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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Support for first time bfing

13 replies

Swizzler · 29/08/2006 13:22

I'm expecting my first baby in about 6 weeks and would like to bf. I know from others' experience that the more help you can get the better, so where do I go? Is it worth looking at books/other sources of advice beforehand? Also, where do I find details of local bf counsellors?
DH not much help as he just says 'give it a go but you might not be able to manage'. Mum the same - my sister bf her first but not her second, and mum couldn't bf either of us (not sure why, though). Any positive advice?

OP posts:

chocolateshoes · 29/08/2006 13:28

I should think your midwife would have some contact nos for you & in lost places there is a bfeeding clinic which is good place to meet other bfeeding Mums.

You could also search 'La Leche' league online as there should be some advice there.

My advice would be get as much help from midwives in hospital while you are there - I hope they are as good as mine were. And try not to have an audience for the 1st few times as you & baby need a bit of time to get it right.

sallyrosie · 29/08/2006 13:32

No reason you shouldn't be able to manage. Best thing to do is tell everyone involved in your care that you want to bf so they can give you as much support as you need. HV and MW should be able to point you in direction of local drop in advice clinics etc. La Leche League and NCT also really helpful and can put you in touch with people locally.
The hospital I am delivering at does a breastfeeding 'study day' that you can go to antenatally - worth checking to see if anything like that local to you.
And finally - MN seems to be a brilliant source of advice for all things BF. Good luck...

LIZS · 29/08/2006 13:32

Are you doing any antenatal classes as the mw running it should have some helpline and local BFC numbers, but you may have to ask. Can you ring your local NCT branch ? They may have a local bf support group or a Bumps and Babes to which you could go along before you are due.

bundle · 29/08/2006 13:35

swizzler v few women "can't" bf (unless they don't have the appropriate kind of support - both practical and emotional, this may have been lacking for your mum/sister) so do seek out your local bf counsellors and give it a whirl

moondog · 29/08/2006 13:39

I know it all sounds horribly confusing,but not all midwives and health visitors know that much about breastfeeding,so it may be worth asking your MW now if she or any others on the team are breastfeeding counsellors so that you are forearmed!

There may well be a sort of drop in breastfeeding session or coffee morning near you too.

NCT and La Leche League very highly thought of.I have had a lot of dealings with the Association for Breastfeeding Mothers too who are wonderful.

They have a helpline run by volunteers.

0870 401 7711

Mumsnet is alsoa wonderful source of assistance.
Pupuce and Mears are real experts to look out for,as is Pupucealthough she is not to be seen so often.

Best of luck with everything! [smile[

Original poster

Swizzler · 29/08/2006 15:25

Thanks for all the prompt responses and the phone numbers/websites. I hope it will all go smoothly, but I'd feel happier being prepared

OP posts:

Littlefish · 29/08/2006 15:48

Tiktok is also an expert - look out for her posts.

moondog · 29/08/2006 15:53

Sorry,meant Tiktok in first part of my post....

fullmoonfiend · 29/08/2006 15:54

La Leche League
here

Here is their telephone helpline for future reference (they will put you in touch with a leader to help you) 0845 120 2918

Best of luck with everything

Astrophe · 29/08/2006 15:58

My advice is stick with it for at least 8 weeks as it takes a while to get going and can be hard for a while but that doesn't mean it wont get MUCH easier.

In the end, however, do whatever you can cope with.

Best of luck

chocolatekimmy · 30/08/2006 10:17

My advice is to be prepared - but not put off and stick with it if you can if you do have problems as it is so worth it when baby and you get the hang of it!!!

Looking into it now is fantastic and I hope you get some good advice, a bf counsellor very early on is a good idea with follow up visits or calls for as long as you need should help. I found that the midwives were more than willing to help but their advice was crap in most cases. The bf counsellor said its a specialist thing but I can't see why the midwives don't have some basic training about positioning and baby having a wide open mouth etc.

I took about 7 weeks with my first to become settled/establish and completely comfortable and my second took about 11 weeks but I continued for 13 and 8 months in total.

I am just about getting there now with my third who is 7 weeks, knowing it will get better and how lovely it is when it does keeps me going.
I had sore cracked, bleeding nipples in the first week with all 3, I have also had thrush on the nipple with all (probably to do with the cracked nipples) and mastitis twice, this time like nothing else you can imagine!

I personally think it is normal to have problems but it isn't published and I don't think enough info is given to new mums about potential pitfalls. Its no wonder people are upset and give up if they go through difficulties. Saying that though I have friends who have found it really easy and had no problems (which I'm sure is the norm).

All I would say is give it a go - I firmly believe in doing whats best for baby and not whats best for me - thats what I am here for. But saying that, if it is too much for you emotionally or physically - don't hesitate to change to bottle.

poppynic · 30/08/2006 11:39

My advice is what my mother gave me and while it was hard to follow it really is important - relax and enjoy your new baby. Do the things you need to do to help you relax - contact support groups, get out books, chat on MN, whatever helps you feel comfortable - and then just love your baby. You can do that while bf or by snuggling up with babe and a bottle, whichever works for you both. My first babe bf really easily (with no outside advice) from the minute he was born until he was 3. I'm hoping to bf my second (it suits my somewhat chaotic personality) but I'm not going to beat myself up if we can't. Millions of babies are fed by both means - and as a bottle fed baby myself I certainly feel no ill-effects.
One piece of advice re problems - as a repeat sufferer of mastitis I found it essential to get onto antibiotics the day I got it - B4 I went to sleep at night. The delay would mean the difference between feeling a bit sick and fluey for a day or two to having to spend 2-3 days "flat-out" in bed.
Good luck.

MsPea · 30/08/2006 11:44

Hello, I am a first-time Mum and this is my first post on mumsnet (what a great site). DD is 6 days old and I am breastfeeding. I wondered if anyone else found that when their milk came in, their child began 1. to feed voraciously and 2. to be wakeful in the evening/early hours and sleepy in the am/early pm? That's what I have noticed and my midwife suggested that these things are connected. Thanks.

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