Tips for preparing to breastfeed successfully?

[monarch27]

I tried breastfeeding with my son. It didn't go so well. It seemed to take forever for my milk to come in and I felt so bad for him, he would latch on but get nothing and start crying! After the first night at home I was in tears, he was in tears and I sent DH off to the store to buy formula. My milk finally came in that night and I continued to breastfeed off and on for a few weeks, but formula was so much easier and so I gave up.

I want to prepare myself better this time so I can be more successful at it. Does anyone have suggestions for preparation or to help your milk come in faster? I really want to breastfeed this baby!

Heidi in Utah

[ShwarmaQueen]

It's ok mamma.

I've realized that breastfeeding is way harder in the beginning but easier once it's established, but FF is easier in the beginning but WAY HARDER once you've switched over completely. Washing bottles, heating milk, money, time, etc...BFing is the way to go. Have you read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding? It's a good read and it helped me stick to my guns when things got tough in those first few weeks.

I know formula can be tempting, but just remember that formula is like potato chips, "you can't have just one (bottle )" Better to put it out of your mind completely, as if there is NO OTHER CHOICE for you to feed your baby. Sounds cruel, but if you really want to EBF, you can manage.

[charleysmama23]

I would also recommend The Womanly Art of BF, although I wasn't a big fan of the non-breastfeeding related chapters, everything about BF'ing was sooo helpful. My dd was a great nurser, thankfully, but I think at least part of my success was due to that book.
Also, I hear what you're saying about formula being easier than nursing, BUT as a word of encouragement, I nursed dd for 7 months and then quit for a lot of dumb reasons and switched to all formula. Having done both let me just say: nursing is WAY WAY easier once you're established and have supply issues and pain issues under control. I am very much looking forward to nursing the full year with #2 now that I know from experience that FF is NOT easier (like I said, once nursing is well-established).
Good luck mama!!

[2NovBabes]

Well the first step is really wanted to breastfeed! Which you already have down..

Have a support system...even if you don't know someone in real life who has breastfed successfully, there are many online forums - here, and on cafemom and babycenter and others - with people who are offering help if you just post your question or problem when it arises. You have to also be wary of Dr.s and family members who are not supportive of breastfeeding - I know of many people who had family members who stayed w/ them and they would push the mother to give formula and create doubt in her mind every time the baby cried, and I've heard of so much bad advice from peds.

Know what is normal for newborns breastfeeding... you've already had one, so I'm sure you know this by now, but... The first few days are CRUCIAL. Try to establish a good nursing relationship early, nurse your baby within the first hour of birth if you can. They will constantly want to nurse - and this is NORMAL - it doesn't mean they are starving. It is their natural way to make your milk come in. Don't offer pacifiers or bottles, but continually make your breasts available even if you are thinking "I JUSt fed the baby, how can it be hungry again!?" This is why cosleeping is works well for many nursing moms...or it will be hard to get much sleep.

Just try to stick it out as long as you can...newborn breastfed babies only need a very small amount per feeding, but they do eat more frequently. They can lose up to 10-20% of birth weight in those first few days and be just fine. Think of all the positives of breastfeeding and negatives/risks of formula feeding and set small goals - if I can just make it to 1 week. Then you reassess and make another small goal, I just want to make it to 3 weeks, etc.

Well a friend of mine posted her ideas on her blog and wrote them much more gracefully than I did, anyone wanting to nurse their next baby should definitely check it out!
http://custommademilk.wordpress.com/...breastfeeding/

[ksylvester]

You've already gotten some great advice. I would add that if you are birthing at a hospital, to make sure they have lactation consultants. With ds, the lactation consultants had rounds with all of the new moms and babies so each morning we got some advice and hands-on help, which made a big difference.

We ended up going back to their offices for a consultation when he was a few weeks old. Our ped wrote a prescription for it (at our request) and so our insurance paid for the visit, although it was so helpful, I would have paid for it myself just to get a more in-depth lesson.

When ds was 9 months old, our ped told us that he wasn't gaining enough weight and strongly advised us to stop nursing and start formula. But since I had such a great nursing foundation built and knew that the resource was available, we had him write another prescription for more consultations with the Lactation ladies and as a team, we worked with the ped on a plan to increase his weight while staying away from formula.

All that to say, Lactation Consultations are great resources so find some near you that you're comfortable with. They are worth their weight in gold!

[charleysmama23]

Originally Posted by 2NovBabes

Well the first step is really wanted to breastfeed! Which you already have down..

Have a support system...even if you don't know someone in real life who has breastfed successfully, there are many online forums - here, and on cafemom and babycenter and others - with people who are offering help if you just post your question or problem when it arises.

Just try to stick it out as long as you can...newborn breastfed babies only need a very small amount per feeding, but they do eat more frequently. They can lose up to 10-20% of birth weight in those first few days and be just fine. Think of all the positives of breastfeeding and negatives/risks of formula feeding and set small goals - if I can just make it to 1 week. Then you reassess and make another small goal, I just want to make it to 3 weeks, etc.

Want to say: : to finding a support system I wish SO much that I had had someone nearby who had nursed long term...well technically I did, but no one I felt really comfortable with or who could relate to my PT working issues with it (all my friends are SAHM's).
AND: small goals!! That's how I made it even to 7 months...I committed to 1 month at a time.

[Mizelenius]

I have had 3 very different experiences BFing-- here they are in a nutshell:

DD1: I had a LOT of pain (very unusual) until she was 8 weeks old. I suffered through that time, but she gained weight fine. I thought that was really hard, but I admit that I never considered FF because my mom drilled it into me that nursing was superior.

DD2: She was born with an extremely weak suck resulting in an inability to transfer milk efficiently-- she did not gain weight well. I worked my butt off night and day (researching, pumping, seeing LCs), and even LLL (La Leche League) leaders said she probably wouldn't be able to nurse. I was thisclose to saying, OK, we move to formula but our dedication paid off. By 6 weeks, she was nursing full-time and turned into a chubby baby.

DD3: My dream nurser. She latched on like an expert, had a good strong, suck, and I had no problems at all.

While in the first 2 cases, I had a tough time (esp. with DD2-- it was so hard in so many ways) but it PAID OFF-- but it did TAKE TIME. It can take a lot of time, a lot of knowledge, and a lot of support, or not, as in the case of my 3rd DD.

I read a study that said the father's opinion about BFing makes a huge difference in whether or not a mom sticks with it. My DH, while not opposed to FF, knew how important BFing was to me, so I am eternally grateful that he stuck by my side and encouraged me. That is what you need--- watch some videos on www.breastfeeding.com, go to LLL meetings, and get the # of an LC that someone recommends, just in case. You can do it!

[Lovely]

A new book just came out Breastfeeding with Comfort and Joy with amazing pictures. I had trouble -- sore/cracked nipples with my first but am now still breastfeeding after 2.5 years. I got this book and the pictures explain SO MUCH more and I can see what I was doing wrong.

https://www.lifeforcefamilyhealth.co...eding_book.htm

[summabeanz]

lactation consultant!

My saving grace was Star, my lactation consultant at the hospital. She showed me all the holds & offered tons of information and advice. But it wasn't until she actually shoved my baby's face into my boob & held him there that he started breastfeeding. She swore up & down that my milk had come in but it really hadn't, just colustrum (which is GREAT for baby). My milk didn't come in until a few days later. She also gave me gel packs, they really help with sore nipples.

[annettemarie]

In keeping with the DDC Guidelines, I'm moving this to our fabulous breastfeeding forum.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Make sure your partner is 100% supportive of your decision. It is NOT helpful to have someone barking at you that you should just give the kid a bottle when its 3am and neither of you have had ANY sleep for a week. I do not speak from experience on this, but I know women who have gone through it. You start to second guess yourself if the child's father is griping about how you made the wrong decision. So be sure to talk to your husband first and agree on a system ahead of time. If I were you, dont even keep formual in the house JUST IN CASE. And if he offers to run to the store in the middle of the night, say thanks, but NO THANKS, this WILL WORK.

GOOD LUCK and God Speed!

[Burnindinner]

What they said, and I think bf'ing is going well for us because:

LLL - I started going when I was like 16 weeks, but it was a good place to ask questions/get support/make contacts

Determination - the decision just WAS, there was no discussion about whether

Power through - those first two weeks are mentally exhausting, but hang in there, I know you can do it!

Get support - make sure you have someone checking with you within a few hours to be sure it's going well. Latch can be a pain really fast!

Drink lots of water.

[CookAMH]

I haven't breastfed yet, but I am really enjoying The Nursing Mother's Companion.

[seagreen]

I'm going to echo the advice about getting a lactation consultant. If you're giving birth at a hospital, they may have lactation consultants, or the nurses might be trained as lactation experts, which is really helpful- but I recommend finding one specific lactation consultant on your own as well... I found that I got different advice from every nurse at the hospital during my three day stay, and if I hadn't had my own lactation consultant who I trusted above all others, I might have felt overwhelmed and frustrated.

I also recommend finding some kind of breastfeeding support group- it's just great to connect with other moms, hear what they're going through, share stories, etc.

I don't have any suggestions about getting your milk to come in more quickly, but I think a comfy mama is a mama who is more likely to continue breastfeeding, so make sure you have plenty of nipple cream, some really nice nursing bras, and some hot/cold compresses. Stay hydrated, eat well, and all that good stuff. Hope it goes well this time around! Kudos to you for wanting to try again!

[Phoenix~Mama]

Awesome advice you have received so far.

I agree a lot with determination and really setting it in your mind. When I was pregnant and started receiving formula sample and coupons I gave them all away. I didn't want any of it in the house.

Equip yourself with a TON of knowledge. This way when any nay-sayers try to talk you into FF you can offer up information as to why BF is important and better to do. I have found knowledge has kept me more sound in standing my ground.

Good Luck!!!

[FullMetalMom]

Just wanted to add that it will make it a lot easier if you don't have the baby circumcised. A traumatic experience and a painful open wound on his genitals will make it harder for him to nurse.

[mamazee]

The first thing is to understand that babies who are just a couple or few days old need almost nothing to eat. Their tummies are the size of a fingernail. They nurse to get what little colostrum you have - which is PLENTY for them - and to stimulate your breasts to make milk when they're ready for that. There is no reason to give a baby that young formula.

Second, I would get some lanolin and starting from day one, put some on your nipples EVERY SINGLE TIME after the baby nurses. I did that this time and it was SO much easier than last time. There was still pain, but not nearly as bad. EVERY SINGLE TIME.

Let a tiny baby nurse as often as he/she wants. Don't limit or look at the clock.

Let your breasts get air as much as possible in addition to the lanolin.

And go to LLL meetings and see a lactation consultant - preferably one not connected to a hospital - for advice.

It is hard, but it's only hard for a few weeks. If you can get through those few weeks, it will be easy.

I really like the book "So That's What They're For" because I love how fun it is to read in addition to how good the information is. It's good great information and is just a well written book and entertaining.

[delfin]

hi!
congrats to you!!!
my advice is this:

be naked with your baby on you. get wild. don't use perfumes or heavily scented shampoos. drink lots of water. eat good food. have your baby on you most of the time. get rid of clocks, watches and any time-measuring device. expose your nipples to fresh air. wipe with only water after feeding. let your baby suck as long as he wants, don't worry about switching to the other breast after so many minutes. don't expect him to follow any particular rhythm.
did i say be naked as much as possible? let hormones do the job. watch your baby suck. babymoon as much as you can!!!
having your partners support is also esential
good luck to you mama!!

[happyhousewife06]

Have support.! even if its from strangers! make sure that you have numbers to call.

Also dont have formula in your mind at all! If they tell you to supplement... you do not have to listen.. just tell them that its not an option!

come here!! and get some encouragement and advise when ever you need it!

[Mizelenius]

Originally Posted by mamazee

And go to LLL meetings and see a lactation consultant - preferably one not connected to a hospital - for advice.

I think it depends . . .the hospital LC helped me AFTER I was discharged. She ID'd the problem other LCs did not, and then helped me find a specialist LC, who ultimately solved the problem via cranial-sacral therapy. We probably wouldn't have succeeded without this referral.