breastfeeding questions...?

Question

I am almost 38 weeks pregnant with baby number 2. with my first child i was only 18 and i decided not to breastfeed. this time around i'd really like to try it. however, i have no clue what im doing! i remember how sore my boobs were after my daughter was born and i think i want to pump more rather than having her feeding off my breast. is this ok? will she take the bottle after my breast? how long can you store breast milk before it goes bad? can you add cereal to breastmilk? i hear you cant drink, smoke etc while brestfeeding too. i only plan on doing it for the first 8 weeks until i go back to work. how do i switch her from breast milk to formula....i feel so lost and overwhemed.....i feel like just giving up and going with formula. please help!! lol! thanks!

Answer 1

Congratulations to you on baby #2 and on your decision to give breastfeeding a try!

You will experience some engorgement postpartum.....but it won't seem as bad this time around since you'll be nursing and pumping to remove the milk from your breasts. The more often you nurse or pump, the less engorgement you'll deal with.

Colostrum, the first milk, is very thick, sticky and comes in small quantities. Because of this, it is very difficult to pump before your milk comes in. But the colostrum is VERY important for your baby and acts as a first immunization. I'd suggest not trying to pump for at least the first few days and instead nursing at the breast so baby gets as much colostrum as possible.

Some mothers do exclusively pump. It can be mor difficult to maintain a supply that way since no pump is as good as a baby who is latched on right. And of course exclusively pumping is all the work of BOTH breastfeeding and bottlefeeding! Give nursing at the breast a try first and see how you feel about it. You may find that it's actually a very enjoyable and relaxing thing for you.

You can store breastmilk in the fridge for about a week. You can store it in a freezer with a separate door (like top of the fridge) for about 3 mos. In a deep freeze, 6 mos to a year. Great chart at the link below.

Baby should not have cereal until around 6 mos of age. The AAP recommends ONLY breastmilk and/or formula prior to that. Starting solids (including cereal) too early can lead to an increased risk of allergies, diabetes and obesity.

You CAN have a drink and you CAN smoke. You just need to do it responsibly.

The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs classifies alcohol (ethanol) as a “Maternal Medication Usually Compatible With Breastfeeding.”

Dr. Thomas Hale, author of "Medications & Mother's Milk" simply suggests that you wait 2 hours for each drink before nursing again. So don't go get snockered, but a drink with dinner is just fine!

Less than 2% of the alcohol consumed by the mother reaches her blood and milk. A good general rule is "if your head is clear, your milk is too" or "if you're sober enough to drive, you're sober enough to nurse."

There is NO REASON to pump and dump. This does nothing to eliminate the alcohol from your system. It leaves the milk in the same way it leaves the bloodstream. The only reason you would ever want to pump and dump is if you get engorged and need to do so for your own comfort. (Feed baby right before you have your drink and you'll be less likely to get engorged!)

A mom who can't stop smoking CAN still breastfeed. Breastfeeding provides many immunities that help your baby fight illness and can even help counteract some of the effects of cigarette smoke on your baby: for example, breastfeeding has been shown to decrease the negative effects of cigarette smoke on a baby's lungs. It's definitely better if breastfeeding moms not smoke, but if you can't stop or cut down, then it is better to smoke and breastfeed than to smoke and formula feed.

It is important to note that smoking has been linked to:

- Earlier weaning. One study showed that the heaviest smokers tend to wean the earliest.
- Lower milk production
- Interference with milk let-down
- Lower levels of prolactin. The hormone prolactin must be present for milk synthesis to occur.
- One study (Laurberg 2004) indicated that smoking mothers who live in areas of mild to moderate iodine deficiency have less iodine in their breastmilk (needed for baby's thyroid function) compared to nonsmoking mothers. The study authors suggested that breastfeeding mothers who smoke consider taking an iodine supplement.

Answer 2

Sore nipples are normal. Hopefully once you've been nursing a little longer, it will go away. I agree with the first person that choking sounds like over-active letdown. Basically, the milk comes out faster than she can swallow it. Once breastfeeding is established and your breasts get the feel for what they need to be doing, it may be less of a problem. In the meantime, you could try holding her in more of a sitting position or, as the other person mentioned, lean back some while nursing. Both positions seem to use gravity to either slow the milk down or help her get it down faster. I wouldn't worry about it coming out of her nose. I found that when I nursed my daughter in a certain position, I'd notice milk dripping out of her nose while she ate. It's all connected, so sometimes that happens! Congratulations on the new baby, and keep up the good work breastfeeding her! It will get easier in a few weeks, I promise!

Answer 3

1. If the reason that you want to pump is because of the engorgement that you had the first time, know that when babies are fed exclusively from the breast during the first two weeks, without supplementing formula, bottle feeding, or pumping, engorgement is rare and minimal. However, in answer to your question, this is ok (however, it may actually cause more engorgement and sounds like a lot more effort!).
2. Most babies will switch from bottle to breast. Give it two weeks before introducing the bottle.
3. Information on storing breastmilk can be found all over the web, or from your lactation consultant or the hospital, or your pediatrician.
4. You can add cereal to breastmilk when you begin to give your baby cereal (at 4-6 months depending on doctor's advice).
5.If you need to drink and smoke then breastfeeding may not be the best choice for your baby.
6. To switch from breastmilk to formula, try mixing the two in a bottle- increasing the ratio each time. I personally would start that at about 4 weeks if I was in your situation.
7. Good luck- you're a bit overwhelmed now-try reading LaLecheLeague website for more information.

Answer 4

you have great questions....it is good you're thinking ahead of time. You are almost due...but it may not be too late. Check with the hospital you will birth at...they may have a breastfeeding class. I went to one and thought it was great. It gave me a lot of insight into being a breastfeeding mom. Otherwise all the answers to your questions can be found on the internet (babycenter.com is a great resourece). Also call the peditrician....they often have lactation consultants available at their office as well.. More than likely the birthing hospital will have a consultant there that and assit...use them....they will better your chances at success!! My last tip is to nurse as soon as you can....it is a great experiece!! Good luck.!!!

Answer 5

Trust me, I know how overwhelming breastfeeding can be. I had a lot of problems when I started. I was determined though and it does get easier. I have gobs of breasftfeeding advice. Go out to target and get a "breast shield" by Medela. I say target because I know they have them there. It is a clear plastic protector that goes over the nipple. This is a must have and a lifesaver for moms struggling with breastfeeding. Use this shield until baby is experienced enough to latch on alone. I highly recommend keeping breastfeeding as long as you can, even if its just in the evenings or at bed time. It is so good for your baby. My son is a year old and hasn't been sick yet! I swear by it. You shouldn't smoke at all, drink, and avoid high gas foods such as broccoli, beans, and anything likely to cause gas. It takes about 24-36 hours for what you eat to get into baby's milk supply. A baby will take a bottle after breastfeeding, so don't worry about that. I recommend the Playtex drop in's line. Take the effort to buy the brown colored nipples - they are closest to the breast so it will help your baby adjust. You can store breast milk about 6 hours at room temp, 3 days in the fridge, or up to a few months in the fridge. Make sure to push all the air bubbles out of your storage bags. I used to just put the bag between my fingers at the milk line and rub them to the top of the bag and seal. Put the amount on the bag - breastmilk expands when its frozen making it hard to tell later. It will save you some spills. I liked the Gerber breastmilk bags the best, and found them easiest to use. Most pediatricians don't recommend introducing cereal to breastmilk to early. Food allergies are more likely if solids are introduced too early - this includes cereal. Consult your pediatrician before introducing it yourself. If you haven't pumped milk before, I know a lot of mom's that gave up. Right after baby is born your breasts are producing colostrum which is thick like syrup and loaded with important nutrients and antibodies. It is concentrated nutrition for your baby, and very important to protect them from germs. It is difficult at best to pump because it is only produced in tiny amounts and could all get stuck in the bottle. The breast shield is the best thing to do. Once your milk supply comes (around 3 days postpartum) pumping is possible but still can require some dedication. I spent like an hour getting just a few ounces. It is worth it so I encourage you to stick with it at least 2 weeks. It gets easier and easier. After that you are on a roll, and I know you can do great. With pumping it can help to look at a picture of your baby, I also heard some moms take a piece of their babies clothing and smell it. Breastfeeding is part psychological so it might sound crazy until you try it. Some moms just can't seem to get the pumping thing. Stick with it, I know that with enough dedication you can do it. The breast shield is a must!! Good luck and feel free to ask if you need more help!

Answer 6

yes it is ok to pump and feed your baby your milk in a bottle, if you alternate bottle and breast she will get used to, my baby is 3 months old and there is no nipple in the market he wants he just wants my breast and it is because i always strictly breastfed from the beginning so now tht's all he will take, you can freeze breastmilk for 6 months, there are some storage bags exclusively for breastmilk and they tell you how long you can keep it for, but usually 6 months in the freezer. yes you can add breastmilk to cereal when the baby is old enough to get introduced into solids, you mix breastmilk with rice cereal, but never in a bottle. No you cannot smoke or drink, remember all you eat goes to the breastmilk, you cannot have caffeeinated drinks either, or a lot of dairy products. I am breastfeeding and i really watch what i eat, but i am planning on doing it for a year, i have done it 3 months so far so i have 9 more month to go, even when it is better some breastmilk than none i sugest you to pump and bottle feed her because if you are only doing it for 2 months you might have a hard time weaning her from the breast so i would just pump. Good luck

Answer 7

Pumping is fine. (easier later on) When you are breastfeeding, you should treat your body as if you are pregnant. Contact your local hospital. They usually have a class you can take for free. If you are pumping, switching is easier. Don't give up, but it IS a huge commitment and lots of work. In the end, you will be glad you did this for your child. The benefits WAY outnumber the cons.

Answer 8

Yeah, your hospital will have a lactation specialist available to you right after you give birth to guide you thru a lot of these qu's. generally tho- drinking and smoking- tricky. you'll need to "pump and dump" afer a drink or two. meaning, after you have say, 2 drinks, you'll have to pump out a bottle- a full serving and throw it away- because that alcohol is in there. i'd avoid smoking- all the toxins in the smoke will linger in your blood and go directly to baby :( you can store breast milk for a while. in the fridge, it's good for a few days, but in the freezer, it'll actually stay good for up to 3 months! yes, you can mix it with cerial when it's time... when you buy the pump and the accesories, it'll also contain some literature with general info. look into the free class at your hospital- and remember to ask about the specialist. also google, "breasfeeding 101" and a good site comes up. Congratulations and good luck!

Answer 9

Those are all good questions, don't feel bad! Most hospitals have lactation consultants that can help you with all of those questions and set up a plan that is best for your and your baby. It is a great thing that you want to breastfeed the baby. Good luck to you.

Answer 10

Try contacting your local La Leche League. That's what they are there for with lots of information and a good support network. URL is:
www.lalecheleague.org
Breast feeding is the ideal way to kick start your child. Good luck.