Breast feeding anxiety

[TwinkleStars15]

I have a real anxiety about not being able to breastfeed my baby, due in 8 weeks. It's always on my mind and I just feel really worried that I won't be able to do it for some reason. Is this normal? I'm going to try and get to a breastfeeding group once my maternity starts so I can talk my fears through with people...

My question for now is (and I'm probably definately overthinking this) but my boobs are not sore at all, never have been throughout the whole pregnancy. They have grown - but I have put on nearly 3 stone! Should they be sore at any point? Can breasts fail to make milk?

Sorry for the over anxious, first time mum, post!

Breasts can fail to produce milk but it's really rare. Do you have any signs of mammary hypoplasia? blog.medelabreastfeedingus.com/2014/04/signs-of-mammary-hypoplasia-what-to-do-if-youre-diagnosed/ If not there is probably no reason why you wouldn't produce plenty of milk

It would be very unusual for the breast to not make milk and them not being sore is not an indicator that this may happen to you. My advice would be to be as informed as you can be in preparation. Attend a group, or a class if you can. Kellymom.com is a good website for breastfeeding queries. I'm not going to lie, the beginning is really tough but with the right support you can do it. Think positively and don't let it stress you out at the end of your pregnancy.

Mine never grew, leaked, hurt, etc during pregnancy. I expressed colostrum on day 1 (baby was in scbu) with the help of a lovely midwife, milk came in on day 3 with just pumping (good considering I was just pumping and had emcs), and I'm still feeding him over 2 years later :) So don't let what your breasts are doing or not doing during pregnancy worry you. Definitely get to a breastfeeding class or support group before the birth for advice and chats.

I didn't think I'd be able to breastfeed - no leaking or soreness during pregnancy and I knew several people who had gone to bottle instead of breast for various reasons. I expected it wouldn't work, but DC latched within an hour of the EMCS and we soon got into the swing of things. We're still feeding about 4 times a day at 21 months. See how you do after the birth and make the most of the midwife support available

Twinkle I am going to go against the grain a bit here and say that it is wise to have a plan for both breastfeeding and formula feeding.

Breastfeeding is obviously your preference which is brilliant and getting some advice and support before the birth is a sensible idea - make sure you have local support ready or on the end of the phone for when baby arrives to assist with latch etc or help and advice if needed.

Breastfeeding support can be patchy depending on where you live but there is NCT, La Leche League and the National Breastfeeding Helpline available. Hopefully you will have a problem and pain free breastfeeding journey.

On the other hand, it won't be a bad idea to have an idea about formula feeding / sterilising bottles etc and some emergency formula around just in case you need it. Breastfeeding doesn't work out for everyone and the last thing you need is for you or DP to be charging around Boots trying to get everything you need when you have just left hospital, have a hungry baby and your hormones are all over the place. (Voice of experience here!) Hopefully you will only use the bottles for your expressed milk but it is good to have everything ready and there just in case.

There are also some very helpful groups on Facebook which may be good for peer support and BFing chat both before and after baby arrives...

I don't remember mine being sore first time around (and they're not this time, infact haven't even grown as much - booo!). Within first hour of my DS being born midwife helped put him to the breast. While in hospital I asked for constant help in getting him to latch. Just keep on asking - ask midwives, health visitor, your mum, grandma, friends who have/are breastfeeding and don't be shy about letting them see your boob - health visitor would grab my boob then grab DS's head and suction together!

However, I did hit a low at 6weeks and called my mum in tears asking if she could pick up bottles and milk for me, instead she came over, swapped the position of DS and we carried on breastfeeding until he was 15months.

It can definately be done but find your support and know that there's different positions to hold baby - i say this as was naive to this thought for some reason, 2 mins was all it took to help me. Good Luck x

My milk never came I'm despite being given drugs. Formula isn't poison.

Best advice I can give you is make sure you read up about breastfeeding beforehand so you are prepared for the potential pitfalls. The womanly art of breastfeeding is brilliant for the early days, a great source of info. I find it a bit preachy so take it with a pinch of salt but you can't fault it on knowledge.

Thank you - I don't know why I'm feeling so anxious about not being able to do it; I know that everyone has different views and opinions and mine has always been that I'd absolutely love to breastfeed for as long as possible and I know that I will be gutted if I can't. There's nothing to indicate that there will be any physical problem, it's just my mind playing games with me! I'm sure if my boobs were sore and painful I'd be wishing they weren't lol. I do plan on asking anyone and everyone for help if needed - I won't be shy about getting my boob out! (I wouldn't dream of it now but feeding your baby is something else) x

I worried about the same thing too! My breasts didn't grow, hurt, leak or do anything else to suggest there was any milk.

I breastfed my son for 16 months, I only stopped as I was 3 months pregnant with my daughter who I'm now also feeding.

I second having an understanding of what it entails to breastfeed. Essentially it's demand and supply, the baby will need to be fed a lot more frequently than you probably anticipate and there are no parallels with breastfeeding and formula feeding in terms of frequency so please try not to compare if your friends or family say anything about frequency etc (like mine did!!)

Try not to stress about it - what can interfere with milk production is being stressed / anxious (once baby arrives anyway!).

As others have mentioned the midwives will give you help at first, and thereafter finding local groups will also help. There are also FB groups and La Leche league.

My breasts really did hurt at first in my first pregnancy as they grew pretty rapidly but it was a first-trimester only thing for me, not a twinge this pregnancy, and I never leaked during either pregnancy aside from slight crusty-stuff in my nipples.

Breasts failing to make milk is very rare. Remember no milk (only colostrum) for the first few days is entirely normal - you wake up a few days post delivery suddenly having had your milk come in! And, at first (my rule of thumb is for the first two weeks), expect to do nothing but feed baby, the continual sucking helps your milk supply establish and regulate. The more time you can spend relaxing, recovering from birth and having skin to skin the better.

PS my boobs didn't hurt at all during pregnancy, ever. Neither did they feel engorged when my milk came in. DS was a champion breastfeeder!

Mine grew but never leaked or got sore. Ds latched on approx 5 mins after giving birth and is still going strong 18mo later. I couldn't express much though which was a pain.

You Will be able to bf if you want to, it's the "really want to" that is the most important thing! You will have to feed constantly for the first few days (ime baby on breast more than off!) But if you learn to feed lying down from the beginning that is my top tip!

3 babies here.

First 2 pregnancies, no breast soreness or leaking. 3rd pregnancy, breasts were sore when DC2 was breastfeeding but otherwise no soreness.

DC1 - we couldn't get breastfeeding established. But this was nothing to do with milk supply - he was fed mostly on expressed breastmilk until about 7-8 months.

DC2 - initial problems due to jaundice, but breastfed until about 2 yrs 9 months.

DC3 - initial problems due to jaundice, now 5 months old and exclusively breastfed.

I would second the advice to read up about breastfeeding, and find out how to contact local breastfeeding support groups, before baby arrives. And be proactive in seeking support from midwives / breastfeeding support workers in hospital postnatally if you feel you need it, they may assume that you're managing okay if you don't ask for help.
I knew very little about breastfeeding, and even less about what to do if it doesn't happen easily, when DC1 was born. DC1 refused to even try latching on, and I do sometimes wonder whether breastfeeding might have worked out if I'd known more about where to get support when things go wrong.

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1905177402/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_J43bzbT7FEXRX?tag=mumsnetforum-21

I agree with a pp that it's worth getting this book but taking the advice with a pinch of salt. I found it a bit full on.

Hi. I just want to say please go into this with an open mind. That you want to bf is wonderful and we all know it's best for baby. Especially the first few weeks. BUT from my experience of friends and family is that it really isn't always that easy for one reason or another. In an ideal world we would all bf but unfortunately it isn't as easy as that no matter what anyone tells you. Go in prepared that you will try but don't hang everything on it. I've known great mums try and unfortunately their mental health has deteriorated as a result. Because they thought they'd failed and it's supposed to happen/be so natural. It's really tough. As a mum of a 3 week old I have been blessed. So far! I'm. Or taking it for granted. But I'm prepared that it could change at any moment. At the moment I'm feeling like a big boob. Good for nothing but feeding most of the day and night. I'm very fortunate and I know it before anyone says otherwise. But I've seen friends really struggle because they just presumed they could. If it's any help I had no prior feeling in my boobs that it would happen. They didn't get big until the baby was born. The milk came in on day 4 but had no prior warning. Please just be aware it may not happen easily but don't beat yourself up. Feeding a baby is the important thing whether it be by breast or bottle. Happy mum happy baby. I wish you all the luck cos that's what it is. Doesn't make you a good mum! x

Excellent advice from User.

In my (albeit limited experience!) of one baby, sometimes it doesn't matter now much you "really want to", your body won't play ball. It is often said that it is rare for milk not to come in or for there to be a genuine reason why women can't breastfeed but a glance over some of the breastfeeding threads on Mumsnet will show that it isn't always the case that determination and persistence wins the day.

It's great to have a preference for breastfeeding and to be as prepared as you possibly can with all of the support you can find. It is also really important to have your plan b in place in case things don't work out the way you want them to straight away.

I really hope that everything goes well for you and breastfeeding is easy for you and baby.

Hi. I didn't have anything happen until my baby was born. Then very luckily for me me I was able to breast feed. But please don't go into this thinking you must breast feed and if you don't you are failing somehow. It doesn't always happen easily. There are so many factors to consider. You must allow the possibility that it may not be possible. Breastfeeding doesn't make a good mum. Feeding a baby does whether it be by breast or bottle. Your mental health and wellbeing is important. Good luck x