Reading these threads has made me really worried: newbie seeks reassurance!

[minervaitalica]

Hello!

I am currently expecting my first baby, and naturally I thought I would breastfeed my newborn. That was until I found this topic, read a few threads, and I am now really worried that this breastfeeding is going to be much more difficult than I envisaged... Pain, misplaced prudishness, tiredness, lack of confidence, whatever...

Can anyone offer some advice to a newbie on how I can prepare myself and give it my best shot when it come to it (time is on my side as I am 17 wks)?

watch these videos
google "breastcrawl".
Write in your birth plan exactly what you want.

You'll be great! Congrats, btw...

Hi and congrats! I feel a bit of a fraud offering advice when I have only had one baby but I have become really passionate about women getting all the support they need to bfeed if they want to. I agree if you look at these boards you would think that bfeeding potentially going to be a nightmare but, as someone pointed out, people generally post on here if they have a problem not if everything is going hunkydory. So here is my advice fwiw.

Bfeeding is a new skill for you and your baby so give yourself time and space to get used to it.

Be prepared to be feeding a lot to begin with and ignore people who are at how often bfed babies feed - it is completely normal and the whole 4 hours between feeds seems to be based on mums' experiences of bottle feeding in the 50s/60s.

My nipples did hurt to begin with but it was just a bit wincey when he latched on and soon sorted itself out. Some people swear by lasinoh (spelling?) which your hv can prescribe.

It took me around 9 weeks to really start enjoying bfeeding but that doesn't mean that the first 9 weeks were hellish, just took me that long for it to feel like second nature.

Kellymom and Mumsnet were my saviours in the middle of the night when I decided I was doing everything wrong and I was a rubbish mum. But don't bother reading up on all the problems until you need to - and you probably won't ever need to. This is good as a starting point

I agree that knowing it might not be easy is the first step - we were told at our NCT group that its just like writing with your left hand (if you're right handed obviously)- something we're not used to but that isn't really difficult. I really disagree with that as it can be hard.

We got put next to the mother and baby unit at hospital as DS had a low apgar score at birth (5, but up to 9 at 10 minutes!) and that was wonderful as there were people on hand to help me, and they wouldn't let me go home until we'd been observed having 3 good feeds. That third feed was a wonderful moment. I'd say try not to let them send you home until you feel reasonably confident with your feeding, and if you do, get straight in touch with a bf counsellor or head straight off to your nearest support group. Initially just being around other breastfeeding mothers can be a real boost, as any problems are often met with a call for formula by "well meaning" relatives, and it can be hard to find other breastfeeding mothers to talk to (3 out of 10 of our postnatal group are fully breastfeeding and one of the three is trying to get her baby to take formula as she doesn't want to express)

I wish I'd read up before birth - I now understand how milk production works, and therefore why DS has sometimes fed for long periods, how to manage expressing and the odd bottle feed and other stuff. If nothing else it might take your mind off labour for a while (although you're probably not panicking about that yet!)

Oh dear, I'm becoming one of those mad lactivist types!

Breastfeeding isn't always difficult. In 5 years of breastfeeding three children, the only problem I ever had was one bout of mastitis with the 3rd, and a couple of blocked ducts. Establishing breastfeeding was utterly without problems for all three of them (they just seemed to know what to do). Of course they were not born early and were all healthy weights, which is a good start.

Try not to worry too much about this in advance. Inform yourself as much as possible about technique etc, make sure you have details of all the people (NCT, LLL counsellors etc) who can help you if you do have problems, make friends with a veteran breast-feeder, and you'll have plenty of backup if you need help at your most vulnerable just after the birth.

The empowerment you'll feel if you do establish Bf will take over and be far greater than any minor problems you might encounter.
I have fed both my boys and always knew I wanted to, and it has never been a problem - confidence helps a lot I think - not to diss anyone who has had problems of course but if you keep it in your mind that it's supposed to work, that can only help I think.
Of course there is the odd issue like a blocked duct or whatever but it is transient, like any other minor issue with babies...the overall thing of breastfeeding will more than make up for it.
I fed Ds1 to 16 months and Ds2 is 11 months and still feeding a lot. They both knew how to do it from day 1 and although it does hurt a little bit at first, that passes within a few days usually.
Your body is designed to do it. Don't fret!

And watch this

Worth a try if you do experience any difficulties!

Most of all don't let anyone pressure you to formula feed, especially in the first few days. That can really put a downer on the whole system iyswim, you need to give your body and your baby a chance.

Good luck!!

It isn't always difficult - I haven't had any peroblems (despite being told by oh-so-many people I would after c-sections & jaundiced babies). No pain, no supply issues, babies seemed to know what they were doing etc.

Breastfeeding is a secret cult. You can read about the cult, do research on the cult but you never know what the cult is going to ask of you. Along the way there may be people, perhaps in uniform or from the authorities or EVEN from your own family who will try to persuade you not to join the cult or to leave the cult should you be accepted into it. In order to enter the Cult you may have to endure many trials and it can take weeks to be accepted but once in you too can bathe in the nirvana of sleep that babyfeeding induces. Being prepared is best. BEWARE, do not look to magazines, they are at the mercy of the formula companies who pay their advertisement fees. You will learn nothing from them. Instead seek help from those who are already giving you clues. May luck be with you!!!!!

Poohbah, MBCB. WD.

(Member of the British Cult of breastfeeders, Wales Division)

I assumed this and was pleasantly surprised

Congratulations BTW andgood luck for the birth