Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

Flip

Original poster

What breast feeding post-birth support options have people used that worked?

25 replies

cityangel · 12/04/2008 23:53

I am 6 months pg with my first and hoping to breast feed. Clearly there are a lot of options available to me if I needed bf support after the birth.

I particularly like the option of someone showing me in person, possibly in the comfort of my own home ways to approach it successfully....

Have you sought help through a doula, breast feeding nurse, support line, group meetings, hospital post birth support, hotline, other etc? I am keen to hear people's experiences of these good and bad.

It may be that it works out to be less challenging than I am expecting. I am sure there is a range of support options that work depending on the individual so I appreciate all feedback. Thanks

OP posts:

RGPargy · 13/04/2008 00:03

Hiya

I wanted to BF too so i did lots of research on latch and feeding etc. There are some great videos by Dr Jack Newman (i think that's his name) that shows you how to latch your baby etc. Also there is of course the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and the La Leche League (LLL). I dont have phone numbers for them, but understand that people will visit you and watch you feeding to check that everything is ok for you. Also, you have good ol' MN to fall back on for all your questions that you feel silly asking anywhere else. If it wasn't for this website, i probably would not still be BFing now (DD is 4 months).

Someone will be along soon with info on the helpline numbers.

Good luck and congratulations!!

StarlightMcKenzie · 13/04/2008 00:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

tori32 · 13/04/2008 00:08

I wasn't very successful the first time and lasted 6wks.
dd2 is now 2.5 wks and before having her I researched breast feeding with NCT/ websites etc
I also did lots of nipple stimulation to the point of producing milk about 4wks before the birth and expressed a bit to build my supply. This worked fantastically for me and supply has been brilliant. Breast feeding has been easy this time. I also made sure I fed at least every 2-3 hrs in the first few days to get supply up quicker. I went to an NCT breast feeding class where I was shown how to feed lying down which has really helped for night feeding. Before I had dd2 I would not have believed that I could sleep and feed at the same time as I never did with dd1.

IdentityFraud · 13/04/2008 00:11

And when the going gets tough, don't forget the Lansinoh and the cabbage leaves which, unbelievably, really do work!

tori32 · 13/04/2008 00:13

The best advice I had was to break the latch if it hurt and latch again. It should not hurt if they are positioned correctly. Last time I let dd1 suck on nipples instead of ensuring she had a full wide mouth of breast. I therefore ended up with very sore and cracked nipples. This time I had 1 sore nipple for a few days until I corrected the positioning. I also used lansinoh cream before and after feeding in the first few days.

StarlightMcKenzie · 13/04/2008 00:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

divedaisy · 13/04/2008 00:18

Hi Cityangel - I'm glad that you are preparing for BF and wnating this as your choice! Your hospital should be able to help you learn to BF - either a MW or in my hospital there was a BF support nurse. I wasn't allowed home until I was confident with it - my ds was in SCBU for 6 days and we were allowed home after being in for 8 days so I got plenty of help. Then at home the community MW, and HV were there to offer support. I went along to my local BF support group - but ended up being the only one there with my HV. Also there's help and support and advice here on MN!! Most pregnancy books will have chapters on it - I found 'The Babya nd Child Question and Anser Book' by Dr Carol Cooper, published by DK (ISBN 0-7513-0844-7) very useful for BF and lots of other stuff.

Best bit of advice I can give you is to realise it is a new skill for you and your baby to learn. Relax, relax relax... BF cannot be rushed. It is all down to you and therefore you can get very tired especially if you are trying to cope with 'doing everything' You will need help and support with routine household tasks to prevent you getting too tired. (I tried to do everything and didn't ask for help - I ended up with PND and had to stop BF) You should consider using a pump and you can freeze some of your milk so that when you are very tired, need a night out etc someone else can bottle feed (or spoon it and let your baby lap it up off the spoon) for you. Enjoy the experience - it is a beautiful special bond only you can have with your baby. I loved it, but I had to stop when diagnosed with PND. Look after yourself, eat well, rest, relax, go easy with housework etc - don't try to be supermum!!!

Your DH/DP can help suport you. My DH was a bit awkward about me BF 'in public' and I ONLY ONCE BF my ds in the toilets of Pizza Hut, and i swore never again would he eat in a loo. With practice you can do it very discretely - eventually DH didn't even know I was doing it ... until he heard the slurps from DS!!!!LOL Keep a blanket handy if needed to cover up - especially if you are not wearing a BF tee and you need to lift it up.

Good luck with the remainder of your preganncy and BF! Enjoy.xx

expatinscotland · 13/04/2008 00:21

I'd have LOVED to learn how to BF lying down in hospital!

NCT helped my bfing.

chipmonkey · 13/04/2008 00:49

I coudln't feed ds1 lying down, he'd always throw up afterwards. It was blissful being able to do it with ds2 and ds3.

StealthPolarBear · 13/04/2008 10:45

Agree with Starlight - just read as many bf threads on MN as you can!
In theory your midwife should sit with you and help with latch etc.

Ineedsomesleep · 13/04/2008 11:02

Babycafe's, you can go while you are still pregnant for a coffee and a chat here

NCT, some area's do breatfeeding classes or have a Breastfeeding Counsellor you can contact here

They also produce some good information here

And going to NCT groups helped me too.

Babycalming by Caroline Deacon is very good as well.

I also took the numbers of the national helplines and the local bfing counsellors into hospital with me, just in case.

The only thing I would say is take your advice from someone who is properly trained. If someone is wanting to help you, especially if they are charging you, check their credentials carefully.

FrannyandZooey · 13/04/2008 11:09

I phoned LLL leader with difficulties and she was superb
I later attended meetings - this was more for emotional support rather than practical help, but would have been sueful for either

you can attend LLL meetings as a pg mother and they will give you a good welcome and lots of information and advice

Caz10 · 13/04/2008 14:58

someone from BFN came to my house and helped me out when i was in the deoths of despair! that, plus going to their weekly group has been the best support for me.

you are doing the right thing by preparing now - i was horribly unprepared, thought the ante-natal session would tell me all i needed to know - cue disaster.

"take your advice from someone who is properly trained" - absolutely, and sadly this will probably not be your MW or HV. i was told dd could go 4-5hrs between feeds the 1st week she was home, and stupidly i took their advice, unsurprisingly DD lost weight and we had all sorts of probs. stick with a trained BFC.

good luck!

cmotdibbler · 14/04/2008 08:28

I had a doula for the birth, and it was nice to have her there as backup afterwards. NCT bumps and babes was nice to go out to and bf in public - ours was at Pizza Express, so really was public.

I think the best things to remember is that newborns need to feed A LOT. They do not need to feed for set times or at set intervals. All problems can be sorted out (pretty much) with expert advice, and topping up with formula is not usually the solution.

MN is always here, and there'll be someone who has been through the same as you - whatever that is !

Ineedsomesleep · 14/04/2008 09:52

Forgot to say, that you can go to NCT groups while you are still pregnant too.

Poledra · 14/04/2008 10:04

NCT breastfeeding helpline was wonderful - I called them in tears late on evening, and the lady on the other end was so kind, calming and knew exactly how I was feeling. She also arranged for the local NCT bfing cousellor to come and see me, and she was fab - took her less than 5 minutes to see what I was doing 'wrong' and help us both get into the right position. (FWIW, my nipples point out to the sides rather than staight ahead, and i was forcing my boobs round so the baby could be straight in front of me rather than moving the baby's head round to where the nipple pointed naturally. So, take a good look at your own anatomy, and make sure you work with it rather than against it!)

Original poster

cityangel · 14/04/2008 12:42

Thank you all for your very helpful feedback I have lots to read through and think about here

Did anyone find eating/drinking/avoiding particular things helped with their milk supply?

OP posts:

cmotdibbler · 14/04/2008 12:59

You only need to drink to thirst, and eat what you want - having to drink loads and eat particular things is one of the great breastfeeding myths.

Many bfers, do claim that a regular supply of chocolate and cake is essential though

StarlightMcKenzie · 14/04/2008 16:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster

cityangel · 17/04/2008 23:46

thanks for all your advice I have lots to look into now! I shall practice one hand eating!

OP posts:

Ineedsomesleep · 19/04/2008 08:13

I agree with the cake and chocolate too. I've read somewhere that you need 500 extra calories per day whilst bfing, I've always thought this was a misprint and they meant to say 500 extra calories per meal

rascal1979 · 19/04/2008 12:32

Breast feeding support groups before andafter LO arrives

charliegal · 19/04/2008 12:45

i would recommend la leche league meetings when pregnant-there's nothing the leaders dont know about breastfeeding.
I also found nct helpline useful, but not my midwife or doctor.

policywonk · 19/04/2008 12:49

Community midwives and hospital midwives (esp. the hospital midwife on the labour ward who spoke to me on the phone when I was desperately upset about engorgement/latching difficulties with DS2).

A lot of people on MN have had horrendous experiences with midwives and BFing, but my experiences were wholly positive (I was in Brighton though, and sometimes wonder whether its lentil-weavery profile, as a town, attracts a certain sort of midwife).

Philomytha · 19/04/2008 15:06

What helped me was the breastfeeding clinic at my local hospital, where they showed me exactly what was wrong with my latch and fixed the mastitis I had. I'd read obsessively about bfing before DS was born, and that helped a lot because I knew what to do and what to expect and what not to do, but for some things you really need an expert to watch you and show you what to do. The best advice I could give you now would be to carry on with what you're doing already: don't wait till the birth to learn about breastfeeding because you'll be much too busy then!

Flip