Are you prepared for breastfeeding?

I had alot of support w/ DD and breastfeeding her came so natural for me. She nursed like a pro since she was born. I look forward to breastfeeding again especially since I already know what to expect. The other night I leaked a little colostrum (sp?) out! I was like, "Yay, it's getting ready!" ( )

Totally prepared here as well.
I have read the books and attended 2 LLL meetings already. Will be able to attend 2 more before baby is due. I can call the LLL leader if I need personalized help.
My midwives will stick around for a minimum of 3 hours to ensure baby and I are good to go after birth and will come back to check on us the next day if needed and a week later.
Also got contact info for a lactation consultant from my Bradley instructor in case none of the other resources works for us.
I also did a quick check to see what BF might be like and was happy to see we are already producing something (colostrum I assume).

yup Or rather - as ready as I can be

Have been to one LLL meeting (ours are once a month -- couldn't make the April one, but I'm planning on going to the May meeting).

Have read up on breastfeeding and am expecting the expected and unexpected... kellymom is a good site!

My Bradley instructor and my MW are both LLL mamas. And I know a couple of other LLL mamas personally. So, I think I'm good to go, there.

(Haven't decided about buying a pump yet. Part of me really doesn't feel like I need it. But then some friends have told me that sometimes it's helpful for engorgement... I'm thinking if I need it, I'll send DH out to BRU to get it! Or dude, make him help a mama out )

As ready as I can be. Bfing ds was fairly uneventful. It took a long time for my milk to come in, but once it did, it was super plentiful. Granted, I got thrush, and didn't realize what it was for weeks. By the time I figured it out, my nipples were purple, I couldn't bf without painkillers, and it took 6 months to eradicate. I'm taking probiotics from the get go this time around. I just have an irrational fear that dd won't latch for some reason. But, I'm very involved in my LLL group, and I have the numbers for 4 leaders on my hospital phone list.

About pumps, I think it's a good idea to at least have a manual Avent Isis or Medela Harmony lying around.

I didn't have a breastpump when ds was born. When my milk finally came in almost 6 days later, it came in with a vengeance. My breasts were like boulders. It was sooo painful. I sent ds out to the only place in town that sold an Isis (the Rite-Aid, it was a really small town). It's a good think it was still before 9pm, because otherwise he would have been driving 40 minutes each way to the nearest Target.

If you live in a city that has a BRU or Target, then I wouldn't worry about having one on hand, but if you live in a small town, you may want to rethink it.

I think I'm about as ready as I can be... I've been to an "infant feeding" class (as a replacement for a friend's husband) plus 3 LLL meetings, going to a 4th next week (hopefully dragging along the friend from above! ) I read the Sears BFing book and most of The Womanly Art, plus a good chunk of kellymom (thanks for the reminder, though, I'll spend some more quality time over there, she has a GREAT site!)... have support from DH and my Mom (who was a LLL member and breastfed me until it hurt b/c she was pg with my sister - about 2-2 1/2 years, pretty good for the early 70s!!) Have phone numbers of several LLL leaders, our supportive MWs and our Pediatrician who is very pro-BFing. Have a hand-me-down Medela pump which I'm planning to bring to the next LLL meeting so that they can show me how to use it/what I'll need. And I've had a little colostrum for a month or so now!

WHEW!

Plus, I'm really looking forward to it!

I'm not feeling especially ready. For the normal part, yes, but for some weird circumstance, not really.

I have to be back in class one or two weeks after the birth, for two three hour classes a week. We have a pump on the way, that I hope works out. It's FFS from an MDC mama, so I hope it's ok. I hope I'm not one of those women who has trouble pumping.

We need to figure out what feeding system we will use during separations from baby int hose very early weeks. We'd like to hold off the artificial nipples for the first several weeks, so DH wants to learn cup- or spoon-feeding, but we haven't done anything on that other than make the decision. I guess he can just grab a spoon and figure it out.

I'd like to try taking the babe to class with me, but I fear that I will encounter too much opposition from my classmates. NIPing can wait until I know what I'm doing, I guess, and DH will never be too far away with the baby so I can try to nurse on class breaks. We'll see. I can't really make specific plans until I know who my profs are, which classrooms I'll be in.

And I'm really hoping to start pumping right from the beginning so I can donate any surplus. I'm a bit nervous about creating over-supply problems and learning how to pump effectively.

It's all good though. We'll figure it out.

Well my first DS is still nursing so I guess I'm prepared as I'll ever be .

I did buy a new pillow, a bosom baby from Babycenter. I use it to sleep right now and I love how soft it is. I think it'll be much better than the Boppy I had the first time around. http://tinyurl.com/p4hlp My sister bought me a Medela nursing stooll. I need to dig the glider that SIL gave me out of the garage. I also need to find the pump I have and make sure it's in an easy access place. I pumped a few times in the beginning with DS because I was so freaking engorged and the baby wouldn't latch on. I don't know if I'll be as engorged if I am tandem nursing. I also need to buy some lasinoh and nursing pads.

I have a ton of nursing books and I've been looking through them as a "refresher". My biggest problem with DS in the beginning was proper positioning. It's so hard with their floppy little heads. I'm hoping the new pillow and stool will make it easier this time around.

I'm a regular at LLL already. I can't wait to show off my newborn .

I am so excited to eat like a pig and still lose weight !! And of course all the other good things about it .
Katie

I'm a still nursing Mama too, and as ready as I think I can be. I'm prepared with my thrush remedies and got my breastfeeding basket together again. It holds my thrush remedies, a bottle of water, nursing pads, an entertaining book and a breastfeeding reference book and followed me everywhere for the first three months last time around. I'm thinking of updating my BFing reference book though, last time it was "So That's What They're For" which was great for me as a fairly mainstream beginner ( ). Re-reading it has been a trip! I'm thinking something a little more in depth may be good this time around, well besides "Adventures in Tandem Nursing" which I have and am reading now.

Any suggestions?