[alicewyf]

I have been going to LLL meetings for the past few months (I've been to two), but my new Bradley childbirth classes directly conflict with the only LLL meeting in town that does not conflict with my work schedule. I *might* be able to make it to one more meeting right before my due date when the Bradley classes end.

What would you recommend as an alternative to LLL meetings? I have read The Ultimate Book of Breastfeeding Answers, and I have skimmed through an old copy of The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. I've watched several breastfeeding videos online, and borrowed a breastfeeding DVD from a friend.

Honestly, I am more scared of breastfeeding than actual birth. I do not have a lot of family support AT ALL, and my closest friends are not yet mothers, so though I know I have their support, they haven't been-there-done-that. I really want to succeed at this and it makes me sad that I can't go to LLL meetings anymore.

I was really getting a lot from that community of women and all of their experience.

 

[the_lissa]

I think you've done a lot. I would just make sure you have support set up. Have the numbers of LLL leaders and/or an lc, bookmark Jack Newman's site, that kind of thing.

Does your caregiver provide nursing support?

 

[MsHiss]

I read the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding cover to cover and found the small section in the Dr. Sears Baby Book to be much more helpful. My baby was tongue tied and the Baby Book helped me figure out the problem. You've done a TON! You'll be fine, and good for you for being so prepared!

 

[Carita]

There was a BFing class offered through my local hospital... Love Dr. Sears too!

 

[darcytrue]

There are breastfeeding classes offered at the hospital that I plan to give birth at. They are almost always offered in the evenings which doesn't work for me. I also don't plan to do LLL either. I am on WIC and am required to take BF classes through them which is great since it's at a time when I can actually go. I also have read up on it and plan to read more in books. The way I look at it is that women years ago breastfeed without classes and books. It was just natural for them to do it.

It helps to look at it that way.

 

[Megan73]

Quote:

Originally Posted by darcytrue The way I look at it is that women years ago breastfeed without classes and books. It was just natural for them to do it. It helps to look at it that way.

This is true - and the odds are excellent you will have no problems at all.
But women years ago also lived in communities full of lactating women who were there to feed the babe or provide hands-on support if there was trouble.
The most important thing is a support network - whether it's LLL or just mamas who have breastfed. Are there any second-time-around mamas at your Bradley classes? Does WIC have breastfeeding drop ins? Do you have contact numbers for all the nearby LLL?
Congrats on your new babe!

 

[cdahlgrd]

Try to relax and have a list of phone numbers on your fridge. You will do fine!

www.kellymom.com has tons of great advice too!

 

[Chloe'sMama]

sounds like you are doing good. I remember being so afraid of not being able to breast feed when dd was born (like you, I was more afraid of that than the actual birth). I went to the breastfeeding class at the hospital and also talked with a LC when dd was first born to check out her latch, positioning, ect.

I think it is great to have lots of info. You will do great!!!

 

[Mamafreya]

Check out your library for breastfeeding books too. Mine has some really good ones.
I LOVED the book Bestfeeding: How to Breastfeed Your Baby by Mary Renfrew, Chloe Fisher, Suzanne Arms. It helped me a lot and I also agree with the poster who said Dr. Sears's The Baby Book was helpful.

Try to relax and remember that breastfeeding in a way is instinctual (at least the desire is) and once your baby comes out of you and you hold it things will seem so much more natural. I had inverted nipples which made things a little bit difficult in the beginning but I was lucky and managed to do it with little problem. I attributed that to being really prepaired, which I think you are too. I was so worried that having inverted nipples would make it so hard to breastfeed that I was ready for a battle but it turned out so much better then I thought it would.

I think one of the most important things is to remember to be easy on yourself. It's okay if it's hard or you do have some problems with breastfeeding. Don't beat yourself up over it. All breastfeeding moms will have something come up in the beginning and it's totally okay. The important thing is to remember that your body was made to do this so be gentle with it and yourself. You'll be fine.

Oh, one more thing. Follow your instincts. Don't let other people make you question yourself. If you are giving birth in a hospital then I would bring some of your breastfeeding books with you so that you can look at them and use them as reference it you need too. Also the Bestfeeding book has great pictures and diagrams in it that really helped me a lot. Especially with proper latch.

 

[Llyra]

If you're searching for a health care provider for baby, make sure you find one who is SERIOUS about supporting breastfeeding mamas, and who is knowledgeable about normal breastfeeding and about dealing with problems that may arise. One of the biggest obstacles, for a lot of mamas, is a pediatrician who is giving out crappy advice, right when you're at your most vulnerable in those early days.

 

[MommyofHero]

i tried to read up and prepare myself for breastfeeding, but the truth is, it's just something that you have to experience and deal with the issues (if any) as they come. NOTHING could have prepared me for the challenges i faced, and honestly those books helped very little when i faced problems. i think the biggest help to me was my DH--- he was 100% involved in helping me to BF and relax. he helped me with the latching, the pumping, the clogged ducts, the thrush, the hyperlactation, the mastitis-- he was WONDERFUL! i could not have done it without his help in the middle of the nights when you can't just call up a LC or someone from a LLL meeting. we never successfully BF, but i still pump all the time, and DH STILL gets up with me at night to help me.

neither of us had any experience with BF prior to this, but we have both learned so much in the process, which is why i'm not afraid of having baby #2 because the hell we went through with BFing baby #1 prepared us for ANYTHING! hehe!!
regardless of what kind of problems you may face (and keep in mind that BFing may be a BREEZE for you!!), remember that you are a WOMAN and your instincts are generally more reliable than a book. and as long as you have a supportive partner, you can get through ANYTHING!!