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Breastfeeding
melandbri
member
Where do I even start?
melandbri
member
I want to EBF my baby when they get here but I dont know much about it other than all the possible challenges that can come up. I dont know what to expect right after delivery and how to get off to the right start.
I found out my MIL never breast fed cause she had fomula so she didnt know why she would need to breastfeed and my mom stopped with me after a month because she said i wasnt gaining any weight so im not sure how much family support I would have.
Where do i start with being prepared (supplies?) and ensuring that I can be successful?
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Re: Where do I even start?
You start with your two breasts and your baby. Keep it simple.
If you are going back to work you will also need a good pump. I SAH, so I just had a manual pump to pump a bottle for the occasional date night and it was plenty for me.
I also got half a dozen nursing tanks from Target on clearance. Don't bother with any other nursing wear. Most of them are just expensive, ugly and a PITA. I know because I bought them.
That is it! You may find some other gadgets that you like having-like a Boppy (which I propped DD in for play time but used only about half a dozen times for nursing), but that is all you need.
As for advice: watch your baby and not the clock. If your LO is peeing and pooping and growing, you are making enough milk. Nurse AT LEAST every 2-3 hours, but expect to nurse more often. Nursing often is a good thing. It will build your supply. I really enjoyed The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. It really helped me to relax and enjoy nursing my baby. I had some challenges-mastitis, thrush, sore nipples-but they were all worth it and after the first six months it just really became FUN. I didn't mind it before that, but I really enjoy our nursing times now. Good luck!
I would first start off by saying that every person is different so even if your MIL and mother didn't BF, you definitely can do it!! I'll tell you what I did but I'm sure there are others out there that did something completely different.
I didn't read any books. Our hospital offered a class so DH and I went to the class. I did find it helpful. Our hospital also has LC visit you every day while you're in the hospital. The first two days for me were very difficult. You can watch all the videos and read tons of books to prepare but until you're actually BFing, you really have no idea what to expect. The third day the LC came in and she spent like 2 hours with me...she was amazing! I really give her all the credit for me being do successful. She took the time to show me different positions, what i should do to help stimulate my milk coming, etc. She also recommended visiting a LC after going home for a few days. Even though I felt confident that I was BFing correctly, I still went just to put any anxiety to rest. When visiting the LC, they weighed DS before and after nursing and we found out that he took 3oz which is huge for a week old newborn! So that definitely brought my confidence up even more! In terms of supplies, I had a boppy (two actually and I'm greatful because I had a c/s so I kept one upstairs and one downstairs). I would have some nipple cream handy (I used lanolin). Also, soothies (these feel amazing on burning nips). Even though you'll have cream handy, the best cure is expressing milk on your nips and let them air dry. I will tell you, those first 3 weeks are absolute hell (at least they were for me). Every time he would latch, I would curl my toes in pain. There would be times I would cry. BUT after those first few weeks, things just started to click!! Even if you feel like giving up, stick with it because once you get though that, BFing can be a breeze!! I hope this helped a little bit and that you are successful when your LO arrives!!! (sorry for no spacing, I'm on my phone!)
Don't stress! I'd just say get yourself a comfy breast feeding tank top, a boppy pillow or pillow of some sort, and your baby! Put baby to boob when s/he is hungry. Repeat.
Make sure baby gets a good latch. Lips out, tongue down, sucking like a fish! And yes, it will hurt at first.
Remember, it's a supply and demand thing; the more baby needs and is sucking at the boob, the more your body produces.
Grabbing a good bf'ing book may help too. I like Breastfeeding Made Simple. Le Leche League's The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is also a nice quick resource. Also, I'd check Le Leche League's website for some phone numbers of people in your area you can contact with questions, or get phone numbers for some of the lactation consultants at your hospital for reference.
https://www.bestforbabes.org/just-3-things-every-expecting-mom-should-do/
https://www.bestforbabes.org/get-your-best-game-on/
https://www.bestforbabes.com/prepare-the-learning-curve-of-breastfeeding/
https://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/prepare/index.html
https://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/index.html
hope these help!
Little Rose is 2 1/2.
Taking the bfing class that our hospital offered WITH my husband was the best thing we did to support me bfing our 2nd son. Having my dh know how to support me and to be able to remind me of things we learned together in those first few weeks was key. Plus the class helped him get on board with me bfing 200% so he was able to remind me in a kind non-condescending way why I was doing it when things got hard.
Plus trust your self and your baby!! You will have people telling you lo shouldn't be eating ever hour and if lo needs to something must be wrong. That is so not right. My son ate every hour on the hour from start to start for weeks and he is a very healthy 15 month old now.
You will do great!