Pregnant with first, any tips on how to prepare?

[EMandM]

I know it's a bit early, I'm only 14 weeks, but I am really dedicated to nursing my baby and wanted to know if there is anything I can start doing now to prepare. All of my friends in real life FF, so they aren't the best sources. Any tips are greatly appreciated.

[HoosierDiaperinMama]

Read, read, read and READ. Get as much knowledge on the principles of bf'ing and surround yourself with support...women who have successfully bf'ed, other mothers, sisters, bff's, etc... My mom was the biggest help to me. She bf'ed all 4 of us for an extended period of time and her advice was invaluable.

[haydn'smommy]

Find a good bfing class, taught by a good IBCLC and take it. Make your partner go with you because you will need support once the baby is here. Join the LLL and start going to meetings while pregnant so that you surround yourself with bfing women and have that support in place.
Do not have bottles or formula in the house. I can tell you that more than once in the first 2 wks I would have broken down and given formula if it had been available. I was tired, had a fussy cluster feeding baby and was desperate. Not having anything else available made me work through it.
Read up on safe co-sleeping. I don't co-sleep much now, but we did during the first 12wks and I would have gotten little to no sleep if I didn't. I also credit that constant all night nursing with my decent supply now.
Set yourself up and bfing area. I have a wonderful comfy glider with ottoman in the nursery with a table beside it that I can put a water bottle, magazine, book, etc on. When baby is being very fussy and just wanting to nurse, nurse, nurse, I can swaddle him up and snuggle down in that comfy chair with him and just rock and nurse and rock and nurse, and I have a handy place to keep all my stuff so that I don't have to get up until my bladder just won't let me sit there anymore.
Do not try to be supermom. This ate me alive with my first and I learned when I had my second one to just let it go. The dishes, the laundry, the vacuuming, the dusting....all of it can wait. Your only job needs to be that baby. I am here to tell you that those first few weeks are exhausting all on their own and they are crucial to establishing bfing, so your only job is to sit and nurse that baby and to sleep whenever possible.
But, I think that the best advice I had given to me was to not be afraid to ask for help. I tell mamas in my practice (I'm a PNP and CLC) all the time, "God gave us the equipment; He didn't say it would be easy." Those first few weeks have the potential to be hard. You are both learning how to do this. Have the names and numbers of local IBCLCs and LLL leaders handy and don't be afraid to use them. You do not have to know everything about everything. Ask for help when you are struggling.
GOOD LUCK!!!!

[columbusmomma]

All of the above and I would also go to local LLL meetings during pregnancy

[smpayne]

Talk with the LC that is on staff at your hospital. When you deliver ask to see the LC immediately. Do not wait until day 3 or let the nurses tell you they don't have the time to help you. Get DH involved in the learning, and have him there when you meet with LC.

Limit friends and relative visits to short time periods - no one should just drop by and expect to stay. Have a quite area set up where you and baby can escape from everyone (really nice if MIL is staying at your house for 2 weeks). I liked my baby's room, it was usually clean so I didn't have to look at the dishes piled in the sink and the mountains of laundry not finished, etc., not to mention it was the best decorated room in the house and very calming (I just wish I had put a tv in there).

Expect each nursing session to take about an hour +/-. Until you are comfortable NIP inform everyone that if baby needs to nurse, you will both be disappearing for over an hour. I had people irritated that they came to visit and baby disappeared for so long (my resonse was "Too bad! Come back in 3 months).

If they ask if you need anything, give them a job - laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, etc. Have a list of instructions prepared ahead of time to hand out on short notice.

Expect to live in your pajamas and robe for about 3 weeks or more.

[LianneM]

Definitely go to LLL! It's not too early at all

Good advice above. I always tell new moms they have two main jobs in the first few weeks - feed/care for the baby, and rest/heal. Getting a shower is a bonus

[Latte Mama]

Books: "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding"
"So That's What They're For"

The books can be found cheaply used on Amazon and half.com for just a few bucks.

Websites: kellymom.com (possibly THE best site ever)
drjacknewman.com
breastfeeding.com

Make sure to have resources in place BEFORE you need them. Ask for help.

Doctors and nurses do NOT get much training in breastfeeding generally, so do your research because they will fill your head with bunk. You do not have to stop BF due to being on meds (most of them) or most issues with baby. If an issue arises, 99% of the time there is a breastfeeding solution. But most health care professionals don't know this so won't bother with finding one.
You will be your baby's best advocate!

[zinemama]

Ask around for the name of a good lactation consultant, the kind who will come to your home if you have problems. Just put the number someplace you will be able to find it in the haze of sleep deprivation if you really need to.

My local LLL leader was decidedly unhelpful when I was having problems but the LC who came over was worth her weight in breastmilk.

Not that you will necessarily have problems! But it's best to be prepared.

So That's What They're For is the most informative, least preachy/woo book out there.

[LDSmomma]

I read many books about bf, particularly "That's what those are for" and "womanly art of breastfeeding" were helpful to me. I was ignorant about bf, and those books helped me understand the science and the culture of it.

I also joined LLL, and began attending as soon as I found a group. This really helped me beacuse I heard other mamas' complaints, and learned how to cope before the problems arose for myself.

I also chose a ped for the baby that is also a IBCLC. That's been great, because when DS is sick, he always responds with, "keep nursing him!" She also is supportive of co-sleeping, which is really important, I think, in keeping up the breastfeeding relationship.

[Italiamom]

-Start going to La Leche League meetings! These are great places to meet other moms who are committed to breastfeeding, and by just listening to everyone's problems, you'll get a good idea of common issues that crop up over the course

-Where you give birth and how you give birth can have an impact on initiating breastfeeding. That's not to say that mamas who give birth in every location and every way can't breastfeed. But have a plan in place for your ideal birth scenario, and a plan in place for your worst case scenario, and make sure your DH is familiar with both plans and on board with them. For example, I made sure that DH knew that in the event that we ended up at the hospital, DS was to have no pacifiers, no formula, no bottles, NOTHING in his mouth but my nipples unless it was an absolute emergency (and I don't see how any emergency would arise where, "oh no, he needs this pacifier or he'll die"...). If you are giving birth at a hospital or attached birthing wing, make sure that any staff if politely made aware of the "nothing but boob" rules too. And have a plan as to how you want to initiate breastfeeding in case of a cesarean.

-Lurk in the breastfeeding forums both here and then LLL also has breastfeeding forums. There are a lot of problems that are really common (foremilk/hindmilk issues, food allergies/reflux, latch problems, tongue ties, etc.). If you know about these problems ahead of time, you can identify them quickly and hopefully get rid of them before they become serious issues.

-Know that not every "expert" is your friend. I worked with 2 lactation consultants. One was amazing and helpful. The other told me that DS's mouth was too small and that he might never latch well. Had I listened to the latter I might not be (mostly) happily nursing all these months later. Just remember that you CAN do it!

-Know that it sometimes takes milk a while to come in. Natural Medicinals makes a "mother's milk" tea that's pretty tasty. I wish that I had started drinking it right after DS was born to bring my milk in a bit faster (it took about 4 days for me).

-Find a pediatrician/naturopath who is ultra supportive of breastfeeding. A lot of pediatricians are of the mindset that you should only wait 24-48 hours for your milk to come in, or will tell you that it's not the end of the world if you give *some* formula until it does. Ignore them and find someone who's gung ho about you breastfeeding your LO.

-Todays nursing puts in the order for tomorrow's milk. If you substitute/skip feedings, it will lead to supply issues. If for any reason you have to supplement with formula, make sure you're putting in 2 pumping sessions for every missed feeding.

-Get yourself a good pump and plenty of milk freezing bags. Those first few weeks are PRIME time to build a stash.

-Remember to drink tons of water. I had to drink about a gallon a day those first few months or I would get terribly constipated.

-Be prepared to spend the vast majority of your day nursing. Infants nurse slowly and clumsily. You won't have to nurse that way forever.

-Don't try to schedule or watch the clock with your nursing. X number of hours between feedings or X number of minutes per breast or X number of feedings per day can lead to hungry cranky babies and foremilk/hindmilk issues. Ignore the clock and let your baby nurse until he unlatches himself. Which can literally be hours sometimes.

-Don't feel bad if, despite all your preparations, you still have a very difficult time. I went to classes, read books, had my plan, etc., but I still felt like a failure as a mom because I wasn't immediately "good" at breastfeeding. You can read about riding a bike, and watch other people riding a bike, and have all your safety gear on, but it doesn't mean that by doing those things you know how to ride a bike. You learn to ride a bike by practicing a lot and falling a lot. And eventually it will become second nature. The same is true for breastfeeding. It is learned, slowly and painfully sometimes, through lots of practice.

-Know in your heart that you can breastfeed. If someone isn't supporting that idea, find another person who will. Like another mama said, you are your baby's best advocate. Be prepared to come out swinging, and you'll be a success!

[KarlaC]

Stock up on quick nutritious snacks & meals. Crackers with pb, dried apricots, etc. Make some casseroles or other meals & divide them into portion sized baggies and freeze them so you can heat up/thaw later on.

I picked up a small tote with a handle to put all my stuff in. Remote, chapstick, water bottle, back of pb crackers, burp cloth, etc. That way things weren't falling all over the place and I could just grab it and get what I needed.

[mariekitt24]

I read a book or two, because I was really scared breast feeding was going to be incredibly hard and that I might not be able to do it. I dont know why, I guess society just gave me that impression. but my experience was that it just came naturally. I was more scared about it than necessary. I dont think theres a whole lot you need to do besides to make sure you have some breast pads. I prefer the kind with the waterproof backing, just so I never have to even worry about anything leaking through. I also found target nursing tanks to be a necessity. although now I find using sports bras works just as well, and lift up one side to nurse. of course Im just a b cup (a cup before breast feeding) so I dont need tons of support. thats another thing, you will want to buy bras or tops one size bigger than you normally are. I suppose you could buy some lanolin too for sore nipples, although I never noticed a big difference if I used it or not.

I think the only thing you need to keep in mind is that even if he is latched on completely, i.e. your whole nipple in his mouth and lips flared out, the first couple weeks are going to be painful. one time I even cried. but just remember.. it gets easier! and fast too! It went from being excruciating to not feeling anything at all. Now it is just relaxing, not painful. about 90 percent of the time that I feed my son, we do it laying down on the bed. I lay on my side, pull my shirt up, put my arm under the pillow under my head, and he just gets so excited and latches right on. then we lay there together and sometimes nap together. then I might put him on my chest and roll us over so he can nurse on the other side. I have my other arm around him so he cant roll away. works like a charm. As long as you know that some pain in the beginning is normal, and that he needs to be sucking on more than the tip of your nipple if you dont want to be sore, you should be good to go. I never went LLL meetings or met with any consultants besides the one in the hospital after the birth. my midwife showed me how to nurse laying down and I was good to go. support yourself with pillows if necessary, if nursing sitting, your supposed to sit up straight, bring your baby to the nipple, not the nipple to the baby. make sure his whole body is facing you so he doesnt have to drink with his head turned. you'll do great, and kudos to you for wanting to give your baby the best thing possible. Formula just doesnt even come close to breast milk, and even if breastfeeding was hard at first, its all so worth it. The bond you and your baby share is so beautiful.

[kismetbaby]

The list of what I wish I had known is endless!!! And I spent time preparing! But I'd say the most important thing is to just go into it knowing that its something you want to do/is the best thing you can do and make sure you have support in case it doesn't go as well as you imagined.

I read books, I went to LLL meetings, I had a mom who BF 4 kids. . .and I still had a really, really rough first 6 weeks. (Of course this is totally my experience and its different for everyone and with each babe.) I won't tell you all my horror stories, but I will tell the things that saved, or could have, saved me.

--getting a correct latch right away! And be willing to keep trying till you do. . .I made the mistake of letting my newborn son nurse with a shallow latch and this led to all sorts of issues. Its hard b/c you don't want to disturb their feed, but making sure the latch is correct is really essential.

--having a caring, supportive husband willing to help me in any way, including late night runs to Walgreens, waking up in the night to help with latch on, doing all the cooking, etc.

--having a great LC! (who I already knew and who I could call literally anytime of the day and night and who lived near-by so that her frequent stops to check on us were easy).

--being able and willing to literally do nothing but BF for the first month. SERIOUSLY. I hardly left the house, I couldn't even wear a shirt for weeks. I just gave myself over to getting BF figured out. I didn't entertain guests AT ALL. The only people allowed over were people who could see me topless--my doula/LC, my MW, and my mom. And for us it took 6 weeks before it got "easy", or "natural". (Again I am probably an extreme case, but keep in mind that it can sometimes take awhile and be difficult.)

--being really committed to BFing even when it was hard/scary/painful in the beginning. (Believe me, I totally get those women who give up now! But I was stubborn and just kept working at it.)

--knowing (even though its hard at the time) that this is a passing phase and a relatively short period of time. . .and that its all worth it in the end!!!

--realize that you may have to change your game plan. I stuck to BFing, but I did wind up using a breast pump (which I hadn't imagined), a nipple shield for awhile (even though some people see them as "evil"), and gave my LO a pacifier which I had sworn not to do (but he doesn't care for it or need it anymore, so my fears of addicting my newborn to a paci were unfounded).

My son is now 3 months old and a happy, chubby BFing babe. I love our BFing relationship! It's exactly what I had hoped for and imagined while pregnant. I did have to endure 6 weeks of hell for this and many times while sobbing over my cracked nipples, I couldn't see the happy ending in sight, but it was totally worth it in the end!!! I am so glad I didn't give up and that I had so much support.

I can't say enough, BFing is the hardest (and yes, in my case, harder than labor), but the best thing I have ever done! Hope this helps!

P.S. lots of great advice from PPs too!!!

[EMandM]

Thank you ladies for all of your help! I will get on amazon and order those books, and I'll talk to my MW about a LC next week at our first appointment.

Again, thank you all for your help!

[kismetbaby]

Forgot to mention my fav BFing book:

Breast Feeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers

This book saved my sanity a few times!