- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
May 2012 Moms
? about 1st breastfeeding after birth
This is totally random, but approximately how long after birth do you breastfeed for the first time? Is is immediately after the baby is cleaned up, an hour or two later?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: ? about 1st breastfeeding after birth
___________________________________________________________________
I plan on it being pretty immediately.
We'll both hold and cuddle the baby for a moment and once that wears off a little, I'll offer the breast.
Photo/Family Blog
9 angels in heaven-3 in my arms and 1 in the NICU
Mono/di twin girls: Josephine born to heaven and Evangeline born Earthside at 25w
I BF DS about an hour after birth. And he latched on for about 15-20 minutes. I don't remember it really because I passed out again when we tried to latch him at first, so really the first experience was when DH was holding DS and my mom held onto my boob while he fed.
He fed again about 2 hours after that. And it was a much better experience, although I can tell you it hurts. Not so much hurting the boobs, but since it causes the natural production of oxytocin (which is like pitocin) it was uncomfortable and caused more contractions---which in the long run is good. But don't let it scare you cause it does get better which each feed.
And the sooner you do it the better, because it helps your uterus contract more.
The best way to establish breastfeeding is to take the baby immediately, before they are "cleaned up" and all that, and let them try to breastfeed within that first hour or so. If you're worried about them being slimy ask them to be wrapped in a towel or place a towel on your chest. Doctors usually like to take the baby, clean them, possibly even bathe them, weigh them, do some basic tests, etc. immediately after birth, but there's no reason all of that can't be delayed for an hour or two (except that doctors don't want to wait around) and you are far more likely to establish successful breastfeeding if you do delay it. The few things that do need to be done immediately can be done with the baby in your arms.
This is not to say if you *don't* hold the baby immediately you can't have a successful breastfeeding relationship, it just becomes harder to establish with delay.
Ideally you should have skin to skin contact immediately after birth and newborn exams and cleaning up should be done on you. The baby should be allowed to breastfeed immediately. However if this doesn't happen it's not the end of the world and breastfeeding is still possible.
Also if you're intersted there is a video on you tube showing the breast crawl in which a newborn baby manuvers itself so it can nurse while lying on the moms chest. It's pretty amazing what they are able to do. Obviously it is NSFW but here's the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrwfIcPB1u4.
This. I had complications and needed emergency surgery after DS was born so I didn't BF until the next day. He was bottle fed formula for his first day. He was supplemented formula while in the hospital because we were both learning. After he got home, he was EBF from that point on. There is no reason to get upset if you cannot breastfeed right away. DS and I had skin to skin contact when he was first born but only for a minute or so. I only held him for about 30 minutes total for his first 36 hours of life, which was the hardest thing in the world. But it did not prevent me from BFing and I think it is the common misconception that babies are unable to BF once they have a bottle or if they don't start immediately afterbirth. HTH
After they weighed him and cleaned him up they gave him back to me and I immediatley started bfing. It really helps teach your baby how to latch properly.