[hjv]

Hi all ,

I have combined the "Best ever breastfeeding tips" thread with the "WDYT? Mums need to know" thread as both have the same aim, which is to share our individual breastfeeding experiences.
This is the place to share any tips / information / feelings and knowledge about breastfeeding that you think may be informative or inspiring to other breastfeeding mums and breastfeeding mums to be!

All the best,

luckytwo, Moderator of the Breastfeeding forum
______________________________________________________________


Yes I have been reading the other thread and it seems to me that nothing anyone says will change the views of those in the opposing camp but that there was some really useful comments in there about the lack of information given to new mums about breastfeeding. I completely agree with that - I had no clue before DD1 was born.

So what do you think new mums should know about breastfeeding that will make it easier for them and will encourage them to continue???

The things that spring to mind for me (which seem frighteningly basic to me now but I really had no idea) are:

- your supply is generally lower in the late afternoon/ evening so baby is likely to want more feeds then

- growth spurts - usually the first is around 6 weeks when baby just wants to feed feed feed constantly - lasts for a few days and then you go back to your normal routine

- ways to increase your supply if you think it is lacking is to rest, drink lots of water, have lots of skin to skin contact with your baby and express between feeds

- attachment and correct positioning is crucial for the first few weeks

and lots more stuff that I am too tired to think of right now. But hey I know there are plenty of you out there who can really help others so please feel free to add/correct what I have said.

Helen

This post has been edited by luckytwo: 19/03/2011, 08:45 PM

Reason for edit: change of title and merging of pinned threads

[*LucyE*]

In the begining, even with perfect attachment, it can be, but is not always, toe-curlingly painful. This is normal and will decrease over time.

Breastfeeding is physically draining. It is important to have supportive people around you who understand this and help you - try to minimise stress, allow you chances to put your feet up and rest (without a bub attached lol), and eat healthy nutritious foods.

Foods you eat may affect your breastmilk and bub. Again, everyone is different but if bub does seem extra unsettled, pained or whatever, look at your diet. It can take several days to eliminate from your system and then bub's system so for example, don't just cut out caffine for one day and not see any improvement and say that it's not having any effects.

[InkPink]

That after a few weeks breastfeeding your boobs will not be full looking and hard, and whilst it may seem like you are losing your milk, they have infact adjusted to how much your baby needs and are working perfectly.

That breastmilk is a supply and demand thing, if you introduce a bottle of formula because you think you supply is diminishing (see point above) your body will react and produce less milk.

[Rock of Empathy]

My only words of advice are if you are having trouble in the early days see a lactation consultant before giving up. They really can make all the difference.

[andyb]

That your cracked, bleeding nipples WILL heal and you can successfully b/f for as long as you want

That you can comp feed for the first few weeks (if necessary) and still b/f exclusively after that period

That even if it takes a week for your milk to come in, you can still b/f successfully and exclusively

That if your baby does not open its mouth 'properly' that there are other ways of attaching your baby to the nipple

Andrea
DS 8 Sept 04
DD 29 Sept 06

[Molly1974]

That for some people, no matter what you do or try it just doesn't work. If this happens don't feel guilty.

[TinCat]

- How your body actually produces milk
- That just because you dont leak or feel full doesnt mean you have run out of milk
- Similarly that if you can't express alot of milk, it doesnt mean you have a low supply
- That there are other sources of information and support such as the ABA, EB and kellymom.com
- That if your baby wants to feed every hour sometimes, it can be normal
- Babies rarely self wean before 12 months
- Babies have fussy and distractible periods at ______ and this is completely normal (someone fill in the gaps )
- oh and Lansinoh stains!

[CBMKBJA]

I would tell a first time mum that it is really hard and the baby has something to do with it also. Some babies are really smart and know how to latch on properly and some are a bit dopey and have no idea, usually boys. I have breastfed 7 and they are all different. Don't feel ashamed to ask a midwife for help either.

I used to try and feed exactly how the midwives were telling me but it wouldn't work. Supposedly you are supposed to just sit there with the baby on the boob but I found I had to support the boob for the first couple of months like how you hold it when you are trying to attach. I had many a fight with a midwife telling I shouldn't do that but I had to because the baby couldn't feed because it was getting suffocated. In the end I learnt to just shut up and let the midwife think I was listening.

So even though there is a correct way to feed by the text book sometimes you can feed in other ways as long as your boobs aren't hurting when the baby is attached.

Also I would tell them to feed the baby whenever they thought it was hungry, I have had a baby that fed every 2 hours and one that fed every 4 and the others were basically approximately 2 1/2 to 3 hrs between feeds. A baby will never get obese breastfeeding which is what some people seem to think and say whenever they see you feeding and you only just fed.

It's not the breastfeeding that wrecks your boobs it's what happens to your boobs whilst pregnant that changes the shape. Your body preparing your boobs to feed.

ALso that you can get thrush on your boobs and in the baby's mouth, the signs for mastitis, that the leaking eventually settles, etc.

That it can be the most relaxing and rewarding time with your bub. When you breastfeed you actually have to sit down and have a rest, you can't prop the bottle on a pillow and go and do work.

Even when you have plenty of milk and baby is putting on good weight every week doesn't mean you will be able to express an ounce. It's funny that when the baby is on the boob the milk pours out but when you try to express it becomes the sahara desert.

Also not to worry so much about your figure. Soon as you start to diet it can affect your milk supply. I would tell a new mum to worry about eating healthy and worry about her weight when the baby had weaned.

This post has been edited by Natalie63: 27/01/2007, 01:45 PM

[Expat]

This
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/fussy-evening.html

This
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html

This
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/distractible-baby.html

This
http://breastfeed.com/resources/articles/virgingut.htm

This
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/decrease-formula.html

and this
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/back-to-breast.html

Before you have your baby read all of these, show them to your partner, and your mother and MIL

[*Babylove*]

I havn't read the replies so I don't know if the has already been covered or not. Well anyway...

New mothers need to be taught that b/f can be very hard work. There are cracked, sore nipples, mastitis (which I never even heard of until I got it), latching problems (bub has trouble latching or you're not putting him on right), supply issues. I also think that new mothers have to be taught that if she does have supply issues right from the beginning, to try and preserve and not allow anyone to comp feed her baby formula. Comp feeding formula makes your body believe it is producing enough milk for bub, and it will be very difficult to get your supply up if you do that. Also, if you have supply issues, mothers need to know that they should immediately start pumping from day one, with a good breast pump. With me, the nurses told me I wasn't making enough milk so they comp fed ds formula. The lactation consultant told me it was a waste of money to buy a breast pump because my supply would come in, and when I asked for one in the hospital, they said they wouldn't provide it because I didn't need it. After a while with supply issues and having to comp feed after each b/f episode, a nurse who came to visit me at home told me I needed to start pumping immediatly. I started pumping as soon as I could, but because I had waited so long, it took 2 1/2 months of b/f, comp feeding formula, and pumping after every feed before my supply fully came in. I believe that if I didn't allow the nurses to comp feed ds formula and I kept him on my breast for however long it took him to be satisfied, and if I had pumped from day one, I wouldn't have had supply issues for as long as I did.

I think mothers also need to know that some problems can persist for a few months before they settle down. They need to know that things WILL get better with time (well, maybe not in EVERY case, but I'm sure it would be in the majority of the cases. correct me if I'm wrong, though) as long as they persist and stick with it for long enough. I have known so many mothers who gave up after a couple of weeks because of a certain problem, and I have also heard of how other mothers continued despite them having the same problem, and it got better after a month or two.

I also think mothers should be taught that it is possible they may not actually like b/f. Some people believe they will find b/f to be a loving, wonderful, bonding experince but when they actually do b/f, they do not enjoy it because they simply do not like the sensation of the baby sucking on their nipple.

Finally, I think mothers should be taught how to properly hold their baby while b/f. If you do not hold your baby properly, you can easily suffer from a bad back and neck. I used to get a bad back and neck because I would b/f by hunching over and look down at ds while he fed. The health nurse told me that I should use a pillow under him so I don't hunch over, and I shouldn't look at him the entire time I b/f. I should mainly look ahead and only occasionally glance down at him. Her advice helped quite a bit and my bad back and neck eventually went away.

Edited to add: I also think new mothers should be taught that if they do have problems b/f, it is quite possible they will receive 'advice' from people they know, telling them to give it up because it is too hard. I know most people are only trying to help the mother, but I think she should be aware that this is a possiblity so she can be better prepared for it if/when it happens.

And babies go through growth spirts, so there may be days when it feels like your baby is on your breast all day long. They need to understand that they are not doing anything wrong, and they are not suddenly having a supply issue, but the baby is going through a growth spirt and they simply need to feed a lot more often.

They also need to understand that some people simply cannot b/f for whatever reason and if she has to give up, this is no reason for her to feel like a failure.

This post has been edited by *Babylove*: 27/01/2007, 02:58 PM