if baby seems hungry feed them, even if it's only been a short time since you last fed them.  With my second the pedi (not our usual one) said I was feeding our baby too often, that I should be nursing every 2-3 ours max...this is a 4 day old we are talking about here!  Absolutely ridiculous advice.  Luckily as a STM, I smiled and nodded and continued to 'watch the baby not the clock'.   In the beginning it will seem as if you are feeding baby constantly, but keep at it and it will get better!

Edited to add:

You asked about how long BM is good for, it depends on how it is stored I follow the CDC guidelines:
https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/recommendations/handling_breastmilk.htm

Penwater1

I highly highly recommend taking a breastfeeding class especially one offered at your local hospital. These tend to be low pressure and very informative. I took one for my first dd and it alleviated a lot of anxiety, I read several books before the class and was so nervous about messing things up the class made it very simple. The nice things about these classes if they really let you get a feel if breastfeeding is going to be the best move for you and your baby.

Jna0407

I'm a FTM and NICU nurse. I also recommend a breastfeeding class and seeking support from your lactation consultant. They can and will give you information on how long the milk is good for, advice on when and how often to pump, etc. I am the type of person that writes down questions, so maybe after doing some research or after your BF class, write down questions for the LC and put them in your hospital bag.