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Breastfeeding
BF support.. no more negativity please
I am planning on breastfeeding when the baby gets here. All I hear is how bad it's going to hurt and how much easier it is to formula feed. I've had ladies tell me about thier mastisis and how their breasts got infected. It's all negative! I'm tired of hearing it! I need some support here.
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Re: BF support.. no more negativity please
I think you need to be prepared for it to be difficult. Because if you think its going to be easy and you encounter some challenges that you did not expect, you might give up easier.
that being said. its the best thing for baby. i love the bonding that I get to have with my ds through BF. And there is nothing better than seeing him gain weight and knowing thats its all from your hard work! I am only one month in and its gotten so much easier since week 1, but its still work. I hear after 6 weeks it gets even better! Nothing worth doing is easy.
Good Luck
It's not without its issues, but in my opinion it's still easier than FF ... at 3am, I'd much rather grab my daughter and slip into the guest bed for a feeding than head down to the kitchen and mix a bottle!
It doesn't expire, it's always the right temperature, it's created especially for YOUR baby. It doesn't always hurt - I never had any major problems with that. I was extremely lucky and she had a good latch that didn't irritate my nips. It helps you lose the baby weight, it helps your uterus pop back into shape, it burns an extra 500 calories a day. It's recommended by the AAP, the WHO, and pretty much every other health organization around.
But really, it's your baby, your decision so anyone trying to push you around about it can STFU!
you can say you don't want to hear the negative however- its reality.
BFing is FAAAAR from easy.
i think you will find this board supportive- however there are lots of ups and ESPECIALLY downs with BFing- especially in the beginning.
It is FAR from a natural thing for most people. it takes a lot of time, alot of patience and a lot of effort.
so you can close your ears to all the negative- however you are going to be in for a rude awakening when baby comes.
Well, it is tough in the beginning BUT I think it's way easier than formula feeding - there's nothing to prepare, no bottles to wash. I get annoyed enough washing my pump parts and bottles for the 3 or so bottles DS has a week - I can't imagine doing that for every feeding. Not to mention the health benefits for you and baby from breastfeeding.
I know pain is pretty common but it's also possible you won't have any - or have very little. I really haven't had any major problems yet and had very little discomfort. I think if you prepare yourself to not worry about much else aside from breastfeeding and bonding with baby for the first few weeks, you'll do just fine!
Breastfeeding Counselor with Breastfeeding USA
Babywearing Guide ** Newborn Carriers
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Charlotte Ella 07.16.10
Emmeline Grace 03.27.13
Yes, yes, yes! Ditto all of this.
And let me also add that when it hurts, call someone and ask for help. Also, I am 7 months into it and having to pump 3 times a day at work, and it's still completely worth it. Cuddling and feeding DS first thing every morning while we snooze in bed is the best part of my day.
You've come to the right place. We won't lie to you, it isn't always easy. Formula isn't always easy either. I never knew anyone that was prepared for parenthood by thinking it would be easy.
It is so worth it, but it's work. Just like getting something pierced, there is some period of adjustment.
I didn't have any problems at all in the beginning. He had a great latch and my milk came in the second day of his life. I HAD NO PAIN!!! No cracking or sores or blister. It's might not hurt as it didn't for me. I didn't leak all over, either. Very easy...
The hardest part at the beginning was that he wanted to be on me all the time it seemed, like 12 hours a day. That was very hard to do. That's not negative, it's a fact. He was a great eater. My husband was a great support. He made me all the food and gave me a large glass of water every time he wanted to eat. He fluffed my pillows and changed him and stayed awake with me. If I had to do it myself it would have been so much harder.
Then when he was around 4 weeks old I work this stupid nursing bra that had wire support on the side. It wasn't underwire so I didn't even notice the side support things. They gave me mastitis on the side under my armpit. That sucked but no pain still, just chills and fever.
After 6 weeks of nursing I was in a great groove and things just got easier time wise.
At 9 months he scratched my nipple with his finger nail causing the skin to grow over and gave me a plugged duct at the site. UGH! That was terrible but we got through it.
He has not had many illnesses, he weighs 22 lbs, I lost all my pg weight by 4 weeks. It's wonderful!
It's going to be hard. It may not be painful but it's going to be HARD! And by hard I mean someone attached to you all the time, your loss of personal freedom is very difficult. You can only go alone to places at the beginning if you time it just right. Like he's fed and sleeping and I have 1 hour to RUN to the store because he will want to eat in 1 hour!!!
But it's worth it. Know that it's going to be very hard to give up so much of yourself and it'll be easier. Expect the sacifice. You can't just hand him off to have someone else give him a bottle. At least not in the beginning. But when you tingle and feel that let down and they roll back their eyes in pleaure and get milk "drunk" and pull off completely satisfied, it' s so worth it.
Make little goals for yourself. 1 week, 6 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, etc. YOU CAN DO IT!
There's no way to know what your experince will be like. I've now BF for a total of 21 months (15 mon w/ #1 and #2 just turned 6 months yesterday).
I've never had infections, clogged ducts, bleeding, cracked nipples or much in the way of pain. DD did do something with her tongue in the beginning so we started with a nipple shield, but weaned off it by 1 month. Both kids had a bit of jaundice (from not pooping enough, so they did get some formula in the beginning b/c it produces more solid waste). My mom still makes off hand comments about me BF, but I just ignore it - bottom line, BF IS BEST.
The word I would use is challenging - and everyone's challenges are different, even every baby's, For me, in the beginning both babies took a long time to nurse and would fall asleep, so I had to undress them, put a cool rag to the back of their neck, etc. My 2 cents is that those first 6 weeks are the most challenging. You are tired, baby is learning and has a very tiny stomach and feeds quite often. If you can make it past then, it gets much much easier.
I was ambivalent before #1 about BF, I figured I'd try it, but if it didn't work no big deal. Fast forward, it is by far one of the most rewarding and fullfilling experiences of being a mother.
Those first weeks is when you need to have strength (b/c you will be tired and here lots of sh*t from family, nurses, etc) about BF, you need to have patience - b/c baby and you are just learning this new skills and it's NOT as simple as sticking a bottle in the mouth and perseverance - to know you CAN do this, and baby CAN do this, it just takes some time. We are a society of do everything fast. BF is not that (in the beginning). Note - I can nurse DS in 10 - 20 minutes now, but don't expect that off the bat :-)
Good luck!
100% agree with this statement.
Also, I highly recommend supplementing at the breast (using a syringe with a long skinny tube) if you are having problems with your milk coming in. It helped me a lot in the first few days. I could actually hear the milk hit her tummy and it was so sad. She was so hungry. But by day 5 I could give her enough milk to keep her happy.
I also had sore nipples for the first week, but they healed up and it was great. (She had a perfect latch, but a REALLY strong suck. Even the lactation consultant was surprised).
My best advice, give it a solid month. I truly enjoy BF and I miss it now that I'm back at work and I have to pump during the day. (trust me, I'm not all crunchy. I always kinda thought BF was an okay idea because it was better for the baby. I never thought I would like it!)
It may be hard in the beginning, or you may be one of the lucky ones who don't have any problems. I had a really rough start, but I'd do it all over again in an instant. Once my DD and I got the hang of it, it was sooooo worth it. It was a great bonding experience. I am a working mom, so I treasured having that time where I all I had to do was sit back and nurse and cuddle her while my DH waited on us! It was also easier than formula after the 1st few months, because I could just feed my DD anywhere without the fuss of preparing a bottle - and I could comfort her better than anyone else. I see my 2 formula fed nephews now fussing and crying while their parents prepare their bottles. My DD wouldn't get beyond a slight fuss before I'd popped her on.
My advice is to stay away from negative people in the beginning. If you do have a hard time, seek out supportive people. I had my mom, sister and husband cheering me on through the rough start. Without them, I might have caved.
The first couple weeks were the hardest. My nipples were bleeding and at one point my daughter spit up blood. It was from my nipple. It's all about the latch and learning the proper way to have the baby on.
it's getting easier for me and it's not as bad. It isa lot of pressure though if you needto be somewhere and can't pump, but otherwise I've heard it will get easier. I'm still having some nipple crackness issues, but using the lasinon nonstop to help that. My daughter was born 5lbs 12 ounces and is now almost 8 pounds. It's all from me and it's so amazing to know I did this.
Find your local la leche league chapter. The leaders are very supportive and have experience with nursing. I would go to a meeting now...you can see other women nursing and get some of your questions answered and find lots of support from the women at the meetings.
https://www.llli.org/WebUS.html
Ditto to this too!!. The beginning wasn't the easiest, but honestly I don't remember much of that anymore. BFing is one of the most beautiful things I have done for DS. Every morning we cuddle while he eats, I will be very sad someday when this is done (not for awhile though, I plan to BF until DS is 2). I also pump at work 3 x a day and don't think twice about it, I just do it.
ditto all this and then some- something that we don't hear enough is that breastmilk is the natural standard- it's not what's best, it's what is normal. Formula is a substitute- period- I am not calling it poison, but I will call it an artificial substitute, because that is what it is.
BF'ing is better for both mom and baby and decreases the likelihood of both you and your DC getting all sorts of cancer- isn't that amazing? it's a wonderful fact that is not publicized enough.
Breastfeeding is natural, but it does require skill and it is something you need to "get the hang" of- I would recc'd taking a bf'ing class if your hospital offers one so you can be prepared- I took one it was 2 or 3 hours long and I got a book and tons of written info- it was time and $ ($30 I believe) well spent.
Breastfeeding has been relatively easy for me- sure there were some days when it seemed like she was on me for hours and hours, but don't let the naysayers get you down- it's not like formula feeders don't have sleep issues, reflux, etc.
wow, people have gotten pretty graphic and grim above. yes, you may encounter some discomfort or problems at the beginning, but it sounds like you've been fully briefed on those already. When I was planning to have a natural birth, everyone showered me with their negativity and it was really depressing. I already was aware of C-sections and the fact that I could be in labor for days, but I still wanted to try for a natural birth so I really just wanted positive stories.
In the spirit of that, I will tell you that I LOVE BFing. There has never once been a moment when I thought it would be easier to go prepare a bottle for my daughter than to feed her from my breast. We go out and about a lot, we even since she was a newborn, and it's so nice to not have to carry any bottles with me or worry about running home before it's time to feed her again.
DD is a BIG eater and when she first started taking a bottle when I went back to work, there were times when she would literally howl at the end of a bottle and wouldn't stop until there was another one in her mouth. With the breast, this was never an issue. She just ate until she was satisfied.
Good luck to you!
Big hugs of support from me! I was told that it takes 21 days to create a habit and I kept that in the back of my head at all times. It took both me and LO 3 weeks to get the hang of it. I had huge support from my dh and mom. It is hard but if you want to do it you will. Its not easier to FF - mix and heat a bottle - no way - My boobs are ready at all times!
ps- I loved the book 'So Thats What They are For'