Help! I am scared to breastfeed.

Re: Help! I am scared to breastfeed.

• EmJ628 member

  August 2015

  First of all, don't start pumping until your baby is born. You will produce colostrum first in small amounts and the baby needs that right after birth. I think I read also that pumping before the baby is born can cause premature labor. (Don't quote me on that, could be an old wives tale). Secondly, don't worry! I was super intimidated as well and honestly once my LO's arrived it was a whirlwind of stuff happening and pumping/breastfeeding was just one more of those things that had to be done. It was not scary or hard or intimidating once I was in the moment. My body knew what the babies needed and I just went with it. Good luck!!

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• saric83 member

  August 2015

  Definitely don't pump now - Not to mention you'll spend so much time doing it later that you should just enjoy the time not doing it.

  
  

  I totally agree with PP that there will be so much going on, you won't even have time to worry about it!  Also, if you're delivering at a hospital, most of them have great nurses and lactations specialists who will help direct you on everything.  I brought my pump with, so I could test it out there and ask the nurses if I wasn't sure how to use it, but I used a hospital-grade one while there.  

  
  

  It can hurt a bit when you're figuring out the latch and/or when you're pumping a ton, but it's not bad at all!  If it hurts a lot, it's just an indication that there are latch issues, and someone can help you immediately, so it doesn't get worse. 

  
  

  And get a hands-free pump bra and bring to the hospital.  I was tired from holding the stupid things in the hospital, and my lovely husband found one in the gift-shop, and it was amazing!  Worth every penny.  I have a few PumpEase ones that I love, but it wouldn't be a great choice if you have a large chest since it's strapless.

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• GirlOnTheBeach member

  August 2015 edited August 2015

  I would pump now. My lactation consultant told me to pump for about five minutes per side each day anytime after 38 weeks. Pumping for only 5 minutes per side will help prevent you from jump starting labor and the benefit is that you will get some colostrum out. Your body will produce more and increase your colostrum supply slightly and if you save that pumped colostrum, you can freeze it and bring it to the hospital with you. That way, if your baby needs to be monitored in the nursery or NICU for a little while, you'll have colostrum to feed him or her with instead of having them give baby formula.
  
  When I had my little guy, I had about one ounce of pumped, frozen colostrum to bring with me to the hospital and it came in so handy because after his bath, his body temperature wouldn't go back up. He was hungry and they were going to give him formula but since I had that colostrum with me, I gave them that and he got all those nutrients. Then, he got even more after he came back to my room and I could breast feed him. It was great for him and I love that we dodged the formula ;-)
  
  ETA: Also, pumping was painless and didn't cause me to go into labor. It actually made me more comfortable with that sensation once LO arrived. When he nursed, it wasn't as weird of a sensation.

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• delujm0 member

  August 2015

  I wouldn't pump before the baby is born...I started when LO was about 4 days old and was able to easily build up a freezer stash. I don't see any benefit to starting earlier given the risks.
  
  Pumping was totally painless for me, even in the first 2 weeks when my nipples were basically destroyed. I gave a few bottles as early as 10 days to give my nipples time to heal and it was great.
  
  I would suggest applying lanolin at least once a day a few weeks before you're due...if your nipples are dry before starting to bteastfeed, you're starting off at a deficit. I did this starting at 36 weeks, and by 2.5 weeks PP nursing was completely painless. Could just be luck and a good latch, but I think the lanolin also helped.

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• pixieprincss member

  August 2015

  Your milk will not come in for several days until after baby is born so you would just be pumping minuscule amounts of colostrum. Also, pumping will not reflect the experience of actually nursing a baby. For me, pumping has never been comfortable. To be honest, if I thought that is how nursing a baby felt, it would increase my anxiety. I think you would be better served by going to a Le Leche League meeting if you can. PG moms are very welcome and it will help you see people actually nursing, hear questions, ask questions, etc. For me, education is the antidote to fear. A really lovely book on breastfeeding is The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (newest edition, I think 2010, is better than the previous ones). Kellymom.com is a great website, too.

  

  
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