DEFINATIVE BREASTFEEDING GUIDE

[JARM]

Right, girls, I want to BF DS when he is born in hopefully 5 weeks time.

I have read Breastfeeding for Beginners by the NCT but am still really pretty clueless.

I want all you been-there, done-thats to give me the low down on one thread so I can refer to it as much as i need to!

LETS GO!

JARM my HV said they're not even meant to ask how we intend to feed them now ... that's obv changed since earlier this year, maybe you need to ask her for help now?

Trust your baby and your body.

Trust your baby to know when he is hungry (more often and for longer than you probably expect).

Trust your body to provide what your baby needs. It really can.

Don't forget this at 4 months when you feel that you have just got the hang of it and can envisage leading a normal life again, only to find yourself back with a perma-babe on your boob. He really is that hungry and your body really can provide everything he needs.

I kinda got through breast feeding in complete ignorance with ds, if you'd asked me what 'let down' was I would think you were talking about dh all I would say is if in doubt stick him on your boob. Don't worry about how long he feeds or how often.

Also if you can get past the first two weeks of sore nipples it will be fine from then on. TBH it's only the first few suks that hurt like buggery and as long as they are latched on properly the rest of the feed should not hurt, even in those early days so if it is hurting check the latch.

I can't wait to BF again and hope to go longer than I did with ds. Stupid doctor with crap advice

Trust your body.

JARM, you seem to be an expert on bf already! My only other top tip would be to plan a babymoon, i.e. try to mobilise all resources to ensure that you can be completely spoilt after the baby is born and spend loads of time having skin to skin contact. A lovely throw to snuggle under is great for this.

JARM - The link from knifewieldingtoddler came out in unviewable technicolor for me. An earlier set of posts on here about breastcrawl have the same but slightly abridged video (stick with it past the boring first couple of minutes!) and also loads of reactions from people who either have or wish they had tried it.

Most lovely of all was Mrsjaffabiffa who said:
"Amazing Video and
It works, It really works. I have been struggling to get dd (6 weeks) to latch well. Her weight has sufferered as has my milk supply due to inefficient feeding. I thought I'd try it after watching the video and I couldn't believe it, even at 6 weeks she wriggled her way across and latched brilliantly with a huge mouth and for the first time so far had her top and bottom lip turned out with nearly all my areola in her mouth.
Thanks, I am sooooo pleased, we have been feeding like this each feed today and she has halved her feeding time and seems full after. Not sure it will be good in public though. "

DD and I took ages to get the position right (8 weeks of gritted teeth, nails in palms, toes curled) so I wish I'd seen this before she was born. If Daniel is placed on your chest he will follow the smell of milk to the breast and he'll know more about how he'd like to be positioned than you possibly can. He'll curl his little lip back exactly as he should and take a mighty big mouthful of breast. Perfect! Plus it takes the 'performance' pressure off you and lets you lie back while he gets on with it! Although this video shows a first feed post birth, it's a great way to get the 2 of you together any time you can lie on a bed to feed rather than having to sit up. All the very very best with it! Keep him close by you as much as you possibly can - get all those lovely hormones working to the max.

Sorry - meant to link to another site that has the same video but that isn't all distorted. Try this instead.

Also JARM, I bet with two children already you are run off your feet. For a few weeks, this is your chance to seize as much time as possible to put your feet up, guilt free.