So I really don't wanna shell out $25 for a class at Wake Med that isn't going to tell me anything other than what I am reading in "The Complete Manual of Breastfeeding". Has anyone else taken the class? Opinions? Also, would love some first hand opinions on breast pumps.....
Never took a class, but I did successfully breastfeed 4 babies. You can do it, it just takes a little pratice and lots of patience!
hehhee, No really, It was soooooooo easy. Really Easy. You will have to PM me for the stroy... but DH-Jr was a 9+ pounder & we nursed 24 hours a day, well, it seemed like all day & night at first. That was all he did, --EAT--, Sleep, Poop. Repeat. He was good at all 3. Pros: Always On Tap, fresh, premixed, FREE, no extra items needed, nothing to wash or toss out. Cons: You are the ONLY on that can do it, takes time.
Jennifer, I breastfed both my children. It was a wonderful experience. I would do it all over again. My youngest was put in NICU when she was born. She stayed there the first 15 days of her life. I had a 2 yr. old at home too. Since I couldn't stay there 24/7 (my DH worked out of town) I had to use a breast pump. We rented an electric one and it was a piece of cake. I had no problems at all. Of course as soon as my DD came home I had no need for it anymore. PM me with any questions. Bren
Jen, I'm "nursin' this person" right now! You MUST get a boppy!! I didn't take any classes, just read magazine articles and used online resources like www.breastfeeding.com or www.kellymom.com If you are going back to work, get a good electric double pump like a Medela PIS - I have the Medela and it rocked! You know my number.
I registered for a Bobby, it's on my list! I just can't see me spending $300 for a breast pump, but I know I need a good one. Ugh, lol...
Just out of curiosity, if you get a book on how to breast feed, how do you get the little one to read it?
From my experience, relax, the baby also has to learn how to "latch on". Also, at first, it seems like "how do I know the baby is getting anything" They say at first the baby won't get much, but it gets all that it needs until the milk comes in. Go with your "gut". Relax, it will happen. The nurses will also help ya at the hosp.
Our son would never latch. We had a visit from the Lactation Consultant while in the hospital. She came in and when our son would not latch on she grabbed the back of his head and literally smashed his face against my wife's chest saying that sometimes they have to be "trained" to latch on. This child was two days old and this woman was being VERY rough with him. My wife looked at me and told me that if I did not get that crazy B$tch out of the room she was gonna kill her!! The woman then launched into how our child would not be healthy beacuse he did not have breast milk, blah, blah, blah. Well 3 1/2 years later I am happy to report he is a healthy boy and loves like and never had breast milk in his life!! IMO, Lactation Consultants are not worth anything!!!
In my experience, the most important thing is just to relax. If you stress out and tense up, the baby senses that, and it makes everything much more difficult. Just relax, be confident, you can do this. Take your time, don't try to rush anything. R-e-l-a-x. Oh, and did I mention, relax?
Yes, do relax. Also, be sure you are eating enough so your body will make milk! The only people that I know who haven't been able to breastfeed were the ones that were trying to lose all their baby weight right away and didn't make enough milk. So EAT!
And also have some water near by while you are nursing. It makes you very thirsty. And don't freak out if you feel very drained the first few times during it or after. That was always so weird. The most comfortable way to relax and nurse is to lay on your side in the bed and lay the baby next to you. Then you can just support the babies back with your hand or a rolled up towel or baby back support. You don't have to worry if you are holding the baby right, the baby can naturally turn away when finished and you can relax and just look at your child and enjoy her. With my first they tried to get me to do the foot ball hold and cradle hold exclusively at the hospital. By the second one I knew the deal. Seems like they just want to make sure that you know the basic holds before you leave. Don't think we have to worry about the hospital staff making you feel intimidated or nervous about it. Something tells me you wouldn't put up with that... 8) ***also when they say make sure you eat...don't forget to watch what you eat. Especially those first few days. The taste of foods is passed down in your milk. Especially things with garlic. The baby may not like it.***
If breastfeeding is something you really want to do, make sure to give it at least 3 weeks to really get the hamh of it. After that, it becomes really easy. some people are blessed in easy feeders from birth-I wasn't. I also suggest getting some support. If you have friends that are or have breastfed, make sure to talk or visit with them often. If not, go to a few LeLeche meetings. They have a series of 3 or 4 topics and they can probably tell you everything the class would, but for free. Also, you will get to see babies nursing, which is important. I can get you contact info for them if you like. I only wish that I had gone BEFORE my baby was born. Then I probably wouldn't have made some of the mistakes I did. Lactation Consultants can be worth their weight in gold or they can be useless. I suggest meeting with one at the hospital-if you click, remember her name and see her again if you have any issues; if you don't click, request someone different. I know that WakeMed will even let you go back for free (once, I think) after you are discharged (at least they did 5 years ago . I don't know where you are delivering, but other hospitals might be the same. As for breast pumps- You're planning on going back to work, right? If so, you either need to rent a hospital-grade pump or get a double sided electric pump like Medelia PIS. It was well worth the money for me. Pump don't work as well as babies, so for most moms, a good pump is essential to maintain your supply. If you're not going back to work, you can probably do with a less expensive pump or none at all. Hope this helps. Oh, many babies love the taste of garlic in breastmilk. My lactation consultant recommented eating eat to encourage my baby to nurse more. Babies are very individual in what the like or don't like in breastmilk and many don't care. One of the good things about breastfeeding is that they get used to the changing taste of breastmilk and often enjoy a variety in solids as well.
cool...never heard that they like garlic...mine didn't. Couldn't eat dairy either while nursing. Gave the baby terrible gas. Ear splitting, screaming gas! So I stayed away from it and tried to eat things that didn't make me have indigestion either. And garlic/saucy foods are a sure indigestion recipe for me.
Great post Ree, and rcmommy is right - if a food doesn't agree with you it will probably annoy baby, too. I pretty much eat whatever I want, just as I did when I was pregnant. I think little Jacinta Placenta likes everything...except for bar-b-q from Smithfield's. Her little butt was red earlier today. And caffeine, I can only have one cup in the morning or she is fussy in the afternoon/evening. And do not supplement if you don't have to. The more you nurse, the more milk your body makes. You can pump and have a bottle for Daddy or Big Sister to feed to the baby. The hospital is going to give you a free diaper bag with coupons and formula samples, and with more moms breastfeeding the formula companies have gotten smart and attached a sticker that says "Breastfeeding Supplementation Kit". If you skip feedings and give formula/EBM without pumping or feeding in the very near future, your body will adjust and not make that much milk - and then you might find yourself dependant on formula (and that's what they want!). I have nothing against formula, just giving tips on how to have a good supply and a happy BF baby. I know the pump is expensive, but well worth it! Take your time at home and see if nursing is right for you. Use the manual pump so you can have some EBM for her to drink in a bottle (otherwise, you might be in my situation - she only wants mommy!) - then if you decide to stick with it, make the purchase which is really an investment. It will pay for itself in a few months. Think longterm. You will spend that in 4-5 months on formula. I can't tell you how EASY it is to be on the go with BF baby. She can eat anywhere @ anytime. No bottles to make, bring, wash, etc. NC is Pro-BF, too. http://www.nutritionnc.com/breastfeeding/PDFS/bf-stateplanFINAL.pdf Need literature for your boss, to smooth over those breaks for pumping? I gotcha covered! http://www.nutritionnc.com/breastfeeding/PDFS/worklact.pdf Now that I look into it, I am really impressed with the NC initiative on Breastfeeding. http://www.nutritionnc.com/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-home.htm And if you are NIPping, and somebody harrasses you make up some little cards to pass out :lol: - I have never had any negative comments from anybody though, and I make my daughter wear a harness too. <GASP!!>
Happened to me too. My daughter only wanted fresh milk, straight from the 'cow'. That is until she, at around 10 months old, just woke up one morning and decided she was completely done with breastfeeding. For the next few days it was like I was hauling a couple of rock-hard, overinflated, fluid-leaking footballs around in my bra!! Ooowweeeeeee!
reeteach2 has a very good point. You have to give it a few weeks and then it will be a breeze... but those first few weeks are going to put you to the test. I breastfed 3... all were different eaters just as all 3 pregnancies were different. First baby wouldn't latch on... but we found the position that worked for us and after about a week of using that position he was fine in any other. Second baby came out already turning her little head looking for 'food'... she was a suckler - one that found comfort in nursing and wanted to use me as a passy! Third baby didn't waste any time... took him 10 minutes each side to eat and I was on with my day only to stop once every 3 or 4 hours for 20 minutes. It was great! It's the best thing for baby ~ they say breastfed babies have higher immunities and less ear infection problems. I can vouch for those statistics as my kids who are far from babies now maybe had 2 ear infections between the 3 of them in 13 years. Colds were few and far between until they started school. Oh and another food tip... broccoli always caused tummy problems for my babies... Good Luck!
