Breast feeding 101?

Question

Since thursday I have been bottle feeding and now I have thought about breast feeding. But I have little knowledge on the do's and don'ts. Like I have heard you have to watch what you eat...like pop and junk food and stuff. I have also heard you can't take medicine..like cough syrup and tylenol. I also heard you should take your prenatal vitamin for the entire time.

If anyone could give me the basics on breastfeeding...I would be grateful. Thank you.

I have also heard that once you breast feed your breast will become saggy and less full.

Answer 1

Basically, all that stuff you've heard is not true.

You can eat whatever you want. Just think about doing it in moderation. Make sure you get enough calories and stay hydrated. You can have pop and junk food, just don't live on it. (Which you shouldn't do even if you aren't nursing!) You may find that certain foods seem to have an effect on your baby and you may decide to avoid them. But there is no list of foods that all nursing moms should avoid. You can even had a drink or two if you are responsible about when and how you do it. (See Kellymom links below.)

You can take medicines, again, you just have to be careful about what you take and possibly about how you time the dosage. There are many medications that are approved by the AAP for use in nursing mothers. A LLL Leader or an IBCLC can check meds for you in the book "Medications & Mother's Milk" to let you know information on specific meds. There are sometimes meds that aren't good for nursing moms to take, but there are almost always alternative medications that are OK to take! You can definately take Tylenol!

Continuing to take you PNV is a good idea, but not all moms do it the entire time they are nursing. It's definatly a good idea in the first few weeks when you are recovering from the birth and establishing your milk supply.

I'd encourage you to give it a try. It is SO good for both mother and baby to breastfeed! Your local LLL Leader or your Lactation Consultant at your hospital can help you get breastfeeding re-established. A LLL Leader will help you for free and may even be willing to visit your home if you call her.

EDITED TO RESPOND TO YOUR ADDED COMMENTS:
Breastfeeding isn't what makes your breasts "saggy and less full." Having a baby is what does that. Your breasts already went through many changes during the pregnancy to prepare to produce milk. ALL moms go through that. You've already been through post-partum engorgement (may even still have it). ALL moms go through that. Those are the things that change your breasts, not breastfeeding.

ALSO.....
Lansinoh is the cream mentioned below. It can help to prevent sore nipples and to heal any cracking or damage to your nipples. Breastfeeding SHOULD NOT hurt and if it does something isn't right and you need to see a LLL Leader or an IBCLC for help.

AND......
See the Kellymom link on caffeine. You can have up to *5* five-ounce cups of coffee per day. Pretty sure that link also covers how much caffeine is in some other foods and drinks as well.

Answer 2

Whatever you eat while breastfeeding, your baby gets too, so you should try to eat healthy. It's not a sentence for a mother though. You can have 2 caffeine drinks per day and one glass of wine or one beer without affecting your baby. You can have Tylenol, but nothing stronger without consulting your OB or your baby's pediatrician. It's best to continue prenatal vitamins, but I didn't take the prescription ones while breastfeeding, only the OTC ones from Target.

Breastfeeding is very convenient and economical. Formula is very expensive. You can also rent or buy a breast pump and you would still pay less than you would for formula.

I keep hearing reports that they are finding more benefits for breastfeeding. Babies that are breastfed at least 4 months have lower risks of ear infections, food allergies, developing diabetes, and even show better chance of being smarter because the breast milk helps to nourish the brain. My daughter was breastfed for a year. She has never had an ear infection and only had one cold. To me, it was well worth it to breastfeed.

You can also contact the hospital where your baby was born. They may offer a breastfeeding class. I took one and it was very helpful.

Answer 3

Your best bet is to do the same thing you did while you were pregnant. Just remember, through your breastmilk, baby is going to injest the same things that you are. Medicines to a point are ok..the same as it was when you were pregnant. Tylenol was safe to take...still is. Some cough medicines were ok...they still will be. Prenatal vitamins are still very good for you, as you will be using up vitamins in your system, and great for baby to take in. The breastmilk has the added bonus of helping your child to develop their immune system. Anything you can do to boost that - is only going to do good for baby.
Beware once you start, you will have a few other 'side' needs. Nursing pads to help with leaking, mainly when your milk really comes in, as it takes a little while to build up, if you haven't already. Lamiso - if I remember the name right. It is a thick cream you rub on your nipple to keep it from getting chapped and sore. You can find the tube in the bottle/feeding baby section of any store. If yuo start to get really sore from feeding or not feeding, warm compresses or standing under warm water in the shower work miracles. Don't be afraid to rub if you are sore, you don't want plugged ducts- very painfull.
Keep yourself in a quiet place until you and baby get used to it. Can be a little rough at first until you both get into a pattern, and don't be afraid to try different holding posistions, there is more than just the typical hold for feeding.
Hope some of this helps, good luck!

Answer 4

If you want to breast feed you had better get back to it quickly before your milk dries up. You can drink pop and eat junk food if you want to but it's not good for you, the milk will still be nutritional for the baby. Some medications may not be suitable for breastfeeding moms but you can ask the pharmacist which ones. A vitamin tablet every day is a good idea for anyone but you don't have to take it. Nursing is the most natural thing you can do for the baby, it's inexpensive and easy, no bottles to wash or heat up or sterilize. Nursing will not change your boobs, weight fluctuations will. Watch your weight and your boobs will be fine.

Answer 5

When did you have the baby? It might be too late if your baby is already used to the bottle nipple and your milk has dried up.

The best thing to do is to go to www.lalecheleague.org. They know everything about breastfeeding.

You sort of have to watch what you eat. My baby didn't like fried food or onions at first. There are plenty of medicines you can take.

Breastfeeding isn't easy at first but it is so worth it for you and your baby. Your breasts do change but they are going to change anyway and are you really more concerned about your breast shape than your baby?

Answer 6

CONGRATULATIONS !!! on your new Baby!
How old is your baby? and yes you can still breastfeed.

There is a basically free organization called "LaLeche League" , who will more than be able to help you.

I knew of a lady over 30 years ago who adopted two children and she breastfed both of them even though she herself had never been pregnant.

Listed below are the links for the information you need to make the healthy change.

Good Luck, you can do it!

The Diva, Darling!

Answer 7

Breast feeding is the way to go! Congrats for looking into it after bottle feeding - it is so much easier! Check out http://www.kellymom.com for TONS of breastfeeding information and good luck!

Answer 8

You do have to watch what you eat but, that's a good thing. What you eat your baby benefits. So, there is extra motivation to take care of yourself seems how that equals taking good care of your baby. Stay away from caffeine ... that will make it harder for your baby to sleep. And, yes take your prenatal vitamins the whole time.

This website will help you out...

http://www.lalecheleague.org/

Good Luck

Answer 9

you're positive to breastfeed, yet call the well being care specialist and be considered if the fever would not bypass down interior 24 hours or once you've the different warning signs. you could also breastfeed in case you're taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and that's secure to breastfeed with merely about all antibiotics.

Answer 10

Try an infant.