my mum couldnt produce milk and i just wonder if it is hereditory - she wasnt given any specific reason but couldnt feed either me or my sister, and her mum was the same i think. i really want to be able to breast feed but figure that i should get a steriliser etc to be prepared just in case. any helpful suggestions?
2006-08-23 14:27:22 · 12 answers · asked by kittyurmston 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
The last two generations were given lots of bad breastfeeding advice from the medical profession. They were told to only nurse every 3-4 hours, to nurse exactly 10 minutes on each side per session, to offer solids at 1-2 months, etc. Most moms can't keep up a milk supply on that sort of schedule, and most babies won't get enough to eat. Therefore, many moms gave up thinking they didn't make enough milk.
The best thing you can do is read up on breastfeeding ahead of time. The next thing to do is make sure you talk to a lactation consultant in the hospital when your baby is born and make sure the baby is latching correctly. Finally, nurse, nurse, nurse as much as baby wants to in those early weeks. The first 6 weeks are an almost constant growth spurt, and in order to keep your supply up, you need to nurse to meet baby's demand. As long as baby has plenty of wet/dirty diapers and is gaining weight, he or she is getting plenty of milk. Don't let baby's fussiness or other behavior let you think he or she isn't getting enough to eat.
I nursed my older daughter for 14 months, and I'm still nursing my 21-month-old, and I wouldn't change it for the world. Good luck to you!
2006-08-23 14:34:08 · answer #1 · answered by Mom to 3 under 10 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
More than likely it was a lack of support and information. The "professionals" in our mothers and grandmothers time gave them instructions about breastfeeding that sat them up to fail at it! They told them to nurse every 4 hours. They kept the babies in the nursery apart from the mom. They were told not to pick their babies up...that crying was good for them. They would look at expressed milk and tell the mother "it's no good" and that she had to use formula! (They told my Grandma that!)
Get some good books on nursing like "So THAT'S What They're For" by Janet Tamero and "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" by La Leche League.
Find out how to contact your local LLL and go to some meetings now. Getting to know your Leader will make you more comfortable calling her after the birth if you need help. And meeting other moms will be great and help you form a support system, especially since your mom won't be able to answer your nursing questions most likely.
You CAN do this with the right information and support. Being truely unable to produce milk is acutally a very RARE occurance unless you've had some kind of breast injury or breast surgery that damanged the milk ducts.
Check out the links below.
2006-08-23 22:50:44 · answer #2 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're starting off right! Find out as much as you can before your baby comes and ask for help when you need it.
Find your local La Leche League leader or group to talk to an experienced breastfeeding mother or to go to a meeting.
Check with your doctor about breastfeeding classes. I took one before my daughter was born and it was very helpful. My husband went with me and it really helped him to be supportive, which is so important during those early days of breastfeeding.
Be sure when you go in to have your baby that you notify the hospital that you'd like to breastfeed. Most hospitals will have a lactaction consultant on staff. Don't hesitate to ask for help if you have any questions or problems.
Stay positive! A good attitude will go a long way!
Good luck!
2006-08-23 21:48:11 · answer #3 · answered by Mommy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, it's not hereditary. Believe me, I was terrified that I wouldn't get milk in. (As my mother pointed out...where would it go? I'm barely a B cup!) But it came in and with FORCE. I fed my 1st to 9 months and my 2nd is only 6 months. You can do it.
Here is a link you need:
http://www.mothersmilk.ws/?hop=andyg2
Read, Relax, Enjoy. REST (You won't get any for the next 18 years!)
PS: If you want a sterlizer, get one. You can always use it to sterlize bottle of breast milk for that special date night out Dad needs to take you on!
2006-08-23 23:14:13 · answer #4 · answered by carolinagal75 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Holy crap. You don't know how glad I am to see so many pro-breastfeeding women on here. Most of the newborn baby-feeding questions I see pertain to formula or forcing solids early. It's awesome to see some LLL people around here!
Oops, to kittyurmston: I haven't got any advice that these wonderful ladies haven't already given you. I hope you succeed in breastfeeding (keep trying and trying, when you start- don't give up!). :)
2006-08-23 22:22:03 · answer #5 · answered by ChiChi 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most women can produce milk. But if you're stressed out about it, you could get some help. Electric breast pumps are great; I used one as I preferred feeding (breast milk) by bottle b/c my husband could help too. You could even watch TV with the pump at your boobs. Eventually, you'll produce.
2006-08-23 21:54:34 · answer #6 · answered by Bloor Street Mama 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wasn't able to produce enough milk to feed either of my boys. I found out from my mom that she was the same way. Not sure if it's hereditary or not, but it certainly sounds like it!
2006-08-23 23:41:35 · answer #7 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
don't worry low milk supply is not hereditary!
but it is the most common self diagnosed breast feeding excuse... about 30% of moms think that they are not producing enough when in reality only 3% of women don't!
the most common cause of low supply is using bottles instead of nursing, or feeding baby on a schedule instead of on demand
check out this page http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/low-supply.html#supply
and join your local le leche league for help and support
good luck
2006-08-23 21:40:15 · answer #8 · answered by tpuahlekcip 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most women can breastfeed. If you are worried, contact La Leche League (world's #1 authority on breastfeeding) on http://www.lalecheleague.org/ and they will refer you to one of their support person. The Mothering Magazine website has a good forum where you'll get tons of support on breastfeeding and other parenting issues http://www.mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=23 http://www.mothering.com/discussions/
The moms there are very nice. Good luck!
2006-08-23 21:35:11 · answer #9 · answered by Delphine F 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I hope this helps, but my mom said she tried and tried to breast feed me, but it never worked... I breast fed my daughter until she weaned herself at 16 mo
2006-08-23 21:31:28 · answer #10 · answered by Jonita S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋