What helped you breastfeed successfully?

[twinklegreen]

Just out of interest, if you have breastfed a baby successfully...

Is there anything that you maybe didn't realise at the time, but on reflection really helped you to breastfeed. Can be something that you did or didn't do that helped in any way.

:)

A v-shaped cushion and got advice from NCT breastfeeding group at day 4.

Op are you planning on bf or reflecting on a past experience?

Tomorrow my DD is 12 weeks old. I had hoped I would manage to bf her, but after not managing to feed DS I had low expectations. 12 weeks was my mental goal so really pleased.

I did alot of research and shared it will my dp. This meant I was informed and able to ignore shit advice..... Including that of my pro formula hv.

And lanisonah!

Practise and preparation beforehand - go to a BF ante natal class, talk to BF consellors and take their number
Someone to feed you - it is unbelievable how hungry it makes you
Good luck

In the two weeks when I was overdue I googled videos of breastfeeding. Random people had posted films (from the same position your head would be in) of what it looks like when their baby is latched on and different positions. It was nothing like I thought, and it really helped me get a good latch going from the start.

I wanted to write something positive too as I don't want you to think that everyone struggles with it. We really didn't. It didn't really hurt and I never needed Lansinoh.

I've loved watching her feed for months.

I hope you enjoy it.

Family support - DH was big supporter (because he's cheap ) and my Mum breastfed all of us so could give me the inside story.

Being determined - none of this 'I'm going to try and bf'. I just said I was going to and didn't buy any bottles or formula.

Surrendering - you have to accept some days will be spent mostly sitting in a chair feeding a small baby. But then that small baby will become a toddler and then they'll stop bf and you'll be very sad. It all happens so fast, that small amount of time you're chained to the armchair really is worth it.

Good luck!

My husband. Biological nurturing. ITV3! Lansinoh. My fab family, in laws and friends - I haven't had a single unsupportive comment.

The most important was my husband.

Not stressing about getting into a routine and being relaxed about feeding DS whenever/wherever he needed it.

A supportive DH who reassured me in the early days that it was absolutley fine to be feeding so much (think he'd paid more attention to that part of the nct bf class than me) and would happily fetch me a drink/my book/the remote when I was stranded yet again!

Some lovely friends to sit around with chatting and eating cake while bf our DC.

Something good to read!

A DS who would not drink from any vessle other than me until he could use a cup, and at 22 months isn't showing any sign of willingly giving up boob any time soon.

Sheer determination at first - I didn't know what I was doing but it worked!!, supportive husband (who happily slept through night feeds!!), lansinoh and Tommee Tippee breast pads. Also pumped early and got both my dc to take a bottle by 6 wks so had some freedom. Oh and my mum fed 6 babies so lots of advice and support there too.
Miss those days (my 2 are 4 and 6 now).

Honestly? Tiktok and you lot on here, plus a bit of Jack Newman and Kellymom.

I nearly gave up at 20 days with DS after (huge)weightloss and problems with him not feeding well.

Got through it, got back to excl BF after a few weeks, fed til he self weaned at 2 and a bit, and I am now training as a BFC. Quite a turnaround.

Never ever worrying or knowing what time it was. I hid the clocks.

Having knowledge and faith in the 'system'

A community midwife who came and held the baby when I was ready to leave

Very relaxed attitude and no rules i.e. time, duration, position, place etc etc

Grit and determination. Lots and lots of grit and determination

Lansinoh is magic great lip balm too

Supportive dh

lowering my standards

not having formula/bottles in house

targets ie I'll do it for a week/2 weeks etc

realising that its a great excuse to rest be lazy

co-sleeping/feeding lying down.

Determination, breaststart, my Mum, DH helping with positioning and the fact DD was fed formula in hospital against my wishes and i didn't like what it did to her - she was a completely different baby - seemed drugged up.

determination

not having my mother's support (must always do opposite of what she says)

help - of any kind, even though half the time it was just so I could have someone listen to my witter

nipple shields

Honestly? I'll get lynched on here for this but...Clare Byam Cook.

I was on the verge of giving up completely, - had tried breastfeeding cafes, HVs, Kellmom etc - when a friend recommended I go see her, and DD and I never looked back.

She has a very different approach to traditional breastfeeding advisors, which for us was the key. I hate it when she gets slated on her just for coming at the whole thing from a different angle .

Anyway, if you do struggle and the NCT style advice isn't working for you then do give her book or DVD a go, or go see her.

Feeding loads and loads and loads, way more than anyone else seemed to.

My mantra was "what would a cave woman do?"

Answer was pretty much always feed/co-sleep. Bloodymindedness made it work.

In addition to the above, good positioning is vital. Someone told me to remember, head, neck and spine all in a line - the baby's of course! I had a lovely feeding cushion which helped.

Also, always have something to eat first, especially in the early days as you could be there for a while and need something to keep your energy up. Have water close by as it's thirsty work.

Finally, have a book or something else to keep you awake in the wee small hours as it's tiring.

I think taking each day as it comes is good advice. All my family and friends FF and i just decided I'll try BF.

Day 1, ok. Week 1 ok, fed him as and when all the time. Had loads of dvds, chocolate and drinks. Month 1 great and excellent weight gain. Seeing how I was able to nourish him made it worthwhile. But i did have an easy ride really.

Now over a year on just thinking of stopping makes me sad, i've gone from thinking oh ill give it a try to i will be an extended BF!!

But who knows with more troubles my story may have been different

research beforehand, determination and just going with the flow. It was miles easier than I thought it would be.

Being able to express.

When one nipple was so sore and cracked with DS1, I was able to express off that side and let it heal without losing my supply. I bfed him off one boob, and fed him the ebm for a few days. Without that break, I think I'd have given up, 'cos feeding him off the sore boob hurt so much.

I fed him for 6 months, DS2 for 9 mths, and now my twins are 6 months and I'm still going strong feeding them, with no plans to stop any time soon.

It could all have been so different!

I don't rush about and I'm happy to sit down a lot -I don't know how my more energetic friends that like to be busy coped. Lots of books to read with ds1 and tv remote with twins (couldn't hold book then!).
My Mum at first because she just grabbed my boob and shoved it in-no one else would do that and live, but it worked and she made me a lot of cake.
Just thinking that the majority of the women in the world do this so why would I be any different?

Being lucky enough to grow up in an area where it was the norm. As a teenager watching my mother breastfeed my half-sister & brother into toddlerhood.

Sheer determination & an obstinate will in the face of adversity. DD was born at 36.5 weeks with no reflex developed to latch on. I stayed in hospital for 5 days until she finally managed to latch on once. I simply refused to leave until we nailed it.

After that it was bloody determination keeping me going for the next 6 weeks whilst she took close to an hour to get latched on each time. She'd then be so tired she'd fall asleep during the feed. Luckily DH was supportive & helped tickle her feet to keep her awake/on long enough to get a full feed in. It all got a lot easier at 6 weeks when we just started co-sleeping and she'd nuzzle/feed all night long. Kept it going for 2.3y til I was 6 months pregnant with DS and my nipples just couldn't handle the sensation any longer. He's 18mos and shows no sign of stopping.... :o

Also, the joy of seeing their weight increase weekly and knowing it was all what I was providing them really motivated me. I felt like even if I was a crap mum in every other way (had rotten PND) I could hold on to this one thing that I was doing right. Strong belief in breast is best & willingness to feed anywhere/anytime.

Pure bloody mindedness, and conversely complete laziness.
Knowing that I wasn't letting anyone down if it didn't work out.
DVD boxsets.
Digestive biscuits.
Anita UNDERWIRED feeding bras (you CAN wear wired bras and I can't begin to tell you how much better they make you feel).
A BF cafe (with DC1).
Reminding myself what to do with YouTube videos (with DC2).
On demand feeding. Feed and feed and feed and feed to begin with. There's I such thing as too much.

Good luck!

No such thing. Sorry!