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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

A whole new scary world!!

20 replies

MrsMcSpooky · 15/10/2007 15:27

I?m 27 weeks with my first. I read the Health Scotland pamphlet at the weekend that the midwife gave me and it got me a bit worried about BFing. I really want to do it but it seems like a whole new world right now. Is there anyway to get more knowledgeable before the baby arrives? Also, I think I thought that you?d express and sterilise stuff later on and just concentrate on latching on to begin with but it was saying that a lot of babies are too tired to feed at first or need to be fed by cup so you need to express. I was thinking I could wait to get a steriliser and pump but maybe not, what?s your advice? Thanks!

OP posts:

bluejelly · 15/10/2007 15:32

I would concentrate on getting the latch right before you even think about expressing etc.

Lots of people recommend the 'kellymom' website.

And well worth digging out numbers for the NCT and La Leche League

I so very nearly gave up bfing -- had 3 midwives and 2 Hvs telling me that my latch was right, and it wasn't until I was seen by a LLL lady that I was able to do it without it hurting!

Try not to worry about it, virtually everyone can breastfeed successfully, with the right support from the right people.

Good luck

rebelmum1 · 15/10/2007 15:35

Is it just the latch being wrong that causes it to hurt? I just thought that it was par of the course.

spookykitty · 15/10/2007 15:39

theres a book by the NCT called Breastfeeding (it's on their website) it's great goes into it in detail also about what to do when you get problems.

I bought bottles, steriliser, bottle warmer (?), etc prior to my first being born as I didn't know if I would be able to BF. I'm glad I did as DD1 was really jaundiced and had to be fed expressed milk for the first few days. DD2 latched on straight away and didn't need bottles so you never know.

Actually if you want that book I will send it to you if you give me your email address if I can dig it out, whereabouts in Scotland are you?

bluejelly · 15/10/2007 15:46

Well my pain was all to do with bad latch... I don't think it's supposed to hurt if you're doing it right
But maybe that's just my experience...

bluejelly · 15/10/2007 15:52

I think it's a really good idea to read around the subject and find out as much as you can.
Then if problems arise, you will be prepared and able to tackle them in a straightforward way, rather than feeling overwhelmed/inadequate/guilty which is what (sadly) a lot of people feel when it doesn't go smoothly at first.

kiskidee · 15/10/2007 15:54

I haven't read any responses yet so bear with me.

Firstly, a lot is a relative thing, when they are saying a lot of babies are too tired to feed so don't worry about this.

What i do want you to hear is that one way of getting a baby to feed as soon as possible is to

A. request that pethidine or other nacotic (diamorphine and in my case, even codeine) is not used for pain relief during labour and if possible, try to have a labour w/out an epidural.

B. have your baby put on you - skin to skin as soon as possible after birth as in the first hour, most babies are very alert for at least one hour.

have a look at this video here to see what i mean.

these two things are 2 effective ways of establishing bf as early as possible and as simply as possible.

kiskidee · 15/10/2007 15:57

here is a fantastic website to browse and a fantastic webpage to read thru before your baby get here.

good luck!

rebelmum1 · 15/10/2007 16:09

My midwife just told me to grin and bear the pain - it only lasted a few days and it was so easy after that. The pain was eased by a cream - saved the day really and got me through those sore few days. Definitely read up on it but don't get swamped by all the things that can go wrong, my dd latched on immediately but I didn't have pain relief.

Original poster

MrsMcSpooky · 15/10/2007 16:09

Thanks Bluejelly I?ll keep hold of those reference places.

That?s really helpful thanks Spookykitty I was 4 weeks premature as was my sister?s first so I guess it is always in my mind that I may have a premmie who needs milk another way. I?ve tried to get into NCT classes (since I was 12 weeks!) but demand is outweighing supply at the mo so it doesn?t look like I?ll get in. I?m planning to have the baby at St John?s in Livingston though and I have been led to believe that they are really supportive of breastfeeding. I would love your book if you are sure, my email address is amandadotmoore1attescodotnet ? I live in West Lothian but work in Edinburgh. Would you like something for it?

Which pumps and sterilisers would you all recommend? I?ve been told to go for the Medela Swing and the Tommee Tippee cold water/microwave steriliser ? any thoughts?

Thanks KisKidee I am hoping for a birth without those types of pain relief, I don?t like the idea of the baby receiving drugs it doesn?t need if at all possible. I also have blood clotting issues and an epidural would have increased risks for me anyway due to the treatment I am taking. My consultant has agreed that I can hold the baby skin to skin until its cord has stopped pulsing IF I don?t bleed too much but if I do, I?ll need to get the shot to manage the third stage and have the baby?s cord cut immediately but hope to keep hold of the baby. I appreciate that things often don?t work out the way you want them to though! I?ll check out the video and the link, thanks.

OP posts:

kiskidee · 15/10/2007 16:14

Even after the cord has been cut, do not let them bundle up your baby and put him or her next to you. as long as they are satisfied that he is alive and well, things like weighing and checking to see that they have 2 arms, 2 legs etc. can wait. for the first hour, allow your baby to be skin to skin. You can have her snuggled up under whatever you are wearing while giving birth. iyswim.

rebelmum1 · 15/10/2007 16:29

I was taken away from my baby for an hour, I had to go into surgery afterwards. My dd was starving and latched on the moment i came out of surgery so take heart! Good for you for not having pain relief, make sure you do breathing though it makes an enormous difference. Any breathing classes you can do are better than NCT imho

Original poster

MrsMcSpooky · 15/10/2007 16:49

Thanks, hoping for a water birth but I know they'll want me on dry land for the 3rd stage so it's good to know that I can insist on keeping my baby with me for the first hour if that's how it all pans out. Nice to know that not all is lost if you have to be separated too.

OP posts:

SharpMolarBear · 15/10/2007 16:51

What to expect when you're breastfeeding is good
get stuff in for cold water sterilising then you don't have a load of stuff to clutter up your kitchen if you (hopefully) don't need it

SharpMolarBear · 15/10/2007 16:55

our local nct run a "bumps and babies" group, i went when i was pregnant and asked someone who was bf to show me what she was doing! Anything like this near you?

ChubbyScotsBurd · 16/10/2007 09:16

I was in your position MrsMcSpooky and I picked up a cheap mothercare hand pump (came in handy during the engorgemnent stage - drew my nipple out for baby to get hold of!) and a couple of cheap Boots bottles and a wee container of Milton and a bucket! So I had the bare essentials but nothing which made making a bottle easier , and I've barely used any of it so very glad I didn't go mad buying kit.

yellowfrin · 16/10/2007 12:52

Hello MrsMcSpooky, I had my baby at St John's and they really are very supportive of bf. They will encourage u to ring the buzzer (anytime even in the middle of the night) if u r starting to feed and they ll watch to check ur latch is correct. Also there are really good B/F support groups in the area speak to ur HV. E mail me directly at yellowfrinatyahoo.co.uk if u want more info. good luck and enjoy the next few weeks

yellowfrin · 16/10/2007 12:53

our BF support group also welcomes pregnant ladies to come and have a look so much easier to come back to once u already know what it ll be like

cazee · 16/10/2007 13:48

Kiskidee's advice is brilliant as always, but just to reassure you in case you do have an epidural, I did and my dd latched on fine after.
Also bf has never hurt me, other than the strong let down feeling you get in the first few weeks (which lasts a few seconds).
Bf shouldn't sound like a scary, whole new world. Your body is geared up for it.
But do have all the numbers of the support organisations ready in case you do have a problem.

Original poster

MrsMcSpooky · 16/10/2007 14:08

Oh thank you YellowFin ? that all sounds good I?ll email you

Thanks Cazee

OP posts:

mawbroooooooooon · 16/10/2007 16:30

MrsMcSpooky - I had my ds in St John's in 2005. They pretty much left me alone re the breastfeeding, however the advice I was given differed from one member of staff to another.

I have spent many many hours on MN since then and have now discovered that some of the stuff I was told in the hospital was not correct so please arm yourself with information before you go in and don't believe everything that the midwives tell you. Sad but true.

There used to be a LLL group in Livingston, but it's not going any more. Could you come into Edinburgh during your maternity leave? There are some very good groups at the Birth Resource Centre in Polwarth who would be delighted to have a mum to be along.

Got to go, ds just woken from nap.

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