Determined to BF this time ,need help and support .

[Fiveplusbump]

I am only three months PG but I have 5 other lo's and have failed miserably at all BF attempts ,the longest I went was two weeks with my last dd.

I have had help from a bf advisor before but lack a lot of support from family who seem to be embarrased and squeamish about bfing .

I am feeling very positive about feeding this baby and am going to give it my all I would just like some ideas of how to get through the negativity from family ,I am also very self aware and stopped feeding dd3 after a friend who had been on a three day bf course saw me feed and told me I was doing it all wrong .

I get cracked nipples or the baby feeds a lot he tends to suggest a bottle so I would also like to knw of there is any wonder cream I could buy in advance so I have it in the house ,I have also told him that no bottles or sterilisers are coming through the door .

I know its a long way but I want to stay in this positive frame of mind and I feel like its my last chance to bf as this is definatley our last LO .

TIA.

Lansinoh is excellent for sore nipples, and its safe for your baby so you don't have to wipe it off.

I would say the best thing to do is to know what might happen - If you know its normal, for example, for a baby to feed very often, and sometimes for long periods, you can warn your family and have a plan in action to deal with it (can DH/older children help?)

Please don't listen to criticism. That friend should have, much more subtley, given you some tips to help rather than just criticising.

When you're further along, find your local breastfeeding support group if there is one, and go along when you're 7-8 months pregnant so you know the supporters/counsellors there. Even if it all goes great its nice to go somewhere each week where you know you will only get good comments about your BF (I should be at mine now even though DS is 9mo and we never really had problems - its a lovely place to socialise and I like to try to support new mums! (DS is still napping though, twice as long as normal!))

Anyway, good luck. I'm sure there'll be lots more advice coming shortly!

Thankyou I am just so worried about failing again it worries me more than thinking about the birth or coping with 6 dc .

Dp is a great help and the older 3 are old enough to help out .

I will look into the group I am sure there is one at the childrens centre near me.

Aw, fiveplusbump....you sound as if you could do with lots of lovely mumsnet support ;)

It's fantastic you still have that spark of determination despite the previous 5 experiences and the negativity from your family and partner.

In fact, a good place to start is there - find out about bf, and share it with your partner, explaining why bf is important to you. The research shows that partner support can be crucial in happy breastfeeding so getting him on your side will help if any of your squeamish family start commenting!

The soreness at first can often be avoided or alleviated with careful attention to positioning, and there are new techniques such as biological nurturing positions (check the term here in the mumsnet archives or else google it). Resist anyone ramming your baby on - and tell friends who have done a 3 day course and who think that gives them the knowledge and right to sabotage someone's confidence to sling their hook

Yes, there are creams, too, but first things first - work on confidence and knowledge, and your partner

Yes definitely agree with getting your dp on board first - and getting him to deal with the criticism.

Have a look on this blog for lots of useful information and get your dp to read it too!

Lots of luck with your pg, and keep positive

Yes definitely agree with getting your dp on board first - and getting him to deal with the criticism.

Have a look on this blog for lots of useful information and get your dp to read it too!

Lots of luck with your pg, and keep positive

Thankyou I will take a look at the blog .
DP is supportive I just think he would find FF as the easy option especially as life is so hectic ...but I do have more of a chance of sucseeding this time because I have found MN and I know how wonderful the BF advice is on here and my last dd will be in full time nursery by the time the baby is here so I have more time to just concentrate on the bf iyswim?

The magic cream i used was called Camilosan (or something like that) its in a yellow box and can be bought at boots and chemists.

the first 2-3weeks are the hardest, you and baby getting into a routine with feeds etc, you knowing how to get your hold right for him/her to get the right latch etc... I had a rough first couple of weeks with DC1 and had cracked nipples for the first 2 weeks, as soon as i started using said cream after each feed it was much better, and within a week we were both happy!! I managed to go on to feed him for 12mths, and also DD for 12mths too!!

I'm currently pg with DC3, nearly 4mths pg, and definatley will be breastfeeding again. I've had my fair share of bad bits with BF i'll admit that, with DS we passed thrush betwen his mouth and my nipples for about 8weeks, but we struggled through it without need for bottles.

Both never had formula, I couldn't use pumps as my nipple slightly inverts at the bottom so could never get good enough suction off a pump, i managed to hand express enough for me to work 1 day a week with DS, and the odd evening out with DH.

I have to say that breastfeeding both my DC's was such an achievment for me, and i'm hoping DC3 will follow in the same pattern!!

Congratulations on your pregnancy, hope its a happy and healthy one, and hope the breastfeeding is everything you want from it!!

Sorry that link I put in doesn't work.

Try here!

oh also, with DS, my Dh was a bit funny about BF- he thought he'd miss out on bonding, miss out on feeding, it would be harder to cope with etc...

the way i see it a bottle fed baby will normally take what? 30mins to have a bottle and be winded? My DC's both fed for 5-10mins (once a feeding routine was happily established, and i have a quick letdown) so say 15-20 for average mother and baby... and my 2 never really needed winding after about 2weeks old... I never had to spend time washing, sterilising, making and warming bottle of formula.... so to me (with no experience of FF) breastfeeding just seems so much easier, cheaper and convenient!!

duh- forgot to finish what i was saying about my DH thinking FF was the easiest option for us..... Instead of feeding he did cuccles after feeding in the daytime so i could get up and get a brew etc... in an evening he'd bath baby before bedtime feeds... in the night he slept through and we normally ended up co-sleeping i'd wake up as baby woke for a feed, latched them on, and we'd both fall asleep till the next feed- was really easy for us... I admit sometimes i wished he could have done night feeds... but i just know i'd have had to wake him up to do it anyway- so i'd have been awake too- no point in that!!