Establishing breastfeeding & visitors coming to see newborn

[Rootatoot]

Hi

I'm 33 weeks pg and starting to think ahead (probably too much!) I'm aware that breastfeeding in the early days can be very demanding and baby might be latched on more than off. I'm just a bit worried about visitors coming round if I need to feed.

I'm sure once I'm used to it I'll be fine but in the first few days when I'm trying to get used to it, and fangle about with nursing bras, I'm going to feel mighty uncomfortable feeding in front of people such as FIL, my Dad etc and to be fair, so would they (generational thing). What do people do? I can obviously choose to feed upstairs but then they're going to come to see baby and if he's latched on as much as some are, then he might only be 'off' for 20 mins at a time?!

Hi, just wanted to reassure you that having a prem baby does not necessarilly mean you wont be able to BF, my DD was born very suddenly at 34 weeks and although it was initially a struggle (she was tube fed for 4 days) she managed really well and she is still EBF at 6 months old. You will receive loads of help from midwives and you can keep asking for help until your completely comfortable with everything. Good luck x

I had a c-section and was totally fine, even when I came hom. We're all different, but I was able to manage the stairs in our flat (we're on 1st & 2nd floor) OK. So don't panic too much.

I hadn't really thought that others might be uncomfortable with me feeding, and it was my dad that ended up running out of the room when I fed my (now 9 week old) DS. Whoops .

You might want to get one of these...as they're handy when out and if you're stuck on the sofa, you can still feed and see what you're doing. www.amazon.co.uk/Bebe-Au-Lait-Nursing-Cover/dp/B000XA148Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310136027&sr=8-1. I don't have one, but seen lots of people with them out and about - like a giant bib but you're able to look down at baby and they can see you too.

Good luck - I hope that everything goes well for you xx

Hello Rootatoot, just to say I hope everything goes well for you at the hospital, and I am thinking of you.

I have absolutely no experience of this situation, but going back to the original quesiton on bf, I would take every advantage of help from the hospital to get it going. But don't worry if a bit of formula happens. We did formula top ups from fairly early on and I actually think it made the bf more successful because I had a very large baby who was just constantly hungry and I couldn't keep up with his demands.

Oh and the bf class - I went to one a month or so before the due date, to be honest it went in one ear and out the other, you need a real baby to practice on!

Hi wishIwas - thanks for thinking of me. It went well yesterday. They were v happy with baby's heartbeat and movements and he is certainly still lively today, so happy with the weekend of chilling out. :) Another cTG monitor on Monday which is good and they gave me 2nd dose of steroid so at least I'm now all prepped for worst case scenario. Ideally I'd have read my birth skills book by now, but if baby hangs on inside for a wee bit longer, that would be good! :)

Thanks for the tips. I didn't make it to the bf class. I did the right thing. I really needed to rest yesterday. I think you're right, esp if baby is early, hospital will help. I know they won't encourage this, but I have got a couple of bottles in (just in case) and I'm going to get some of the ready made cartons of milk again, just as an emergency back up. I know we can always pop to shops if needs be but my DH would be totally flumoxed at knowing what to get, so if get some now, he can see what it is and know what it looks like. :)

kellie thanks v much for the reassurance. Yes I was a bit worried about it not being poss if baby is early but that sounds v encouraging. :)

I did find my bf DVD that they gave me so I'll have a look at that and see if that's any use.

Hang on in there Rootatoot's littlun - the weather isn't that great out here anyway.

If you have time maybe look up NCT or LLL breastfeeding counsellors in your area and have their numbers on hand. You will get help in hospital but often probs don't arise until you are home and going through the growth spurt from hell or some such. In which case being able to call on a local expert can be really useful. HVs and MWs do not get anything like the same degree of training on breastfeeding that a breastfeeding counsellor will have had. Some of them are still absolutely brilliant, but if you find you need more support specialists are definitely the way to go.

Maybe invest in a breastfeeding cover now so you can still feed with them in the room? I have only just bought one (DD 8MO now) and wish I had got one sooner! I felt so self conscious about feeding at home with visitors but everyone was so lovely - even my best friends boyfriend who took a real interest in the little one and I actually didn't feel uncomfy at all!