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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

If you had to give one piece of advice to people considering bfing...?

114 replies

suis · 17/06/2007 23:07

I have been asked to attend a bfing workshop as sort of a "demonstration Mum" tomorrow. I don't have any training or anything, but the HV thinks it might help the workshop to have someone there who is currently bfing.

So I was thinking about what sort of things it would have been helpful to know about bfing when I was pregnant and what I would give as my one key piece of advice.... and so I thought I would ask what all of you think... ?

OP posts:
MarsLady · 17/06/2007 23:07

As much skin to skin as possible with baby!

harpsichordcuddler · 17/06/2007 23:09

OK: in the evenings it is common to "cluster feed" i.e. keep feeding all evening! esp in the early days.
When you are feeding, relax and drop your shoulders.

TooTicky · 17/06/2007 23:10

Have a ring sling and feed on the move.

harpsichordcuddler · 17/06/2007 23:10

sorry - about the cluster feeding - it doesn't mean you aren;t producing enough milk.
also - sometimes during a growth spurt, it might seem like the baby is feeding all the time and you are not producing enough milk. it will settle down when your breasts adjust

moondog · 17/06/2007 23:11

Expect it to take up a lot of your time and energy in the early days.

This really is the only important thing you have to do.Buggger everything else.Someone else can/should do it.

Set up comfy feeding zone-big chair,footstool,pillows,mags and so on.

harpsichordcuddler · 17/06/2007 23:11

after about 6 weeks it (usually!) gets loads easier in every way.

yelnats · 17/06/2007 23:12

Throw all clocks/watches away in the early days - dont get too tied up with how often they are feeding - just feed when baby needs feeding.

NeverEndingPileOfLaundry · 17/06/2007 23:12

That, unless you are really lucky, it will be painful to begin with.

A good friend warned me about this, and it really helped get me through those early painful days!

Hattie05 · 17/06/2007 23:14

Ignore anyone who tries to tell you a baby shouldn't feed more often than four hourly!! As others have said, just feed feed and feed. Think of it as natures way of making sure you get as much rest as possible after the birth. Put your feet up, remote control and glass of water in reaching distance and enjoy naked contact with your babe.
For those brave enough - invest in a bell to ring when something is required .

And a little help when deciding how to feed your baby. Breastfeeding saves sooo much money and time on formula, sterlising, making up of bottles and having to trudge downstairs in the cold of the night to get babies feed.

NoBiggy · 17/06/2007 23:14

Can I have 2?

During ante-natal classes, the mw said to allow 6 weeks to get bf right, which sounded like a shocking amount of time, then she said "What's 6 weeks out of your life?", and I thought yes, it's not long really, so that was always in my head after that.

The other thing. You can't overfeed or spoil a newborn baby. So, if the baby's crying for no obvious reason, offer it a feed. Does the trick satisfyingly often.

controlfreaky2 · 17/06/2007 23:14

grit your teeth.
if it makes your toes curl summats wrong.
it gets much much easier..... and is lovely.

fransmom · 17/06/2007 23:15

if you find a comfortable and good feeding position, don't listen to anyone who tell you to feed a different more uncomfortable way instead - i did and soon changed when mw's back was turned and listened to my baby.

ViciousSquirrelSpotter · 17/06/2007 23:16

Expect to do nothing else but bf for the first few weeks. Don't expect to have time to make a cup of tea, don't expect a new born baby to only want to bf every four hours. Explain to everyone who is helping you that you're expecting to just sit and bf for the first few weeks and no, you won't have time to put the laundry in, so would they mind doing it please.

And get a few good DVD's in.

BishyBarneyBee · 17/06/2007 23:17

it is reall really good for your baby - keep that in your mind when things aren't going so well.

if any problems look for help - there are lots or sources, all really friendly and no question is too small or too silly to not seek help about.

Ecmo · 17/06/2007 23:18

that it is not true that it will only make you sore if the baby is not latched on correctly! If you do an activity that you've never done before at least every 4 hours every day and night you will more than likely be sore!!

NoBiggy · 17/06/2007 23:19

About the painful thing, if I hadn't been told, as an aside, that your toes can curl with the pain early on at the start of a feed I may well have thought I was doing it wrong. I'm sure many people stop for that reason, not realising that the pain stops pretty quickly.

determination · 17/06/2007 23:19

Points i was never told...

  • Breast Fore/Hind milk seperates when expressed and looks curdled THIS IS NORMAL and DO NOT pour it out!

  • Breast Fed baby's stools are runny - i tought my poor lil' one had a major upset tummy.

  • Buy a sling DEFINATELY!

Enjoys it, it is the most naturally beautiful thing i have ever experienced and i never want it to end

determination · 17/06/2007 23:20

Oh, and buy a pair of Silverette just in case you need them as they will solve your cracked nipples!!

Aloha · 17/06/2007 23:21

Where to get outside help if you are struggling. And to get that help quickly - ie don't wait until you are in agony or bleeding.

Meid · 17/06/2007 23:22

In the early days be prepared to be up all night feeding. It doesn't mean you don't have enough milk. Its normal. So if the baby is sleeping during the day, try to sleep too in preparation for the night-feed-marathon.

Ecmo · 17/06/2007 23:23

dont put the milk collecting thingies in your bra upside down....

and pray they dont get teeth early

harpsichordcuddler · 17/06/2007 23:25

oh and it's LOVELY really the loveliest feeling if it goes right
(sorry I know I am way over my limit )

BadHair · 17/06/2007 23:37

When I was bfing Dses 1 and 2 I wish someone had mentioned that the growth charts are designed for bottle fed babies, and that breast fed babies usually gain weight at a different rate.

I wish someone had advised me to trust my own instinct, and that as long as baby is weeing and pooing, and is bright eyed and otherwise healthy, then don't worry if weight gain is slower than the chart suggests it should be.

I also wish that someone had advised me of ways to boost my own milk supply rather than advising me to offer supplementary bottles.

Am completely ignoring the charts this time round and am sure that fully bfed ds3 is perfectly healthy. It's just a shame that it took me 3 children to get it completely right!

Original poster
suis · 17/06/2007 23:43

Wow ! What fab response already. Thank you all so much.... and lots of these things are things that I know from my own experience (so I know they are good pieces of advice) but wouldn't have remembered to mention.

Thank you all for the great help !

...and don't worry harpsichord, they are all worth putting in !

OP posts:
SofiaAmes · 18/06/2007 04:26

Get satellite tv. I used to be a big reader, but found that breastfeeding my ds was a two handed operation (one to hold him and one to hold the breast) and I had no hands left to hold the book. So I watched a lot of tv. I also had an emergency cs, so I couldn't really do much of anything for a few months on top of it all, so tv was very handy.
Also, one friend gave advice of making sure you had a glass of water handy before you started, because it reallymakes you thirsty. And my cousin advised (wisely) to make sure that your baby has the whole areola (sp?) in its mouth and not just the nipple. I also found the hand operated breast pump handy for when I got blocked milk ducts. Not a problem with ds, but dd wasn't too good a sucker and I had more problems with her.