Can BF be learned from a book?

[DivaSkyChick]

It seems that successful BF is really luck of the draw. Maybe your baby is a "natural", maybe you get ignorant / busy / vile mws, maybe a lovely expert comes along, maybe the damage is too great before you get help, etc etc.

Is there anything that can be done ahead of time to ensure success? I've heard antenatal classes give you some advice but have also heard they often deny problems exist "if you're doing it right." Well that's no help, is it?

Is this like labor, where you just don't know how it will go until you find out your fucked? sorry for the language but I'm getting pretty upset looking at the posts here.

Yes I got plenty of opportunity to do it myself coz was in hosp 4 days. I point blank refused to leave until I was confident I could do it! Plus quite enjoyed being looked after by lovely mw's who were excellent at getting rid of m.i.l!

...if only you could impose visiting hours at home....

Amberjee, don't know how to CAT. (insert stupid joke about my cat here)

Hertx - Yes, actually. I've been trying to get Lulu on the phone as she is the coordinator in the area. We missed each other a couple of times but I've called without a return call a few times now. She must be very busy!

I want someone for labor and then possibly to help with the breast feeding afterwards. Recommendations would be great! email is my screen name @gmail.com, if anyone can help.

Thanks!

DivaSkyChick - please don't get upset. You may find it all comes really easily to you, in which case you will have worried for nothing. And if the worst happened and you just couldn't do it, it really wouldn't be the end of the world. I would suggest you read enough to give you an idea of the type of problems you might encounter, buy some Lansinoh in case of sore nipples, (and some emergency formula - recommend a couple of those liquid Aptimels as you don't want to be faffing with powder and cooling water when you are stressed) and then just wait and see. It might all be dead easy for you, as it was for me. I kept waiting for the engorgement and the sore nipples, and they never came. ( I say this not to gloat but to cheer you up! )

I also think the baby has a lot to do with it. My ds just took to it like a duck to water but my next one might not, for all I know.

good advice flangelina. don't get too worried in advance. i wouldn't have the formula in the house though. i had a few weak moments where i think if i had formula there and waiting, it would have been too easy and i might have given up altogether. but i kept persevering and have never had to give LO a bottle. its wonderful!