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Breastfeeding
Need a crash course in BF!!
I am new to this board itself because to be honest I was not planning on BF, I wanted to to, but between medication and a previous surgery my chances of sucess were/are very slim. So I was going to FF, no worries. Wel... I started leaking fluid on 5/29 and have been admitted to the hopsital until delivery. We are planning on inducing between 34 and 35wks, which 34 is this saturday. And because he is a premie I have been strongly encouraged, and I feel strongly that if there is any way possible to make BF work I want to and should.
But, because I was not planning on going this route I am very uneducated about the process. I have a general knowledge because my 4 younger siblings were BF and I am alot older then them, but still, Im trying to reseach and understand and figure things out in the next week or so that I can be a least a little prepared when David arrives. Im honestly terrified, but I know at this point I could do no better for my son, and there is a bigger difference at this age between FF and BF,
soooo... either way... do you have any advice or suggestions or books or anything that would be helpful? Im really lost and just trying to figure this out so I do it right!
TIA!
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Re: Need a crash course in BF!!
Take advantage of the lactation consultants at the hospital. Have someone buy you a nursing pillow, I love my boppy, but some swear by the breast friend. You want SOFT breast pads, I recommend the Lansinohl (sp?) brand and also liked and had good luck with the Johnson & Johnson ones. Be prepared to pump if needed. With your son being premi, you might have to pump and then give him milk that way. No big deal, you should still put him to the breast as often as possible. Check out https://kellymom.com/index.html it's an awesome resource and should be able to answer most if not all of your questions.
When baby is born, make sure to stay hydrated and MAKE yourself eat. I had the hardest time eating at first, but your body needs you to eat so it can make the milk for the little man.
I won't say that BF is easy. There were times in the beginning that I was ready to throw in the towel. Just remember that it's a learning process for both of you and try not to stress.
Good luck!
Good for you! Don't be too terrified, once you have it worked out BF is awesome. I would recommend this book by Jack Newman as well at the Breastfeeding Cafe.
Newman's books are more technical, and can be a bit overwhelming as he deals mostly with the problems that can arise while breastfeeding. The Breastfeeding Cafe is a collection of women's experiences breastfeeding. I found it was best to read the Breastfeeding Cafe before Newman's book, as it was a little, well, friendly.
My DD was a preemie, and really small, so we had to supplement while breastfeeding for the first month, but now that she's caught on to it, she is a champ!
If you can get in touch with someone at La Leche League in SC, they can provide you with support and information as well.
I would google videos on bf'ing. It really helped me see positioning and a proper latch. Also, like a pp said, you will probably be pumping some, because you'll have a preemie. Take advantage of your hospital's LC. Use lanolin on your nipples to prevent soreness. Johnson and Johnson nursing pads are the softest I've seen, but they're also thick. Good ones are Lansinoh (like pp said). Good luck to you!
kellymom.com is a great bf'ing resource.
If he is in the NICU they will have you pump to start off with. You may want to consider getting a hands free pumping bra. Pumping in the hospital was hard because I kept dropping stuff. In the early days of having almost no milk (even after my colostrum left) dropping even a drop would send me into crying fits.
We'll miss you sweet Debbie Girl (4.21.12) and sweet Cindy Girl (8.9.12)
Since you're in the hospital until delivery, can one of the hospital's lactation consultants come visit you now to give you some help/info to help prepare you and minimize the stress of this new plan? I would definitely ask about that.
After the baby's born, definitely have the LC help; the one I worked with at the hospital was so reassuring because I couldn't tell if I was getting it right (I was so worried about a bad latch, but I didn't know if ours was good - it was, but I need the LC to tell me that!).