What's the secret to success?? Want to do it this time!

[PotPourri]

Hi, I'm having my fourth any day now. I had very limited success with my last 3. Managed 3 weeks, 6 weeks, then 3 weeks with previous babies. Main problem was they didn't regain birth weight.

2 had reflux and I got thrush with the other - each time I kept getting told latch was fine.
I had tonnes of milk, literally running out, I could collect 2+oz in breastshell from the other side.

So why do I make it a success this time? Any inspiring stories of people managing to feed after failing several times??

I suggest that you attend a couple of La Leche League meetings. You would learn how to avoid common breastfeeding problems.

I have a friend who is a la leche league leader who bottlefeed her first five children and only managed to breastfeed her last three children.

Have emailed the nearest group (although it is really far away from me to be honest) - but I will also ask the midwife if there are any support groups locally that I can join too.

TBH, did do that with each of the other times, so I know alot about the theory etc. Even got some help from my friend who is a bf counsellor last time, just haven't managed in practice!!

Hi PP, you should take a look at another thread here on mumsnet; Grr HV has started already - how do I avoid being told to mix feed?
This mother was having trouble from her health visitor about her baby regaining weight whilst breastfrrding, and there are a lot of replies, which she seemed to find useful.

Get a Lactation Consultant to come and see you!

PP - do you have bigger babies? I only managed 4 weeks with DS1, after managing 3 months with DD, as he lost over 10% of his birthweight and moved to formula. Am now feeding DS2 at 12 weeks and it's going swimmingly.
The difference - I topped up DS2 with formula from a cup, on the advice of the hospital, until my milk came in and I could take over. The colostrum he had was good from an antibody perspective but barely touched the sides from an appetite perspective - he weighed in at 9lbs 8oz.
Milk came in around day 6 so maybe delayed due to less sucking, although I always gave the breast for a few mins before the formula cup, but once it did we were away.
He is now EBF and he only lost 3.2% of his weight, which kept the well meaning HV's at bay and stopped me worrying.

Good luck!

Read 'The Food of Love by Kate Evans. I'm sure your library will order it for you if you don't want to buy a book. I was lent it by a friend and it became a total crutch - very up to date but also humourous. It's cartoon based so easy to read when you've no time or brain in the early days and just need a reference fast. It's well researched and knowledgeable about all the breastfeeding probs and the best ways to tackle them, whether well known or not. I've had thrush-mastitis-thrush-mastitis with both DC's but managed to get through it. I really hope you do too. Good luck! And good luck with owning four DC's !

Evening PP
Here is my story (posted last month) Hope it gives you some hope.

OLD THREAD: I just had to post (long, sorry). I have finally bf a child for 26 weeks after 2 terrible bf experiences. I almost want to do a celebration dance it means so much to me.

I can't believe I have done it and feel so proud and so happy.

DS1 was a mare (took 5 days to get him to latch from birth, thrush twice and slow weight gain) and I ended up mixed feeding to 4months and fully ff from 19 weeks.

DD was a beauty on the latch but had tongue tie and tore my nipples to shreds. I used nipple shields which affected my supply and I emotionally was all over the place adjusting to 2 DC's. Bf for about 6 weeks and mixed fed to 3 1/2 months and went to 100% ff from there.

I was gutted and hated I couldn't do feed my children the way nature intended.

DS2 was born in July and I have never over come so many issues to bf him too. Tongue tie again, mastitis 4 times, thrush twice and a cluster feeder for 12 weeks.

I decided this time round to get non stop support, bought every remedy out there to combat bf problems and decided to take bf one feed at a time. No goals set this time either.

And here I am, 26 weeks later, bf my child. I can't believe I did it. I haven't even thought about when I plan to stop. I am still taking it one feed at a time.

I just wanted to share my experience especially to those who have struggled with bf in the past and plan to attempt again.

Now, I just need to get DS2 to sleep through and I will feel even better. Lol.

Thanks everyone. This is really encouraging. I am going to see how much help I can get.

misspaela Can you tell me what you mean by 'every remedy out there' - just so I can start planning where I might get them!

belgrano I will try that book that you mentioned.

Morning PP
This is how it went for me...

I had a lactation consultant come to my home on Day 3 to help me feed. DH also was also there to listen/see her re the latch. This meant he could remind me of my technique.

Remedies:
Mastitis (very prone to it) I take Lecithin 3 times a day and Acidophillus (sp?) tablets. Also ibuprofen if I even saw a hint of a red patch on the breast. I make sure to massage my boobs in the shower a few times a week too.

Thrush (again I tend to get on the boobs) Along w/the Acidophiilus I drink a probiotic every morning and live yoghurt whenever I can.

My children have all been tongue tied so even with a good latch I would get cracked nipples. I bought Silverettes (breastfeedingheaven.com) "just in case" for DC3 and basically have been using them non stop. It really soothes a sore/cracked nipple.

I got Lansinoh on prescription (so free!) to have handy and bought a double pump for fast effective expressing as I have 2 younger children (wanted to build a supply in the freezer for the odd bottle when things got tough or if I just wanted to get an early night).

And the best thing I did was go to a bf support group about twice a week for the first few weeks. It built my confidence, adjusted the latch and was just a general help.

Hope this helps.