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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Whose advice?

22 replies

finallypregnant · 27/12/2007 16:28

Whose advice to you take when it comes to breast feeding? I am so confused! On book (Gina Ford - quite scarey but some valid points) talks about expressing and feeding and getting baby into a routine ASAP without feeding on demand yet other books say for the first few weeks you must feed on demand. Then other books say a mixture of both! It's the one thing that scares me most about having our first baby but where on earth do you start? Did you follow guidelines or go with your own gut instinct?

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JodieG1 · 27/12/2007 16:29

Feed on demand! I'm still doing so with ds2 who is 11 months. Go with instinct and with what baby needs. I have 3 and it's worked so far not that that means it always will but imo a baby doesn't need feeding routines. I'm also training to be a breastfeeding counsellor.

stripeymama · 27/12/2007 16:30

Do whatever suits you and your baby!!

The baby will not have read any of the books.

stripeymama · 27/12/2007 16:31

And yes, feed on demand. If a baby is hungry it needs feeding.

paulaplumpbottom · 27/12/2007 16:31

I fed on demand because thats what my instincts (and hers )said to do. I watched my sister in law let her 12 week old scream with hunger for an hour because Gina said she couldn't feed her yet. They were both so upset (me to) yet she didn't feel she could go with her gut. I'd throw away all baby books to be honest.

needmorecoffee · 27/12/2007 16:32

Babies demand feeding when they are hungry so thats when you should feed. And babies don't fit their lives around yours, thats not their jobs!
I BF 4 kids.
Not sure why you would express if you are BF'ing?
Having done it I would say feed on demand and a routine becomes apparent after 3 months or so but the first few weeks babies are growing fast and have tiny tummies so need to feed when they are ready.

Original poster

finallypregnant · 27/12/2007 16:33

Thank you. I am just terrified that I get it wrong - I would never ever leave a baby crying though - it would break my heart.

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BroccoliSpears · 27/12/2007 16:33

Well, if you really believe that some random woman in America knows more about your baby than you do, by all means listen to her advice. I personally think that the best person to know what's best for your baby is you. Women have been bringing up babies for thousands of years without bossy paperbacks making them feel stressed and inadequate. Listen to your instinct. Listen to your baby. Relax and enjoy the fleeting time you'll share together while your baby is so tiny. Hold him, cuddle him, love him, feed him when he's hungry, keep him warm and fall in love with him.

JingleBelgoHoHoHo · 27/12/2007 16:33

This is why I didn't bother reading so many books!

But I did read something about a baby needs to bf on demand to get the milk stimulated, and also to bf as soon after giving birth as possible, with plenty of skin to skin contact. I remember in those very early days after giving bfing every hour for ten hours (or something like that!) That certainly meant that I had tons of milk, and I bf successfully.

Original poster

finallypregnant · 27/12/2007 16:34

My midwife talked about expressing when breast feeding in the early stages to keep enough milk coming through, especially the stuff at the back (can't remember what it is called) also so that hubby can try feeding baby too.

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needmorecoffee · 27/12/2007 16:36

baby feeding will get enough milk, you don't need to express for that! She runnning a pump hire company or something!
And I wouldn't even think of a bottle until breastfeeding is well established.

daisyhun · 27/12/2007 16:41

Just to be contraversial I would introduce a bottle within the first 2 weeks and keep going one feed a day - otherwise you will never ever ever get any freedom. I did this and DD was absolutely fine - happy to switch between breast and bottle.

I have friends who wish they had done this as they now have 8 month old babies who will not take anything from a bottle and who want to breast feed for comfort and to get to sleep/naps.

Guiess it depends on the baby - that's the frustrating thing with babies - you have to work out what suits your individual baby and no book (or person) is ever completely right!

JodieG1 · 27/12/2007 16:41

You don't need to express to keep the milk coming, baby feeding does that. It's also not the best idea to express until your milk supply is established (around 6 weeks) as it can affect your supply. After that you could express so dh can do a feed but also babies suck differently when bottle/breastfeeding, totally different ways.

JingleBelgoHoHoHo · 27/12/2007 16:42

No you don't need to express - your baby will be far better at getting the milk out then a pump!

But you do need to make sure you have the contact details of people who really know about bfing - there are specially trained bfing counsellars - because some women find bfing very hard, and they need the best advice possilbe.

JodieG1 · 27/12/2007 16:43

You don't need to keep up bottles, there are other ways to give them milk and it's recommended to use them rather than a bottle with a breastfed baby such as a cup or spoon. I disagree that you won't ever get any freedom. Ds2 has expressed milk from a beaker from around 5-6 months quite happily. Freedom isn't the first thought on your mind when you have a baby anyway!

Original poster

finallypregnant · 27/12/2007 16:43

daisyhun - expressed or formula at 2 weeks?

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JodieG1 · 27/12/2007 16:44

finallypregnant please read throught my posts again, I do know what I'm talking about as am doing this in my training.

Original poster

finallypregnant · 27/12/2007 16:44

Thanks for the councillors information. Will make sure I get that.

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JodieG1 · 27/12/2007 16:44

Always expressed if you can manage it but I wouldn't advise that at 2 weeks old as I said before.

Original poster

finallypregnant · 27/12/2007 16:45

Thanks Jodie. Will go and have a search now.

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NAB3wishesfor2008 · 27/12/2007 16:45

Ignore the books. Feed on demand. baby will slot in to a routine when s/he is ready.

JodieG1 · 27/12/2007 16:47

Also if you post on breastfeeding tiktok is a breastfeedin counsellor (I'm still training) and she gives wonderful advice

Izzybel · 27/12/2007 16:55

I heard somewhere, that you are supposed to feed a newborn on demand as, if they are left, they can get dehydrated. I can't remember where I heard it from, but I think it was someone talking about the channel 4 "Bringing Up Baby" programme, as that Claire Verity was big on routine, and only feeding baby at set times. When I had my DD I was told, by the HV, to feed on demand. DD is ff though so I could be talking crap !

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