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3rd Trimester
iris427
member
Does anyone have BFing questions?
iris427
member
The number 1 issue I see on 0-6 about BFing is confusion or incorrect information (and just to be clear, I am not blaming anyone! LOL)
I am happy to answer questions for 1st timers, and moms who have experience nursing, please jump in too if you want.
I have been nursing almost 10 months now. My daughter was EBF for about 7 months, until we introduced solids.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Does anyone have BFing questions?
Joaquin's hospital and Isela's birth center med & intervention free "hypnobabies" birth stories
YES YES YES! I did a lot of reading, but any kind of extra supports is worth it. I also had a support group and LC ready if I needed them...I did! I went to my support group almost 3 days a week for the first couple of months!
Joaquin's hospital and Isela's birth center med & intervention free "hypnobabies" birth stories
THIS
I havent taken any bf classes at all. When I went on the tour, the nurse said that the lactation consultant will give me a crash course and to not worry.
Just want to make sure if that is even possible.... to "not worry" that is....
I have a million!!! I hope you have a few hours
I will be going back to work and I am worried about pumping and nipple confusion. How do I get my baby used to taking a bottle of pumped milk from her care giver and yet still nurse in the morning and at night?
Also, how do you find time to pump to build up a big enough supply?
I agree with the 'experts' giving out so much bad info...it astounds me sometimes what I see people being told.
How is your DD already so old?!
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Tizzle 10/07 ~ Boppy 7/09 ~ Chicken 1/12
Books read in 2013: ~ Audiobooks listened to in 2013: 3
Currently reading: The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
Currently listening to: The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
my currently-reading shelf:
I think some form of education is key beforehand. That can come in the form of a class, a book or talking to other moms. It depends on your learning style. But definitely educate yourself in some way. Learn how to recognize a correct latch, for example--that is very important.
Yes, take a class if you can. A LC can only cover so much while in the hospital....it's when you get home at 3 am that you need the info from the class too! And find a support group or attend a LLL meeting.
Nipple confusion: most babies are fine going back and forth ONCE they learn to nurse well. Even those that introduce a bottle from birth usually do ok. Just keep the nipples low flow, and wait until nursing is going well (around 3-6 weeks) before introducing a bottle if you can. And have someone else give the bottles, not mom.
My kids have always been fine with both, and even prefer the boob over bottle.
Is it best to have a breastpump with you when you go to the hospital to get direction from LC on how to use it? I'm planning on buying the Medela swing and keeping it in box until I get to the hospital. I'm super worried my milk wont come in. I will be home for 6months, and plan to pump for DH to feed and so I can leave her for a few hours with her grandmother, aunt, etc if I need to go somewhere. Do you think a single is sufficient for that? Also, planning to go part time at about 6months or so, so I might need to pump once a shift (only 4 hours a day working or something). Do you think a single is sufficient for that?
My mother said something about "prepping" the nipples before delivery to make them "tougher" so it doesnt hurt as much the BF? Did you guys do anything before hand to prep?
How much does it really hurt? Are breast shields a good idea to bring with to the hospital/buy before hand?
pPROM at 27 weeks, Birdy born at 28 weeks at 2lb 7oz.
pPROM at 27 weeks, Birdy born at 28 weeks at 2lb 7oz.
Introduce a bottle around 4 weeks and you should avoid nipple confusion. Don't wait too long, or you may have the opposite problem--the baby may refuse a bottle. Most babies will switch easily if you get them used to both breast and bottle early on.
You should get a good double electric pump or rent a hospital grade pump so you can get lots of milk quickly. Your body will make as much milk as you need, so if you keep pumping, you will make extra milk to build your freezer stash. You just have to find the time, but you can definitely do it, lots of moms do.
I didn't take my pump to the hospital...they aren't too hard to figure out and you'll have so much crap there I didn't want to bring anything else. If you need help with it, then it's better to schedule a 1 on 1 appointment post-baby.
Honestly I'd go double if you can. The Ameda or Lansinoh pumps are the same as the swing. A single is ok, but if you are working at all it's a PITA...my SIL had the swing and hated it once she went back part time as she'd have to be gone 30-40 minutes of her part time shift...verses 15-20 with a double pump.
No prep of nipples is needed...that's outdated advice. It will hurt at first, but you'll get through it.
Don't use shields unless you have to. They may save you for a short time, but then you have to 'wean' from them so it can just delay the hurting so to speak.
I have the Swing and it's really easy. You don't need to take it with you, but you certainly can if you want. The Swing definitely sounds sufficient for your needs.
Try not to worry about your milk. Unless you've had prior surgery or something, chances are you will have plenty of milk as long as you let your baby nurse as often as they want and don't supplement with formula.
No need to prep nipples! It can even make things worse. Just leave them alone.
It can be pretty painful at first, which is why a good latch is key. Make sure you have lanolin cream and some gel pads for sore nipples. Don't mess around with shields unless you are being guided by a LC, because they can cause worse problems down the road.
agree with Iris about the hospital grade pump... It is totally worth the cost of renting a hospital grade pump even if you only do it for 1 month to get your supply going. Even now at 3mos pp I have a good 30-50ml difference when using a hospital pump over my PIS.
We intro'd a paci in the hospital. She never really took to it and it never caused any BFing problems. She refuses them altogether now.
Thanks so much for the info! I had a breast augmentation, uh, 3 years ago or so. My breasts have responded to the pregnancy and have gotten huge and sore, so I am hoping that means I will be ok. All my doctors then and now have told me it wont affect milk, but I am worried. At first, I wanted to BF but wouldnt be upset if I couldnt, now I am very excited about it and would be very upset if I couldnt. Guess we'll have to wait and see!
Good to know about the shields and prep. Thank you again!
pPROM at 27 weeks, Birdy born at 28 weeks at 2lb 7oz.
Here is a summary of good BFing advice:
Nurse as often as your baby wants. Don't watch the clock. Offer the breast whenever your baby cries. This should build a good milk supply. Remember that you are both new at this and have to learn--practice makes perfect, so keep nursing!
Your milk may not come in for 5+ days after you deliver but you are making colostrum. Keep putting baby to breast and they should be fine.
The best way to tell if your baby is getting enough milk is by the number of wet (not poopy, but wet) diapers and by their weight gain (after the initial loss in the first few days). Don't make assumptions based on how firm or big your breasts are or how much you are able to pump. If baby is having enough wet diapers and gaining weight, then you are making enough milk.
Don't feed on a schedule!! Feed on demand!!
Most BFing issues will resolve themselves if you keep nursing and put the baby to breast as often as they want. It is challenging at times but if you stick with it, so rewarding.
Some of the "Bad Advice" I got (luckily never listened to):
Toughen up the nipples before the baby comes.
Offer a bottle after the baby breastfeeds, if they take any, it means you are not making enough milk
Once a baby gets a tooth, you have to stop breastfeeding
If a baby nurses after a year, it means you are too "attached" to the baby, and will result in behaviour issues later
You can't drink while you are breastfeeding - unless you pump and dump.
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I did not introduce a bottle until 8 weeks, DS would not take it from me, but would if my DH gave him it, after a few tries. But my favorite line from an aunt... "What if you die? Your baby will starve - you need to give him formula"
It took me a good 6 weeks to get the hang of it, and 3 months to feel like I was "good" at knowing what my son wanted...
Hope that helps!
I've heard so much conflicting advice about when to feed. The LC at my class said feed on demand, but don't let the baby go more than 3 hours without eating. I plan on following this advice because I know the more I nurse the better my supply will be.
I know all babies are different, but will I have to nurse before they baby is ready a lot?? I've also heard a lot of different things about waking the baby at night to feed. What did you do??
I just finished reading, "So that's what they're for!" and I can't remember the author! Anyway, very informative and has diagrams/pictures to help with latch issues, etc. I marked certain pages and am taking the book to the hospital to help if I need it.
Great advice ladies!
I am going to a La Leche meeting next week to check it out and I hope that it helps me. i also plan to get a couple of books.
My mw said that I could be nursing every 1 1/2 to 2 hours if baby wants it. I'm wondering how long on each side you nurse? And if you just nurse on one breast can you then use the other breast at the next feeding or are you supposed to do both each time?
I am really excited to breast feed (once I get the hang of it) and know it will be a great bonding experience. I am just nervous because I hope I can get enough support...
Loss #6 2014 Loss #7 (chemical) 2014
~DS Born! 2009~
~DD Born! 2013~
Your MW was right on the money, sometimes it was even more then 1.5-2 hours if she was clusterfeeding. It seemed like it was every 30-45 minutes in the evenings for a stretch.
I have only ever nursed one side per feeding. At first it was because it was just too painful and I wanted to give each nipple as much of a break as I could. I asked my LLL about it and she said that most cultures only ever nurse one side per feeding, and switching sides was mostly a North American tradition so I just stuck with it. If you decide to switch sides at each feeding, make sure you stick with the first side for at least 20 minutes I believe so that your LO is getting enough hindmilk.
At the begining I nursed her for 20-30 minutes. Now she's an old pro and I'm lucky if I can get her to eat for 10 minutes, sometimes even 5! And yes, you're supposed to use the other breast at the next feeding.
As far as support goes, I found the BF'ing board great to get basic info, but I used www.kellymom.com to have most of my questions answered. Good luck!!