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Infant feeding

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

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:
Elfytigga · 01/12/2009 08:30

Bear in mind before reading this that bf'ing is freaking fantastic and a wonderful experience but with all things there can be times when you want to give up and this really helped me:

Chocolates - or whatever your vice is.

A remote that's close by.

A flask of tea/coffee whatever you prefer (mine was hot choc) at a temp that won't hurt your lo.

A film you can bear to watch more than once in one day on your dvd or a selection on a lap top if you have one.

A handy supply of books - make dp go to the library for you

At 20:00 move everything upstairs and try co-sleeping if you can or just lying down if you can't.

When upstairs have the intercom/baby thingy on - if you have one - so you can alert dp when you need something.

Bendy straws so you can drink whilst on your side.

An upstairs supply of chocolates - or whatever your vice is.

Have the remote for your tv in the bedroom (if you have) one handy.

More books.

As for food for you, I found sandwiches/salad or anything not too warm could be eaten. You know you're at 6 weeks when you have to switch sides with your baby to remove the crumbs from their ear - didn't do that honest

FORGET:

Housework
Looking after your dp - they are a grown up and can fend for themselves for a while
Ironing
Shopping - dp can make lists and shop!
Trying to host people to come to visit you - they know how to make a cup of tea and can make you something/wash up/hoover etc. in return for gazing at your lo. This works esp well if they are family

You have 2 jobs whilst this is going on, feeding your child and not going crazy. Everything else can wait.

Hunker down and know that this too shall pass.

God, I wish I'd known about this before I started bf'ing - it wouldn't have been quite as much of a shock!

Even with going through that at 6 weeks I'd do it all over again.

ThePatentedTiggaMethodForGettingThroughTheFirst6/7WeeksOrWheneverYou'reKnackeredTiggax

mama2moo · 01/12/2009 08:51

Wow, thanks everyone. Great tips that I would never have thought of. I cant wait for dc2 to be here now

OP posts:
gingerbreadlatte · 01/12/2009 09:29

this thread is excellent and full of great advice. I particularly like the last long one

I wont echo all the other posts but just want to say do take this stuff in and believe it. Re-read it when friends who are FF their little ones say they are feeding every 4hrs and sleeping through the night (that nearly unhinged me!) and stick at it.

Its amazing and worth all the efforts. If my DH and I had known the stuff on this thread we might have been a whole lot more chilled about it all.

Good luck

missmama · 01/12/2009 09:48

Feed the baby when it cries -don't feed by the clock. Sometimes I would just automatically start to feed the baby and think Oh he smell should have done the nappy first
All that time you are not washing bottles making up bottles sterilising bottles you can be sat on the sofa.
Go LaLaLa when anybody tells you you dont have enough milk - you do!
Nobodies babies sleep through the night - they are lying - and you dont even have to get out of bed.

comewhinewithme · 01/12/2009 09:50

Best advice I saw on here was to hold your boob like you were offering a hamburger to the baby .
Helped me latch dd on really well from the minute she arrived.

Also always have a drink nearby.

comewhinewithme · 01/12/2009 09:54

Also remember that baby will cluster feed probably in the evenings I hated it but now she is 7 months I miss it .

sockmonkey · 01/12/2009 10:07

I think the 10 second toe-curl for the first couple of weeks should be noted. It can still happen even if your latch is fine, but your boobs will not quite be used to so much...use.

Have a drink, snack, phone and remote to hand when you feed.

Don't be afraid to express a bit of milk off if your boobs get too full for baby to latch on.

PercyPigPie · 01/12/2009 10:12

My top tip is find something enjoyable to do whilst you are feeding so that you relax and let down (TV or good book).

chocolaterabbit · 01/12/2009 10:13

Have a list of all the main helpline numbers, baby cafe's and baby buses including any additional help given by your hospital. Phone or visit someone at the first sign ofthings not being quite right - don't wait and see if it gets better, it probably will but better to check and they will be happy to see you.

gingerbreadlatte · 01/12/2009 15:07

something I read on MN somewhere. Pack a small bag of your breastfeeding kit and so you can easily move your BF location in one trip. I had a small rucksack with muslins, tissues, painkillers, lanosinoh, chocolate, mobile phone, paperback.

loopyloo82 · 01/12/2009 15:33

Feed whenever your baby cries, even if they did only feed half an hour ago. I have friends whose babies weren't putting on weight but they were feeding to set times and would assume their baby didn't need feeding. I fed as often as needed and had no supply issues.

Enjoy having time to relax and don't worry about what needs doing - I realise this may be more difficult with an older child about, but could you use that time to read books, play with dc1?

mama2moo · 02/12/2009 10:06

Im going to print this off ready for when I have dc2!! Thanks to you all

Great idea about having a bag with the essentials in. I dont want to feed in front of visitors so that will be handy.

Is there anyway you can prepare for it? Have just seen poor Mosschop's thread and wondered if you can toughen your nipples up before. Or, am I just hoping?!

OP posts:
StealthPolarBear · 02/12/2009 10:34

don't toughen your nipples - if it hurts get help with latch

go to an NCT bumps & babies group before your baby's born and ask someone with an older baby to show latching on

don't time how often your baby feeds and definitely don't write it down. If he/she is awake and even slightly grumpy and nothing else seems wrong, feed! even if it's 20 minsz since last feed

try to MN while feeding

if it's going well and you just need some encouragement to continue read the politics of breastfeeding (if you haven't already)

If you want to drink, drink, as long as you can cope with the night waking/early mornings

StealthPolarBear · 02/12/2009 10:35

don't put your life on hold for bf

Kathyis12feethighandbites · 02/12/2009 10:37

My tip is: remember it gets easier the more you do it - IME the pay-offs with breastfeeding come later, so it's worth perservering if it's hard at first.
Honestly, you will be breastfeeding at football matches and on swings in no time!

Oh, and eat chocolate - it makes your milk taste nice .

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