Please give me your best tips on successful breastfeeding (due in 10 weeks)

[MamaG]

I successfully BF my DD 9 years ago()

I then tried to bf DS 4 years ago but had to give it up at 6 weeks as he failed to thrive - HV basically bullied me into mixed feeding which ended up with him being exclusively ff within a week (and he still didn't thrive, but thats another story!)

I'm now 30 weeks pg with DC3 and really looking forward to BF again - DH thinks I'm heading for a big disappointment if it doesn't work out again and I do agree with him. I'll be bitterly disappointed if it doesn't work out this time.

So, just pretend that this is my first baby - what are your top bf tips, please?

Don't listen to HVs!

Get as much skin to skin time as you can as soon as possible, and if you can, try to feed straight away.

I have to admit that little Ff has been a dream to feed, and apart from the toe-curlingly painful latching on of the first few days, we are coming up to our 7th month of exclusive breastfeeding. (Albeit including some solids now) I love it!

Feed whenever the baby wants to, and rather than worry about all the time you seem to be spending sat down 'just' feeding, remmeber that this is your most important job for the next few months, and relish the precious feeding time. The first month of little Ff's life was like one long cuddle.

It's perfectly normal to think that you don't have enough milk, especially in the evening. Chances are that you have plenty and the best way to make more is to feed more, so be prepared for some marathon sessions and remember that it will settle down eventually.

1. Remember there is a six week breakthrough point when it suddenly gets loads easier (lots of friends second this aswell). Keep going it gets easier.
2. Introduce bottle for expressed milk after first month or so unless you are planning extended feeding as it can be very difficult to wean to bottle if its left too long, my ds2 took three weeks to accept bottle after 10 months of purely breastfeeding milk(even though he was drinking water from a cup and eating food fine, milk HAD to be from me, little tike )
3. Enjoy it and have the odd glass of wine to relax, nothing like it, some of my happiest moments, ds2 breast feeding, glass of wine, eastenders....pure bliss

Get some DVDs in. Expect hours on the sofa.

When the baby opens it's mouth attempt to bung your whole boob in! Not just the nip!

Lansinoh and chocolate hobnobs.

Be open minded. Be informed. Be prepared for tough times (but also know that not everyone struggles!). Practise getting your head round the idea that your job is to feed your baby and everything else is someone else's responsiblity

The first few days especially, just feed, feed, feed. If in doubt, feed. It will help you avoid engorgement and get your supply rolling. Get to know different positions (rugby ball is often easier for people to start with, it seems) - get a V-pillow and make sure you have comfy seating.

I agree with whoever said set yourself goals - if you can crack the first fortnight you're probably well underway. Also, in the early days, count to 8 when the baby first latches (the pain always seemed to last for 8 seconds!) and take each feed at a time if it's sore.

Good luck! I miss the feeding frenzies of the early days so much now. These days I'm treated like a snack bar

Already been said, but it's a lovely snuggly thing....that is all you will do for the first few weeks...

Know where to get help from - if you have locally run groups, try and go there whilst still pg.

DH needs to been totally supportive as well. Not just 'oh yeah, its really good' but he will need to take care of stuff around the house and with your other DCs, and also bat off any negativity or comments from family that don't understand Bfing.

I stocked up on fennel tea and fenugreek tablets before hand as well.

And use MNet when you're having doubts in the middle of the night. It's really good to know that there are other mums (as well as those in RL) that can help you through the difficult bits.

All of the above is great especially the 'it gets better after 6 weeks'! One thing which I think gave me a good start with DD2 (who I fed for a year having lasted 3 weeks with DD1) was a bf consellor gave me advice on the immediate postbirth minutes. I realise you cant order up an easy birth but if all goes well and it is feasible this is what she told me - I did it and it worked (and I was pretty sceptical beforehand)

1. Warn dh before birth that the baby will be with you until s/he feeds
2. after birth, put baby on your bare chest wrap with a towel etc and wait. In this time the baby is calming down after the birth.Dont let anyone take the baby off you at this point (obviously if no medical probs - I made them wait to weigh her, gave her vit K injection while she was on me etc)
3. Within an hour (for us 15 minutes) baby should start lip smacking and lifting and banging head against chest looking for boob. 4)Latch baby on at this point for first feed. Her argument was baby being passed around and weighed and handled by many well meaning people straight after birth doesnt allow them to calm down and get ready to feed

Other advice whihc has helped me and others was later on (ie in the following weeks) if your boob goes red and gets sore it is very likely early mastitis. Get in very hot bath and express the hell out of it. This may knock it on head before you get to antibiotics and shaking stage.

Good luck!

3. Within the first hour

I second most of that advice.

Know where your BF groups are and go visit them now (or when you start maternity leave). I go to mine every week even though DS is 7 months - its great to socialise and I think it helps some of the mums to see a "success story" (but not one without problems) and we'd love to see more pregnant women coming.

Prime DH to expect you not to do anything but feed. Obviously you'll have to spend time looking after your other two, but make sure your eldest DD knows that you will be very busy but it won't last forever. I bet you can do some fun things with you on the sofa feeding your new LO

Feeding stations are a great idea - stock up on books/DVDs and if necessary, more than one BF cushion for these - you don't want to have to chase around the house for them!

Enjoy the time feeding if you can. DS cluster fed for weeks (for hours at a time) and although I don't precisely miss that, I do miss the times we used to spend cuddled up on the sofa feeding for a couple of hours (just not 6 that we used to get sometimes) That snuggle time is really precious!

Good Luck!

THanks very much for all this advice. Apparently there's a great local bf support group that I plan to go to before I give birth - we are very rural where I live, but there is a bf counsellor who lives 25 miles away but who WILL be on hand 24/7 should she be needed (so I'm told).

sorry if TMI but reading all this, I can almost feel my norks hardening

How much support have you got? The more frozen meals you have in the freezer the better! And if you can organise for someone else to take care of the cleaning and washing for a while, that would help too.

DC suddenly wanting to feed non-stop is most likely a growth spurt and does NOT mean your milk has vanished (at 6 weeks I was either feeding or changing DD for 24 hours solid - then my supply caught up and we were back to every few hours).

Get DD in training now to bring you drinks and snacks of choice on demand

Drink to thirst and eat to hunger. BF is hard work!

Have you got a sling? If you can get sorted BF in a sling you'll be much more able to do things with your older DC. In theory you can feed in wraps, ring slings, pouches and mei tais, but it often comes down to what you and DC are comfortable with.

Fingers crossed for you

I'd say feed as soon as possible after birth and as much as possible thereafter, if you think you're feeding too often then you prob have it about right. And in that vein, make sure you have some support with your other DCs and with the housework etc. Successful b-feeding is time consuming (unless you feed your baby in a sling).

Have lots of skin to skin esp in the early days and don't clock watch -routines and breastfeeding are not generally happy bedfellows.

Avoid "micro analysing" the feeding as Tiktok would say (ie latch/timing/which boob etc).

And post here or look at kellymom.com if you need advice/support.

another eat cake vote.

havent read others posts so sorry if i repeat. my advice would be:

Dont put too much pressure on yourself
rest as much as possible (the washing will wait)
loads of skin to skin
buy some lovely BFing tops from H&M

second the bf counsellor, or lactation expert - i had one of those visit me in hospital after DS was having trouble and she got him going - but we had to lie down to feed, so if you have trouble feeding sitting up with your new baby, feed lying down, tum to tum, baby's back slightly arched. Great excuse for lying down much of the day - with biscuits or cake of course! Or G&B chocolate in my case...

Also, if you do have trouble with the latch or agonising pain etc., check for a tongue tie (get bf'ing counsellor to do this as all the MWs who checked my DS missed the tongue tie but the lactation specialist found it by running her finger under his tongue - only a partial but by God it made a difference having it snipped!

Get a good nipple cream defo; i got a special one made up from beeswax, camomile and calendula by a greatherbalist I know - works brilliantly (also on nappy rash and chapped lips).

Most of all - stay with it! It does get easier, sometimes it gets harder again but it always gets easier after.

Good luck!

Go to a support group antenatally.
Once baby is around try and get other people to all the jobs and school runs etc for a while.
Don't worry about routines and spacing your baby's feeds. Just feed,feed,feed to get off to a good start.
If it is uncomfortable/getting difficult get help and support (and ignore HVs who are unhelpful discouraging~~)

Thanks all. I'm feeling a little bit wobbly about the amount of practical support I'll get TBH. DH is very pro-BF and will do house stuff but he works full time and won't be able to have a great deal of time off after the birth. My family all live at least 1.5hours drive away, so its not easy for them to pop round to do some washing etc. Friends either work FT/live too far away or have small children themselves.

i have a great neighbour who will, I'm sure, take the DC to school for me if necessary (but we live opposite, so its not really a huge hardship).

I do have a problem with leaving washing/vaccuuming/tidying etc. I start to feel really antsy if I can see mess and I know when I had DS, I would frantically rush around doing housework whenever he slept, instead of resting! I will have to wrok on that, I think.

DD is great, she's very kind and helpful but I don't want to sit ordering her about like a little slave!

We have a chest freezer(small one) but it always seems to be nearly full! don't know where I'd put a load of pre-prepared meals. Think I'll stock up on pasta/savoury rice type things that you can microwave quickly.

I'm waffling again aren't I, sorry

mamaG - can you organise a cleaner every week for the first 10 weeks or so?

that's what I'm hoping to do.

Thats a good idea - but I don't know if we'd find anybody, we are v rural where I am.

My Mum has said she'll come up as often as necessary, maybe instead of me feeling guilty about dragging her up, I should gratefully bite her hand off

she was fab when other two were born, a real Godsend, but she lived much closer then and could pop aorund for a couple of hours

Can I just add...
my friend had a blackboard in the kitchen, when she thought of things that needed doing she wrote them on the board. (she didn't do them)

when anyone visited and asked if they could help she referred them to the board and said, if there is anything on there you can help with that would be great.

so sometimes there was some washign done, some letters posted, a bit of hoovering etc but without her specifying what people should do.

Hoep that helps

Oh that is a good idea, I'll do that!

MamaG - my niece was nearly 6 when her Dsis was born, and she did a lot to help (good thing cos her feckless dad (my brother) didn't). She loved the responsibility rather than feeling she was running around.

I'd get your DD to do some of the baby stuff for you if you're happy to let her. My niece loved to do the nappies (and still does with my DS now she is 11) - and BF poo isn't stinky at all (IMO, but from someone who is now suffering weaning poo!) so there's not that issue. Also, maybe she can dress your new LO, or give it a cuddle while you're doing your running around. (If you really can't bear to leave stuff) I guess it depends on your DD, but I would think that when you're not feeding, if she's doing baby stuff rather than helping you with housework, she's going to feel included rather than put out.

Just a thought

Yes, that is a good point - DD will be more inclined to feel included if she's doign baby stuff rather than housework!

Bite your mum's hand off (although my MIL offered that and I just found I felt guilty if she was doing and I was lying on the sofa)

Try and remember that weight charts are a useful guide, but no child is average. If there's plenty coming out the other end then there must be enough going in the top... Don't feel pressured to weigh frequently and be aware that BF babies can grow in fits and starts rather than nice smooth curves.

I like the blackboard idea. Will have to remember that in case I have another