Breast Feeding - Wins, Woes and Worries

mrosek91

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mkrel

I am going to share a letter I wrote to the hospital about my initial breastfeeding experience.  I am one of those people that truly thinks breastfeeding is the most amazing thing in the world.  When I was pregnant I knew I wanted to try it, but I was honestly kind of put off by the thought of a baby being attached to my boob. I could not have felt differently once I started nursing my daughter, and the sense of pride and accomplishment I had knowing that I was providing everything my baby needed was indescribable. I nursed exclusively for a year (added solids at 6 months and supplemented with formula at daycare when my pumping output would drop and my stash ran out) and continued nursing until 17 months.  I know that each baby is different and I will honestly be very sad if it doesn't work out to BF this one, but I know that a lot of circumstances can lead to the inability to breastfeed and I am trying to mentally prepare myself for that just in case.  Here is the letter.  I just want you all to know that things did not start out easy for me and I was a complete wreck and ended up being successful.  

"I am writing because I want to share my experience with you and your staff from the birth of my baby girl in June.  It has taken me a while to have the time to put this together, but I think about it often and feel it is important to share.

First of all, I had an amazing experience in labor and delivery. My nurse, **, was fantastic. I know that I owe my vaginal birth to her and will be forever thankful. She did everything she could to make sure I progressed when my doctor had his doubts.

Before I get into my concerns, I just want to say that everyone that took care of me was great.  I felt that all of the nurses were caring and competent. I felt like I was in great hands.  If another child is in the cards, we will definitely deliver there again. My letter is really about breastfeeding.  I am happy to report that we are successfully exclusively breastfeeding four and a half months later, but the first few days provided some challenges, and I wanted to offer some perspective to your staff. 

When I was pregnant I spend almost as much time reading about breastfeeding as my husband did studying for his CPA exams. I felt prepared, I knew my challenges. I measured my (what I consider to be) small and kind of flat nipples to try to order the correct flange size for when I started pumping. I knew that I needed to give it my all for two weeks and that it would be difficult at first. I knew that my baby’s stomach was tiny and all she needed at first was the colostrum. I knew about cluster feeding, nipple creams, mastitis, not to use a pacifier or introduce a bottle to soon, breastfeeding support groups, that not leaking wasn’t an indication of supply, to make sure to meet with the lactation consultant in the hospital.. .I read EVERYTHING I could find.

Fast forward to my time in mother baby: My little one was having a hard time latching, she cried all night long. We kept asking if it was normal and were reassured that she didn’t need much to eat. In the morning I had finally gotten a good latch, the pediatrician walked in. I told him she was eating and was finally latching, he had me stop the feeding so he could assess her. A little later a lactation consultant stopped by and made an appointment to return for the next feeding. She didn’t. We kept doing what we were doing.  She did eventually come back in and apologized that she had gotten stuck somewhere, understandable, but no one was really addressing the concern. Our daughter was wetting and dirtying enough diapers, but was growing more and more frustrated at the breast. The more frustrated she got, the less she would latch.  Overnight, after hours of inconsolable crying and refusal to latch, we called the nurse. She could tell we were exhausted and that our baby was frustrated and gave me an option to pump or give a little bit of formula. My husband and I decided to give her a little bit of formula and she was finally satisfied. I felt like a failure of course, but we both felt that it was the right decision at the time. Our baby finally slept for a few hours and I woke up hearing the nurses outside of the room for  shift change. “She had FORMULA? You didn’t offer a pump?!” The day nurse came running in rambling on about how we needed to get my baby onto the breast and she was going to get a pump right away. Now remember, I already feel like a failure. I had planned to give breast feeding my all, and if it wasn’t going to work I wanted it to be on my terms. So the morning goes on, I continue to feel like have caused my child harm by having given her formula overnight. I pump. I know the flange size is way too big. Nothing comes out. I felt like I was being judged and like she thought I was giving up. Mind you, she still hadn’t witnessed an attempted feeding.

We are due to be discharged in a few hours, I don’t even know how I’m feeding my baby at this point, and I am an emotional wreck.  In walks a new lactation consultant at the perfect time. The nurse exclaims “Thank goodness you’re here, this baby hasn’t eaten in 4 hours!!!” Again, thank you, I feel like a failure already, no need to rub it in. She watched my baby attempt to nurse, and we tried a few different positions. She immediately noticed that she wasn’t latching well due to frustration and hunger. She told me, “The most important thing is that your baby is fed, the next most important thing is that you pump to keep stimulating your supply.  As long as you do that, we can work on the latch later.” I just broke down crying and she may have thought I was nuts, but this was exactly what I needed to hear. She proceeded to help me come up with a plan. We would pump, use some donor milk, bottle feed and then put baby to the breast, and I could follow up with them once I was discharged or try a nipple shield on my own and see how it went. Once my nurse heard there was indeed a problem, her tune changed. She brought me formula, explained how to bottle feed, went over pumping with me. She was very helpful, and even more so with our discharge instructions. I know that she didn’t mean to make me feel terrible, but she did.

I know that you are a “baby friendly hospital.” I am a nurse myself, and I know that with designations come certain criteria that need to be met in caring for patients.  But here we are, I used formula on day two and it wasn’t the end of the world. It only lasted a few days before my milk came in and my baby learned to latch. She probably had less than ten bottles of formula. If what the lactation consultants told me is true, then why did I not get that type of support from the nursing staff? I just think that the hard push and all or nothing attitude about breastfeeding actually makes it more difficult for new moms to be successful. I also hope that you will all remember that at such an emotional and stressful time, the impact that you have on the new family unit is lasting.

Thank you for the care we received.  I truly do have fond memories of the entire experience and I hope you find it helpful to read from a patient perspective.

 

olivemomma

Soon to be TTM here and I breastfed my first 2 babes for well over a year. However, my first go did not come without its struggles. I want to say to all FTMs who want to breastfeed - please know if it does not come easily to you that you are not alone. I think there is this stigma that breastfeeding is this completely natural thing and that baby is just going to latch on and it will be smooth sailing from there. If that happens for you - amazing! Consider yourself very lucky. If it does not, seek out a well trained lactatation consultant and share all of your troubles. Don’t keep it a secret that you are struggling. A good latch goes a long way. Looking back I now realize I did not have this with my first and I severely struggled through loads of pain for about 6 months. I got matastis, blood blisters, milk blisters, and my nipples would burn when not feeding in ways I didn’t know they could. It was literally 6 months of almost constant pain. However, she wouldn’t take a bottle so I felt stuck. I cried a lot and cringed when she wanted to feed knowing the pain that would come. At 6 months she started on solids and with some relief and her teething (which I believe changed her latch) we got to a better place and I continued to successfully bf her until 15 months. 

With my son, I started to notice the same problems almost immediately in the hospital and I could feel the pain setting in. However, I was at a different hospital and they had a required meeting with a lactation consultant before you could be discharged. I didn’t want to go because I thought I have already bf one baby, I don’t need this! Oh man was I wrong. The few pointers I picked up there literally were life changing. We had an amazing bfing relationship with minimal pain and he bf until he was 18 months. 

Tips for anyone who who wants to bf. Load up on lanolin lotion!! Regardless if you have a good latch or not you will chafe some in the beginning and the lotion helps immensely and is safe for the baby. I would also stock up on pads to keep in your bra to help with leaking. Not all moms leak or produce as much but they were essential for me for months on end with both babies. My boobs just don’t get when it’s their turn and when I would feed the baby on one breast my other would leak like crazy. And at night when you go through longer stretches I would completely soak them. I needed the throw away kinda at the beginning as the washable ones were not absorbing enough. I would recommend purchasing some of both to have on hand. Make yourself a couple nice little bfing stations around your house set up with lotion, pads, burp cloths, a bfing pillow, etc. so you are all set each time you want to feed. It’s tricky moving around with a bfing baby at the beginning and eating will normally put them to sleep so you don’t want to disturb that either! 

Its an amazing thing and I’m so glad I pushed through but the road can be rough at times. Know that is normal!

peachy0709

I had an amazing nursing relationship with DD1.  My milk came in quickly, she loved it, my DH was home with me for the whole time (loooooong story but he was in a grad school program that was on an accelerated timeline but his job didn't start for another few months, so he was with my for my entire leave and then watched DD1 until he went to work when she was 5 months) so I actually ate, and ate well.  Around 5 months when she went to daycare and I was working full time, we started to hit some snags.  She missed me desperately and would basically just sleep on my boob all night.  Eventually, around 8 months, I was way too sleep deprived to continue and DH strongly encouraged me to begin to wean (I got in three fender benders in about a week from the sleep deprivation).  It was bittersweet because my supply was good, I could pump enough so that was still EBF, but it ended up being okay.  Another story for another time: DH's mom FORMULA SHAMED ME when DD1 was 9 months and I was beginning to wean.  I've literally never forgiven her and I actually yelled at her. 

DD2 was far more challenging.  She lost weight quickly and actively in the hospital.  The hospital was super pro-formula (I have no issues with formula, but I do have issues with not working with moms to figure out what works FOR THEM).  My milk took a long time to come in because of the c-section and pain meds.  Once it did, we were in business for a bit.  After several lactation consultant visits, we realized DD2 had a weak latch (no ties or anything).  We tried and tried to make it work, but eventually I started exclusively pumping after an episode of double mastitis (... WHICH IS AWFUL) where it was clear DD2 could not properly drain me. I EPed until DD2 was 8 months and then we started to run into the same issues as before - in order to maintain my supply and have enough for DD2 to be EBF, I was waking up after three-four hours of sleep to pump and getting up with the baby (DH would absolutely help more, but DD1 was still waking up regularly in the night, too, so we had to divide and conquer).  

I'm dreading the first few weeks of BFing with DS, just because it's hard to establish the rhythm, but I will definitely try.  How long, I can't say.  Maybe this time I'll make it a year.  Maybe this time I won't make it 6 months.  I'm going to do the best thing for the whole family - baby, his sisters, and me. 

mrosek91

With DS#1 I had a very hard time getting him to latch in the hospital, my breast were swollen causing my nipples to be not very prominent (sorry I'm blanking on the official term.) The LC in the hospital suggested I use a nipple shield, and pump to supplement as necessary. She fitted me with the shield, showed me a few positions, and sent me home thinking that I was all set. The problem was DS#1 learned the shield and wouldn't eat without it. When he was 8 days old we had to leave the house to go to his naming ceremony, and I accidentally left the shield at home, which I didn't realize until he needed to eat. Luckily we lived only a few minute drive away so my mom ran back to get it, but the next 15-20 minutes of trying to calm and/or latch him, where some of the most difficult I can remember.
I decided that I did not want to be so dependent on something that was so easy to forget and loose, and so I went to the LC offered by my pediatrician. At this point I felt like a failure, here was the one thing I was supposed to be doing for my son, and I couldn't do it properly without outside help. I'm going to step on my soapbox for a minute here - I HATE the myth that breastfeeding is something that is so natural, beautiful and easy. It is beautiful, but by no means does it come naturally or easily to most. I think being a new mom is hard enough without this feeling that if I can't breastfeed perfectly from the beginning I'm doing something wrong. Ok, end rant. Luckily DH and my mom pushed me, and talked me into seeing the LC, and I am so grateful to them. It turns out the problem was that my supply was too good. As soon as DS#1 was latching he would get overwhelmed with milk and fall off, that's why he ate with the shield it limited the flow for him. She taught me different tricks and tips for getting him to latch, and stay latched, and different positions that would help him control the flow a little better. She them sent me home with instructions to try to feed him for 5 minutes on a side, and then pump and have him finish from pumped milk. (DH was amazing during this time, he would feed DS from the stuff I had pumped the feeding before while I pumped, and we couldn't use a bottle, because the LC didn't want him to get nipple confusion, so we would have him suck our finger and insert the milk using a hooked syringe while he was sucking.) We went back in a few days for a follow up because he was finally latching, but only eating about 5 minutes on a side. Turns out this was a combination of my good supply, and him being a fast eater! This was one part I found interesting, babies at this age are so small that they can tell how much they've eaten by weighing them before and after a feeding. So even though he only ate for 10 minutes he had eaten over 2 ounces.
Even though those first few weeks were really tough, I realize that I'm one of the lucky ones. We figured out my problems, and they were very manageable. I was able to give DS#1 exclusively breast milk until well after we started him on real food, and then he weaned at 1 year.
DS#2 had a much less rocky start, I used the tricks I remembered from DS#1, and was able to get him to latch fairly quickly. However, my supply with him was never as good. We had to introduce formula at around 5 or 6 months, and he self weaned by 11 months. It was very hard for me to introduce formula because I felt guilty, I was going to work every day instead of staying home with him, so being able to supply him with food was the one thing I *should* be doing. But the internal pressure I was putting on myself to get enough milk was not healthy, and DH convinced me that formula was not a bad thing. I'm grateful to him for that too.

lilmamabebe3

With DS1, I had an awful experience. At the hospital, the lactation consultant pinched my nipple without asking, gave me a nipple shield without showing me how to use it, and brought me a pump. No instruction, no help. Said my baby wasn't opening his mouth enough but didn't provide any suggestions. I went home still trying but my milk came in that night and we had to sleep at my best friend's house (we had no power thanks to a powerful storm that ripped through the DMV and when we were discharged we still had no power at home) and she drove me to my house to get my pump at 2am and I pumped a bottle for my baby. I pumped for nine months, but i had no support for breastfeeding so it was hard. I kept trying but by then, he just wanted the bottle because it was the same shit but way faster and easier. I pumped until I dried up and that was the worst thing ever.

New moms--weaning or drying up is an hormonally and emotionally taxing as giving birth. That's when my PPD set in and I was a wreck. I have had other friends experience this and it is totally normal. Please be aware.

With DS2, the Lactation consultants were so much better. He would open his mouth very wide and we got the latch down pretty well. He was born on a Sunday (father's day!) and by Thursday he hadn't had a wet diaper in 24 hours. I pumped and gave him a few bottles and saw a lactation consultant later that day. She showed me how to properly use a nipple shield and I carried that thing everywhere. Don't be alarmed if you need one (but feel free to keep trying without it if you don't want to use it). I used it every fucking feeding until he was at his six month checkup and I forgot it. I was at the pedi for his checkup and frantic and they brought me a bottle nipple. Seriously? I didn't know what to do but he was starving so I squeezed some milk into his mouth and he latched! From then, I would try without it, and then if that didn't work, I'd use it. It was a couple more days before we were done with that thing forever. I breastfed him until he was 2 years and 3 months. He loved the boob. I tried to wean at 1, but then I was laid off and I was with him constantly so he just always wanted the boob. I ended up loving it and it was so sweet. We dropped down to only bedtime and then I went away for a week and when I came back he asked one more time and that was it. Except now he keeps asking if I have more, because I guess I smell like it again! I am surprised he remembers. He doesn't want to breastfeed but he is excited about the baby getting "boobie milk".

I loved breastfeeding my youngest. I think it went so long because the sadness and failure I felt around not breastfeeding him was so strong (even though I killed myself pumping for so long around the clock) that I wanted to enjoy the time breastfeeding my baby. 

And another thing--I know I outed myself as someone that worked for a formula company--just know that (at least where I was) most of the money goes to research and development. Formula companies are in the business of making money, but their top priority was making the best product ever for the babies. The company I worked for even launched a new formula, making it closer to breastmilk in terms of caloric content and fat, and lost 50% of their WIC contracts because of the caloric content. That was a ton of money, but they trudged forward because it was what was best for the babies even though it hurt the bottom line. Formula is not bad. It is amazing! And "back in the day" not every woman breastfed--they had wet nurses. Formula is a much more convenient option, in my opinion! And one thing I learned is that yes, breastfeeding is amazing and the bond is incredible, but no one will ever love me like my first. He would sleep in my womb if he could fit--and he pretty never breastfed. This stuff matters, because it's important to YOU, but it will not make your child not love you or bond with you. That was my biggest fear and it's bullshit. These early years feel like the be all end all, but there is so much more to life and it's okay for things not to go according to plan. 

WinchesterGirl

Our BFing journey had its hiccups, but it was an overall great experience and both DS and I loved nursing. I was very determined from the time I found out I was pregnant that I would nurse no matter what. I don't know if that helped or not, but it was my personal mindset. I took a class, I read the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (highly recommend!), and got the numbers of several local lactation consultants just in case. I was determined no formula was allowed in the house. 

Fast forward to my complicated delivery, DS and I both had a lot of struggles with drowsiness due to the anesthesia. (Something to be aware of is that birth drugs can cause babies to struggle to start BFing due to drowsiness, so try not to be frustrated if it happens to you!) We tried to latch multiple times through the night, I honestly remember very little. The next day the nurses helped us latch some, but be was struggling. The LC at the hospital was very little help, basically tossed a nipple shield at us and left. She never once even saw him latch. So, I called my doula (she's also a LC) & she came to visit us. The nipple shield the hospital LC gave us was too small, and was causing the ends of my nipples to chafe and be sore.

So, word to the wise - nipple shields can be a great tool! But they are sized. Get the right size, & if you have any discomfort seek help for fitting it properly. We got discharged that night & ran to target and got the right size nipple shields. My milk came in around the same time, so DS was basically drowning in it as I had a bit of oversupply. We ended up using shields for about 4 months, before weaning off of them when he was ready. By that point due to my paranoia of losing/forgetting them, I had 4 - 2 for home, 2 designated diaper bag shields in cases. I also carried a pack of pump part sanitizing wipes in my bag just in case I ever dropped one/ both and needed to clean out of the house. 

Thankfully my supply was very good, and the shield caused us no problems on that front. My DS did have food sensitivities, so from the time he was 3 weeks old I had to cut dairy completely from my diet. By the time he was around 8 months I had to do a full elimination diet and as a result had to be dairy, soy, and corn free for several more months. It was hard, but I was thankful I could do it as we both loved nursing and hypoallergenic formula is really expensive! 

We weaned just about a month or so ago, right before his 2nd birthday when I was too dehydrated from HG to continue. I am sad about that, but also glad to have a few months off before this baby comes. All those milky snuggles and little smiles are so, so worth it. It is just such a bonding experience! 

moon1417

I can relate so much!  *TW for NICU stay*

I wanted to breastfeed pretty badly but I knew fed was best.  I told the doctor that I was planning to breastfeed. This must have gone on some chart somewhere because...

I had a C-section and DD plopped on my boob for a good long time once we got to recovery.  I was so happy she immediately was into it.  However in the next hours she would almost immediately fall asleep as soon as she got on the boob.  She also started losing a lot of weight.  The nurses said it could be because usually they weigh them in the OR and then again as soon as they come to the nursery/recovery to make sure that the scales put out the same weight and there's not a big increase in decrease in weight that is really just a scale discrepancy.  Well someone forgot to do the immediate weight in the nursery once we got in - so they kept telling me that her weight loss was probably not as high as it seems and that I was doing everything right.

I saw the LC three times while I was in L&D and they gave me great tips but she still would fall asleep almost right away. I was getting worried as her weight kept decreasing but none of the medical staff seemed as concerned as I was.  And they kept telling me - Shes perfect - I'm doing everything right.

We were about to be discharged and DD needed to have an echocardiogram before we left, which resulted in them finding 3 heart defects and she was then admitted into the NICU.  So we moved in too, except it wasn't in the nice NICU (that was full) so she didn't have her own room but  there was a small room off of the nicu for BFIng - this is was what we had to stay in for 3 days.. it was awful I cried for almost 24hrs straight. I was recovering from a C-section and sleeping on a crappy small recliner type chair - so uncomfortable.  I was also anemic so I had 0 energy.


DD has to be hooked up to heart monitors while not BFing but the nurse said there is no time limit on how long it takes me to BF her.  It was a struggle that would often take half an hour to an hour to get her to latch.  Second nurse comes on and says you cant BF that long she has to go right back on the monitors, you need to keep it to 20minutes to half hour at max.  this just makes me cry more but I do it.  She ends up losing 14% of her body weight and I'm totally stressed out and cant stop crying.  

Finally the head LC comes in and says - "I want to talk to you to get information from you instead of the nurses.  What I am hearing is that you are refusing formula/pumping and you only want to BF. "   I'm about to cry right now just thinking about this conversation.  I told her not even close. I had asked to pump in L&D and in the NICU and nobody really thought it was necessary. I told her I would do anything if someone thought it was the right thing to do for DD. And she was like, "Sometimes they just see something on paper and don't even ask the mom, that's why I wanted to come talk to you." She also told me there was "no such thing as bottle confusion, she wont forget your nipple."

I could have screamed at the bitchy nurse that was there that day, she didn't even ASK me about my feelings on using a pump or formula, I had asked about pumping my first night with "no limit" nurse.  I told LC I am a FTM and I just want my baby well.

We ended up pumping that day at the hospital and getting a hotel room that night (leaving her in the NICU was the single hardest thing I have ever done in my life), my sister brought my pump up for me.  DD was diagnosed "Failure to Thrive" but quickly recovered with formula and pumped milk.  But as soon as she got the bottle she never really took to my boob the same again.  She was also diagnosed with a lip tie and a tongue tie and so her latch was never right anyway.  We tried to BF for months, saw LC after LC, and an OC but I was just so tired, and my supply was awful. I EPd for almost 6 months but she was mainly formula fed by 3 months.  I would wake up at least twice a night to pump and I'd pump at work.  I gave it my best shot - but it did not turn out anything like I wanted it to.   


Fed is best - that's my knowledge going into this baby.  I will try again but I just know so much more now and advocate for my baby. I will also pump more. I had a tough recovery from my C-section, and found it so daunting to try to BF and pump right after (bc she then took formula).. but I think knowing how it tanked my supply to skip this step I will be better about it this time. 

Tips- Take your pump to the hospital, even if you leave it in the car.  
Allergy medicine can severely impact supply.... apparently... no one ever mentioned this one. 
This time I plan on buying my own baby scale so I can do weighted feeds at home. 

EmilyA724

I did not have a good BF experience, but I learned so much from it. I'll admit, I didn't do any research going in to it. It took over 24 hours to see my first lactation consultant and in the meantime, breastfeeding was really painful. DD was cluster feeding every 15 minutes and I was miserable.

Finally the LC came in the next day and showed me how to sit better. The problem was they would set me up with 5,000 pillows, which I was never going to take the time to arrange on my own. 

Within the next 24 hours my nipples were cracked a bloody and I was having a horrible time and DD was miserable. Turns out she had a tongue tie, which wasn't caught until my nipples were very angry. Also, my milk was not in yet, so DD was starving leading to the cluster feeding. They brought in the pump for me to use to try to get my milk going and then also they set me up with this hose/straw thing taped to my nipple that had formula in it so that she could still work on breastfeeding while getting enough food with the formula. It was a bit of a mess and she would just nix the nipple and suck on the straw (smart thing). 

She began losing way too much weight and became jaundice and had to do the bili lights, which meant I then had to figure out breastfeeding while having her lay on a light pad the whole time. 

We were released from the hospital and that first night she was miserable and hungry while breastfeeding, so I pumped and we mixed it with formula and gave it to her in a bottle. That was kind of the end of me breastfeeding right then and we needed to continue supplementing the entire time because I never produced enough.

My nipples never came out enough so she still couldn't really latch. I bought a nipple shield and that helped, but I feel like her suction wasn't really strong enough to suck milk through it. Also, I needed a smaller breast pump flange, which I didn't even know was a thing, so I was doing damage to my nipples until that was fixed.  I had nipple vasospasm, which was extremely painful after breastfeeding. 

I tried everything I read about, I saw lactation consultants to help with the latch and production, I tried different flanges, fenugreek, lactation cookies, power pumping, pumping before and after feedings, nothing seemed to help. 

In the end I breastfed as pure bonding during my maternity leave but would give a bottle right after and exclusively pumped while supplementing for 8 months. Then we just switched to formula because my supply was so meager, I was barely pumping enough for one bottle the entire day. Having her already on formula did help me decide when it was right for me to stop pumping without any of that unnecessary guilt.

Also, I was one of those lucky women that needed to hold on to my weight in order to produce. I did not get that breastfeeding skinny that you hear about. I lost about 10-15 pounds initially and then kept every last ounce until I stopped pumping, which I lost about 10 more pounds as soon as I stopped.

This time around:
- I'm doing more research about ways to position the breast both during breastfeeding and pumping
- I'm going to have them check for lip tie and tongue tie immediately
- I'm going to ask for more weight checks 
- I'm going to ask to see a LC sooner to help with latch
- I'm going to bring my pump with me to the hospital so I can pump immediately if need be
- I'm going to bring my pillow and have them use just that for positioning
- I'm going to bring my nipple shield
- I'm going to go to lactation groups during maternity leave
- I'm not going to obsess over my production. I feel like my entire maternity leave I was chained to the couch trying to get my milk up. I will produce what I produce and do some of the tricks, but not spend all my time worried about it. This is my last maternity leave and I want to enjoy it.

database6

My DD was born early and I was told she was a sleepy baby and that is why she didn’t latch at first. In the hospital, the latactarion nurse came and milked me, which was extremely painful, and showed me to how to take my milk and syringe feed my baby. I started pumping in the hospital too to make sure my milk came in. We went home with instructions to feed baby 10ml every 3 hours. 

I had ordered a breast pump through my insurance, but after only a day of using it realized it was no comparison to the hospital grade pump, so I rented a better pump from a drugstore.  I loved that pump!  

After a week we we went to the checkup at DDs pediatricians office. At this point she is still being syringe fed 10ml every 3 hours. The pediatrician was very concerned because she was losing too much weight. He asked what we were feeding her and was shocked when we told him what the lactation consultant has told us. He told us to feed her until she stopped, she would let us know when she was done. 

We took DD home and after a couple of days of feeding her as much as she wanted, she finally latched!  Looking back, I don’t think she had true strength to BF. 

We exclusively BF DD for a year. We never had to introduce formula, and transitioned her to milk by mixing Breast milk in with milk. 

BF was wonderful and I loved it, after we were able to latch. I almost gave up in those first couple of weeks. Every three hours I would try to put her to my breast, and after 10 minutes would stop, pump, and syringe feed. At one pint after we had been breast feeding for a while I started to dread feeding time. My nipples were bloody and raw and it just hurt so much. At that point I started using ice and the nipple guards when they were extremely sore. 

I went back to work after 3 months at an 8-5. I pumped 3-4 times a day at work. If they had not been so wonderful about my pumping I would not have made it a year exclusively breast feeding. Not all jobs are set up so you have the opportunity to pump that often too, I know I was lucky.

Someone above said it best:  everyone tells you it is natural but that implies that it comes naturally. It does not. It is hard work. If you want to BF go into it with that mentality. I had some research but was not prepared mentality for how hard it was or how much pressure I put in myself and perceived that others put on me to be successful breastfeeding.

BigBadWolf12

Good story here.  And still breast feeding #1 at 18 months old, if he's still going,  will plan to tandem. (ETA: I was nervous I would have trouble bc we had a planned c section bc he was breech before the due date, but it turned out to be OK for us)

First few weeks were only rough in the pain aspect - toe curling pain when he latched sometimes even though everyone who checked said he had a great latch.  I think it was just my nipples toughening up bc it eventually went away.  Other than that,  he was like clockwork,  showed hunger signs at 2.5 hours after his last feed,  latched and fed, had good diaper output. He refused one breast at one point in cradle hold but accepted it in football hold. He had breech-induced torticollis (stiff neck) which relaxed as we helped him stretch it and then he could feed either side from any position. 

I got Mastisis once at 4.5 months old and omg it came fast and furious.  I hope to never experience that again. 

Biggest lasting challenge has been his many (many) food allergies. But I'm super thankful to have been breast feeding while figuring them out because it made finding his allergies before he started solids easier (and he has reduced reactions from breast milk than from direct ingestion so we saved him some bad reactions by figuring out allergies early) once we figured them out and I cut them out of my diet it has been great.  There's one single formulas on the market that doesn't have any of my son's allergens in it.  Who knows how long it would have taken us to find it if he was formula fed. And now that he's a toddler I'm glad he still has my milk since almost all the milk alternatives are allergens for him and the one that is safe and we use on cereal does not have the fat and nutrients comparable. So breast milk is a relief even though his dietician and allergist say he is technically fine to get fats and nutrients from food and hydration from water. 

Avrilmai

As a FTM I really appreciate you all sharing your stories. I am planning to try to BF and will deliver at a "baby friendly" hospital. I will admit that I am a bit overwhelmed, but I'm planning to take a breastfeeding class before baby comes. 

emqbee

I’m so grateful for these stories! I would love to know what books you were able to read ahead of time that stick out in your mind as really helpful, maybe even with some troubleshooting included? 

Also...I hear so many women say they LOVED BF. I would love to hear some input on what you loved about it, I’m sure I’ll learn in good time but I’m curious

mkrel

@emqbee There was just something about being able to instantly calm your baby down by nursing that is hard to explain.  Couple that with looking down and seeing how calm and content your sweet little babe is all snuggled up against you getting the nourishment they need.  It was the most powerful tool I had as a new mom for sure.  

BigBadWolf12

@emqbee snuggles, closeness,  sense of accomplishment that I grew this baby for 9 months and then continued to nourish him beyond. Seeing your baby relax as their stress melts away in your arms...maybe some of those also work for formula feeding too just because it's YOUR CHILD, but I experienced it all with BF. Practically speaking out was easy to go places without packing bottles and it was a sure fix to any fussiness no matter where we were for us. 

bluebonnet15

@moon1417 Thanks for the allergy meds tip/reminder, makes sense because they “dry you out.” I stopped taking allergy meds while we were TTC, but have taken them during this allergy season. Will stop after this week, as allergens are about over 

Twinkiedoll

My husband and I took a baby care class when I was pregnant with our first.  One of the classes was entirely devoted to breastfeeding, and the teacher just hammered home how breastfeeding is just so much better than formula and you should breastfeed at all costs.  Then she showed us some videos, and the videos made it seem like how BF was so natural and instinctive, that the baby will know what to do from the moment he/she is born. 

Well, I'm here to tell you that neither DD nor I knew WTF we were doing when it came to breastfeeding.  She could not latch, and my nipples were in so much pain from trying.  I would cry all the time, dreading when DD would be hungry because it hurt so much, and then I cried even more because I felt like a bad mother for dreading feeding my own child. 

I was fortunate that the hospital had lactation consultants that repeatedly assured me that I was doing a good job and that supplementing with formula was perfectly fine.  One of them sat there and showed me how to pump.  But honestly, the damage to my psyche was done at that baby care class.  I still felt like a failure.

When I finally "allowed" myself to give up nursing and went EP, it was like this huge weight was lifted off my chest.  It was the best decision I ever made. 

One of the nice side effects of exclusively pumping is that DH got to do a lot of feedings.  It really helped him to bond with DD, and vice versa.  It really warmed my heart to see the two of them bond.

I still plan on trying to nurse with this baby, but I am going to remind myself that I should not feel like a failure if it doesn't work out.  And for you FTMs, some of you will get nursing down immediately and some of you won't.  Find what works for you.  I know some moms who never built up a supply so had to supplement with formula throughout infancy.  I know some moms who could nurse but preferred to EP as a lifestyle choice.  I know some moms who love nursing and still nurse their 2 year olds.  Their babies are all happy and healthy.  Nursing is fine.  Pumping is fine.  Formula is fine.  As long as the baby is fed, that's what matters. 

ash0625

Honestly, this is the thing I'm looking forward to the LEAST with my second baby. I was determined to BF my son. He latched as soon as he was born, but usually fell asleep pretty quick. I pumped every couple of hours at the hospital after I tried to nurse him. I eventually had to cup feed him formula because he was jaundice and the nurses pretty much told me I had no other choice. I was having the hospital LCs come in regularly to help me. I even went to the Lactation clinic like twice a week because he wasn't gaining weight, and they kept telling me his latch was fine he was just a lazy baby. His lips would turn white while nursing and I still was told he had a great latch. THEN I had to cup feed with formula after every nursing session for like 3 weeks, which was miserable. 

Finally, we exclusively nursed for a few months, but it was never the peaceful bonding experience I'd read about. It was a struggle to keep him engaged, and I always felt like he was still hungry when we were done. 

I finally hired a personal LC to come to my home that was recommended by a friend because he still wasn't gaining weight. She immediately diagnosed him with pretty sever lip, tongue, and cheek ties. She thought they'd ultimately delay his speech and make it difficult to eat, so at 5ish month we had those revised (it was the worst thing ever. He bounced right back, but it broke my heart). By that point, my supply had plummeted. but we made it another 3ish months supplementing with formula until he weaned and refused to nurse at all. 

I even told DH last week that I may choose not to BF at all because I felt like SUCH a failure for the first couple months of his life, but he reminded me that I've learned to advocate for myself and my babies. I'm just going to try to give myself WAY more grace this time around. 

cato99

Hoo boy this thread is A) awesome, thank you everyone for sharing! B ) bringing back memories of those early days! We had such a steady BF relationship once things settled that I mainly forgot about all the early difficulties! I had bilateral mastitis and recurrent blebs (milk blisters) which were horrifically painful, but it all cleared up eventually. Kind of like how the pain of labor becomes hazy  

We have some great stories here so I'll just add a few random comments:

-While I was pregnant my grandmother told me to pinch/scrape/work with my nipples to "toughen them up" before baby arrives. OH MY GOODNESS DO NOT DO THAT. It is an old wives tale (I didn't do it--I checked with my OB and she was like OMG NO)

-Confession: I was stubborn with making breastfeeding work primarily out of laziness. Once and if the kinks are worked out, there is something really easy about just putting baby on boob and not having to bother with making them carefully-measured formula servings. So breastfeeding is noble, but I admit I didn't do it out of noble reasons! Even when I was in the depths of illness/pain caused from breastfeeding I was still like "must... carry forth... for the laziness."

-The breastfeeding hunger is GLORIOUS and you burn like 400 calories a day EBFing. For me, all of that went guilt-free to cookies, ice cream, and some wine, in particular after the deprivation of my pregnancy with GD. So FYI when you wean you may gain some weight as your body adjusts to not spending those calories anymore!

-It's been mentioned by others, but weaning can really wreak havoc with your body--like a mini pregnancy or adolescence of its own. Post-partum depression or anxiety symptoms can pop up, weight gain like I just said, I had a friend who went super anemic, and in my case I had the wooooorst hormonal cystic acne (which lasted the full time [5 months] until I got pregnant again now). All of it is manageable, but it's not stuff I saw mentioned very often so it's better to be prepared!

-An OB I saw for my 92837459823745th round of mastitis/blisters told me that breastfeeding support/science is NOT included in normal OBGYN training, so other than really general facts and best practices doctors rely on the info they get from lactation consultants, and their own experience. That absolutely blew my mind. So in the case of blebs/milk blisters, no one really knows exactly what they are or what ultimately causes them! (Is the white tip dried up milk or a byproduct of inflammation/pus? Is it from repeat trauma to the nipple or a consequence of a clog coming from within?) The treatment she prescribed for my recurrent blebs and that finally cleared them (applying a thin layer of a strong steroid cream to the nipple, then protecting it with a piece of plastic) was NOT from medical literature she reviewed, but from a lactation consultant rec she had gotten when SHE had blebs. (So if you wind up with blebs you can be pro-active and bring up topical steroid treatment to your OB in case they simply haven't come across it.)

-Massaging your boobs underwater is a good way to work out clogs, but start from the nipple --> outwards and slowly work your way up --> outwards, once you've established that last pathway is clear. If you start from the top of your chest from the get-go you will just push milk into the clog. 

-Be VERY CAREFUL with bras! My mastitis journey started because I wanted to wear a fancier nursing bra than the big gross nursing sports bras I had been using, and my supply hadn't stabilized yet so I swelled up overnight when I was wearing it, it was too tight for a little while, and BOOM, CLOG. Which then BOOM, INFECTED CLOG. Avoid underwire, and if you feel a bra getting too tight because you're full just whip it off!

sourlemon

DD1 was formula fed. DD2 only latched a few times and got some formula mixed with pumped milk until I was producing enough for EPing. Then we started one formula bottle at bedtime (she slept so much better). We did that for 9 months. Then went to formula. Even though both kids were different, both experiences were good. I had some regrets with dd1 for not trying harder, but after a full week my milk hadn't come in and I gave up. 

I plan to try to BF with pumping with this kid, but I'm also on heart medication that transfers so if the baby starts showing signs of the medication impacting him, I'll have to stop completely. I'm coming to terms with that. Not quite ready to fully accept it. 

aecm

Great thread! It’s so nice to hear that the struggles in my BFing journey with DD were not unique. 

I was very fortunate to have wonderful LC support at the hospital. I had an LC working with DD to get her to latch while I was basically passed out from all the C-section drugs. It was our LC who discovered DD’s tongue tie, and pushed for an ENT consult (it was clipped the day we headed home). The ONLY thing I appreciated about having a C-section was the extra day in the hospital to work with the LC. 

The good? I loved the bonding moments with my child. We are so close, she is a big mamas girl, and I attribute part of that to the time we spent together feeding. I also loved the sense of accomplishment...being able to nourish your child completely and watch them thrive is very gratifying. And while I am always team “fed is best” - there’s just no denying the super power qualities of breast milk and the benefit to your child’s immune system. 

The bad? It’s hard work...a labor of love. I had to use a breast shield, and I hated being dependent on it. I found it difficult to get the shield in place and get her positioned, so I never really felt comfortable breastfeeding in public. Then again, she probably never would have latched without it and I think it saved me from a lot of the pain and chaffing that’s other moms experience. I think some of our problems were related to DD’s preferences / personality. Almost from the very beginning, my kid preferred to sleep rather than eat. I had to set alarms to wake in the middle of the night for her to feed, and for a while I had to supplement each feed with pumped milk in a bottle (basically dream feeding her) to get her weight up. To this day my kid is a light eater and still prefers naps & bedtime to meal time. 

DD decided she was done BFing at 6mo, but I wasn’t ready to be done so I EPed for another 4mo. In some ways I found EPing easier (I did it on my schedule, not around her hunger needs) but I didn’t enjoy the amount of time I was stuck to a pump or the frequency I had to pump to keep up my supply. 

I’m hoping to BF the twins, at least for a few months. Pretty sure DH and my mom both think I’m a little nuts for trying, but it’s important to me. I feel like I’m going into it with slightly more realistic expectations this time, but I’m also hopeful that my past experience will help me out a bit. 

Allycat11

B'Fing with DD: When DD was born my plan was to EBF as long as possible. In the hospital a cranky old nurse kept snapping at me and saying I was starving my baby because my milk wasn't in yet....um duh it wasn't in she was less than a day old. She told me to breastfeed for no more than 10 minutes and then pull DD off and force feed her formula. There were tears, frustration and connfusion grom both of us. All kinds of tools were brought in to "help". At one point the nurse fed DD a bottle behind my back. Unfortunately DD was born at 1:41 a.m. on a Saturday and the LC had weekends off. When the LC met us on Monday she helped us undo the damage that was done. She also helped us file a complaint on this nurse. 

We took DD home and it took almost a full week for my milk to come in. In the end we had lots of meetings with the LC due to poor growth for DD...turned out not to be a supply issue, she is just tiny. Also frequent weight checks at the pedi. Her pediatrician encouraged me to keep B'fing despite it all. Ultimately DD was EBF, refused all bottles and self weaned at 18 months. 


B'Fing with DS: When DS was born the hospital staff pretty much just left us alone, which was nice. He latched right away with no problem. My milk came in within a few days and his weight gain was always perfect. DS was EBF and never had a single drop of formula. He self weaned around 15 months. 

wabash15

As many others have said BF often does not come naturally to mom or baby. I am a huge fan of BF but I will say that fed is best (I know some hate this phrase) but don't feel guilty about having to supplement, going to EPing (those women are rockstars) or full formula. Do what you need to for your sanity and your family.
     I breast fed the twins for 21months... it was a rocky start and for a long time I never thought I would like BF let alone love it. DD1 did not latch and successfully transfer until she was nearly 8 weeks old. (holy hell did the LC's and I ball when she first did it). DS started off ok but at 10 days old seem to forget how to nurse and it took a week or more of hard work to get him back to a good place. So for the first 2 months of their life I would nurse DS, practice nursing DD1, then bottle feed her, pump for her next bottle and have about 30min before I started the whole process over again.  I was BEYOND jealous of women who could just pop the baby on the boob, for us it was a lot of trying to get the position, nope bad latch/mouth not open enough/try again... The light did eventually go on and it got easier. Also for the twins I was determined to BF (I formula supplemented for about 6 weeks then was able to go to BM only) this also meant that I literally pumped every 3 hours around the clock even if they were sleeping on top of nursing.... I was a crazy lady and I don't recommend it. If I could go back and talk to myself I would allow myself to supplement more/sleep more and not be so stressed about every half ounce pumped or not pumped. By 3-4 months it really did get so much easier and at a year we switched to nursing morning and night and it was heaven, no attachment to the pump and still had that relationship.
     At different points with each kiddo we had some weight gain issues and mixed a small amount of formula into the BM to up the calories they were getting.
    With DD2 she had severe lip and tongue ties that were lazered  when she was a month old. it really made a difference in her latch. BF can be painful/uncomfortable in the beginning or when they first latch but then it should feel fine. If you are crying during nursing, screaming at the latch or hesitating to give them the nipple because you know its going to hurt, THIS IS NOT NORMAL, get help. You should not be cracked, bleeding or have scabs/blisters. also blisters on the babies upper lip is a sign of an issue. At about 6 weeks old we had to switch to EPing because DD2 developed a swallowing dysfunction (as a side effect of severe RSV) so she would aspirate when nursing. It was challenging because she took a long time (nearly 2 weeks) to adapt to the slow flow nipple and was not meeting her feeding goals. On the upside I was able to build a hell of a stash because I again pumped like a crazy lady every 3 hours wanting to do everything to maintain my supply. When she was about 12 weeks old we were able to do some trial nursing again and eventually I was able to go back to nursing at home and bottles at daycare. I was really worried that she wouldn't come back to the boob and our journey would end far before I was ready. I also had mastitis with her, if you notice any redness of the skin, pain or flu like symptoms GO GET SEEN. you feel like you've been hit by a truck and the sooner you start antibiotics the better. We are still nursing and I plan to let DD2 nurse as long as she wants to.
     Also as a side note there are groups/places you can get donor milk if you are comfortable with that concept or are a big producer and want to donate. I could not have had a successful BF journey with out amazing LC's and a very supportive ped. 

Allycat11

I agree with others that Bf'ing does not always come easily. Seek out a good LC if you need help and do not feel ashamed if you are having trouble. Also despite bf'ing both of mine past a year, the first couple weeks kind of suck. I love having a newborn but I do not truly enjoy bf'ing until after 3-4 weeks. You and baby are learning your groove, it can be painful at times and your hormones are all out of whack. 

thirdtimesacharm2019

I really appreciate everyone’s stories and advice. Although this is my third baby, and I have a lot of experience in other areas, I feel like a FTM when it comes to breastfeeding. 

DS1: I didn’t even try to breastfeed. I had no desire. He jumped right on the bottle and we never looked back. 

DS2: I came around to the idea if BFing, but didn’t do any research ahead of time. I assumed it would be a natural and “easy” process (🙄🙄😂😂🤦🏻‍♀️). I was given the opportunity to nurse as soon as I arrived in my room from recovery (c-section), but it was painful, stressful, and unsuccessful. DS was wisked away back to special care nursery (where he would stay for five days). Then I was introduced to the pump. I had no idea what I was doing, so along with one of those “nice enough” nurses I managed to produce a small amount of colostrum. It felt like it took hours. Over the next few weeks I kept trying to nurse, pumping, and supplementing with formula. I never had real guidance or a plan and I finally gave up after a few short weeks. 

I’m hoping things will be different this time. I’m going to have resources in place and hopefully make it much longer. I’m planning to take six weeks off work and already thinking about how I can logistically pump when I’m back at work. I’m so lucky to have a private office (for the first time forever within the past year), so I can hopefully do the hands free deal and pump while working (I think that will help my attitude toward it as well). 

agpandme

Thank you all for your stories!  

lovelikestardust

FTM here, loving all of this information. I plan to BF if possible, but I know it's not always that simple. It's actually really reassuring to hear all these stories because I am the type to want all the information I can get. Our hospital is "baby-friendly" and does have lactation consultants and breastfeeding classes, but are there any books out there that any of you would recommend for new moms?

olivemomma

@lovelikestardust I don’t have specific recommendations on books but I think bfing is really one of those things (like riding a bike) you just have to learn by doing. A There are just so many factors you can’t control - how well baby will latch, how often they will want to eat, milk supply, how your nipples will respond, etc. that a book just can’t prepare you for. A class could be more helpful as at least you could learn some positions and holds that could be of help and have some ready to go relationships for support and questions when it comes time to bf. But really you just have to jump in with 2 feet, work with lactation consultants, and hope for the best while being mentally prepared for the hardships. I was not mentally prepared even though I had several girlfriends that were bfing - they never discussed their struggles openly at the time so I always thought it was easy and natural for them. I think threads like this are a great resource in getting mentally ready for what can be a bumpy road and knowing that is normal 

WinchesterGirl

Another resource to consider is a visit to a La Leche League meeting. It is very helpful to get breastfeeding tips from other moms, and as silly as it sounds, many of us learn by seeing the real thing as opposed to a book or class. Pregnant moms are welcome at meetings and in all likelihood you will see a mom or two nurse at the meeting. It is all very normal and nonchalant and may ease your mind about any reservations you have. 

As for books, the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is my recommendation. You can read just the newborn sections to start, and they have an entire "troubleshooting" section for issues that can come up. 

hillaryo14

I BFed for the first 2 months, and started pumping when I went back to work, but my supply dropped, so we ended up with formula for the rest of the time. I felt disappointed that I couldn't carry on BFing, but I was glad I was able to for the time I did. 
I'm hoping to BF for as long as possible this time.

Kflanders24

FTM scared more of breast feeding than I am of labor (and I am hoping to go unmedicated in labor). I think my main concern is that I have breast implants and I know that sometimes that can be a problem. My breast have changed quite a bit  (bigger, bigger nipples, color change) and I know thats a good sign that i'll be okay but I still hate that I might be freaking out of something that doesn't end up mattering (can't BF). Any successful post implant feeding stories? I cant really verbalize why I am so freaked out, for some reason I feel like I am bound to fail and trying to decide if I should just take the pressure off and not even try.. ugh! 

Only other question is that i've read its impossible to breastfeed and bottle feed (breast milk even) simultaneously , has this been the experience ya'll have had? Or am I misunderstanding this completely lol. 

Kflanders24

Also whats "EPing"? 

emqbee

@Kflanders24 exclusive pumping I believe. 

Side bar...can we include the...ehhh...effects on breasts noticed long term after BFing? Shallow as it may sound, I’m concerned that my boobs will never be the same and I want to mentally prepare myself. My best friend said hers ended a cup size larger than before she got pregnant and stretch marks...anything else to brace for?

mrosek91

@Kflanders24 no experience with implants, so good luck there, and you have to make the right decision for you, but my philosophy with most things is that it doesn't hurt to try. You know yourself best, it could work out, and if it doesn't, years down the line will you feel better knowing you gave it your best, and couldn't do it, or will you be ok with never having tried?
There are recommendations that if you are planning on breast feeding, babies should not be given bottles until they learn to latch properly. The theory is that once they learn how to nurse it is more enjoyable and they will do it, but a bottle is easier than nursing, so if they have a hard time at first they may decide that learning to latch is not worth it. It's commonly called nipple confusion, and some say it's nonsense but others say it's a real problem.
EPing is exclusive pumping. It's someone's whose baby is only bottle feed, but those bottles are pumped milk not formula.

@emqbee every woman is different but when my milk dried up my breasts actually got smaller than they were pre-pregnancy.

emqbee

@mrosek91 that’s music to my ears, I don’t think I’ll be that lucky though

EmilyA724

@emqbee I don’t feel like my boobs themselves changed that much, but my nipples stayed a little darker and don’t really go fully soft anymore.

aecm

@emqbee My boobs were definitely larger while breastfeeding, but once I was done I didn’t notice a significant difference from their pre-pregnancy size. All my pre-pregnancy bras fit fine. I don’t have any stretch marks on my boobs...my abdomen is a totally different story. Overall I think pregnancy changes your body much more significantly than breastfeeding. 

Amdogger82

@emqbee and @lovelikestardust I purchased The Nursing Mother's Companion and referred to it a lot while nursing my son. It also has troubleshooting sections. I think @olivemomma is right that classes and in person education is ideal, but I am a bookish person, and even though I did alllll the classes (and made visits to the LC), I still was comforted to have a book within reach to refer to. 

If you don't have a local La Leche League, your hospital may also offer breastfeeding support groups. I went a couple times with DS, and found the LC who ran that group to be really helpful, even just in hearing her troubleshoot with the other moms there. 

My boobs went back to their prepregnancy size, albeit a little sadder and deflated. 

BigBadWolf12

@emqbee
I'm not done BFing DS (18mo) but he only nurses once or twice a day so there's not a lot of milk going on anyways.  They are smaller than pre pregnancy, full C to moderate B (but I also went from 160lbs pre pregnancy to 125lbs before getting pregnant again this time,  so that probably had a big effect). Definite stretch marks over here. I had some from puberty too I think but definitely more now.  Not on my stomach though,  just boobs.

wabash15

@lovelikestardust the website kellymom has a ton of good breastfeeding advice.
@Kflanders24 yes EP stands for exclusively pumping. Also babies can absolutely get bottles and the breast at the same time. All of mine have. I think the biggest thing to keep in mind is to stick with the slower flow nipples for the bottle. even on stage 1 nipples the milk will flow faster than when nursing (unless you have a crazy intense let down) so kids can sometimes get frustrated that the milk is not flowing as fast with the breast. Paced bottle feeding (see kellymom) can help with this if its an issue, and BF babies don't ever need to go up a nipple size on the bottles. 
@emqbee my boobs got HUGE I started off as a 32D and went to a 36G and even a bit larger when I started nursing. As time went on they got smaller. Post nursing they were closer to their original size but not as full, not nearly as perky and I definitely had stretch marks...

lovelikestardust

@olivemomma Thanks! I know it's something I can't master, so to speak, without actually experiencing it. I plan to go to a class, but I'm like @Amdogger82 -- I like to have a written reference. 

@WinchesterGirl Thanks for the recommendations! The LLL meetings in my area are hard for me to get to, but I'm going to try to make it to one if I can. I've also ordered your book recommendation.

@Amdogger82 Thanks for the book recommendation, I've ordered it and it's on the way! Between that and the other one I ordered, I'm hoping I'll be set for reference material. 

@wabash15 Ooh, I had no idea that website existed! Great recommendation, I've already bookmarked it.