[PurpleWitch]

It's hard work but so much better for baby than formula.

Every time your baby cries in the early days offer the breast as they are usually hungry above all else.

Learn to feed laying down so you can sleep at the same time.

Lactation Consultants are amazing.

Cluster feed in the evenings. I would spend from 5-7 in the evening feeding which meant he got the rich fatty hind milk that helped to make him sleep longer. So I also got more sleep which helped the supply.

If you are trying to get your baby to sleep a breast feed is the quickest and best way.

It hurts some and not others. My girlfriends were fine and had minimal soreness. I was not so lucky.

Even when you have fed and fed and fed your baby they might still be hungry so feed again, especially when they are going through growth spurts which can occur at any age.

Oh yeah don't introduce a bottle too early as they might not go back to the breast and if you need to comp use expressed breast milk not formula so that your supply doesn't dwindle.

And finally, just when you think you will never get the hang of it, it all starts to fall into place (for most not all) and it is the most exquisite feeling in the world to breast feed your bub.

Amen Amen Amen!!


And, if your baby should be away from you in the NICU there is no reason why you can't still breastfeed.
Express, even if you only get 5 mls, it's still working.
Express every 2/3 hours, drink lots of water, look at pics of your baby. You can still breastfeed him/her.

[kaishra]

Thought of another one that worked for me.

If they cry and you've changed them, rocked them, fed them and all that, shove a boob in their mouth, even if they're not hungry they'll probably have a few sucks anyway which will calm them down and you may find that although you thought they'd had enough to drink they may not agree.

Oh and if anyone tells you to only feed your baby every 4 hours tell them to go jump, babies don't wear watches and they know when they're hungry not how many hours it's been since they last ate. (I had a friend (ex friend)) who would tell her baby that he couldn't possibly be hungry cause it hadn't been 4 hours, and she would not feed him till the 4 hours were up, poor thing used to scream cause he was so hungry)

[emmabug]

Great idea!!

I wish someone had told me beforehand that it's not as easy as it looks - sure some women just "do" it, but the majority need help, and you are NOT alone and it's NOT a straightforward natural process! A good widwife or lactation consultant can make a huge difference and avoid a lot of tears.

Also, a great tip for fixing blocked milk ducts (lots of experience here!) is if you feed with the babies chin on the side where the lump is. You may have to lie in an awkward position to achieve this, but the lump will go much more easily.

Emma

[*~Tinker~*]

A very good idea!

I found 'the way' the nurses showed me to feed in the hospital did not suit myself or DD. Infact, she didn't feed properly for me until we got home.
Then we found our 'own way' to feed and now we have it figured, she won't even take a bottle of EBM.
So, in that case, I believe there is no "right way" to do it, do what comes naturally to you.

Don't stress out if it doesn't work straight away, you may figure it out like we did, later in the comfort of your own home, or you may need to give them the bottle. The bottle doesn't have to be formula either, if you're determined, you can express.

Good luck to all the future boobie monsters!!!

[sam78s]

I would like to add that yes, it does hurt initially, but the pain will go away! And if it hurts too much, take your babe off and try to attach again.

Also, it's so worth giving breastfeeding a really good try. If you need help, ASK!

[Awesome Username]

I would like to add that yes, it does hurt initially, but the pain will go away! And if it hurts too much, take your babe off and try to attach again.

Ditto! The midwives/nurses always told me that it shouldn't hurt and maybe it doesn't for a lot of people but it did for me. I found that even once we had gotten the attatchment sorted out my nipples were still sore for a few more weeks.

[Anlawich]

1. The pain will go away! It might seem like there's no light at the end of the tunnel, but there is. Even if it's 3 months away... and it's so worth it at the end!

2. If you're expressing full-time, and you get mastitis...go to the Dr straight away. Even if you have to go to the hospital at 2am.
I learned the hard way that if you don't get meds straight away, you may get too sick to express.....bye bye milk....

3. Lather on lansinoh if needed, don't just rub in.

Have more, but bubs is awake....

Great thread btw.

[dominicsmum]

Like Layika, I'm a huge fan of Lansinoh. A friend told me about it just before my bub was born and I had it with me in hospital (thank goodness!) to slop on after my first grazed nipple - which happened on my second ever feed!

My other hot tip? If you're flying with your bub, breastfeeding on descent makes it easier on their ears, but definitely detach if there's turbulance! Lucky there was Lansinoh in the nappy bag!

[tara-lalala]

Try to relax, if you tense up it won't work very well.

Get comfy! Doesn't really matter what position you are in, as long as you and bubs are comfy. Relax your shoulders and use a pillow under bubs if you need to.

Frozen cabbage leaves really DO work.

Sometimes 'airing' your nipples can help. If they spend alot of time in usually damp breast pads they can get worse.

Change your breast pads often - nipple thrush/baby oral thrush isn't much fun.

Don't worry, soon they will stop being hard and sore and heavy. Eventually they will work out how much they need to have in there..LOL

If you get mastitis KEEP FEEDING, it may be painful but its the quickest way (plus anti biotics) to get rid of it. Also it can make the milk a bit salty, so if your baby gets fussy at that breast EXPRESS EXPRESS EXPRESS!!

[laraq75]

OK i am not technically breast feeding. But if you can't do it you can always pump. I have pumped for 7 months and where there is a will there is a way. They do say breast milk is best and in my case i do really believe this.

I also did find that it was much easier at home where you are more relaxed. I found the midwives a bit pushy. Make sure you stand up for yourself when it comes to breast feeding because it is hard work but it is worth it in the end.

hugs

Lara