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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Come and give me your best breast feeding tips...

40 replies

mama2moo · 30/11/2009 19:28

I want to breast feed dc2. I didnt with dd as at the time I felt it wasnt right for me.

I would love to hear some of your tips and advice.

Do you wind a bf as much as you do a ff baby? How do you know baby is latched on properly?

I know I will get help but when dd was born the midwives were very busy and seemed more then happy to bring formula. Thanks.

OP posts:
Snowtiger · 30/11/2009 19:34

I'm sure you'll get a thousand different tips mama2moo but mine are:

  • ask midwife to help you get DC2 latched on the second he / she is born; the sooner you start the easier it is from what I've heard. I was lucky with DS1 and had a good midwife who grabbed a handful of my boob, shoved it in DS's mouth and he just got straight on with it!
  • make sure as much of your boob is in their mouth as possible
  • aim your nipple up and to the top far corner of their mouth (so if you're BFing on your left boob, you aim your nipple towards 10o'clock if their mouth was a clock face, on your right boob to 2 o'clock, if that makes sense)
  • my experience was that you know they're latched on properly if it doesn't hurt.
  • get comfy first before you put them on the breast as once they're on, moving around can upset them / stop them feeding
  • if they start to fall asleep on the breast tickle their cheek / feet with your finger to keep them awake so they drain the breast completely

Can't think of anything else other than to relax (trite, I know) as this will help more than anything - and enjoy it. I loved BFing DS1 and am looking forward to doing it with DS2 when he arrives in April.

WobblyPig · 30/11/2009 19:37

Lasinoh for the first few weeks.

Make sure midwives don't run away with your baby and give them formula unless it is really necessary

Ensure you have as much help and support for the first 2-6 weeks with your home ; other children so you can just sit on the sofa with the remote and breastfeed as much as possible without feeling guilty ; over-stretched; committed elsewhere.

Don't top-up if you can avoid it.

Don't try to diet.

Co-sleep.

Good luck

sweetnitanitro · 30/11/2009 19:37

Make sure baby opens his/her mouth nice and wide, it's easier to latch them on properly then.

Make sure you have a drink of water next to you for when the thirst kicks in!

My friend's HV told her that BF mums should eat chocolate every day Do make sure that you get a decent diet and drink plenty of water as BF can be tiring.

Montifer · 30/11/2009 19:47

My top tip would be seek advice from a breastfeeding counsellor who might be available at hospital (perhaps you check what services they have beforehand) or in the community when you are home.

IME they are the best people to check latch, which it's important to get right from the beginning.
Is there a Baby Cafe or breastfeeding group nearby where you can get support from experts too?

I found Kellymom a fantastic source of information and also the Jack Newman video clips e.g. one as I found still pictures more difficult to follow instructions from.

Otherwise, a well fitting nursing bra and a vest under your top so you can lift up top and pull down vest for feeding to avoid draughts and exposure of post baby flab

Also to remember it can be really tough in the beginning but it's great when it settles into a pattern, I can honestly say that bf DS has been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done (and we really struggled at the beginning)

Good luck

Montifer · 30/11/2009 19:49

Oh and remember to have a large glass of water within reach before you start.
I was overcome by an overwhelming thirst the minute DS latched on in the early days, apparently it's a hormonal response.

GhoulsAreLoud · 30/11/2009 19:50

Learn to feed lying down.

I slept through all our night feeds, it saved my sanity.

(get a bedside cot for this if you're not keen on co-sleeping)

StarExpat · 30/11/2009 19:54

SILVERETTES mini cups. They saved me and allowed me to carry on bf when I was in a lot of pain. Better than lansinoh, better than rubbing breastmilk on them... they helped faster and better than anything else and made the pain disappear, slipped really easily right inside of my bra (they are very small) and with breast pad over them, no one can tell you're wearing them.

bf counselor on call.

It's such a lovely experience. Do enjoy it!!

BustyMcGee · 30/11/2009 19:58

If you have time, read the womanly art of breastfeeding. It really helped me before, during and after, and is great to turn to if you have a problem in the middle of the night

StarExpat · 30/11/2009 19:59

oh yes and feed lying down. I didn't learn this until after the pain went away, when I found out about silverettes after a few months. it was so life changing being able to feed lying down!

frazzledoldbag · 30/11/2009 20:00

Silverettes. Wish I'd had them for baby 1 and 2. Saved my life (and nipples) with baby 3. Wear them all the time to start with then whenever you feel sore. Marvellous things.x

StarExpat · 30/11/2009 20:03

frazzled.
aren't they the BEST? I think bf counselors should carry them around with them to sell. I have a pair I'm selling and I really want someone to have them.

GhoulsAreLoud · 30/11/2009 20:06

StarExpat how much do you want for them?

Piccalilli2 · 30/11/2009 20:08

Definitely drink lots, you will not know thirst like it. Every time you sit down to breastfeed get someone to bring you a very big glass of water.

Keep going. I really hope it will be easy for you, but for me the first 5 weeks were horrible agony (undiagnosed thrush) - there were a lot of tears but I kept at it and dd2 was breastfed for well over a year (exclusively til 10 months).

Would second the tip about learning to feed lying down, that saved my sanity with a non-sleeping baby and was so lovely and snuggly.

StarExpat · 30/11/2009 20:18

I paid 32 pounds for them... so what's fair? like 15 pounds? I really just want them to go to someone who can use them and get relief that enables them to continue breastfeeding.

cyteen · 30/11/2009 20:20

Until things are established, don't be afraid to ask for as much help as you need, over and over again if necessary.

Daily cake and definitely yes to keeping a big glass of water on hand.

I hope all goes well and you enjoy it - like one of the other posters said, it's been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done

cyteen · 30/11/2009 20:22

Oh, and don't be phased by bouts of seemingly incessant feeding in the early days - it's normal, the baby is telling your body how much milk to make.

AppleAndBlackberry · 30/11/2009 20:22

My best tip is to trust your body. Your breasts were intended to produce milk for your baby and the vast majority of women are capable of it and have plenty of milk.

ZippysMum · 30/11/2009 21:34

Star!I'll buy your silverettes for £15 (if you're still selling!

I'll try anything! 10 1/2 weeks into ebf twins and I have thrush again. Sooooo painful. Do you think the silverettes would help?

cakewench · 30/11/2009 22:38

-feed lying down!! Thankfully I learned this straightaway, in the hospital, but I know so many women who didn't. It's very easy, and will allow you to rest, as well as free up your hands for holding a book or whatever.

  • feed on demand.
  • don't worry that you aren't producing enough milk to begin with. The baby's stomach is tiny. Yes, he'll want to feed constantly, especially at the start, but that doesn't mean you aren't producing enough milk. Check kellymom, or here, if you need to know why.
  • water in a bottle! Helps for when you're feeding lying down, and also just when you're on the couch and can't reach the table.
  • Lansinoh. I'd even suggest putting it on preventatively, from the beginning. You only need to use a tiny bit (I still have most of my tube, and I used it often.)
  • co-sleeping, I can't recommend it enough. I NEVER thought I'd do it, but I did. It was encouraged at the midwife centre I stayed in, and it saved my sanity at home.

Good luck!

Catz · 30/11/2009 22:48

a bit of a trivial tip compared to those above but I made loads of flapjack/energy bars beforehand and have done this time (39wks) with fruit etc in it. Grab one when you are feeding and it gives you loads of energy if you don't have the time/will to make proper food in the early weeks when you are wedded to the sofa. Also oats are supposedly good for building your supply (no idea whether that is actually true). Fruit/nuts make it feel as if you're doing something healthy too!

PrivetDancer · 30/11/2009 22:50

Definitely the thirst - I ended up with a sports bottle full of pop always primed in the place I fed DD - v useful in the night with only one hand free

also be prepared for loooonng feeds initially, especially in the evenings. Laugh off anybody who suggests it should only take 20 mins a go! Maybe after a few months that's all they'll need but initially it's a good hour minimum ime

I felt like a pain asking midwives for help in hospital, worried that they had more important things to do, but looking back glad I did. definitely be a pain and ask them to observe / check latch.

good luck

apsie · 30/11/2009 23:01

My main tip would be to be aware of the symptoms of thrush - here I had it and it would have finished off my breastfeeding after 4 weeks if I hadn't had a fab nurse at my GPs practice who spotted it and got me and DS sorted, successfully fed for 14 months after that!

StarExpat · 01/12/2009 08:10

zippy's mum - sure if you want them, where are you located? I don't have cat priviliges Maybe we can sort another way to get in touch. I'll have a think.
Are your nipples cracked/sore, is it painful to feed? It did help with thrush symptoms - but to totally get rid of the thrush, I took flucanazole (oral tablet) - that worked best and putting nystatin in baby's mouth (just in case and to prevent it re occurring). Sorry for the hijack

LoveBeingAMummy · 01/12/2009 08:18

Sorry ahven't read allt he replied so may be repeating.

Remeber its breast* feeding not nipple feeding

  • If it hurts then its wrong, take baby of and re latch. Even if you have to do it ten times. The pressure from the sucking doesn't hurt when correctly latched as the milk is coming through. If its wrong then lo is sucking on skin.

  • Remember that neither you or the baby have done this before and are learning together

  • Get comfy, you might be there a while

  • Eat well, you can't do what you need to do if you don't

  • Enjoy, its an amazing feeling.

CantSleepWontSleep · 01/12/2009 08:21

Feed as often as baby wants, and trust your body to produce what it needs.

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