Any suggestions or tips for a FTM?

BrianeMC

Hello ladies! DH and I are expecting our first child in November. I would really love to be able to brestfeed and was wondering if you ladies had any tips or suggestions as to how to make sure I start out on the correct foot with the process. I am planning to take 12 weeks off from work to help give LO and I time to get into a decent routine and I plan to pump as well. I have so many questions and have no one to answer them due to the fact that my sister and SIL both did not breastfeed for more than a week or two, but I figured I would just begin with asking for any advice on getting started! TIA!

stoneycakes

I wish someone had told me how time consuming BFing is with a newborn.  Everywhere you read it says that babies eat every 2-3 hours.  I figured I'd have a 2-3 hour break between feedings.  Obviously every baby's different, but many take 30-45 minutes to eat and many want to eat every 1.5 hours in the first few weeks, or every hour during cluster feeding or a growth spurt. That means you only get 45 min to an hour break in between feedings and LO is at the breast sometimes 8-9 hours a day. 

This is only in the beginning and it gets much better! I'm totally glad I stuck with it and my experience might have been a little worse in the beginning than most because we had latch issues and had to use a shield.  I just think I would have adjusted much better to BFing if I had been mentally prepared for the sheer time commitment at first.  Now that DS is 3 months old, we're off the shield and he eats so quickly!  I love that I don't have to make up bottles and BFing is so convenient on the go. It's definitely worth it once you get over the newborn hump.

tokenhoser

I went to a few La Leche League meetings while still pregnant. That was nice - I got to see real babies and moms breastfeeding, had a place to ask questions, and met the leaders in advance of needing help.

Read up on kellymom.com and get a book or two from the library ("Breastfeeding Made Simple" or "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" are good).

It is time consuming early on. Plan on doing nothing but caring for the baby for the first month - that way, anything else is a bonus.

BrianeMC

Thanks for all of your advice ladies! I do plan to take the BF class offered at my hospital in the next month or so and I am sure many of my questions will be answered there. The hospital also has a LC who I hope to meet with. I hope to get to know all of you ladies better come November

kookulai

I'm a FTM about four weeks into breastfeeding...I agree with the pp who warned how time consuming it will be. There are some days I feel like I do nothing but sit with a baby attached to my boob, round the clock. On those days I keep repeating to myself...he has to sleep sometime...he's gotta stop at some point. Hahaha. Too bad it's often six or sevens hours before that's true.

But that being said, I haven't experienced any problems with pain or supply so I count myself lucky. I don't mean to brag, I just like to tell people it can be as good as it gets and not completely horrific. I knew nothing going into it and the natural mothering instinct really does kick in.

emilybailey76

theresat858:

My suggestion is to just go in with an open mind... I don't think anything can prepare you for the challenges you might or might not face other than just being aware that breastfeeding doesn't always come super easily or naturally even though it is a very natural thing.nbsp; I never expected to be feeding my daughter from a bottle when she was 2 days old, or to have to bottle feed her for most of the first 2 weeks...and I was very worried I would never get her back on the breast, but with the help of a good LC I was able to.nbsp; If I hadn't gone into BF with a strong commitment, I might have given up during those difficult early days pumping every 2 hours during the day and every 3 at night for 20min each time, etc.I think it is great to go into BF with the attitude "I will breastfeed" rather than the attitude "I will try to breastfeed".nbsp; Yes, there are still reasons it does not work out for some moms, I met one woman whose LO still wouldn't latch correctly after having tongue tie clipped and 7 visits with lactation consultants, and her milk supply never really came in either, despite all the pumping she did, but commitment can go a long way to overcoming the early hurdles.nbsp; Yes, you will do nothing but breastfeed for a month. Yes, your nipples will hurt, but hopefully not for more than a week or two.nbsp; Yes, you will be tired.nbsp; Yes, nothing else will get done around the house... make sure your DH understands and helps out.

This is so well said. I don't think ANYTHING can truely prepare u for the BF journey. I think its an individually based experience. The right LC and BF support group can be your saving grace. And also attitude and patience is EVERYTHING. Also, hospitals tend to scare you about LO weight loss and try to convince you to supplement. They had me so unnessecarily stressed in the hospital and almost deterred me from BF. Stay strong and try ur best to EBF in the hosp. I wish I had been more strong with the staff. And demand time with the LC that's what u and your health ins are paying for. GOOD LUCK!