Novice breastfeeder. Some advice please!

[Shellywelly1973]

Dd is 13 days old. I wasn't planning on bf as dd is my 6 th & I've always struggled to bf the oldet dc due to tongue tie, lip tie, reflux etc...

I listened to the advice given to me on here when I posted about feeling guilty about ff from birth. I am taking it a day at a time. Baby didnt lose any weight. Slight engorgement - nothing else. The only information I've ever received about bf has been via MN!

So can I have some more advice?
I offer baby only one breast at each feed. Is that ok?

Nursing Bras, I'm a small lady so I need a decent bra or I look very shapeless. Where is a good place to get a nursing bra & what should I look for? I'm currently wearing 2 from when i had ds who's 6! When should I get them as currently my breasts change through the day!

Thanks. X

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

Can't help with the bra issue - I always just used normal ones and found they worked just fine. I used to just flip a boob out and kind of balance it on top of the bra.

DS almost always just fed from one boob, and it worried me terribly for the first few weeks, particularly as I had an unhelpful HV who made it seem like the end of the world that he'd lost slightly more than 10% body weight. Worked just fine for the two of us in the long term though I'd say: just offer the other one when she comes off, and if she refuses don't fret.

[sugarandspite]

Firstly, congratulations for getting to 2 weeks

The general recommendations that I always read was to offer both breasts but to try to get them to 'empty' the first. Which was always rather confusing to me so what we settled into was:

1. Feed on one side until baby stops / slips into milk coma
   
2. Change nappy and therefore waking baby up a bit
   
3. Offer other side. If baby is still remotely hungry it will be awake enough to have a bit more, if its just full and sleepy it will just snuggle to sleep at the breast.
   
4. At the next feed, offer the side that you have after the nappy change first.
   

Also, my rule of 'if it makes a noise, shove a nipple in it's mouth' was really helpful at making sure we fed really early before baby was stressed and so feeds were a bit easier.

For nursing bras, I was told that from 2 weeks is a good time to get measured as he engorgement has normally settled down. Your best bet is an independent bra shop - ask around for suggestions. Avoid M&S and mothercare like the plague, bravissimo is normally good and John Lewis can be ok.

A soft crop-top style sleep bra is good for night times to hold nursing pads and give you a bit of support too.

Good luck! And remember it will get easier with every feed x

[BeetlebumShesAGun]

My 9 week old DD has pretty much only fed from one at a time and she gained weight fine. The only advice I got really was be led by your baby, they will let you know if they are still hungry! Seems to have worked ok so far.

Sorry this isn't the most constructive advice!

[sugarandspite]

The only thing to watch for with bras is that anything that squashes breast tissue can trap milk in the ducts which can lead to mastitis which is a bastard.

That's why most nursing bras aren't underwired, although you can get a few that are (Anita do them I think), you just need to be extra careful with the fit. Also watch out for any nursing vests / tops which squash them too much as again these can cause problems.

I liked the Anita and Hot Milk bras best - not cheap but you can get some good deals online

[ChutesTooNarrow]

Congratulations on your dd!

My children only ever fed one breast at a time to start with, both of them would have a long feed and fall asleep. They both fed very frequently. As they got bigger feeds spaced out and they would have both sides, although one year old dd only does this for bedtime feed. She's too busy to have both in the day!

For bras I used a combo of m &s and hot milk, nothing I would really recommend as amazing. I was back in a underwired non-nursing bra after a few months, I just pull the cup down.

[BadPenny]

Congratulations Shelly!

Can't help on the bra front (hope someone else will come along soon for that) but sympathise - I only wear stretchy vests because mine are little and constantly changing size and shape so I can't find a comfortable bra.

As for the feeding, sounds like you're off to a great start! By far the majority of people do need to offer both breasts at each feed though - initially it may not be needed because when starting out most mothers make lots and lots of milk. But if the baby doesn't regularly drain the breasts supply starts to fall. Engorgement in particular needs to be avoided. So I would say always offer the second breast, and if the baby doesn't want it, offer again in an hour or so. And always start with the 'fuller' breast - in a few weeks that will be less noticeable but for now.

All the best and hope you're getting lots of help and support with your other DCs and all the rest...

[callamia]

Super congratulations. It sounds like you're doing great.

My four month old pretty much always takes one boob at a time. I never managed to get him to take both sides at one feed unless it was cluster feeding time. He's currently bobbin along the 91st percentile, so I figure it's ok. I just made sure that I swapped sides each feed.

I'm also small, and I highly recommend hot milk bras (mine were sale ones). I'm also wearing a bravado one that's shaped like a regular bra today and it's actually flattering.