Trying breast feeding looking for positives

[HowToCopeeThroughPregnancy]

OK, I am due in 8 weeks with baby number 5. I have never breastfed, always said I would try it and then when it came to it chickened out. As this is our last baby I really want to try it. I just have so many worries and heard so many horror storied. Is it really that bad?

I've bottle fed a lot of babies and knew what a fucking pain in the ass it was so didn't consider it for ds.

Breastfed first child (now 4.5) until he was 2.5, with absolutely no issues. Second is now 2 days old and has taken to it as well as her older brother. It can be completely issue free ime. If not, there's expert help or you could always switch later to formula.

Mastering feeding lying down with baby tucked next to me has meant I can doze whilst she feeds, so the nights haven't been as much of a killer as they were at the start.

I've been breastfeeding in public since LO was a couple of weeks old, once you get the hang of getting baby latched it's easy to do without much fuss. Invest in some baggy tops and vests. I've never had any looks or comments xx

Also highly recommend this book
www.amazon.co.uk/Food-Love-Formula-Successful-Breastfeeding/dp/0954930959?tag=mumsnetforum-21

Second vote for food of love book, it's brilliant.

I bf my 2 to toddler hood with very few issues, so it can be problem free and the above book is a great place to start.

On the feeding in public font, wear a vest, lift top up and vest down and you basically reveal no flesh at all. A 'fuck em' attitude helps if you get any shit.

I was nervous about breastfeeding in public, so got a nice pretty cover that I love. It just gives me that extra confidence that no accidental flash happens. I sometimes waited in the car to feed or in a quiet corner, but found it totally fine. Practice at home til comfortable and then go for it.

Also for bf out and about, if you wear a vest top with a normal top over it, when feeding you can pull down vest, other top up and really once baby is latched everything is covered again, if you lower top layer.

Also get some breast shells. Great for letting nipples heal between feeds.

My mum had 5 children and just today has been telling me how different each feeding experience was, so consider it a fresh start! Good luck x

Really useful feed...I'm also hoping to breast feed with my DD2. My first DD1 wasn't interested. One question I did have was - did you all buy an electric pump whilst pregnant in advance?? I don't know whether to wait to see if I need it? Or buy a handheld one? X

I honestly wouldn't bother with getting a pump in advance. Get one if you need one later on

I bf my ds and I did find it painful for the first few weeks until my nipples got used to it. After that it was so easy and convenient and I really loved breastfeeding him. I'm pregnant with dc2 now and will be doing the same with him/her.

@vickifaith I didn't buy a pump until I needed it, I figured Tesco is open 24h a day so if I decided I needed one they we could just pop and get one.

I didn't find it hard (however I loathed it for other personal reasons which have nothing to do with feeding an infant).

Be prepared to change positions until you find one which works for you/baby. I have large breasts so sticking a cloth underneath the one I was feeding from really helped.

Nipple cream. I didn't learn that it existed until ds was five or so days old and it's now the one thing I recommend to everyone I know who is pregnant and who has expressed an interest in breastfeeding.

If there is a local peer support group, you can go before baby is born (depending on circumstances) and I think that can really help. I found the advice from midwives/health visitors was so random and in many cases unhelpful.

I found wrap dresses with a cardigan or shawl worked great for breastfeeding in public and were really comfortable too. I thought I'd be more nervous about doing it in public than I was. I would also recommend going to baby/toddler groups if possible so you can get used to doing it around other women who are also doing it as a confidence builder.

@vickifaith Bought a manual and a electric one when we came home from hospital. Much preferred the manual one. Depending on how long you are in hospital, you might be able to try both to see what you prefer. I was only in 3 days and I got to try both types out before discharge.

I hated it from the get go but had no pain or anything.

I'm still feeding 18months on so it's totally doable even if you don't like it.

Just remember that feeding every 15mins for 45mins for hours on end is totally totally normal!