I have some questions about breastfeeding

[NinjaChipmunk]

I am currently 39+5 with dc2. DS was born via ventouse and after I'd had pethidine as pain killer. This meant that in my completely bewildered state I didn't manage to breastfeed, had loads of problems and only ended up expressing for about 2 months. All I remember is it being incredibly stressful.

This time I know how to look after a baby so the basic panic shouldn't be there and so I would really like to get the bf right but since the last time I tried was 5 years ago I seem to have forgotten quite a lot. Can anyone enlighten me...

I have been through with the mw the cues when baby is first born and will request skin to skin if possible, can anyone recommend any good positions to do this in? Is it easiest sitting or lying down? Where is good to put the baby, so its head is on the breast or your tummy or inbetween boobs?

How long do they suckle before the need to change sides and how do you know when to change sides?

How often should you offer the boob to a newborn, especially when you have well meaning parents, inlaws and siblings popping round all wanting a hold?

if she decides to sleep for a long period do I need to be waking her up and stripping her down to keep her awake?

If anyone can give me the basics/ top tips/ just anything really I would totally appreciate it!

Yes you need to wake her, you should offer the boob every 2-3 hours during the first I had the same trouble as you (morphine for pain relief, very sleepy baby and me!). I had to feed him just in his nappy, and blow on his face to keep him awake.

For the first feed you could try lying in bed but propped up on pillows so you're almost sitting up. Leaning back means you can just put the baby on your chest and don't have to worry about holding them up. You could Google biological nurturing for more info on positions.

About changing sides, just wait till the baby takes themself off one side then offer the other. If they take the second boob you can swap them back to the first again and keep going until they seem satisfied. If your baby falls asleep on the boob while feeding you could try swapping sides as the faster flowing milk might encourage them to take a bit more.

Oh and start each feed with alternate noonday, so if the baby starts one feed on the left, offer the right first at the next feed.

Noonday?! That was meant to say boobs! Try not to get to stressed about feeding, al though I know it's really hard when it's gone badly in the past. Just make sure you have lots of skin to skin time and enjoy feeds as a time to snuggled with your baby. And don't worry about visitors. Newborns need to feed often so the visitors might have to wait a while before they can have a cuddle but they should understand.

don't give up if it hurts, I used Calendula nipple cream and a pump when it got really painful! It is SO worth it, my DD was addicted though and didn't stop until she was 22 months old...good luck!

I agree the womanly art of breastfeeding is a good book, and if you want a lighter read the food of love by Kate Evans is good too. I agree with maples that support is important, I go to a brilliant breastfeeding cafe at my local children's centre, hopefully yours will have something similar. Sorry for all the typos in my last post, trying to type on my phone while BF my wriggly 11 month old!

Oh yes...Lansinoh for your nipples - use it after EVERY feed. I've never had cracked/bleeding nipples etc.

and come on here and talk to people :)

A midwife should offer to help you at the time, too.

I have been recommended this book: breastfeedingtaketwo.com/ but I haven't got round to ordering it yet. A mix of BF/FF suited me so well last time round I'm not sure I want to try and fail exclusive BF again.

Just assume that every whinge is a whinge for boob and you won't go far wrong.

Steel yourself for it being a right PITA for the first 4 weeks or so, and for cluster feeding and growth spurts.

However, when it gets easy, it gets remarkably easy and you don't even realise you're doing it. It's like driving.

I've just spent a week lying on a sunbed, with a 7 month old attached to my nipple. With a 2 year old running around, it was THE best excuse ever to delegate responsibility and lie and read.

Oh yes ... the opportunity to read ... oh, I loved that.

I'm with Astr0naut. Assume every cry is whinge for boob. It might be wind, so try upright-ish feeding if that doesn't work.

And, er, co-sleep.

My baby is a week old. This was his pattern of feeding the last few hours: (i'm keeping a diary)

1am - 1:25am
2:15 - 2:25am
3:35 - 4:05am
5:25 - 5:55am

DH took baby downstairs and bounced on birth ball

8:15 - 9:00am
9:55 - 10:15am
11:00 - 11:25am
1:55pm - 2:20pm
2:30pm - 2:45pm
2:55pm - 3:05pm
3:15pm - 3:25pm

I feed on demand. Ds lost no birth weight in the first few days as is common in newborns. I 'think' that I have a particularly hungry baby although my first 2 fed similarly.

I hope this gives you a picture. A pattern of feeding like the above can give a woman the impression that there is something wrong or she doesn't have enough milk, but it is pretty normal behaviour in the early days.

Hth,

Oh yes - ignore ANYONE who says that it's normal for a newborn to feed every X hours.

It's normal for a newborn to feed how they want to feed, on any given day.

I failed the first time but going well do far 4 weeks in this time, my best advice that I've been given has been:

If it cries stick a boob in it

The angle of the dangle! Forget all the proper positions and just put baby on coming from underneath your nipple, mine are big and point south so she generally lies belly

Buy a v pillow

If you hit problems just feed for one more day, I've been faced with no poo, the low sugar jitters, weight loss, nipple pain, jaundice and have every day just fed for one more day, everything now seems to be coming together!

*belly up!

Many thanks for the brilliant tips. I have the details of the 2 sure start breast feeding clinics near me and what days/ times they are on plus a phone number for the breastfeeding network plus I have looked up a little on biological nurturing and also saved a link to kellymom. I'm hoping since I won't be quite so bewildered with the stuff like nappies, bathing, just being generally scared what to do etc I should be able to concentrate on this side of things this time. I shall also refuse to guilt trip myself this time as it had a really long lasting effect on me and I felt I 'failed' last time. Oh and many congratulations to softly and starlight on their snuffly new babies

You are a trooper Starlight - I tried demand feeding for 4/5 days, during week 3. Could not hack it. I'm amazed by anyone who demand feeds.

It's my 3rd so know that actually this phase doesn't last and the pay off in terms of convenience is SO worth it. I'm glad it's good for the baby but mostly it is for me and the long term that I'm puting up with it.

RL support is important but I also found this site and Kellymom really useful in early weeks when I had bored all my RL support to tears about the pain/details of it.

I agree assuming every whinge is for the boob is great advice - my mw said that even if the baby is crying for a comfort suck it will help bring in your milk.
Get some nipple shields just in case - our antenatal teacher advised it saying that often once you've bought them you'll never need them but if you do get desperate at 3am one day you'll be glad.

She is also now advising the ladies in her class to try and express a little colostrum before birth and have it in freezer (not sure when this comes in, 37weeks?) that way, if you are exhausted/knocked out/struggling, you or DP can feed them this with a syringe or finger feeding and at least it gives you some rest/them some food. Again it's probably like nipple shields - hopefully you'll not need it but if get desperate it could be a great thing to have.

maples - I don't co-sleep. And I still can't get the hang of feeding lying down.