What I need to know

[MeganW22]

Hello,

I am pregnant for the first time, due at the beginning of June 2018. I'm lucky to have a few close friends and family members who are also pregnant but at different stages. When I've been talking to them they seem to know things about what's best for a baby and what's not. I keep thinking how do they know all of this.

When I got pregnant I thought I would kind of get told everything and maybe I do when I go to the antenatal classes at 30+ weeks but that's ages away and I feel like I need to know everything now.

For example I would like to breast feed and bottle feed from as early as possible so I can allow my partner to feed too and also to avoid having to breast feed in public. I've read that it can effect the amount you produce if you start using formula but a friend said to me it's not good to mix feeding in the first month or 2...is this true?

And will I be taught how to swaddle when they are newborn?

I just want all the answers written down and handed to me!

X

Hello Megan and congratulations on your pg 🙂

For me, having a baby was a huge learning curve and I don’t think that anyone is going to expect you to know it all straight away. Don’t forget too that your friends haven’t actually had their babies yet, so things may change once they do.

If you are thinking of Bfing, have a look and see if your local hospital run Bfing classes. These are usually in addition to Antenatal classes and are usually free.

Is there a reason that you want your partner to feed the baby? Sometimes people assume it’s the on,y way that Dad can bond with the baby but there is lots they can do to spend time with the baby and bond. They can bathe and change the baby. They can take it for walks to give you a break, they can just cuddle the baby and show it things in the garden and home. Get him to have a read of

If you are thinking of combi feeding, it’s best not to introduce the bottle straightaway as the baby may then reject the breast. I’d leave it a few weeks until you get Bfing established.

As for swaddling, have a look on YouTube or ask your MW. Just be aware though that if you are having a summer baby, overheating can be a risk with swaddling.

If you want to read a good book, have a look at the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.

Anything else yiu want to know, just ask and don’t forget the join the MN Antenatal club for June 18 🙂