Breastfeeding Questions

[FebMum2Be]

I am hoping to breastfeed, but the closer I'm getting to having the baby the more questions that are wriggling around in my head, would just like a better insight on it than going into labour without a complete notion..

If by some weird chance the baby ends up taking a bottle of formula for the first feed, does this mean I can't try to breastfeed after this? Also any information on bottle and breast feeding would be appreciated.. I have bought some breast pads to take into hospital with me but a girl I used to work with has said OHHH NOOO NOT BREASTPADS THEY WILL GIVE YOU A YEAST INFECTION.. Will they? My mum or sister didn't breastfeed, so I dont really have anyone to ask or talk to about it.. I would like some truth about it.. The whole truth the cracked nipples, the achy boobs.. The lot! I know it won't be easy but I know it will be worth it

 

[Terrie]

when i was in hospital with Ffion she bottle fed (mostly in hosp because bfing made me be sick) /breast fed combined... i then went oni to breast feed her for 5 months (until i found out she was lactose intollerent)

breast pads wont give you a yeast infection not from my experience or anybody else i know.

for the first 3 weeks with both kids it really hurt.. with rhys i gave up then but with ffion i presivierd and it was great once it stopped hurting. never had cracked nipples or anything with either child

 

[Me, My Girls & I]

if baby has to have some formula for whatever reason, you can ask for them to give it out of a cup so they dont get used to the bottle, they just sort of lett them have reallylittle sips of it iykwim? they did it with katie cos she was such a hungry bugger and wouldnt stop crying for more

i've never heard of breast pads giving yeast infections and tbh i dunno what you'd do witout them cos whether you bf or not, you're gona leak!!

like tezzy said, the first few weeks are hard and it does hurt, but as m mw told me, after that you can rub a cheese grater on your nips i stuck with it with katie and fed til i got preg again, but for some reason i couldnt hack it this time. probs somethin to do with havin so much goin on amd the act she was feedin like 5-6 hours at a time!! its so rewarding if you can stick with it tho xx

 

[Sam's Mum]

You won't necessarily end up in huge amounts of pain with cracked nipples... with Sam mine were awful and I was in so much pain for weeks which I thought was all normal until a few friends of mine fed with no pain at all right from the start. With Toby I found it easier to know if he was latched on properly as I'd fed Sam for a year, and even though they hurt a bit for the first week it was nothing like before and I had no cracking or anything - I think they were just getting used to it all again. The one thing I would advise you to do is get someone to check the positioning for you before you leave the hospital - and get yourself a tube of Lansinoh...it's fantastic stuff!

And as long as you change your breast pads when they get wet (and why wouldn't you?! ) I can't see why they'd give you a yeast infection)

 

[FebMum2Be]

Brilliant I'm feeling really good about it now.. Thanks girls xo

 

[mrsH2009]

You wont get a yeast infection from breast pads, you are more likely to from a constantly wet bra

I also suggest giving formula from a cup if the need arrisses then you don't get nipple confusion. But if for what ever reason baby has a bit of formula it doesn't mean you can't feed. You just have to bear in mind it will have an effect on your supply

 

[Mervs Mum]

I think the girls have covered your points there. BFing doesnt HAVE to hurt. Yes your nipples may need to get used to your LO latching and their strong suck but cracked nipples and pain are not a prerequisite to BFing. If you get sore as Sam's Mum said lanolin is wonderful stuff so have some in ready so if you feel them getting a bit sore or sensitive, you can try to minimise it. You will definitely NEED support. I am fortunate to come from a family of bottle feeders who were incredibly supportive of my BFing. My mum didnt BF or my sister and they both supprted me all the way, never once hinting I'd be better bottle feeding - even when I was having a tough time in a growth spurt or at the start while we were both learning. Remember that you AND the baby have to learn how to BF together - you have the boobs and baby has the suck but you have to get that to work together so be patient with yourself and the LO.

Talk to your partner in advance and try to get him to read some info about BFing so he doesnt do what lots of OH's do when they see you struggling and start encouraging you to give up - albeit in a well meaning way. Find out in advance from your MW where your local BFing support group is and go along even before you give birth and dont be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

This is a really good, plain English reference style book. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bestfeeding...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1262424632&sr=8-1

I read this (amongst others!) for my Mother Supporter training and I always recommend it for mums to be. Get armed in advance and you'll have the best chance of success.

Forget about amounts - your boobs dont have convenient ounce markers on them but your baby will let you know that they have had enough or are hungry by stopping and starting feeding. They need little and often so dont expect 4 hours between feeds - that's not BFing. 2 hrs is a good gap! Anything more or less is fine too. Go with the baby. if they are wetting and dirtying their nappies then they are eating well. If the early days you might feel they are very hungry or you cant keep up - that's how it's supposed to be. Their tummy is so tiny it can only handle a few drops to start with. This picture shows you that. You're not starving your baby if they seem hungry all the time - it because they've never eaten and so their tummy has to grow. The colostrum is perfect for the size of their tummy AND it lines the 'virgin' gut with important flora/friendly bacteria to protect against infections and other gastrointestinal problems.

You can see how tiny it is on day one - it cant possibly take more than a few drops so when you feel 'nothing' is being made that's how it should feel! Trust your body to do what it's designed to do. You have carried and nourished your baby for 9 months from the tiniest speck of nothing to this full grown human baby - why would your body suddenly stop getting it right now?

 

[mrsH2009]

Wow Lisa that motivatinal talk was fab where were you when I needed you

 

[Mervs Mum]

I started off thinking 'I dont really need to add much to this....' then once I got started I kind of got on a roll....

 

[FebMum2Be]

I just seen this! Brilliant.. Basically everything I needed to know My Mum and Sister are 100% supportive of my decision it would just be nice to have someone like you at home lol My midwives have done nothing but really tell me to breastfeed.. Not anywhere near the amount of info you have given me Thanks so much xxx

 

[ToffeePop]

Really interesting thread. My mate is a BF Peer support voluntary worker person one day a week but it's also good to read other people's ways of expressing themselves on this Great thread! (bookmarked.......)

 

[racheldee]

oooh a BF peer support voluntary worker, i havent head of them!
what do they do?

 

[Mervs Mum]

Support breastfeeding mums in their local area - I'm one too

 

[AgentM]

Support breastfeeding mums in their local area - I'm one too

So am I!!!

 

[Mervs Mum]

See we're mob handed with them here!

 

[Rowesb]

oh goody... I got a DVD in my notes this morning... is it worth waiting a bit before watching it? how scary do u recon it'll be?

 

[megsmeadow]

Breastfeeding was something I asked my midwife about during my booking appointment. I've always had a worry. I had surgery when I was 16 to remove a sizeable fibroadenoma (benign tumour) which had been growing for three years before that. It was right under my nipple so the scar runs right around the outer edge. Of course at 16 I wasn't thinking about breastfeeding so I didn't ask about what tissues the surgery involved. My MW was very good and reassured me that it might or might not have caused any problems, and also suggested that some mums can breastfeed on just one side!!
Petrified and so excited about finding out!!

 

[Mervs Mum]

Megsmeadow you can definitely feed successfully from one side You might feel a bit lop sided because your good side will make enough to compensate but it is totally do able

What's scary Rowe?

 

[racheldee]

i cant wait to breast feed, as strange as that sounds hahah

 

[Rowesb]

all the info I guess, think I answered my own question though as I read it... need to get through the next few weeks first I think before watching it...