is there an early breastfeeding support thread?

[smk84]

Hi all,
Title explains really, but just to add a little more info...
I have searched for one, but haven't found one, and I know people can just post questions but.....
I am really keen to get prepared for arrival of DC2 as really want to EBF and had an awful time trying to feed my DS. My baby is due in June, so it's a while away, but I know that when the baby arrives I am not going to have much time to find information and thought it could be useful to have a thread where we discuss issues with BF newborns, and generally give each other support.
With DS, I wasn't able to think straight and basically panicked my way through BF/top-ups/pumping/trying to relactate x 2, so I would like to help people. I am also hoping that we might attract some experienced bf ers etc to help at what is scuh a pivotal time. TIA.

What a great idea! An ante-Mattel BF support thread.

Won't be joining (as am not currently pregnant) but think this is a fab place.

Perhaps you could start the ball rolling by debriefing your last feeding experience? It might help raise some questions etc.

I'm 40+6 and want to bf . Any advise ? I was concerned how much breast exposure there is during the learning phase as have two teenage stepsons and was worried about trying to had to conceal myself and messing it up .

Antartic, when it comes to your stepsons if they are anything like my male relatives and friends they will fervently avert their eyes/spring up to make you a cup of tea whilst you faff sorting your little one latching. After that bit is sorted they'll be able to see very little because you'll have a baby there! My advice would try to be as relaxed as you can. Easy said, I know.

All the best xx

I second MrsMumf, most men/boys look away or find something to do and I found that after childbirth, I wasn't that bothered about who saw me boobs

Ime any teenage boys (from 11 up) haven't even noticed me bf lol!!! I visit my cousin a lot and her kids range from 1-17, (she has 6!). I've often gone into her sitting room for a quiet space to feed as ds is so distractible, and her 14 yo vegetates in there. He hasn't ever noticed what I'm doing- and I know this cos he's a bashful lad. My biggest prob is with under 10 years, as they are so curious!! When I feed in front of them, I feel like I'm in a zoo as they all wanna watch!!!

Get a load of stretchy vest tops and then baggier top over that, you can pull the vest down and top up meaning you don't have to have just-been-pregnant stomach on show. In the early days I'd just ask them to pop out of the room for a couple of minutes if you or they are uncomfortable, as it can take a little longer to get the baby on when you are both learning. And feeding lying down is much more relaxing so you can do that in the privacy of your bedroom.

I tend to announce "oh are you hungry, shall I feed you?" to give people a chance to look out of the window, suddenly find a task that needs doing etc.

Best advice I had (that I didn't take stupidly) was to go to a bf support group while I was pregnant so I knew where to go IF I had any problems. The enormity of taking your newborn anywhere plus stressing about asking for help plus trying to find an unknown venue and an unknown face was not a happy mix. And you won't feel out of place, one meeting I went to later had more pregnant women than actual babies!

smk84, you're right that a lot of 'things' happen in the early days.
Can you look back on your experience and pinpoint the start of things going pear-shaped?

I can't profess to know anything as I didn't bf my dc's, but im due in 4 weeks for dc3 and hope to BF. I have watched all these breastfeeding videos and found them very informative.

Great to hear from you all. Worm that's a great link, thank you.
Antartic I was very self-conscious and would only feed in front of DH, unless the baby was already latched on and then I would cover up a bit with a muslin (although like others have said there is nothing to see when the baby is latched on).
As no-one has replied to say there is a support thread, I think I may start one called Antenatal / newborn breastfeeding support thread here in the breastfeeding area. Does anyone thing it might be better to call it Antenatal/early breastfeeding support thread, or anything else for that matter!!
RealMBJ and Tiktok(sorry long story!) the first problem was that my DS continued to lose weight. At 2 weeks, he was on antibiotics and very sleepy and going quite a while between feeds, so the first thing I was told to do by the MWs was to wake him every 3 hours during the day, but feed on demand at night. He still didn't start gaining weight (went down to 5.10, was born at 6.10) so I was told to pump for 5 mins after every feed, and that did seem to improve my supply as I felt much fuller. I was told to give anything I expressed to him in a bottle, didn't get much but we did give it to him. He then started to feed non-stop in the evenings, and I really felt he just wasn't getting enough. He was weeing and pooing well, but I was so worried about the weight as he looked so skinny. We ended up topping him up with formula to satisfy him, and the difference in him was amazing (I HATED the formula though and couldn?t be around when he was having bottles). I continued trying to BF at every feed, but we did give top ups in the evening. Then a strange thing happened.. in the evenings, he started having a slippery latch. He would be latched on, all looking good, but it felt to me like he was sliding around. It just didn't feel right. MWs checked and said it looked fine, but it just didn't feel right. At around the same stage, he started getting really fussy, e.g. pulling off soon after latching on and crying. I was getting really stressed, couldn?t sleep, all started going downhill?.
So then decided to just express, which went ok (prob 50:50 with formula) and one day I pumped a bit less and I couldn?t handle it. By this point I was emotionally unstable and panicky, and had to go on meds before things got any worse 
I think the biggest thing I have learned is that I wouldn?t give top ups in a bottle next time, as I think he got used to the faster continuous flow and that made him fussy. Next time if we needed to top up I would use a cup or something. I wonder if anyone can recommend one that I could get before the baby is born just in case? But I still have no explanation for the slippery latch?.

I think it sounds like a fab idea. In "the food of love", Kate refers to the early weeks as "breastfeeding boot camp". That would make a good title! "Breastfeeding Boot Camp - Support thread for the early weeks" and then some useful links in the OP like the Kellymom page on newborns (www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/index.html) and perhaps some info on tongue tie, as this is fairly common and can cause a lot of problems, and a link to the unicef safe co-sleeping leaflet as a lot of mums find co-sleeping helpful especially in those early days. And the video of biological nurturing as well which a lot of people find helpful if they are having latch issues.

smk84- I wonder if anyone checked your DS for tongue tie?

Another good thing to look at IMO is biological nurturing.

Good idea about the safe co-sleeping info too BertieB- I've spoken to a few pregnant mums recently about feeding and co-sleeping and they seemed completely amazed that you could do such a thing!

I think it's something that doesn't get mentioned by the mws - and even if mums are dead set against it whilst pregnant, many find it a lifesaver when the reality kicks in.

Unicef have produced some new leaflets covering co-sleeping here. The one for hcp is pretty good I think ie some people will do it and even if you disapprove its better they do it safely, so give them the proper advice.

(btw I thought early breastfeeding support refered to premature babies when I first clicked on this)

Ooh thanks for those, Albrecht.

Perhaps "Newborn feeding support thread" would be better?

I LOVE that new leaflet and the HCP guide is fantastic!!

thank you everyone, I will get to work on the thread this week, in between the intense nausea !
crikey - yes he was checked by lady at hospital (she was some sort of tongue-tie specialist, not sure if MW or doc) and she said he perhaps had tiny tt, and to wait and see how feeding went.