BF - what to read in preparation?

[RuckAndRoll]

I'm due DC1 in August and hoping to BF. Everything I see says the best way to succeed is to read up as much as possible before baby arrives.

I'm struggling to find much that doesn't just say 'baby to boob'. Are there any books or websites people can recommend are worth reading beforehand? Also, anything designed at DH for supporting me at the start.

Ooh also if you haven't already got one, I'd definitely recommend a small tablet like an ipad mini or nexus. You'll be spending many hours sat on the sofa BFing so they're great for web surfing and reading books on (all these books are on kindle I think), watching TV and films. Also great for night feeds.

Everything I read before hand was fecking useless once baby was here.

Mn was the only sensible and useful support.

My advice? Don't go anywhere else almost! The ladies on here really knew their stuff and helped tremendously!

of course, you can take the baby to bed when your DH isn't in it

yy what Bears said - don't listen to people who haven't BFed, and don't worry about having to cluster feed.
make sure you offer both sides, and when you start, always start from the opposite side as you finished.
(if you start from the same side. your body assumes there's too much milk)

I used a Medela electric pump in the first week. I was still in hospital 5 days after birth and one of the midwives suggested using the pump to release some of the pressure that had built up. The Medela which the hospital uses in my opinion is excellent. I then purchased one for myself. I religiously used it every day in the first 6 weeks as I experienced a lot of pain (cried everyday) so it helped me get some rest whilst others fed baby. My baby didn't have nipple confusion. And it gave my nipples a break as well as time to heal. At 8 weeks my breasts had adjusted as well as milk supply. I then gave up expressing. I have been ebfing for 6 months. My biggest regret is not continuing with expressing for at least one bottle a day as now my dd point blank refuses to take a bottle.

Another vote for The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.

I agree with the other book recommendations. As a bf mother the kindle app on my iPad was my best friend! The womanly art of bf, 3 in the bed, what women do etc. all read whilst bf!!
Also check out:
kellymom.com/
www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=information
www.breastfeedingonline.com/newman.shtml#sthash.YhD3ccn0.dpbs
www.biologicalnurturing.com/
www.nct.org.uk/sites/default/files/related_documents/Laid-back Breastfeeding.pdf
forums.llli.org/showthread.php?108276-Biological-Nurturing-How-does-it-work

DH & I attended a Nct bf class. Best thing we did so we both had the same info.
Your DH needs to know he will be doing EVERYTHING until bf is established....

• change nappies
• all laundry
• stock kitchen with healthy food which can be eaten one handed
• burp baby
• walk baby
• carry baby in sling whilst mummy is sleeping, in the shower or on the loo
• cleaning & tidying
• keeping people away for as long as poss & limiting visiting times
• setting up your spot... I had a basket with all the remotes incl a remote for the lamps in our living room & bedroom. I also had sweet & savoury snacks, my iPad, laptop & phones to hand as well as a big bottle of water, baby wipes, Muslins & various cushions and a picture from the nhs bf leaflet
• Internet research on bf or other baby related issues
• ditto bf/baby shopping
• chief chauffeur
• he needs a list of all the local bf support groups in your area for every day of the week

-have the bf helpline nos to hand in case help is needed. www.thebabycafe.org/breastfeeding-help/2-helpline-numbers.html

My DH also fought the MWs who were giving conflicting advice. It was us together against the world tbh!!

He needs to know not to say ff is ok or to suggest giving up too soon. It took us weeks, not days, in fact more than 8 weeks to get bf established & we weren't prepared for it to take so long. However I have met many women since who took that long so clearly it is more common than I realised!!

See if you can find anyone to recommend a local private LC. Give her no to your DH & he will know he can call in the cavalry if it is all going Pete Tong!

If you don't already have a cleaner consider getting one for a few months whilst you get sorted. Ideally have her come in a couple of times a week in the first month.

The co sleeper cot is a great investment. I got our normal
Size (not mini) Arms reach from eBay & a new mattress from little green sheep. DS is still using it at 12 months.

Good luck. I hope it is really easy. For some people it is!!

Make sure you have a big tube of Lansinoh in your hospital bag and breast pads. And dont forget feeding bras and feeding tops.

Oh and before you latch make sure phone,remote and drink are in reach of your FREE hand.

Mumsnet is definitely a good place to look for advice :)

Try contacting LLL - they will usually put you on their email list to be updated when the next meeting is so that you can go to any you happen to be free for - they're not fussy about how many you attend. First babies are often late so you might make one meeting before they arrive!

Thanks everyone. I've ordered the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and Food of Love so will start there. Some really good advice on here. We've been looking at kindles/tablets today as it's my bday soon so DH says I can have one

I have 2 SILs, one found it a doddle, the other struggled with every feed and gave up at 3 months so I know it's not always easy - despite what DM and DGran tell me!

Lots of fab advice here. I second the use of a sidecar cot and definitely no routines. Remember you can't over feed a bf baby. Good luck!