The A to Z of breastfeeding...

[sandcastles]

#2 is due in July & I would really like to breastfeed.

DD [4] never did. She was premature, & I have since heard that this can be a factor in latching on. She was born by crash c -section & was taken off & bottle fed as I recovered. I was kept sedated for 12 hours for BP to fall [Pre eclampsia] I had zero support, it just didn't happen. I didn't know enough to express, I was told by the midwife when I left hospital that it was too late, [in hosp a week] not knowing any better I started ff.

I know all the health benefits, I have what I believe is a wonderful support network here. MIL pro breast feeding, as is a very good friend [who is a trainee midwife]. Hospital very hands on & helpful. They already know how much help I didn't have & how keen I am.

I am not going to expect miracles, I plan on making it through the first month, then three months, then 6 etc. I'd like to feed to a year, that is my goal.

What will I need, equipment wise? I'd like to express too, if possible [if necc].

Also, how to involve dd? She is very excited about the baby coming & I don't want her to feel pushed out, so would like feeding time to be a time for her to be involved...but how? She is 4, as I said.

I have heard that you shouldn't wash your nipples with soap etc for a few days prebirth, so to help the natural oils build up?

I will be having an elective c-section. I would like to gather as much info as possible in advance so I am prepared. I guess I wasn't very, last time. I just thought it would happen!

TIA

First thing I would do - make sure you have the numbers of LaLecheLeague et al when you go into hospital. You can find them here
Not sure about how you can get dd involved except to get her to cuddle new baby lots when not feeding, and asking her to cuddle up to you when feeding. I have a dss, but at 7 a little older and he made himself feel useful by doing small tasks such as passing me muslins or my drink.
I think your plan sounds great - in fact that's how I went into bfing - by taking it one day at a time.
I've no idea about the not washing nipples bit though I avoided using soap on or around the nipples after the birth because I figured ds wouldn't like the taste
The advice on expressing is to wait until bfing is fully established before beginning.
Here's another website that has lots of info on breastfeeding in general and has lots on expressing too.
There wil be more people along with advice (more qualified than me!) soon!

Bouncingturtle, I should have said that I am in Australia, so I will look into the equiv of LLL, I am sure we have one.

Good idea about asking dd to help with small things.

Didn't know that about expressing, so that's great!

Thank You!

Sandcastles: My ds1 wasn't bf for longer than a fortnight (had a doomed start)

ds2 however is and I also had a planned section too.

People are right to say wait until bfing is fully established before starting to express.. however I started earlier due to ds2 having a strong breast preference and a bout of mastitis I had too My right boob was so full and painful I didn't know what to do, but my MW just said express. I said what and waste my BM? (I really had heard about the nipple confusion thing so thought I'd not be able to give it to him) but she told me latest research she had been told was that they no longer think it's something to avoid that's use of breast and bottle.. so I went ahead and did this.. ds2 was 2 weeks.
From what I have since read on these threads I think I was quite lucky to be able to get away with it! I would advise that if nipple shields get used to not use them for long.. that really didn't help me with ds1.

DS1 is not far off 5 now.. he has helped by singing songs to his brother as we feed (his idea not mine!) and the greatest way he helped initially was to help hold babys hands apart when I was trying latch on when he was in a fussy fit!! (daddy showed him how, and he was superb at it!! He'd even tickle his toes lightly to wake him up at my breast!

I wish you all the best with breastfeeding, REMEMBER though, it is a skill that both you and baby learn.. and if you have days where it does not go so well, perserve for a bit longer, even if it's just to get through the day. I used to sit in floods of tears as I had sooo wanted to bf yet found it horrid, really horrid for some weeks, felt very yo yoish about it! My dh was supportive of whatever decision I made on feeding and he still chuckles because the days where I swore that was it I needed to quit just didn't happen because then I'd see my milk and think this is too good to stop! (that's when expressing and yes I did go through a period of one bottle of formula a day to help me cope.. but now we are in the full swing of things where I find ebm is great for allowing dad to help out.

Let us know how you get on, loads of advice and support can be found here

Martha, Pleased you got to bf with #2!

Your eldest sounds lovely & I am hoping dd will want to help & sing too!

Some good advice there, thank you!

I expressed when my milk came in to ease enmgorgement then dh gave ds the ebm, but used a cup.
When my milk came i was so engorged that ds couldn't latch on properly and i just expressed enough to soften the breast. Then he was able to latch on.

Lalecheleague are international, so I imagine they will have a presence in Oz - check out their website.

Be on the look out for when your lo wants to cluster feed. This I think can be the make or break of bfing (apart from sore nipples!). Be prepare to be stuck on the sofa, make sure your dh keeps you well furnished with food and drink and hog the remote! It will get easier! Oh and since you are having a section, get a mw to sow you football hold or feeding lying down you will find this far more comfortable than cradle hold while your section wound is healing.

I didn't know that about LLL...will have a look.

Thanks for the advice re feeding after c section. I will remember that.

Can you explain cluster feeding pleas?

ooooo... cluster feeding you will know all about it

www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/fussy-evening.html

a brill website by the way (as well as Mnet

I found once out of hospital lying down was really good to feed as I could doze AND feed too! Now, there was something else I had thought of but forgotton (distracted by the cluster feeding question.)

Thank you Martha. I am panning on looking at all the links posted, but it is getting a bit late here...

I hope you remember what it was you were going to say!

Bump please