Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

How would you explain breastfeeding to someone who had never come across it before?

33 replies

TotorosOcarina · 30/03/2011 20:07

Imagine I am a first time mum, who has never, ever heard of or seen breasfeeding beofre.

How would describe how to do it, how to prepare before baby arrives etc...

I just feel like I need a 'from scratch' step-by-step guide if I'm going to try again this time.

I always feel like I'm clueless!

Also any book reccomendations?

OP posts:
girliefriend · 30/03/2011 20:11

its really not that complicated, put baby to breast lots and they do eventually figure out what they need to do to get milk out of it!!!

Try and be relaxed and enjoy it!!!

Dn't expect to 'get' bfing right straight away as it is very tiring for babies and takes them a while to get the hang of it.

thisisyesterday · 30/03/2011 20:15

read the womanly art of breastfeeding

go to a breastfeeding group, la leche league, whatever
, this will enable you to see other babies breastfeeding and also give you a first port of call when baby is born if you need help/support

you will learn more from watching other babies feed than you will from reading any amount about it tbh.
google jack newman, he has some good clips on youtube

Original poster
TotorosOcarina · 30/03/2011 20:16

Thats really not so helpful seeing as though I've tried 3 times before and never managed it :(

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 30/03/2011 20:16

the womanly art of breastfeeding

don't be put off by the title! it's an amazing book

bringinghomethebacon · 30/03/2011 20:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
TotorosOcarina · 30/03/2011 20:18

I think I had that book last time.

Its a PITA but I won't be able to get to any groups easily.

Will google that book and see if its the one i had,

thanks

OP posts:
Nagoo · 30/03/2011 20:19

Can you go to a bfing support group and ogle?

what didn't work for you before?

thisisyesterday · 30/03/2011 20:19

i do agree with girliefriend tbh! but i think that sometimes you need to alter your perception of what is "normal" for a breastfed baby.

for example, we get lots of women at our local LLL who feel that they need to supplement with formula simply because their baby is feeding frequently. they assume that a baby feeding that often is doing so because they're hungry and that must be because they aren't making enough milk.
so they supplement and their body then stops making so much milk, then they need more supplements and it all goes to pot.

so the key is to fully know what is within the realms of normal for a breastfed baby... and how to change it if anything is wrong,.
and that's where your local breastfeeding group will be a huge help, and a book such as the womanly art which explains everything you could possibly need to know about BF and what to expect

Original poster
TotorosOcarina · 30/03/2011 20:20

I don't know bacon.

Found it extremely painful, never saw any milk or coloustrum come out, even when expressing a week after birth with electric pump there wasn't more than a drop coming out.

This time though I'm leaking colustrum and milk all the time, i can squeeze my boobs and they drip so thats why im thinking it might be diffferent this time.

OP posts:
RitaMorgan · 30/03/2011 20:23

I would say maybe knowing nothing is better - do as little interfering as possible.

I didn't find all that nose-to-nipple stuff very helpful, and especially hated the midwives "method" of grabbing the baby's head and pushing him into the breast.

Leaning back with the baby on top of you and letting it's instincts do the work was much better for me.

Try not to put the baby down too much, don't let him sleep for hours in a basket and don't let friends and family all have a hold. Just take him to bed and let him lie near the breast as much as possible and give him the opportunity to attach himself.

KaraStarbuckThrace · 30/03/2011 20:33

I recommend Food of Love by Kate Evans
Lovely book with some great illustrations.

Expressing is no indication of supply btw.

Expect to feed and feed and feed for the first few weeks, that is baby building up your supply.

Is there an NCT Bumps & Babies group? They welcome pregnant women and you often get the chance to see mums bfing and some of them will be happy to talk to you. I went to one when I was pg with DS, and I had never seen anyone bf in RL and it was such an eye opener! They welcome non-members btw.

grumpykat25 · 30/03/2011 20:35

Hmm. I never really did any breast feeding training or anything.

When I gave birth, as soon as the midwife cut the cord I was at a bit of a loss what to do next. I put mini grump to my boob less than a minute after she was born and she suckled straight away.

We never had any issues, it was just what happened. It still really hurt until my milk came through properly but other than that it was fine.

I do wonder if it went so well because it was the first thing she ever did, pre wash, weigh or anything. We carried on till she was 8 months and then she just didn't want it anymore (could crawl to the fridge!).

thisisyesterday · 30/03/2011 20:35

what area are you in TO?

megapixels · 30/03/2011 20:36

The baby should root around and find the breast if you put him/her near it. Doesn't always work like that though.

What worked for me in the early days was to squish the breast with the fingers of one hand and when the baby is crying with it's mouth wide open, to just shove it in. It just sounds wrong when it's written down like that, but that's exactly what worked. The trick is to get as much of the nipple as possible into their mouth, that's when they get a proper grip and start sucking really hard and effectively.

Remember that there's a learning curve for both mother and baby, so keep persevering and remember that it takes time for things to become easy. After that it's just second nature and the easiest thing in the world :). Good luck.

crikeybadger · 30/03/2011 20:43

I'm just reading this book.

It's not just for women who have had supply problems but it talks about how milk is made and how best to get breastfeeding going from the off. Really recommend it- it's a very easy read.

Also have a look at biological nurturing- (you can google)

The thing which keeps cropping up in my reading is the importance of getting the baby to the breast within the first hour of birth. OK, so it's not a disaster if it doesn't happen, but it's the time when the natural reflexes are at the peak and the baby hasn't yet reached the sleepy stage.

Hope things go well this time around - stay in touch. Smile

thisisyesterday · 30/03/2011 21:11

also, at one of our recent LLL meetings the leader mentioned the importance of NOT cleaning the baby before placing it on mum.
i can't remember exactly why, but i think it was to do with all the mank rubbing off on mum and making her smell familiar with womb-y smells! lol

gaelicsheep · 30/03/2011 21:28

Here's my tuppence worth in terms of what I would do if I was to embark on breastfeeding again.

I totally agree with reading The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. I really wish I'd read it ages ago. The "laid-back" breastfeeding thing makes so much sense compared with the standard "nose to nipple with the aid of an enormous cushion" approach. If I had another baby (not likely) my number one aim would be to totally go with the flow and let the baby find its own way. So read that book and read up on biological nurturing. Not as a how-to but to give yourself confidence that given time and space you will both work it out without any need for a midwife or other random person interfering. Secondly if it ain't broke don't fix it - meaning that as long as it is not hurting, your nipples are not misshapen, and baby is gaining weight well, you do not need to keep relatching for that "textbook" latch. Good enough is good enough.

WoTmania · 30/03/2011 21:29

The version of Womanly Art is new Toto. Came out last year. Much better than the last version.
The leaking etc sounds good. Did you ever have any problems with retained placenta at all? Event he tiniest piece left behind can cause milk to not come in effectively.

Also, get RL support in place. Prime your family with ways of helping and not undermining you. Maybe get hold of a couple of the LLL info sheets: Breastfeeding Basics, no.2911; Dads are special, no2812; Supporting a BF Mother, no.2903; rhythms and routines, no.2809 are all particularly good. You could hand a copy of 'Supporting a BF Mother' to any visitors to your house Grin

Original poster
TotorosOcarina · 30/03/2011 21:37

I'm in Manchester.

My bs just feel tingly all the time and I just feel like I wish he was here because it feels like he should be feeding when they go sort of itchy/tingly then they leak!

i will get the new womanly art book now :)

OP posts:
Original poster
TotorosOcarina · 30/03/2011 21:38

my boobs* sorry ...

OP posts:
WoTmania · 30/03/2011 21:39

Good Luck

MacMomo · 30/03/2011 21:45

Dr Jack Newman. His website has everything inc videos. His book is also the best I have found ("Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers"). He saved me from giving up. Also can't recommend strongly enough you must see a bf counsellor - there might be one in your hospital who you could visit before labour, or after labour and before coming home. The counsellor I have been visiting at the local hospital pays visits to the labour ward if she is requested.

Original poster
TotorosOcarina · 30/03/2011 21:46

thankyou :)

i have the womanly art book upstairs, i just need to find it, or would you get the newest one?

i have this one

OP posts:
Original poster
TotorosOcarina · 30/03/2011 21:47

macmomo, my last 2 were born at home, so will this one, so the midwives leave after a few hours and they just tend to leave me to it apart from checks after.

OP posts:
Babieseverywhere · 30/03/2011 21:51

There is an LLL group who meet up monthly in Manchester. I can send you their details if you are interested.

Swipe left for the next trending thread