I need a beginners guide to breastfeeding!

[Kyrptonite]

DC3 is due in September. With DS I bottle fed as he was failure to thrive and I was 20 and terrified about him not feeding enough. With DD I breastfed twice but convinced myself she wasn't getting enough milk and went to bottles.

I really want to breastfeed this time. I have a few questions though:

1. Will it hurt all the time or just to start with?
2. What clothes will I need to be able to do it in public etc?
3. What equipment do I need? Breast pump, nipple creams etc and what is best?
4. How the fuck do you breastfeed? Do you just jiggle them about until they latch and attempt to get comfy?
5. Will it fit in around school runs etc?

If anyone could help then that would be brilliant, thank you!

1. It really shouldn't hurt at all. Many (most?) mothers have some pain or discomfort at the beginning. For some of these, the pain reduces over time, as everyone gets the hang of it - but it's still best to just get help if it's hurting. If someone tells you 'it looks like s/he is latched on perfectly', make a face and tell them it still hurts.
2. A breastfeeding bra. You can buy special shirts. You can also do without. Lots of mums swear by wearing a vest (to cover their belly) and a baggy tshirt, that they pull up.
3. You don't need anything. Hand expressing works fine. Nipple cream can help, but that's only if you're having pain, which you really shouldn't have.
4. With a newborn, the best position is cross-cradle. You have a lot of control over where the baby is, and you can help ensure the baby gets a good latch. It would probably be a good idea for you to visit a BF drop in local to you, before the baby comes - you can get to know your local BFCs, and probably see some babies feeding.
5. Yes - you can use a sling and feed on the school run, and/or your baby will get the hang of the morning routine, and generally feed very early and then after the school run.

One tip for you - look at your breasts, properly look at them and see where they point naturally. I had a terrible time establishing bfeeding with DD1 and an NCT bfeeding counselor came to see me. She asked to look at my boobs and then told me that my nipples pointed out to the sides, so like this \ / rather than ||. I was bringing my nipple round to the front and latching the baby on, so when I relaxed, the nipple tried to pull back to its normal place, the baby held on for dear life and my poor nipples ended up in a tug of war. All I needed to do was move the baby further round my body so her mouth met my breast at the right place, and voila!

Nipple creams - Lansinoh was the dog's bollocks, as far as I was concerned - it costs a lot but a single tube should last you as long as you need.

It shouldn't hurt all the time - latching on might requier a SIOB, but then it should settle to being comfortable. A bit of a tugging feeling, but not unpleasant.

I did school runs with DD3 at 6 weeks old. I tried to make sure we settled for a bfeed in the hour before so that she would have some milk in her tummy to keep her going.

Clothes - I liked to have things I could pull up rather than down, as it exposed a lot less of my breast to general view. The first few times you feed in public, it can help to have a supportive person with you to encourage you (in my case, DH, my parents and my PILs).

Good luck!

You'll get a lot of different answers but having BF successfully here's my experience

1. Yes it was uncomfortable for the first few weeks. In the first week my nipples were a bit sore in between feeds - but not cracked or anything. When baby latched on it was a bit toe-curling for a few seconds then settled down. I had a good latch and DD fed well. A lot of people say it should be painless but that wasn't my experience, however it wasn't unmanageable at all and after 2-3 weeks there was no discomfort whatsoever. One good bit of advice I read on here was that if it feels painful after 10 seconds of baby latching on, the latch probably isn't right so pull baby off (by putting finger in the mouth to get them to release the latch) then reposition.

1. To BF in public I wear a vest top under a slightly loose top. Pull vest down, lift top up, baby latches on, nobody can see a thing except baby's head.

1. Don't buy any equipment except a nursing bra. And some lansinoh cream for rubbing on your nips between feeds at the beginning.

1. Don't wait until baby is screaming with hunger to feed, hysterical babies don't latch on well. Offer feeds often. Hold baby in your arms across chest with pillow on lap. Don't put your hand on the back of the baby's head to push it towards the boob, just support underneath if needed. Wait till baby's mouth is gaping open then move baby towards the nipple and hopefully it will latch on. Try again if not successful, it can take a bit of practice. Get the hospital and community midwives to watch you do it and check you're doing it right. There are good videos on youtube too. Cross-cradle is the position as others have mentioned.

1. Yes should do.

Finally at the beginning BF babies often feed often and for long periods. As long as they are happy and gaining weight, and you're comfy, you're doing it right. Once you get going it's a piece of cake! Best of luck!

1. I didn't have any pain at all - none whatsoever. I struggled a lot at the beginning as DS appeared to latch on but not suck, but there was no pain.
2. You need a couple of feeding bras, and that's it. Now, eight months in, I wear exactly what I did before DS was born, apart from dresses. At the beginning I wore baggy tops with a vest top underneath, but now I've got the hang of it - and can bf covertly - I wear whatever I like.
3. No equipment at all aside from breastpads and nipple cream. Lansinoh is best in both regards.
4. Cross-cradle hold works for me now, although I also tried the rugby hold at the beginning. I have huge boobs (even bigger then) and found it comfortable while I was still getting the hang of things. Offer feeds as often as you can and expect to feed for what seems like hours at a time. Get everyone you can to check your latch, and listen for swallowing (DS's latch looked fine, but turns out he wasn't swallowing).
5. DS is my first so I'm no expert on school runs, but we have successfully fit bf around a normal, busy life for almost nine months now.

Good luck, and eat cake!

1. Will it hurt all the time or just to start with?

I had a horrible time getting breastfeeding established - it took about 10 weeks to get to the point where it was pain free. The best thing I did was find a good support group - they won't mind you turning up whilst you're pregnant if you want to go and chat to other mums. Get whatever support you can around you before baby is due. That way if you do get hit by thrush or sore nipples you will know what to do and know that it isn't forever.

1. What clothes will I need to be able to do it in public etc?

I used a vest, or just pulled up whatever I was wearing. The first time I fed in public I was terrified, but it soon became a doddle and most people didn't even notice I was feeding.

1. What equipment do I need? Breast pump, nipple creams etc and what is best?

I had the works, but that was because breastfeeding was so awful for me to start with that I needed to pump feeds to give my nipples a break. Lansinoh is great. You also need a plate for your cake and a glass for your evening wine (yes you can have a small glass of wine in the evening) - this vital piece of equipment makes you feel less of a milking machine and more like a human.

1. How the fuck do you breastfeed? Do you just jiggle them about until they latch and attempt to get comfy?

There are various techniques. I found the "burger technique" worked best for me but you may find something different works better. The burger technique means squishing your boob gently into a burger shape with the nipple at the front. Some babies find it easier to get a latch whilst their mouths are small.

1. Will it fit in around school runs etc?

Someone else has already said to feed often. I found that as soon as DD made a noise I would feed her. I fed entirely on demand and didn't have to do school runs, but did drive various places. Sometimes she did become unsettled and it was quite distressing to have to drive and listen to her crying for me. You get through those times, plus you have the added benefit that there is nothing that soothes a baby quite like a breastfeed.

good luck.

It will probably hurt for a few days. Partly because your nipples will desensitise, partly because the baby will want to suckle constantly ime, until your milk comes in, at which point they'll settle into more discernible 'feeds'. I bfed DD, my first DC, for 6 months and think those first few days are nervewracking for a first time bfer - you feel your baby is not getting fed - but understand that it's supposed to be that way, your baby will be getting colostrum and the suckling is telling your body to produce milk.

I would also say talk to your midwife before your LO is born, to find out what support is available eg where I live there's a bf support line staffed by lovely midwives that was such help to me in my weepy post birth days. Many areas have bf support services and groups - I would consider contacting them now so it isn't something scary and new when you're at your lowest energy iyswim.

Anyway congrats and good luck . Ime the first few days are hard but a week in I was flying along. I know it's an annoying thing to say but trust your baby, and yourself - in all likelihood he or she will know what they're doing.

Oh the Bravado silk seamless nursing bras are beautifully comfy.

My best advice is read. Try The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding first. I also read The Food of Love and Ina May's Guide to Bf.

The kellymom website has lots of into. Try watching some You Tube videos of Dr Jack Newman.

Go and visit your local bf cafe. Have a copy of the bf helplines printed near your phone or in your mobile. Find out the details of your nearest board certified lactation consultant. Go to your nearest LLL meeting. Find out if there is an Infant Feeding Specialist at your local hospital and, if so, her contact details.

Good luck!

Either pop to primark or the end of season sale for summer clothes when it comes and get loads of vest tops in different colours. Then wear your own tops over them. Pull your top up and the vest down then you can breast feed easily without flashing your belly. Which I can assume you won't want to do just after having a baby.

I always took the attitude with breastfeeding that the human race has been in existence for millions of years and formula has only been around for a short period. So how on earth did babies get feed before hand. You just have to have faith that you are doing it right because that's what your body is designed to do. I had several midwives and doctors telling me my supply was low and to supplement. There was no issue. DD just turned 5months and still ebf.

1. The feeding itself hurt for about a week, and then I had engorgement for a few weeks after that. By week 4 things were good and at nearly 7mo my baby has only had breast milk and is really thriving.

1. I bought one comfy specialist breastfeeding top (get one that will suit the season your DC will arrive) and am glad I did as it was one less thing to faff over. At first I found it tricky to keep normal tops out of the way. Wore it a lot for the first few months before relegating it to back of wardrobe.

1. I do recommend Lansinoh too. A couple of comfy feeding bras - M&S do a black and white set of 2 in soft cotton. Muslins. Breast pads. Cake. WATER. Get a pint glass or a carafe/jug and glass set. I also bought a breastfeeding pillow which I found helpful but I know some people hate them. I also usually needed something under my feet and pillows/cushions behind my back.

1. I'm not really sure as it must vary so much but two things massively helped me: learning how to feed lying down, and being prepared to break the latch and relatch ad infinitum. I'd usually relatch 10 or more times at the start of a feed. Also bear in mind it gets LOADS easier when they become more aware/get neck strength and their mouths get bigger.

1. Yes! The great thing about BF is it's totally portable and low-maintenance. All you need to remember to bring is your boobs and if you forget those you've got bigger problems :)

Things I think are really important: trust your instincts, and ignore anyone that tells you "the baby shouldn't need to feed that much".

Good luck.