Just making the decision to BF and need some help...

Jennifer G

Hi Ladies,

 I have been unsure about breastfeeding since I found out I was pregnant.  But recently I have decided that I am going to try it for the first few months to se how it goes because I realize how important it is for baby. 

So up until this point I have really done nothing to prepare myself for what lies ahead.  Any recommendations for what to read in advance?  Also what supplies should I have on hand for when I get home from the hospital and should I purchase a breast pump in advance?  I really feel like I am soooo unprepared and know nothing about BFing and I'm hoping I can get my act together in these last few weeks and be ready for baby...

eacabraham@gmail.com

Congratulations on  your decision!

In terms of finding information - I have heard good things about "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding", and I have gotten great advice from the site kellymom.com.  I would strongly recommend that you talk to anyone you know who has breastfed, and also - ask your OB.  In general, OBs are big breastfeeding fans, as BFing really does help your physical recovery from labor and delivery.  If you took a birth class, email the instructor and ask.  Ask the hospital has lactation consultants on staff that new moms can talk to.

Supplies - get a nursing bra or two, and a bunch of cheap t-shirts.  I say only one or two nursing bras because, after using them for a few days, you'll know what you really want in a nursing bra, and it would suck to have a drawer full of bras you turn out to hate.  Cheap t-shirts because you'll be changing a lot the first week or so.  I used Lansinoh nursing pads to catch leaks - a box of those is a good idea.  Also get a tube of lanolin cream, and maybe some Sootheez (you put them in the fridge, and then in your bra, and they feel wonderful on sore nips).

I wouldn't buy a pump yet.

(a) It's possible your insurance will pay for it if you can talk your OB or lactation consultant into writing a prescription.

(b) My experience with pumping as soon as the baby was born was that it brought in far more milk than my baby could possible drink, which made him gassy and miserable and me engorged and miserable.  Unless your babe winds up in the NICU or is unable to nurse, hold off on using the pump.  (If your babe is in the NICU or unable to nurse, rent the hospital grade pump.)

 

mrsg052904

Hi there!  I can feel your nerves!  I knew all along I wanted to BF and I still didn't feel prepared!  Here's my advise...

 #1: DON'T put any pressure on yourself.  Take it a feeding at a time.  Be patient.  Relax.  Have DH ready to help either with the baby before you nurse (so you can relax, take deep breaths, etc) or just to give you a boost of support.

#2: Find a Lactation Consultant that you will be able to call when you get home.  My suggestion is to find out what the hospital offers first, then go to LLL (https://www.llli.org/WebUS.html) to find someone.  For example, my hospital has a LC on staff that you can go see as many times as you want - for free.  However, she doesn't come to your house.

 #3: Personally, I would buy a pump.  I did... I just confirmed with the store I could return if unopened.  I had it just in case and so happy I did!

 #4: Supplies... not much needed.  Here's what I had that I found came in real handy:

- Lansinoh cream works great for sore nipples.  It's in a purple tube.

- Nursing cover up for nursing in public (if you choose to).

My story... I had a hard time in the beginning.  My son had a bad latch and I was cracked and bleeding.  I couldn't do it anymore and started exclusive pumping.  Best decision I made.  My nipples healed really quickly so I tried nursing again... FAIL!  I continued to EP.  At 8 weeks, (after EPing for 6 weeks) I decided to try again.  Complete success!  We've been nursing happily ever since.  Good luck with everything and remember not to put pressure on yourself.  It may come really natural to you, it may not.   

Jennifer G

Thanks so much for your responses!  I am trying not to get too nervous about this and now I feel like I have some direction and can start trying to get prepared.  The pedi I have chosen has a lactation consultant on staff so I am going to check in there for some info, as well as talk to my OB at my visit next week.  I called my insurance company this afternoon about coverage for breast pumps and they said only in situations where it is medically necessary-so that's another thing I have to ask OB about.  It sounds like I only need to pick up a few supplies-a trip to Target tomorrow should cover that  I feel like I will be spending a lot of time on this board in the coming months...  Thanks again for your advice!

kds24

It might be too late, but most hospitals will have a one day breastfeeding class as well.  When I was in the hospital I made sure to call the LC and I had them come in to check DS's latch twice, the last time was about an hour before I was discharged. 

As others have mentioned, Kellymom.com is awesome!  It is my #1 source for anything BFing related.  Just take it day by day, realize that the first 6 weeks can be rough and you will hit a couple growth spurts where you feel like you are not producing enough and your LO is feeding around the clock, this is all normal.  We're here for you too!

CEO1197

Don't worry, I felt really lost in the beginning too, but before you know it you'll be a pro. 

I, too, recommend "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding."  I have this book and it's great.  Straightforward and easy to read.  If I were you I would get a pump.  I can't remember if I had one before DD arrived, but if I didn't, I know I went out and bought one within days of my milk coming in.  I was horribly engorged and the pump helped to relieve the pain.  Just buy a manual pump for now.  If you decide to continue BF-ing, then you can make the decision on whether or not to buy an electric.  I don't know if you're working, but I do and having a back-up pump has been a lifesaver for me several times, if I forget a pump part at home on accident. 

Ditto on the Lansinoh lanolin & breast pads--you'll need both!  I also found the boppy pillow to be of great help to me in the first month or so.

I don't want to scare you away, but be prepared for it to be hard and painful!  I literally had to clench my teeth and take deep breaths when DD would latch on the one side.  It was horrible.  But it gets sooo much easier!  I think if you can just accept that it may be difficult for several weeks, and commit to making it work, you can get through the rough start.

Good luck! 

aspade

The thing that I heard at a La Leche League meeting (go to one!) before I gave birth was NOT to expect it to be easy.  That made it so much easier when it wasn't.  Knowing that made me not give up easily.

We haven't had a lot of problems, mostly just some poor latching at the beginning that caused a fissure in one of my nipples (took about a week to heal) and some slow weight gain that required me to say NO to the pedi's suggestions of formula and learn to seriously feed on demand.

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is good, and I also like The Complete Book of Breastfeeding.  Ditto on the lanolin cream!  It's an absolute must.