How much did you find out about breastfeeding befrore you gave birth?

[mears]

As an addition to Hunker's thread about breastfeeding support in hospital, I wondered how many of you did any preparation for breastfeeding.

By that I mean further reading, attended workshops etc.

I think a lot of women don't understand how it all works before getting started and just wondered it that was the experience of mums on here.

Went to ante-natal classes which brushed over it really. But they had a separate BF workshop (a whole day) which I attended. Learnt quite a bit there, new Mums who had attended previously came back with their babies and chatted. Also met the BF councellors at the workshop who were at the hospital that I was due to deliver at so was nice to meet them beforehand. Thought maybe I wasn't going to be cut out for it when after one excercise done with a doll, I put my doll on the floor and was resting my feet on it, when I glanced at everyone else they were all still cradling their dolls intently as if it was the real thing . But it did all work fine, was a struggle but got through it with help of BF councellors, NCT helpline and weekly visits to the BF drop in clinic. Also had NCT book, used Kellymom and luckily most of my mother & baby group bf as well so great support there.

FoxyB, that's an interesting point about the pain when the milk comes in. My sister told me that when the milk comes in, it feels like your boobs are full of red-hot concrete! However, because I'd had a fourth-degree tear, I had been prescribed powerful painkillers which I am sure minimised the discomfort of the milk coming in.

I've done loads of reading up on it and read lots on here as well for real life experiences. I booked on an NCT bf course but it was cancelled. Had the NHS bf session which went through correct positioning (practicing with dolls) and gave us advice on things to check if it's not going well.
Expecting my first in a few weeks, and I'm curious to know whether this will make the slightest bit of difference? What one thing did you wish you'd known before starting to bf for the first time?

Katy44, think everything that you have done will help. I think the main benefits for me of attending the workshop was finding out the support that were available to me after the baby was born. Meeting the BF councellors, knowing who to approach if there were problems. When I was in hospital the BF councellor who had run the course came in to see me and sat with me and helped me get the latch right. Had lots of people telling me oh, this might happen, that might hurt, this might not work but everyone is different so don't think that was helpful. What was most helpful was getting the support afterwards when things didn't go right, having people I trusted (BF councellor) to turn to. Mumsnet would have been helpful but I hadn't found it then . For me it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do, to want to succeed at something so much when everything seems so hard and emotional and worrying and everyone around you is telling you something different. But it is also the thing I am most proud of having done in my whole life (apart from actually having DC of course) and also my biggest achievement. Find good support (here is fab), keep asking questions, the more you know the more sense it all makes and from that you will find what is best for you and your baby. Most of all try and relax and enjoy it. I definately didn't do that in the early days but hindsight is a wonderful thing

Thanks for all the posts. I asked the question because I think a lot of women don't have a clue about breastfeeding and then don't realise that there are solutions when things go wrong. The family support unit is justy not there anymore - the older generation aren't around to help. We are in the situation where grans are more likley to have bottlefed themselves.

I personally thought I knew a lot as a midwife having a baby, but i learnt so much more as i went along. I bought 'Breast is Best' which was my bible and I could fight off well meaning HV who wanted me to start solids sooner etc.

I do think that if you have some knowledge of breastfeeding then you will have more confidence to object when a 'professional' advises you totally incorrectly ie your baby is starving and needs formula instead of ensuring the baby is positioned and attached properly.

Mumsnet is a brilliant site for support

Had b/f workshop and mums with their babies attended a Q & A session.

Read a bit in the Pregnancy book, one of them was Miriam Stoppards

My mum b/f me for 9 mths, so had support that way as well

Also had cousins who b/f and Aunts too

Thank you - I thought that it might be helpful just to know the problems I could run into and where to go for support (I've got a printout of all the sessions in our area). Any detail will have completely left my brain by then!!

No kids, not pregnant, but as a Student Nurse, I spent a solid month in breastfeeding classes as part of my time with the HVs, so although I don't think I'm knowledgable, I do know that when the time comes I will be definately breastfeeding as I know what to expect (sort of.) Am 20 and only experience of breastfeeding before this was a cousin feeding her baby when I was 7ish.

A fair bit. I had lots of stuff about it in NHS antenatal classes. I also read stuff from the la leche legue.

I got a huge amount of support in the 5 days that I was in hospital post section. The rule was 'ring for help at any time' and by damn they meant it too!

I read most of 'The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding', which contained a vast amount of information, all of which was roughly equal in value to the single comment from my SIL, 'They say it won't hurt but actually it does at first'.

oh and I went to an NHS antenatal class but it was all misdirected propaganda

I remember one middle of the night feed, while still in hospital. It was the full on 'OMG she is trying to suck my shoulder blade through my boob, and I think this time she is going to manage it' moment, when a very kindly, older nurse, gently put her hands on my tense shoulders and said , 'you have to try to relax' and she stayed with me untill my shoulders were back where they should be!

Did an NCT antenatal class, got the Clare Byam Cook book. tbh was terrified! Thought it was the Right Thing To Do but also thought it seemed really hard, fraught with difficulty and that I'd never be able to do it. I decided to give it 2 weeks and if it wasn't working I'd give up. Fortunately it was a breeze, bf dd1 for 13 months and am currently bf dd2 (5 weeks)

Oh and I forgot, i actually watched the Avent video about b/f