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3rd Trimester
sensoregurl
member
Is anyone else nervous they won't master breastfeeding?
sensoregurl
member
So I have a bunch of friends who had babies last year and were really gung ho about breastfeeding, and only like 3 of the 7 of them are actually breastfeeding. I REALLY want to bf, but I'm feeling it's like a natural labor, it sounds like everyone I know has trouble with actually going through with it. I've been reading books about it, and it sounds like it's really important to get everything going those first weeks, especially once your milk comes in, but those first few weeks you or your baby may have a million different issues preventing everything from going smoothly!! AH!
Anyways, just wondering if anyone was sharing my stress. I'm going to go catch a LLL meeting next month and see if that helps. Oh, and my hospital doesn't offer a LC, just said they have "highly trained nurses." So I'm meeting with an LC this week too to see if they'll come see me if I need them.
DX PCOS, Endometriosis 2009
Eliot. Born 6/18/10
Missed m/c discovered 1/6/12 at 8-9 weeks
D&C 1/10/12
My Blog
Eliot. Born 6/18/10
Missed m/c discovered 1/6/12 at 8-9 weeks
D&C 1/10/12
My Blog
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Is anyone else nervous they won't master breastfeeding?
My BFP Chart
I think the nurse I registered with at the hospital put it best.... that women put too much pressure on themselves to get it right with absolutely no (ok minimal if you've taken a class) training.
It's like learning to drive... most people don't go into it saying "I'm going to try to learn to drive." You say you are going to do it and most don't give up untl they have their licence!! All I hear from women is that they are going to try to bf but when it gets too hard they give up. It's not something that you learn overnight and it's definitely not easy!!! (not that I've ever tried at this point?!) lol
Anyway, take advantage of any LC you can and don't be so hard on yourself if it doesn't come "naturally."
GL!
formerly known as katrinalee48
1. A highly trained nurse will do. The LC i had when DS was born was horrible. My mom (a former L&D nurse) taught me how. It was a little weird to have my mom telling me to play with my nipples, but worth it.
2. Call your pedi and see if they have a private LC they recommend. Even with my mom's help it was nice to have an LC to get random advise from and do weight checks.
Youtube! I didn't think of that. Good idea!!
And you have an awesome attitude, I hope to be able to adopt the same one as I get closer. Sometimes I'm really hard on myself and this is really important to me.
Eliot. Born 6/18/10
Missed m/c discovered 1/6/12 at 8-9 weeks
D&C 1/10/12
My Blog
Youtube! I didn't think of that. Good idea!!
And you have an awesome attitude, I hope to be able to adopt the same one as I get closer. Sometimes I'm really hard on myself and this is really important to me.
Eliot. Born 6/18/10
Missed m/c discovered 1/6/12 at 8-9 weeks
D&C 1/10/12
My Blog
Yikes
Oh, yea. This would be awkward. I thought it was bad when I didn't want to use DH's uncle for a DJ at our wedding. Good luck!!!
Eliot. Born 6/18/10
Missed m/c discovered 1/6/12 at 8-9 weeks
D&C 1/10/12
My Blog
DD1 born 5/24/10.
Missed M/C at 14 wks Feb 2012.
DD2 born 5/14/13.
Missed M/C at 9 wks July 2015.
Aurora Rose born sleeping at 35w on 4-21-10
BFP#2 {Almond} - 2.1.11 EDD 10.12.11 C/P 2.11.11
My only advice is to not worry too much if it does not work out for you...with my first child, I just never produced enough for him...he was almost 10 lbs at birth and my milk just never came in, after about 2 weeks of constant pain/agony/stressing out, I gave up and gave him formula. I remember crying saying that I could not even feed my child, what kind of mother was I? He is now a healthy almost 10 yr old boy who is never sick and super smart.
When my second was born I decided if it worked, it worked, if it did not, it did not. Well, it did work, I think a big part of why we had so much success was because I did not stress out about it...
I am going into this time with the same outlook, I will have some formula at home just in case....
Hmm. I think the opposite, it would feel really weird to have MIL help me breast feed. It has to be a stranger.
I am definately worried, first off, It's not in our budget to be buying formula, and second, it just seems like the best thing for baby. I am just worried that I will do something wrong and my body will reject it.
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I was worried about it during my first pregnancy, but not as much this time since I've already successfully nursed one baby. I'm still a little nervous, since every baby is different, but at least now I know I can do it.
My biggest advice is to try to start nursing as soon as possible after delivery. I first nursed DD just after she was measured and wiped clean (but before she was taken away and cleaned fully), and we both took to it immediately. I also think moms should know that it's not easy and it can hurt -- a lot -- even when you're both doing everything correctly; the pain of engorgement only lasts a couple days, but the nipple soreness can last a couple weeks. I suggest alternating between using lanolin cream and rubbing a little expressed breastmilk on your nipples after each nursing, as breastmilk has natural healing qualities.
I recommend the book Breastfeeding Made Simple.
It's a totally foreign thing at first. It takes some technique and support, it's not like you see in the movies where the baby just magically latches on and all is well. :-) My husband was a huge support in those first few weeks when it was really tough.
The best advice I got: don't quit on your worst day. Set a goal to reach a certain milestone instead.