Sorry for the bad attempt on a punny title, as with everything this week Im blaming sleep deprivation!
Someone on the new mothers thread suggested a breastfeeding support thread as so many of us are struggling - thought it'd be a great place to tell our stories, swap tips and offer encouragement.
The only ground rule I'd suggest here is no badmouthing of formula. At the end of the day the most important thing is that our babies are fed - whether it's breast milk, formula or a combination, all you mamas are doing great!
Re: Breastfeeding sucks (but it gets better) - A support thread
We can do this ladies!
I'm hoping I'll at least get a little support from some of you ladies but totally get it if I do get slack about it
For you mamas who want to switch to formula don't take it to hard on yourself as long as baby gets fed and is healthy who cares what people think. At least you can say you tried and best of all at least baby got the colostrum the most important part!
First day home & baby girl is cluster feeding, which the LC said might happen since she's more alert & needing comfort from being in a new environment.
People visiting and my DH are getting so confused about me feeding her like every hour-2 hours when she gets upset & making hunger cues, BUT MOMMA KNOWS. & right now I'm typing while watching Thor out of the nursery & letting her feed AGAIN.
Can anyone explain to me what the hell "Let down" feels like because I'm at a loss?
It's been 14 days since my babe made her arrival & I've cried so many times trying to figure all of this out. She's already a pound and 3 ounces over her birth weight & thank GOD for Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Butter but I can't help but feel stressed about my diet causing her gas pains. She's been grunting at the breast & has a mild case of GER.
Also, these growth spurt feeding marathons are for real! Not to mention the fussiness.
Thank you for starting this thread, this FTM needed a place to vent my worries & frustrations.
As far as fore milk and hind milk I don't think it's something to worry about. From what I understand baby gets both every feeding.
A mothers diet can affect the baby. My LO had a similar problem. His pediatrician recommended I avoid anything that gives me gas. Some of the culprits of upset stomachs in breastfed babies are dairy, chocolate, spicy foods, raw veggies and caffeine. This is according to what the dr told me.
I know it's frustrating but try not to stress too much it'll make things worse. I know, easier said than done but hang in there!
Also remember that it doesn't necessarily have to be all or nothing. Lots of people successfully combo feed. Do what works for you and your baby, and don't worry about what anyone else thinks. What I think is let down for me is a sort of prickly sensation over the fuller parts of my breast when we're approaching feeding time, especially when LO is crying.
I've cried multiple times over this too, so you're definitely not alone. For something so natural, it sure is bloody difficult! Plus sleep deprivation and sore nipples . But it sounds like you're doing a great job. Breastfeeding has been really hard for me, but it's getting better everyday, and now I'm actually starting to enjoy it.
- taking my time with feedings. I was so tired the first few nights after birth that I was rushing through feeds without getting the latch right and just putting up with the pain. Big mistake! LO wasn't getting as much milk as he could so he'd wake up less than an hour later, and I did damage to my nipples. Once I started taking time to get the latch right things got much better.
- Doing a 1 on 1 session with the community midwife while LO fed. If it wasn't for that I would have probably switched to formula days ago.
- switching from nursing in bed to sitting in a chair (I'm using the Poang chair from IKEA, it's awesome!) Much more comfortable and I'm less worried about falling asleep while nursing.
- the Boppy pillow has been a big help. If you're not comfortable then you will struggle.
- when LO falls asleep at the breast, I roll him away from me, give him a few minutes to digest then wake him up (undressing him works well) and try again. Repeat until I'm sure he's full. He's slept much better since then
- I had really bad engorgement by day 4. So when LO gets hungry, DH takes him and soothes him while I make myself comfy and hand express off milk to soften up the breast. That way LO latches much better and isn't so frantic when he feeds.
- I noticed that LO was only draining half my breasts - I think that the engorgement was so bad that I got blocked milk ducts. Massaging the affected areas whilst nursing really helped soften everything up, and as a bonus LO is taking less time to nurse and is not suckling as hard as everything is flowing better.
And if you decide to switch to formula, there is nothing wrong with that. If the thought of bf-ing males you anxious or stressed and you aren't bonding, formula might be the right choice. Do what is best for your family and don't feel bad. We're all our own worst critic.
I am bothered by part of this book that imply that breastfeeding is the only acceptable option so I skip that but the book advocates for demand feeding and avoiding a schedule, covers supply and breast capacity differences, and explains laid back nursing. All of these things helped me.
I just reread it after a week with DS2 and it was much easier to explain to MIL and others why nursing on demand was important to establishing breastfeeding. She was much more understanding of why I indulge LO desire to nurse even if it seems like he just finished.
Would it be completely insane to make a quick trip to Target as a family to get that & some baby meds & refills for my postpartum care at 5 days post? Our car seat has a car seat canopy thing, so she will be hidden from ALL eyes the whole time. I feel like it's okay, but then again, I feel like it might be a crazy idea.