Please can I have some successful breastfeeding tips?

[Whatsername17]

This is not a thread for a bun fight or any posts about 'breast being best'. I have a dd who is 5 and was ff after I was diagnosed with primary lactation failure. Looking back, she was my first baby, I was naive and just assumed I would be able to breastfeed so didn't prepare at all. When it all went wrong I moved her on to formula and tried mix feeding on GP'S instructions but ultimately ended up ff. I'm grateful that I had the option as dd thrived. But, I wanted to breastfeed and struggled emotionally after because I felt I'd failed. Looking back, it was a combination of hormones, peer pressure and certain medical professionals being unsupportive. This time, my boobs feel totally different to late time. I'm 31+1 and they are huge, veiny and they hurt at times. I'm hoping this means that I won't have lactation failure again. The midwife seemed to think it was a first time mum problem. Anyway, I'd really appreciate some tips from successful breastfeeders without any bashing of formula feeders. This is my last baby and I want to be able to feed the way I want. Thanks

Set yourself up an area to feed (or two, I had one upstairs and downstairs) that you are comfortable in. Mine had a snuggly blanket, lots of cushions, a bottle of water, some snacks and my phone charger. This meant I could be a comfortable as possible whilst trapped feeding.

Good luck!

I got together the numbers I needed prior to birth, we have a separate breastfeeding midwife at my doctors, so I made sure her number was in my phone, as well as LL support and NCT support. I also got the number for breast pump hire should it be needed as was high risk for premature birth. I stocked up on lanolin nipple cream in the black Friday sale, my husband would bring me snacks and food when I was feeding, box sets for cluster feeding. The kellymom website was also great for advice.

My tips would be:
-persevere. No matter how hard it is if you can make it through the first 3-4 weeks you've made it.

-be prepared for non-stop feeding and don't worry about anything else. So I you're feeding on and off for 5 hours straight, that's fine, that's normal and it won't last.

• don't stress about how much baby is getting, so long as there are wet nappies and dirty every day or two that's a good sign.

-multi MAM nipple compresses are amazing for healing sure nipples, stock up.

-give one bottle a day from the start. Formula or pump if you've the time/inclination. Nipple confusion is a myth in my opinion and I've known too many babies who refused bottles later on. Two out of 3 of mine had one bottle from day one and it was no problem

Best of luck!

If in doubt, get it out and tummy to mummy, nose to nipple to help with feeding lying down.

If it hurts get help. It's not supposed to hurt but quite a few things can go wrong that make it painful.

This worked for me but is controversial: co-sleep at feed lying down as soon as the baby can do it, it's a life saver for babies who feed a lot through the night (read up on safe co-sleeping practices).

And don't worry sometimes it just works out all by itself! I have every problem under the sun with DC1 and no problems at all with DC2.

There is a good book called 'the formula for love' or something similar, full of amusing cartoons and practical info and advice.

Nursing bras are not always great, a simple too big stretchy sports bra is good as you can slip the strap off your shoulder and tuck the cup out of the way beneath your boob. But if u do want a nursing bra h and m do some good soft microfiber ones.

Washable reusable breast pads are surprisingly good and uncomplicated to use. Tescos do them.

I just have two tips. Know where to find good support that you trust (for me, this is the MN infant feeding board, Kellymom, Analytical Armadillo (though she's quiet lately) and La Leche League, plus a couple of local places which won't be universal). You can have all the tips, books, diagrams in the world but you need to know who to ask when you aren't sure. That's the most valuable resource.

Second, learn as much as you can about how breastfeeding, milk production in particular, actually works.

www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com/twitter-and-blog/low-milk-supply-101
Lots of good advice here, I'd only add I wish I'd read a wee bit more about what to expect before hand. I didn't have any issues, but I've watched friends be told to top up by midwives very quickly without too much investigation as to why, and things tend to get more difficult from then on. That link and book looks good, and the LLL 'womanly art of breastfeeding ' is too. And definitely find out where you can get help before you need it!

Just wanted to add, I disagree with people saying it's not supposed to hurt. For all three of my babies it hurts like fuck for the first 20 seconds of each feed for about 2-3 weeks. Toe curling pain but it goes.

It's not supposed to hurt for the whole feed but I think it's misleading and can make you think something is wrong to say it doesn't hurt at all.

Fab advice here.

Agree with the hurting. It's sore when they first latch for the first few weeks. Try counting to 10, if it's still hurting at 10, take baby off and re latch. Lansinoh after each feed.

Your milk won't come in for a few days. That's normal, colostrum is all they need for first few days.

Yes, they can be hungry again.

Also, Google rugby hold - very useful for small babies and also if you end up needing a section.

I've had 2 sections, one emcs and one planned. Made no difference and ebf both children.

Completely agree babyblabber- I found week 1 first 20 seconds were toe curling, week 2 was first 10 seconds of a feed, week 3 first 5 seconds, week 4 - all fine!

Ask to have an appointment with the lactation specialist midwife - i believe most hospitals have one or check out your local children's centre as they may have a peer support system. I was worried about the fact my very heavy 36J breasts would cause problems! I actually decided with input from MW to harvest colostrum from about 35weeks which can then be frozen. It made me feel more in control and took the pressure off because i knew that I had something I could feed DD6months if it took me a while to get the hang of positioning her. It also helped my milk come in really quickly because they were primed to go if that makes any sense. It does definetly take a while to get the hang of it - both you and baby have to workout the best way to go about it! If you want to know any more about colostrum harvesting send me a DM.

I always remember the mantra my BF support told me "bottle or breast? Fed is best"

Thank you everyone. Really supportive advice here. I'm feeling much more confident.

Great advice on this thread. Hope you don't mind a long reply, but thought I would share my experience perhaps to illustrate some of the advice.
DS was born at term, by forceps. I had a 3L post partum haemorrhage, so was up against it as I was down on fluid and felt crap.

I took a while to stabilise me so I didn't get any proper skin to skin for about 2 hours after birth and first feed was at 3 hours. I don't remember much of the first night, but night 2 DS was latched and feeding or snoozing on the boob from 9pm -1 am. Every time I tried to put him down he screamed. Eventually the ward staff topped him up with formula but he still only slept 2 1/2 hours thenfed from me again from 4 -5 am. He then slept 6 hours and had to be woken to feed. This pattern of feeding almost all night continued for the first week. We topped up with formula for about 5 days. Every time he latched on I felt intense thirst. I probably drank 3L a day for the first few weeks. I tried hand expressing but never got much.
My milk came in day 5. All of a sudden my boobs had rocks it them and were hugely engorged. I have big breasts and at that time even the 34 k nursing bra felt too small. I was always terrified I would smother DS. That night I had shivers body aches and fever, which the midwives said was milk fever.
Feeding was really painful, my nipples were badly cracked and inflamed despite an apparently good latch. I regularly phoned breast feeding support lines and attended local breast feeding drop in clinics until about 6 weeks. I found lansinoh some help but angel cups were the best and I wore them for most of the first year. I think I probably had raynauds of the nipples.
I had mastitis 3 times at 10 days 3 weeks and 9 weeks. The third time they wanted to admit me to the breast unit for Iv antibiotics but I couldn't keep my son with me. The local NHS lactation consultant, although in a different hospital was an absolute gem, fighting my corner to keep us together. At this point I hated feeding but felt trapped in it by my body because the engorgement if I missed a feed was so uncomfortable.
I continued to be totally engorged if DS slept more than 4 hours or I missed a feed until almost 6 months, but it did gradually improve. As I lost weight the bras fitted better and feeding was easier. The engorgement eased. In the end I fed until 15 months. It was very very hard but I am now gearing up to do it all again with DC 2! I really don't mean to put you off - I think this is an extreme example. I hope that some of my tips and examples of just how much I used the supports available make it easier for people to do the same.

Feed lots. Lots and lots. I fed every time my dd made a sound! It gives you lots of time with them and that is great for bonding. Lansinoh is also a wonder. Also babywearing. It helped me no end.

Definitely echo the drink lots of water/fluids. be disciplined about this.
My 3rd was agony for the first 4 weeks. I knew I had the right latch because I'd breastfed before. So no idea why. I persevered because I had an 18 hour plane journey ahead and knew it would be essential to feed, otherwise i might have given up just because of the pain!
But then, magically she got bigger. I think it was just her mouth was quite small and she couldn't get the whole nipple in.
So not necessarily pain=wrong, although I do agree my other two didn't hurt after the first week or so.

I'm due my third soon and it's my only concern- feeding.

I fed my second til she was 22mths however I'm aware it's not "easy". It took hard determined stubbornness not run off crying at times! You are their everything and on call constantly no matter how supportive dad is. Once I got my head around this - and her complete inability to take a bottle in an emergency hospital admission for me- I became more accepting of this.

Feeding takes time. Life is slower. It's a skill to learn. You can't measure breast milk- you need confidence in your body and steel shoulders to take on everyone else opinions.

My advice is definitely get help if you need it! I did Nhs courses beforehand, mn and kelly websites were really helpful too. BUT i massively struggled on quietly (apart from uncontrollable sobbing at 4am excruciating feeds) for almost 10 weeks before finally getting (and paying) for help. This time round, if the pain doesn't stop after a few days I will be doing exactly the same thing!

I had health visitors helping by shuvving babies head onto breast when they thought his mouth was wide enough, had a dr wrongly diagnose thrush the pain was so bad (shooting from nipple to back of armpit) in the end I paid a private lactation consultant who came round and instantly sorted my latch and I was pain free happily ever after. Best £45 ever spent wouldn't hesitate again.......
I understand that there is free help nd advice available too so my advice would just be to get help asap if it doesn't feel right. Sorry for rambling x

I think you need to be prepared for how much time it takes. I loved that aspect, I spent weeks cuddling my baby. Every time DC fretted they were offered a feed. Sometimes before they fretted if it had been 3 hours since the last time. Basically, the first port of call always, was offering boob. I did get mastitis which bloody hurt, but again the answer was to feed as much as possible (and antibiotics obviously)

That's true actually. I remember we did a preparation for breastfeeding workshop with NCT, and as part of it they asked us to mark on a plan of 24 hours roughly when and how long we thought we'd spend feeding. Most people had massively underestimated how long BF takes and how often you need to do it in the beginning. I didn't really have any expectations at all because I had literally no idea so I think it didn't hit me quite as hard. I was very young and had hardly any experience of babies.