Couldn't breastfeed first time round - any tips to help me succeed this time?

[firststeps]

My first baby just wouldn't breastfeed, after 2 days of him not feeding midwives said I should bottle feed him which I did. I am pregnant again and would really like to try and breastfeed again, any tips would be welcomed

I was the same as you first time round, and I found two things helped my second time round: 1) in my birthplan I asked for the MW to ensure I fed asap, despite what I said / how I was feeling etc.

2. I found much needed support on MN, from people who talked me through the pain and the tears.

Good luck!

There are usually breast feeding clinics run at your local hospital, and other locations - they are designed to help people before and after birth. Also the nct have breastfeeding counsellors you can speak to.
Some people seem to think it just comes naturally, but it often does. Lots of people need some help and support plus some perserverance.
Good luck, hope it works out this time

sorry - often doesn't come naturally, not does

Two things that I think make a big difference are:

1. feeding asap after birth
2. Having a babymoon - lots of skin to skin contact with baby and doing nothing except be waited on hand and food. With another child this may take some organisation, so I would plan to get loads of help at the beginning if poss.

yes. get your baby on your chest as soon as possible after the birth, like straight away, no weighing and dressing etc first, just straight to your chest. google breastcrawl for the full idea. you don't need to do anything, just hold baby there skin to skin, blanket around you both, and stay like that for as long as possible. ideally a latch within the first half hour is what you're aiming for, but like i said, you let baby do it, you don't start forcing a latch on.

i struggled to BF DD1 for a few days as she was too little to really keep sucking for too long. I ended up expressing off and syrgine feeding for a few days.
If you cant feed her yourself, you can always express off.
Defo go for the BF support group, and some do the groups before birth which my friend found very helpful. Good luck

L

I really agree with Waynetta, try to breast feed asap no matter how bad you feel. After Ds2 was born I felt like shit and didnt manage to try and feed him for about an hour after delivery. He didnt feed properly for 2 days and I am convinced that this is the reason, so really try to get your baby to feed as soon as possible after the birth.

Would echo what others have said about making sure you have loads of skin-to-skin contact after the birth. Try and keep this going at home too - keep the baby close to you and feed, feed, feed.

Try to have a babymoon if you can and get others to cook for you/bring you food/help with other children,etc. Ignore the state of the house (easier said than done) and just be with your baby.

Ask the midwives to refer you to a breastfeeding counsellor if you do run into problems again - they can come to see you at home.

Hope you have a better experience of breastfeeding this time.