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Infant feeding

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

First time breastfeeding tips / things you wish you knew

47 replies

HelloWorld2577 · 10/07/2021 08:41

Hi all,

I have two children and pregnant with 3rd. Wasn't particularly interested about breastfeeding with previous so went straight to formula and this was completely accepted by all health practitioners I came into contact with so I am extremely happy I was never pressured!

But this time around with it being my last pregnancy I would really like to successfully breastfeed.

I would just like BF mums tips on must haves like the best pumps, products like lanolin or others, manual & electric pumps, collecting devices such as Haakaas, coverings etc.

Would just like to get myself off on the right foot by preparing!

Thank you

OP posts:
Elune · 10/07/2021 23:09

Oh and H&M nursing tops were my absolute favourite. In-built support and clips. I'd wear a t-shirt over the top and just pull t-shirt up and unclip vest top and pull it down so my wobbly post-section belly stayed safely hidden! I still wear those nursing tops even though DD stopped breastfeeding a year ago because they are super comfy!

Liervik · 10/07/2021 23:10

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for privacy reasons.

Nonmaquillee · 10/07/2021 23:11

Lansinoh
Lansinoh
Lansinoh

Nonmaquillee · 10/07/2021 23:12

And the biggest glass of water every time you sit down to feed.

TangledNemo · 10/07/2021 23:16

Keep snacks, water and some kind of entertainment within arms reach of where you feed. You’ll be amazed at how long you may be stuck in that spot.
Sign up for a local support group before you give birth. They might not be able to allow you in for a while.
My hospital let me stay an extra night to get help breastfeeding. Take that option if your hospital offers it too.
Side laying breastfeeding is great 👍

HelloBunny · 10/07/2021 23:25

Eat plenty of snacks if you are starving.
Keep going when you think you’re done.
Get a reaching stick (or your DH).
Nipple shields for as long as you need them.
Try to live through the fussing, no latching, cluster feeding, biting, head banging, not enough milk, too much milk, pumping, top-up anxiety, weird noises, exploding boobs, sick-y smells, night feeds, etc... until more comfortable feeding finally settles in.
It can be brutal until then.

New2ctc · 10/07/2021 23:29

In a lovely way, I wonder if the people replying to this had trouble with bf, and I'm not sure you're getting a balanced view here OP.
You've also had babies already so you have a bit of a headstart.

I did it differently. First baby, aged 30+, never even held a newborn. I squished her out (and it was a squich, took from Tues to Thurs) and I trusted the midwife to stick her on my nipple. She did, I lay naked feeling like a Friesian cow, and in the end DD fed. I trusted her baby instinct to work it out, and she did.
Next DD totally different feeding pattern (v little and vv often) but same starting off technique.

You'll be great. It's designed for them, sterile & correct temp & free!
Mine still alive and teenage.

Don't over read, over think, or over stress. You know newborns. Go for it!

whereislittleroo · 11/07/2021 00:26

@New2ctc I don't think that's ne

whereislittleroo · 11/07/2021 00:31

@New2ctc sorry my baby knocked my arm and I pressed post 🤦‍♀️

You may be right, but for example, I've had a wonderful, easy and straightforward experience of breastfeeding. I fed my first for just over 2 years, tandem fed when her sister arrived, fed the second for 2.5 years and am still feeding my 3rd (1 year old).

I try to take any opportunity to help people who want to breastfeed because I know how much misinformation is out there and also how much pushback there can be (my MIL for example hated that I breastfed and was always trying to undermine me).

BunnyRuddington · 11/07/2021 08:38

The one thing I'd wish I'd known about was Tongue Tie. DS had it and it was completely missed by all the HCPs, even though looking back everything I was telling them was obviously because he had tongue tie.

I'd also recommend finding out where your local support is and putting the BFing Helpline numbers in your phone and using them, however small and insignificant you think your query might be Smile

Information is your ally is a great article from Kellymom and I'd also recommend reading Baby Calming by Caroline Deacon. Caroline is a BFC and the book is evidence based but will work however you end up feeding your baby.

One of my DCousins FF her first two by choice and decided to BF her third and really enjoyed it. It is possible Smile

HelloWorld2577 · 11/07/2021 13:58

Thank you all so much! Lots say Lansinoh & Mama Mia Balm, lots also say not so I'll get them anyway... they're not expensive really and would rather have than not! I will start harvesting colostrum asap. I managed to harvest about 150ml of colostrum during pregnancy last time so hopefully do the same this time! Nice to have a miniature stash of the liquid gold anyway!

I'll not bother with an electric pump right away, I know my hospital provide them for free and to hire if needed. I'll try and get established first & also grab either an elvive or haakaa just to catch from the opposite breast whilst feeding!

QUESTION

Best bottles & dummies for BF babies?
Does nipple confusion actually exist... I find it so confusing because surely if a baby is hungry they will eat lol. I will likely have to go back to work within a few months so will need bottles/dummies etc on hand. I've always used tommee tippee and never had an issue ever! Are these ok?

OP posts:
HelloWorld2577 · 11/07/2021 14:00

*elvie. Elvive is shampoo 😂

OP posts:
BunnyRuddington · 11/07/2021 16:26

Best bottles & dummies for BF babies?

Does nipple confusion actually exist... I find it so confusing because surely if a baby is hungry they will eat lol. I will likely have to go back to work within a few months so will need bottles/dummies etc on hand. I've always used tommee tippee and never had an issue ever! Are these ok?

Absolutely no idea on which bottles and teats to use sorry, both of mine were hopeless bottle refusers but I was lucky. When I went back at 9 months they could drink it from a cup.

Yes, nipple confusion is a thing. Some BF babies will accept a bottle for ages, then refuse. Some will accept the bottle then refuse the breast and some will be able to happily accept both. Depending on how old they are when you go back, you might not have to worry about bottles at all.

This article on bottle feeding the BF babyy* might help as well Smile

CrinkleCrankle · 11/07/2021 16:30

In my experience baby got lazy and preferred bottle over breast 😢

Foxhasbigsocks · 11/07/2021 16:48

Nipple confusion is something I’ve seen as a peer supporter, so I do believe in it. Best to avoid bottle feeding entirely and go straight to expressed bm in a tommee tippee cup. Mine could manage one by six months

Foxhasbigsocks · 11/07/2021 16:49

When do you think you would be going back to work? I managed to build up a reasonable BM stash

HelloWorld2577 · 11/07/2021 18:36

@Foxhasbigsocks probably 3/4 months after!

Also another question! Bottle fed babies (mine at least) could do a feed easily with 15-20 mins max when very small. And obviously when older, quicker. How long does a feed take Breastfeeding? Like at newborn/1 month/2 month etc do they get quicker?

Thanks!!

OP posts:
Holshicup · 11/07/2021 18:45

Another vote for a emergency nipple shield if the pain gets too much early days.
Definitely feeding lying down.
Make sure you have the TV remote handy!

BertieBotts · 11/07/2021 18:59

Best bottles are the kind you can do paced feeding with: Narrow neck, slow flow teats. Brand doesn't especially matter. Tommee tippee is fine. All the ones that claim to be more like a breast are just marketing - it doesn't make any difference.

I never found any particular dummies to make a difference. Your baby might have a preference for a particular shape.

I think nipple confusion is a real thing but quite rare, and probably more likely if you aren't paced feeding, and/or if baby is already having some trouble at the breast.

Breastfeeds can be variable in time spent - what you'll find is there are different stages of a feed. Baby starts off doing lots of quick gulps, which then slows down into long, slow swallows. For a newborn this sounds like "Schnuck schnuck schuck" after a while it will really tail off into a kind of fluttery, on/off, loose, sleep/feed/sleep/feed thing. If you just leave them, they can easily be attached for an hour or more. It's absolutely fine to leave them on, and it is beneficial to. They are continuing to get milk and stimulate your supply while doing this, just while not expending many calories, which is absolutely great. But if you particularly need/want to get up and do something else, or put the baby down so you can go to sleep, it's also fine to do that when they are in this feeding stage. Sometimes you see sources that say you must always allow them to finish it, which isn't true, and sometimes you see this referred to as "non-nutritive sucking" or referenced that it's completely pointless/ "just for comfort" - this isn't true either. So it's best to let them do it at least some of the time, but it is also not likely to cause problems if you interrupt once they're in this stage some of the time. They don't always get to the fluttery stage - sometimes they come off and continue rooting, in which case you can offer the other side (even if they've already fed from both sides, just go back to the opposite side and repeat). Sometimes they come off and are perfectly happy and alert, that's OK too.

It doesn't really get faster as such as it's so variable to begin with. A feed could be 5 minutes or 50 and that could change over the course of a day, let alone a few weeks/months. Breastfeeding is less predictable than bottle feeding, but the flip side of it is that it is more flexible. If you need to interrupt a feed, then you can simply feed them earlier next time. If you don't know if they've had enough you can just offer them more without having to go and make up more formula. If they are hungry sooner than you expect, it's already ready. If they are still asleep longer than you expect, you don't need to worry about the milk getting cold or going past the recommended storage time. If you know you're going to be in the car for a while, you can offer them a quick feed first or a strategic one 30/60 minutes in advance.

MySocalledLoaf · 11/07/2021 19:05

Lanisoh is a great moisturiser for baby hands and feet since it’s safe for them to put in their mouths so if you don’t need it you can use it for that.

BunnyRuddington · 11/07/2021 19:22

DD barely ever fed for more than 5 minutes, but that was unusual.

You can always try Breast Compressions if you want to try and quicken things up Smile

lompolo · 11/07/2021 19:32

Lansinoh!

Persevere. In the first few weeks you need to feed at every opportunity. Once feeding is established you can get out and about with minimum prep as you won't need to carry bottles, formula etc.

Time passes quickly, be confident feeding and before you know it you will have a toddler!

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