nervous about breastfeeding..

[ICantThinkOfAUsernameH]

sorry it's me again! really nervous about asking this but I really want to try breastfeeding when baby is born but so nervous and if I'm completely honest a bit weirded out about it. I know how awful that sounds.
With DS I bottle fed for genuine medical reasons so never attempted it, it may happen again this time but want to give it a go.

Just do what makes you feel comfortable.

Try to find a breast feeding support group or breastfeeding class you can attend before the birth to give you advice and tips. These are great in the early days as it gives you confidence to feed in public, but in a more comfortable environment.

My experience was that it hurt to start with, I think that's normal as your nipples harden up. Use the Lansinol cream in the purple tube after each feed to relieve and help heading. It's expensive but it works.

Breast feeding is hard work at times, but then so is bottle feeding with all the sterilising.

Good luck, hope it works out for you, but of not

Should be ...but if not your baby will be fine on formula, just try to enjoy the baby cuddles!

Helps healing not heading!!

For me, it felt very weird indeed at first. It's an astonishingly strong suck, plus I've never had my boobs out much before! But it really is only a relatively short period before it feels completely normal, you can't feel how strongly they are sucking (genuinely, you sometimes have to double check they are latched on!), and you learn quickly how to feed as discreetly as you personally feel necessary.

You might find you don't find it weird in the moments immediately after giving birth, which is such a strange process in itself anyway. Don't put any pressure on yourself, just go one step at a time and see how you feel.

It could also be helpful to read up about breastfeeding in advance so that you know what's normal and what's not, and how breasts actually produce milk. I found that knowing as much as I could about it helped me. There's a website called Kellymom (odd name, it's an American site I think) which had lots of useful info. There was a thread recently about good books to read as well but I can't find it now, if I can I'll post a link.

I was terrified of breastfeeding before having DD, all the forums I read suggested it would be difficult, painful etc. I didn't get to feed for 6 hours after a traumatic EMCS and I was very upset thinking it wouldn't be possible! DD latched well straight away, I had some concerns about how her latch didn't look like the pictures but within a few days we had it cracked. It never hurt, I never needed any lansinoh, and I had ample supply. Cluster feeding was tough but I was rewarded with a long sleep afterwards. I found breastfeeding much easier than other aspects of parenting (weaning was a bloody nightmare in this house!).

I'm not boasting here, just wanted you to know that it's not always difficult in the beginning. It may be and it's certainly worth knowing who to call upon in case of problems but it may all go smoothly from the start.

I really appreciate all of your replies thank you so much.

Breastfeeding felt like such a personal achievement to me after having such an artificially conceived baby with fertility treatment. I've never felt so womanly!

Lansinoh is amazing amazing stuff, slap it on constantly in abundance. Also, be prepared for it to hurt for a few days. It does sting and they are bloody good at sucking! Once your milk comes in its a LOT more comfortable. Portable, free and perfect for your baby...brilliant!

I gave birth 48hours ago so this is all very new to me. It was a forceps delivery and then I needed theatre to manually extract a retained placenta but got to breastfeed about 2hours after delivery. I too was a bit weirded out about the idea and very apprehensive about it. Baby latched almost straight off, and it's definitely a strange feeling but more natural than I expected. It doesn't hurt unless he's latched incorrectly but is a bit uncomfortable at times- he has a really strong suck. He had 2 good feeds but then stopped feeding, mainly due to the exhaustion of his delivery they think. Midwives got me to express a tiny bit and syringe fed him, he then went back to latching a few hours later. Obviously it is very early days, but so far I've found it easier than I thought it would be and much less weird. What I found interesting was that I don't do much, the boy does the work- he appears to be a natural at it, automatically re-latching himself if he hasn't got it right first time. I've only had to take him off myself once. I went to an nct class which helped with how to hold him and stuff which was really useful.

thank you ladies I appreciate hearing your personal experiences :).

I had superb advice from a student midwife whilst waiting to be discharged with DS, I'm not sure did have managed to be with out her help and advice.
The number one thing is happy baby and happy mum. That's it. It doesn't matter if you breast feed, bottle feed or mix.
With regards to the weirded out part, I can understand that but I found that once I had DS, my attitude totally changed. I'm pg with DC#2 and am hoping to BFP but have done formula in just in case.

that's very true,

sorry I didn't mean to send. I think I will plan for both just in case as I may end up poorly again etc but think the more knowledge I have the more ill try it afterwards if that makes sense? congratulations on DC2 :)

Thank you. All the best for your new baby. Really hoping you don't get poorly.

Totally with fifi Before DS1 the whole idea weirded me out too. I hate touching my nipples even! Really squeamish! For me it was a real struggle and after hand pumping from mainly one side for 7 weeks I gave myself my happiness back and went totally FF! Long story and sought all the help under the sun but just didn't work very well. Combination of baby issues and boob issues! Currently 31 wks with DS2 and steeling myself for the same issues and if it's better this time then it's a bonus but formula will be in the cupboard! Have to say majority of my friends/nct have all found it ok so chances are you'll be aye okay. Best of British! X

I was expecting it to be difficult too but after a bit of help from a breast feeding support worker at the hospital, it was a breeze. The hard bit was the fact that little babies need very frequent feeding and each feed can take a while. So you feel that there is a baby permanently latched on to you- that can be tough. But the actual mechanics of it are not that difficult once you've got the hang of it.

thank you ladies I'm glad I wrote this thread to see others experience - I've put so much pressure on myself for BF this time so I've relaxed a bit now and what will happen will happen :)
you've all really helped.

There's also the Le leche league (spelling? ) you can ring day or night for advice they are great. Also six weeks in it all got easier by far no more soreness then it was a breeze. Think I used too much lansinoh for weeks and never let my nipples have a chance to toughen up.
Also I found that differ positions have a slightly different latch so if you do get sore lie down for the next feed etc.

Good luck