Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

Hi,

My DD is 4mths old and I have been EBF since she was born. I have recently started thinking about the lack of help I had gotten at the hospital - they asked me in the delivery room if I was going to BF, when I said I was they gave her to me, she latched on and off we went...then nothing...no visit from a lactation nurse....on the day I was discharged I asked to see the lactation nurse so she could watch my DD nursing to see if she was doing it right...she looked at her for about 1 minute and said "oh yeah she knows what she is doing"...that was it. So we went home and apart from one episode of a blocked milk duct its been going fine.

Any questions I had about BF were answered from message boards like this not from any "trained specialist".

I guess I must be doing it okay as my DD is gaining weight etc, ,but I worry sometimes that my diet might be affecting her - I know she would have gas etc but I dont monitor her too much, if she is fussy I just deal with it.

Sorry for rambling on but my questions are'
1. Did you get any advice in the hospital
2. Do you monitor what you eat and your DC's reaction to it.
3. Do you ever doubt what you are doing and although the signs are there that you are doing it right, maybe think you are not.

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

I got NO HELP from the hospital at all (where did you deliver?)

I gave up @ 8 weeks.... and totally regret it....

I did not take a class, which is another big regret of mine.....


My mil is very anti BFing... and on a daily basis commented on DS weight loss in the hospital ( he lost about 10 oz) however at all my firt visits...my son had been gaining... so my DR wasnt worried...

Well after awhile- someone continually blaming you for your child losing weight, and basically telling you that you are starving your child.... I started pumping...

I became weight gain obsessed... I HAD to see how much he was eating-

I did not have the correct pump (but didnt know that from the lack of BFing help I had) and slowly my supply started to decrease. I considered going to an LC- but at that point, I was made to feel so guilty about BFing to begin with I gave up....

I know I will end up in therapy about this one day...

(Im trying to use this as a learning exp. and vow to take a BFing class before having the next one.... and to seek help from an LC if I need it.... Hopefully the next baby will never have a drop of formula.... )



Sorry for the rant






To answer your questions:

1. Did you get any advice in the hospital- NO
2. Do you monitor what you eat and your DC's reaction to it. I tried to stay away from gassy foods.... if one day he seemed more gassier than the next, Id try and play with , what I thought may have caused.... I didnt drive myself to crazy over it though...
3. Do you ever doubt what you are doing and although the signs are there that you are doing it right, maybe think you are not.
Well- my story kinda answered this question....

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

If you can call it that. She was useless. After I was home I ended up seeing a private lactation consultant.

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

Princessmaris Sorry you went through all that...to be honest I think I would have given up too only for the fact that my DD seemed to know what she was going from the get go..lucky me as I dont come from a breastfeeding family and although my DH is supportive he wouldnt have battled against formula if we had to give her that instead of B.milk.

It just annoys me that you really get no assistance in the hospital for B.Feeding and to be honest I think they dont give you much help in the hospital for anything.

I took one B.Feeding class at the hospital but it was useless...I think a lot of those classes are run by nurses at the end of their shift when they are tired and they really couldnt care less. most of the class was spent discussing this particular nurses kids....not breastfeeding issues.

Okay Rant over.....

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

I did and a lot. I do not live on LI though. The hospital I delivered at was excellent I have to say. No matter if you asked for help or not, the LC stopped in and saw every single person who BF (according to the baby chart) and insisted on watching the latch and offered all her info for any sort of help needed after leaving. Even with delivering my second (there were 2 on staff and I lucked out getting the same one) she stopped in to make sure I remembered the techniques from my first.

I have to say, I think the LC at the hospital is going to offer woman the best chance at succeeding at BFing. A class helps, but only hands on experience is going to prepare you for the bumpy road. Also, I think boards like this from women who may have walked in to the same problems and can offer advice, help just as much. I happen to be lucky and was raised pro-BF with my Mom and sisters.

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

1. Did you get any advice in the hospital

Yes! I kept asking for help though. I rang the bell every time I was going to feed her to have the nurse watch and help. I had two different lactation consultants come into my room and spend time with me as well.

2. Do you monitor what you eat and your DC's reaction to it.

Not in any organized manner. One day I remember eating something with lots of peppers, and her then having a rough night, so I just cut them out for a while.

3. Do you ever doubt what you are doing and although the signs are there that you are doing it right, maybe think you are not.

I've had lots of doubts and worries -- breastfeeding is HARD!!!

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

This is a great post. I did not get any help at the hospital--well, I got a 2 minute look at my son breastfeeding while I was being discharged and the nurse said--he has the hang of it.

I get home, and I was a mess. I breasfeed for four days straight--every hour--I go to the doctor and I think "I did well, he had to have gained a whole pound." He gained NOTHING. I was so upset. I thought I was doing such a great job and I felt that OMG was he starving for four days?

Needless, to say I stopped at 8 weeks. He got the bottle and put on weight instantly. My breasts were torn up, bleeding, cracked and actually tingling. I was so hard on myself for awhile, but then I realized--hey I tried and it just didn't work. But I also think, maybe if I got better help at the hospital--I would be breastfeeding today.

It gets me mad because these hospitals promote breastfeeding and then they give you no help!!!

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

St Catherines now has a lactation consultant that goes room to room to help you. My DD latched on right away and I didn't have any problems. She did hand out her card and told me she was available if I ran into a problem...........

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

My DD is now a little over 3 months old and I am still EBF... The beginning was so hard even though I did get help at the hospital. There was a great nurse there who helped and I also saw a lactation consultant who spent a great deal of time with me, both people gave me their phone #'s but I didn't call. The first few weeks were so hard, I can't believe I am still doing it...

1. Did you get any advice in the hospital-Yes.
2. Do you monitor what you eat and your DC's reaction to it. -I didn't but she turned out to be colicky so I elimated dairy, peppers, broccoli, etc...
3. Do you ever doubt what you are doing and although the signs are there that you are doing it right, maybe think you are not.- Not anymore.

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

Wow, I'm so surprised from the lack of help for some of you ladies. I had a lot of help. I took a class and had 3 different nurses that came in and tried to help me and they each stayed for quite some time. I also received quite a bit of paperwork when I was discharged.
Unfortunately, Christopher wouldn't latch on. I tried at home for a few weeks and gave up. I'm going to be more determined with baby #2.

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

DD is 6 weeks old and I wish I got more help than I did in the hospital. Gianna was born on Tuesday evening, I didn't get any help with BF from the LC until Wednesday evening. The nurse helped me on tuesday night, but her advice made DD ravige my nips.

1. Did you get any advice in the hospital.-Yes some, no LC until 24 hours after birth, only because I kept asking and asking for the LC.
2. Do you monitor what you eat and your DC's reaction to it.- I don't technically monitor it, but I do try to keep mental notes on if something bothers her. So far there NOTHING!
3. Do you ever doubt what you are doing and although the signs are there that you are doing it right, maybe think you are not-In the beginning YES, ALOT, I had fears I was starving my daughter, but not anymore. SHe's almost 10lbs, gaining and growing nicely.

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

Message edited 2/8/2007 12:25:31 PM.

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

I found the lactation consulatation to be no help, so I had my mother show me. It was a little embarassing, but she showed me every trick in the book!

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

Thanks for all your replies....sorry I havent been on since last night to respond.

I delivered at Southampton hospital and while it gets a bad rap overall the maternity section was always supposed to be top class -I would give it a 2 out of 10 and would seriously consider not going back there for my second child.

I guess it depends on the hospital and the amount of help you are given...glad to hear there are some helpful hospitals out there.

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

Definitely depends on the hospital....
Where I had my son in Florida they were GREAT! I had a lactation consultant who checked on me constantly and was very patient and I was very very thankful for her...
however in the hospital where I had my daughter the help was non-existent, which is a pretty big reason that Moms give up on BF I think a lot of times

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

1. Did you get any advice in the hospital
Yes they were great, very Pro BFing
I made sure I BF michael right after birth too
I delivered in South Nassau

2. Do you monitor what you eat and your DC's reaction to it. no not really

3. Do you ever doubt what you are doing and although the signs are there that you are doing it right, maybe think you are not.

I never doubted BFing,
I did doubt my ability at the hospital and if I was doing it right.
It is hard especially the beginning in the hospital and the first week at home,
I had to call the lactation consultant when I was home, and almost went for a constult but then everything worked itself out,
now its nothing,
I have been BF my son for 10 months now

also another important factor I believe is support especially if you have it from someone that has BF its great - my sister was mine and still is.
if you ever need any help or questions ask please feel free
and best of luck.

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

1. Did you get any advice in the hospital
Yes they helped me a great deal - several times. They even sat with me while I fed my DD and helped me get her to latch on.

2. Do you monitor what you eat and your DC's reaction to it.
Not really - we've had many issues on this and it came down to I just cant BF my DD

3. Do you ever doubt what you are doing and although the signs are there that you are doing it right, maybe think you are not.
Not really - as long as she was latching on - and I KNEW when she was latching because WOW did it hurt ...as long as that was happening I wasnt worried about anything else. It did take us a couple of days to get a comfy position that DD liked to be in to nurse. Once she did it was all go from there.

Good luck :) If the hospital doesnt help you as much as you want, just ask for more help. I wasnt shy about asking for help and it was great - they were so willing to help!

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

1. Did you get any advice in the hospital
No, a midwife came around and shoved my nipple into the baby's mouth and then left. After I left the hospital I had some help from someone from LaLeche, but she really didn't help...as a result he never latched on and it broke my heart!

2. Do you monitor what you eat and your DC's reaction to it.
At the begninning I thought that the baby had colic because he cried alot, so I gave up dairy for a week, in the end it did nothing. So I started eating nothing but chocolate (kitkats in particular) and I made loads more milk, I was happier and the baby was happier! It doesn't seem like anything I eat has any effect on him.

3. Do you ever doubt what you are doing and although the signs are there that you are doing it right, maybe think you are not.
I pump so I know that I am doing what I can and should be doing in the circumstances!

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

This post was so informative. I'm due in two months- now that you have all been through it, what would you ladies suggest I do to improve my chances of being successful at BF? Contact an LC beforehand?

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

Of course I douted what i was doing for a couple of months. I did get excellent help in the hospital. I am so thankful for the LC's that I had. They made me feel so at ease.

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

1. Did you get any advice in the hospital

Yes I delivered at LIJ. The nurses helped me constantly and a LC came to see me 2x. They also gave me their no. so I could call them anytime I needed to.

2. Do you monitor what you eat and your DC's reaction to it.

Not really. However, I stayed away from spicy foods and alcohol. I did drink a glass of wine occasionally though.

3. Do you ever doubt what you are doing and although the signs are there that you are doing it right, maybe think you are not.

ALL THE TIME. Bfing is so hard and I constantly 2nd guessed myself. I ended up stopping at 8 weeks b/c I felt that bfing was going well with us. He was always screaming after feedings for more and I just didn't have anymore to give

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

I did get help in the hospital (St. Catherine's). The Lactation Nurse came to see me a couple of times, and a few of the other nurses also helped me. I could not continue though, as DD was hurting me way too much. I have been pumping since then. I have cut ALOT out of my diet -- salads, dairy, garlic, onions, citrus fruits, food with alot of vitamin C, and tomatoes. I don't know for sure if it is helping her or not since I am pumping, I don't really know which bottle is a result of which meals. She seems to have alot of gas despite what I have cut out so I just continue with it. Do I wonder if I'm doing things right? ALWAYS!!

Re: Did you get breastfeeding help in hospital?

I had a lot of help but I didn't give birth in LI. The nurses helped in the delivery room and in the maternity ward. The LC spent a lot of time with me (she had a list and saw everyone who was BF) and also did classes both days. Someone from the office called a few days after discharge to check how things were going too. I think it makes all the difference in the world.
I don't think anythying I eat makes that much difference but I try to avoid gassy foods like broccoli just in case.
I often felt in the beginning that it wasn't going well. My DH was very supportive but my mom didn't BF and was constantly saying that the baby wasn't getting enough. It is very difficult to feel like you're doing the right thing if you don't have support, even if you have all the signs that everything is fine. Eventually you learn to trust yourself.