Okay what I want to know is if you have to breastfeed right away after the birth of the baby or can you wait until your comfortable in your own home? I know that sometimes you have to wait for your milk to come in so in the mean time will the hospital supply you with the feeding or do they just let you know what formula you need to buy while waiting for the milk to come in? Any experianced mothers i would greatly appreciate your input for a first timer!
2007-07-30 08:07:00 · 12 answers · asked by squuishee 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
The initial breast feeding experience should take place in the hospital as soon after birth as mom is able to. Before the breast milk comes in, your body produces a very nutrient-rich and antibody-filled substance called colostrum that is an excellent first food for babies. While the amount of colostrum produced is small in comparison to breast milk it is all a newborn baby needs the first few days of life. Breast feeding problems can be easily addressed by the nurses and lactation consultants in the hospital. These professionals can help you with proper latch-on, proper positioning, and can ease your discomfort with doing something that really isn't near as natural as you might think it is. It is sometimes recommended to not offer breast fed babies a bottle or a pacifier initially until their breast feeding techniques are developed. Nursing from a bottle is considerably easier than nursing from a breast. Some babies refuse the breast after getting their food a much easier way. Each baby is different, however, and some babies do go between bottle and breast with little glitch. Additionally, breast feeding or at least attempting to, right after birth does help with getting your uterus to begin the process of returning to a pre-pregnancy condition. Immediate breast feeding also aids in the bonding between baby and mom. Babies who will be breast fed are not generally fed formula in the hospital, but the hospital does provide little bottles of pre-made formula if it is needed. A very important breast feeding fact to know is that the more your baby nurses (whether he/she is getting colostrum or breast milk) the more milk your body produces. If you do not nurse in those first couple days, your body will not realize that it needs to begin the process of milk production and it may delay building up the amount of milk needed by your baby. Just because your milk will not come in for a few days does not mean that your body is not producing what your baby needs to survive. I highly recommend you take advantage of the breast feeding classes, the nurses, and the lactation consultants at the hospital. Get lots of information and practice in before you leave the hospital. It is not always smooth sailing with breast feeding. It took my oldest 2 weeks to really get the hang of latching on and sucking properly. I was nearly frantic with desperation at not being able to feed my baby. The lactation consultant visited my home twice to help me and then just one day she started to nurse fine and it was easy after that. My next 2 came out nursing like pros, but then my 4th was a poor nurser and it took weeks of perseverance on both our parts to get things settled in. It took 6 weeks of hard, frustrating work, but she ended up being breast fed until 14 months when she self-weaned.
2007-07-30 08:38:19 · answer #1 · answered by sevenofus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Breastfeed right away. If you don't, it could make it more difficult to produce milk. Not only that, but the first couple of days you produce colostrum which help build your newborns immune system and also serves to help keep your new born hydrated.
Breastfeeding isn't as simple as letting the baby latch on. There are a few things to learn and it will be best to get the advise by professionals. Every newborn is different and may develop different habits. It is best to allow the nurses to guide you in helping your newborn feed.
No need to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. Just look around the nursery and see how many babies are there. multiply this number daily and you can see it is not big deal for any of the hospital staff. It's just an everyday thing. Good luck and please do what's best for the baby and not you! Besides, if you are worried about exposing your breast, keep in mind half the staff will have seen more of you then that by the time you baby is born!
2007-07-30 08:17:53 · answer #2 · answered by Sweet 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Right Away! It's better to breastfeed the baby right after she/he is born. If you wait you may never get milk at all, you baby's suckling is what stimulates the breast to produce more milk. The first milk is the best 4 your baby (colostrum) it help her immune system because it contains antibodies. It's your decision at the hospital if you want your babies first feeding to be the bottle or it you want to breastfeed. Sometimes when babies recieve the bottle it is hard to breast-feed because the baby would be used to the bottle. I breast my baby right after i had her. She was 8 pounds 10 ounces when she was born and when i left the hospital a couple of days later i had her check up and she had lost wieght because i wasn't producing enough milk, but on that exact date my breast got engored with milk. It's hard sometimes because the baby latches on the breast the wrong way and then the nipple tends to crack and get sore. If you have WIC they will explain how to latch your baby on the breast..(they do that about the 7-8 month of pregnancy) if not you can ask in the hospital they can help you. I personally love to breast-feed my 5 month baby..no having to wake up at night to make a bottle, no having to take a bottle out..and no money to spend on formula...but right now i'm having a hard time to get her off because i'm going back to school..It's a great bond..but if your going to go to work or school i would get the baby used to both.. ask the hospital for a manual breast pump they can provide you with one free...that way the baby can still benefit from your milk.
Best of Luck and Congrats on the new member in your family!!!
2007-07-30 08:33:53 · answer #3 · answered by CrzyJoker 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are a few reasons that it is best to breast feed immediately. #1 Colostrum is what is let down before the milk comes in, there are lots and lots of nutrients, more so than in milk to help your baby. #2 Nipple confusion. This happens with many babies who are transferred to the NICU after birth. Once they are drinking from a bottle, many babies will refuse your nipple. #3 Assistance. Assuming this is the first time you will experience breastfeeding, it is very important for a nurse or lactation consultant to visit you in the hospital to ensure the baby is latching on correctly and getting the milk flow he/she needs. Undoubtedly, it is best to feed immediately in the hospital, and not wait until you get home. For your own benefit, if you feed immediately, you run less of a risk for EXTREMELY painful engorgement, which occurs in women who don't breastfeed. Hope that helps!! P.S. Regardless of when you decide to begin breastfeeding, you are making a great choice, breast milk is almost always best for baby!!!
2007-07-30 08:15:20 · answer #4 · answered by Jen M 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well the first little bit of milk from breast feeding is essential since it is the colostrum the healthiest milk for your baby and it contains everything the kid needs right away (heavy in fat content vitamins and antibodies.
sadly if you wait too long to start breastfeeding you may find that your milk is drying up and you wont be able to breast feed in the proper amounts to feed your child properly.
also the nipple of a bottle and that of your breast are very different and that it's hard to switch back and forth because the latch that your baby develops on a bottle will be painful and cause cracks in your own nipples.
if you have to wait for your milk to come in then fine...but if it's already there then i'd say use it. it's also a wonderful way to bond with your new child....
gratz and good luck!
2007-07-30 08:14:49 · answer #5 · answered by Fission Chips 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's best to begin at the hospital, because they usually have a lactation specialist help you with getting started with things like proper alignment for the baby to latch on, etc.
Further, you do need to begin nursing BEFORE milk comes in because your breasts produce a substance called "colostrum" which provides higher amounts of antibodies and white blood cells than regular breast milk, and that strengthens your baby's digestive immune system. There's also some who argue that colostrum will prevent a great many food allergies.
2007-07-30 08:15:23 · answer #6 · answered by KatJones37 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well from personal experience, they made sure I fed the baby in the hospital before I left. They wanted to make sure the baby could latch on and was eating good. And you will already be producing colostrum so you will be able to feed the baby.
2007-07-30 08:12:53 · answer #7 · answered by Blondie13 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You should bf the baby while in the hospital. If s/he gets bottle-fed, s/he likely will not take the breast. You will not feel shy or embarassed at the hospital after you give birth, I assure you! You lose all sense of modesty while pushing another human out through your hoo-ha....especially since you'll likely poop during the process while in front of everyone in the delivery room. Sorry, but that's the reality of it.
2007-07-30 08:11:51 · answer #8 · answered by Katyana 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Breastfeed right away. Your body produces clostrum. It contains the antibodies that are important to your babies health.
The more you breastfeed the faster your milk comes in.
Enjoy your baby.
2007-07-30 08:10:53 · answer #9 · answered by mommymystic 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Start in the hospital where a lactation specialist can work with you to teach you and your baby how it works....
2007-07-30 08:13:06 · answer #10 · answered by Joey_Pit 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋