I am about to be a mom and i want to know everything there is to know about breastfeeding!
2007-05-02 11:45:21 · 12 answers · asked by laurarocha2006 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Congratulations on becoming a mom for the first time! This is a great question!
I have 5 kids and have spent about 10 years breastfeeding. Here are a few things that come to mind about breastfeeding:
- Seek out breastfeeding moms. Believe it or not breastfeeding is largely a learned skill so it is very helpful just to see moms nursing. A La Leche League meeting is a great place to see nursing moms and get support too. Which brings me to my next tip...
- Find a support group like La Leche League and go before you have your baby. The connections with Leaders may be helpful if you need additional support right after your baby is born.
- Realize that breastfeeding is normal and the vast majority of the time goes well (otherwise humans never would have survived). If you do run into breastfeeding difficulties know that almost anything can be resolved.
- Consider your sources when given breastfeeding information. There are a lot of really crazy myths out there! Even many excellent and well intentioned doctors have not had a lot of training in breastfeeding. Also formula manufacturers and baby food companies are not great sources of information.
- Realize that all baby stages are just stages and won't last "forever" even if it feels that way.
- "Look to your baby" rather than the clock or other method to figure out when to nurse your baby. Nurse your baby on "cue".
- Invest in a sling or wrap type baby carrier and carry your baby a lot.
- Provide a lot of "skin-to-skin" contact, in the early days especially.
- Learn to nurse lying down!
Some excellent books:
So That's What They're For by Janet Tamaro
The Ultimate Book of Breastfeeding Answers by Jack Newman
The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins
Excellent websites:
www.lalecheleague.org
www.kellymom.com
2007-05-02 12:40:04 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am breastfeeding my 4 month-old daughter. From my experience and the experience of others, I can tell you that it can run the gamut from simple to extremely difficult. A lot depends on the baby. My daughter was born early, and then had to be hospitalized at one month. We had a hard time teaching her to latch on and getting her to take more than a small amount of milk at a time.
I would urge you to buy a breast pump or to rent one (very cheap) from your local hospital right from the start. If I had not had the pump, my milk would be gone by now. It's really a case of "use it or lose it," and you can lose it in a matter of days. The more you nurse, the more you make. Remember, though, that while the pump helps, there is nothing like the baby for keeping your milk supply up. They are the best at emptying the breast once they catch on. Happily, my daughter now nurses very well at 4 months. We still have to supplement about once every 2 days with a little formula, but she mostly gets mom's milk.
That's one more issue--formula. A lot of moms (myself included) go through a phase where they feel terrible if they have to use a little formula from time to time. I'm telling you, so many women have to do it, you should not beat yourself up over it if you need it. Maybe you won't have any problems making enough milk (some women make too much!), but if you fit into the category I'm in, remember that you are giving your baby all that you can, and that's more than enough.
I'm so glad I chose to breastfeed my baby even though my female relatives were against it. It can be difficult, and you will have nights in the beginning when you feel like you are breastfeeding all night long, but it's SO worth it. The bond you will have with your little one is indescribable.
Good luck!
2007-05-02 12:07:36 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations!... Breastfeeding is the best gift you can give to your babies...
From my personal experience, I found breastfeeding was hard at the beginning... 1st time mom, I was unsure of everything... whether I do it correctly, whether I have enough, whether the baby was positioned properly (I was afraid that I hurt my baby's neck when I put him on my breast - I know, it sounds silly, but that's how I felt), etc... I have to admit that there were times that I have pain (crack nipples, engorged)... at that time I almost gave up...
BUT... practice makes perfect... as the time went, I got more and more comfortable... I could breastfeed anywhere, anytime, comfortably!...
By the time my baby was 8 mos old I found out that I was pregnant again with the 2nd one, thus had to stop breastfeeding... I cried, feeling that I haven't done enough for my 1st one, feeling that a stage of our bonding is about to over, feeling that I won't be this close anymore with my baby (yeah, must be the hormone, I know! hehe)...
With my 2nd one, it was completely a smooth journey... no more pain whatsoever...
A piece of advise... buy that breastfeeding pillow (one that looks like a crescent)... it was my best breastfeeding purchase...
Eat properly and enjoy the journey...
2007-05-02 12:05:10 · answer #3 · answered by idungbibir 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't do very well with it when I had my first child. The lactation consultant from the hospital was not very helpful and was trying to teach me the wrong way. So the second time around I did it myself and my baby did wonderfully! Just getting the latch on correctly (not just the nipple, you have to get them to latch onto part of the areola too.) is really the key. It shouldn't hurt too bad, unless you're engorged. But it's how ever you feel comfortable and what's comfy for baby. As long as the diapers are getting wet and there are a couple of BM diapers then you are doing it the right way and your body is producing milk wonderfully!
Go in and visit your lacation consultant at the hospital or ask your OB or pediatrician.
2007-05-02 11:55:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
it really is something you cannot describe.....it is this incredible feeling when you are feeding them, it is fantastic. There are alot of websites and information available on breastfeeding, it will take a little while to get used to it, and until you do, you really need to keep trying, it will come naturally after about a month or so. Much cheaper option too!
A coule of good sites are:
www.birth.com.au
www.pregnancyweekly.com (then go into the baby section)
www.babycenter.com
www.babyzone.com
These have great info on there, and about everything else involved with childbirth and raising a new baby
2007-05-02 11:55:17 · answer #5 · answered by thera_2330 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Breastfeeding is Awesome.lol. I am a nursing mother and love it for so many reasons.
Pros:
- it is free
- no warming bottle needed
- can be done any were
- does not have to be packed in a bag when you go out.
- You can feed baby laying down
- gives babies anti-bodies
- better for baby
-helps you lose weight
-can keep period away for a year(if your lucky)
- can help with birth control some what
- you can pump so dad can help.
Cons
only one i know of it that you can not just hand baby to husband and go on a overnight trip. Unless you pump milk
I am a very pro-nursing mom and encourage women to at least try it in hospital. Nursing is a wonderful bonding thing for me.
2007-05-02 11:55:00 · answer #6 · answered by Steph D 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I love breastfeeding! I'm a first time mom. It's great!
2007-05-02 12:19:16 · answer #7 · answered by butternut0000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I certainly haven't breast fed, but a friend of mine said that nobody warned her about how emotional it is. Her daughter took a while to do it, and I guess it's pretty upsetting to a woman when your newborn won't feed from you. So just be prepared that it's not you and it just takes babies a little while to get it down...I guess...
2007-05-02 11:55:04 · answer #8 · answered by shelly 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I couldn't breastfeed with my first but I could with my second. I loved every minute of it and was very upset when she decided it was time to stop. I ended up with PND. But it is a wonderful feeling to know that you and only you can feed your bub and keep her content.
Good luck
2007-05-02 13:13:16 · answer #9 · answered by Katy M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just to let you know...the first 2 weeks are rough.....nipples are sore and the lack of sleep just makes for an emotional rollercoaster....but give it just a few weeks and then you'll get the hang of it.....nothing is better....loving it now!
2007-05-02 13:19:22 · answer #10 · answered by Jenn 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋