Will I be able to get it together this time?

[dinny]

As the birth of my 2nd baby approaches (due Sunday) I am worrying (for a change) about making bfing a success. Didn't manage it with pre-term dd1. Totally devastated me for a long time.
As far as I can see, the things in my favour this time are a full-term baby and having a doula. The thing that may work against me is being Group B positive and the baby maybe having to have antibiotics at birth/for a few days (hopefully just as a precaution).
Can anyone give me some tips to help it go smoothly? Would be v grateful. I SO want it to happen this time round.

Dinny, I think that the best thing that you can do is not worry about it

OK so not easier said than done, You have a doula, let her guide you, and leave EVERYTHING ELSE to other people, you have such a great advantage having a doula, let everyone else run rings aroud you, burp, change, cook. Concentrate on your rest and the BF, I'm so sure you'll be fine,

But if your not it's not the end of the world. A baby, perfect to you is the most important thing,

GOOD LUCK

and sorry if this is of no use at all, lots of better people will be along soon

Love Kalex

I had terrible troubles feeding dd1 and ended up with terrible engorgement, midwife popping in twice a day to massage boobm, which still makes my eyes water even now, but i perservered and for me it all finally clicked into place with the help of a nipple sheild. I'd never told myself that i had to breastfeed but chose to leave it to see how i felt once the baby was born and it was then that i felt this strong urge and need to succeed at it. I thought breastfeeding was meant to be the easiest thing, no-one told me about the cracked blistered bleeding nipples, mastitus etc but once you've broken through a few weeks of that it is easy from then on, just perservere if you feel you want to breastfeed but at the same time don't put any unnecessary pressure on yourself.

Sorry Dinny, nothing useful to add, just very best wishes. I didn't manage it the first time either, and sometimes it seems like I'm hoping for a second child just so I can have another go at breast feeding! I've heard lots of stories about people who have succeeded the second time, and you'll be so much better informed and more experienced this time. And you've prepared so much for it that at least if it doesn't work out again this time you'll know that there was absolutely NOTHING more you could have done. I'm really looking forward to reading a post from you telling us that it's all working beautifully. Best of luck.

Message withdrawn

Dinny, I only managed to bf for three weeks with my first baby but went on to feed my following children for well over a year each. My 'bible'/talisman was a good book on bfing - I don't think it left my hand for several months!!

Although you didn't manage to do what you wanted with your first, just think how much more you know about bfing now. You're also much more prepared and know what to expect. NCT have a bfing helpline on 0870 444 8708. I don't know anything about GroupB, sorry, but my friend had a baby on a/b's just this June and she was able to bfeed, first by expressing and then the baby latched herself on and is doing really well. Good luck! .

I stopped feeding DS at 10 days but DD is now 8 weeks and it's going really well. My advice would be to get yourself some Lanolin cream as I found it really helped with the first few days of sore nipples.

You'll probably find you are tons more relaxed this time round as well which will make all the difference.

I got myself really worked up about it too.