Reading this while breastfeeding my 12 week old. I had heard so many horror stories about breastfeeding before she was born. But it’s been (mostly) lovely for us, despite a rocky start.
She couldn’t latch at first and that was stressful. We were kept in hospital for a couple of days so getting great breastfeeding support but everyone was giving the official advice about latching. Then one nursery nurse came by and got me to squeeze the areola into a shape that would fit in my baby’s mouth and then shove it in. It was a gamecharger - my daughter was able to clamp on.
In the following days, some midwives etc told me off for doing this, but it worked for us. And we didn’t have to do it for long because she got bigger and figured out how to latch herself.
I had to use different holds for each boob for the first month because she found it harder to latch on to one compared to the other. So don’t stress if that happens to you.
Also I have small boobs and had no problems doing side feeding. It’s about how you angle your body.
Nipple cream and multimam compresses are vital. I halved the compresses and just fixed them under a nursing vest while I went about my day.
I bought nursing bras but rarely use them. Inside I use nursing vests, which I find much, much easier. I spent a lot of time at the start going around with my nipples out at home, letting them dry and air out. Having the vest on meant I could be decent in seconds of someone came by etc. And I find them easier for feeding in public - stomach is always covered.
Get some soft tops/PJs. I often just wore a baggy tshirt without a vest or bra while at home or to bed. But if they weren’t really, really soft it hurt my nipples.
You’ve never experienced thirst until you breastfeed. Get a sports bottle and have it with you at all times.
Stocking up on healthy snacks is a great idea. I was starving all the time. (I was down below my pre-pregnancy weight within a week of my baby being born. But I’ve put back on some weight now)
Deal with blocked ducts ASAP. Get in the shower and massage, use a small hot water bottle on them and use your baby to unblock.
I have the odd drink. And breastfeeding in public has been fine.
I do express. This isn’t so the dad can bond, it’s so I can get a couple more hours of sleep. I don’t think my husband would say giving a bottle was a bonding experience - he’s far more likely to point to walks with the sling, skin to skin and just playing.
Despite the problems latching, blocked ducts and sore nipples, breastfeeding has been a far more positive experience than I could ever have imagined. I wanted to nurse for the nutritional/immune system benefits for the baby. But for me, the closeness of feeding has been a brilliant experience too.
Good luck. Hope it goes well for you.