tips on breastfeeding

[Mumoftwox]

I'm having my baby next Friday, this is my third child however, my first two were born at 31 weeks and I expressed for months as they wouldn't latch on. I'm hoping breastfeeding can go smoothly this time as I'm not having a preterm baby. I was wondering if I could have any tips, the part that is making me anxious is breastfeeding when baby is born and my family come to visit at hospital. It's making me feel uncomfortable already as I dont know what am doing and dont know what people do in front of other people. I understand I maybe shouldn't care what other people think but am not comfortable pulling out my breast in front of certain family lol. thanks

Just ask them to step out for a while. No big deal. If you think they’ll be awkward ask your OH to make sure they move.

Look at Kelly mom it's got tonnes of useful information.

Ime in the early days when you don't know what you're doing every man and his wife will offer you tips but you don't know whether they're legit or not.
Keep asking MW and HVs, repeat that you'd ideally like to successfully establish BFing and ask where to go to get help once you're out of hospital.
I was referred to a local breastfeeding Councillor and she was excellent.
Good luck!

Don’t allow hospital visitors is the easiest way!

Look into some nursing clothing you feel comfortable in for when you are out of hospital if you want to be discreet. I can recommend vests from the company Bshirt which are easy to feed in and can be worn under a shirt, or t-shirt.

Really lean on the support of the midwives whilst you are in hospital, particularly if they know how determined you are to BF they will be really supportive. Also try looking up some YouTube videos on good latch so you feel really confident with the technique. The best advice I can give is to feed, feed, feed. I’ve been told you can’t overfeed a BF baby (not sure if that is true) but they really do cluster feed to increase your supply so don’t get worried they aren’t getting enough if they do that just keep feeding. With regards to feeding in front of people I genuinely just got my boob out and got on with it, if you try to faff covering up etc it will make everything harder. I guess consider not inviting anyone to visit you in the hospital who you don’t want to feed in front of, once home you can always go to another room initially but honestly if you can have the confidence to just do it even if it’s awkward initially you’ll be so much more relaxed and feeding will be easier all round.
You’ve got this mumma, good luck!

Honestly there are very few times where you have your boobs hanging out in front of friends and family once feeding is established.
However in the early days handling a baby and a boob is juggling anyway let alone trying to juggle clothing as well.
Get people to leave you in peace.
Mention it to loved ones ahead of time. “I know you love me and understand how we haven’t had the opportunity to do this before so it is important for me to establish breastfeeding once baby is here. Please don’t be offended but until we have cracked it I want only “”* and I to be around whilst I am focussed on baby”

As an anecdote ds1 took 10 days to latch on remembering his tummy was walnut sized helped me worry less that he was getting enough.
In a total change ds2 arrived like a baby bird mouth wide open latched first day.

Be kind to yourself. X x

Kellymom and Le leche league have lots of good info. Plan a little about what you will wear. I have some Jojo bf'ing tops but I actually prefer a t short and a vest under and pull the shirt up and vest down and nobody can see anything as DS's head covers everything. I found it awkward to start with, so I fed him in private for the first few days - people either leaving me or me popping up to the bedroom. Once I felt more confident I used a nursing scarf and now I have just got so non- pluses by it all I don't bother.
Get the midwife to check your latch when they visit and see if there is a local breastfeeding support group near you - they will also help with normalising feeding around other people.
Once you have got the hang of feeding I think it's good to practice feeding out and about so you get confident quickly. I found M&S cafe and John Lewis cafes comfortable to use to start with.
The first few weeks are the hardest, and your nipples may well get sore as they get used to little one feeding, but this will settle if your latch is good. It then becomes much much easier. My little one is 6m now and I'm so glad we've managed this far, it's so easy to feed him.
Congratulations on your imminent arrival and don't be afraid to ask for any help or advice as you need it.

1/ H&M nursing vests are the bees knees.
2/ Ask a midwife to show you how to nurse lying down as it's a game changer.
3/ Cluster feeding is tiring AF - makes sure drinks and snacks are in reach at all times.
4/ If you're worried about boobing in public just sit yourself down in front of a mirror to view it from someone else's POV - it's a lot less boob than you thought.
5/ You will probably drop baked beans on your nursing child's head at least once. Don't feel too bad - everyone does it!
6/ Remember to put your boobs away before you answer the door.

thanks everyone, I think am just going to ask visitors to stay away until I am out of hospital I am high risk of pre eclampsia so I doubt am going to be hone straight away, and I really want bf to work so I feel it would be much better without the pressure of loads of visitors!

On a side not if you do want breastfeeding tops, I wish I had known earlier but there are loads up on eBay!

My favourite breastfeeding clothing was a loose baggy t-shirt with a vest underneath so I could whip a boob out and still be covered.
A second tip is hydrogel breast pads. Honestly they're miraculous in the early days if there is any pain while feeding is becoming established.

I was always self conscious about BFing, which I know is silly but I did it up until DS was nearly 1 & found ways & means

I didn't allow any visitors to the hospital

I either went upstairs to BF when we have visitors or they went in another room (making cuppas is a good distraction for them). I was fine with female relatives & friends but the males (apart from a couple of the younger ones) often left the room due to them feeling awkward. I must admit I was relieved.

In public I used feeding rooms where possible but often did it in cafes etc when with DH or a person I was comfortable with. Never had any issues & even did it on a train once!

Clothes wise, vests under t-shirts & long tops are brilliant & you don't have to spend a lot. EBay also do fab dresses for next to nothing - I found a breastfeeding clothes page on Facebook brilliant for ideas

Good luck with it all & I hope you're more confident than me (I'm just a silly prude. Ha)

Once baby is on you can hardly see anything! I wore vest tops with shirts mostly so didn’t feel as bare. in early days had a light scarf for a bit more privacy while baby was latching, then it was fine once they were on