Re: Girls thinking about Breastfeeding......(Very long)

Great Post and I'm right there with you on so many points. DD doesn't have cluster feedings... But we had a panic the first night home - when my milk finally came in. One thing they also don't tell you is that your milk may not come in while you are in the hospital (and i had a c-sec so I was in for 4 days) and the baby gets hungry and you only have colustrum which isn't satisfying her hunger so she is screaming while she is nursing and nursing for an hour and not getting enough. We ended up supplementing wiith formula while in the hospital because she was losing too much weight.

However, the bottles they use in the hospital have a fast flow and it made it too easy for DD - so she developed an aversion to the boob. When we got home, she refused to nurse and DH had to run out and get a breast pump ($40 platex hand pump - was great for a hand pump)

So we ended up pumping and giving her a bottle with a slow flow nipple for the first few days - especially when she was sleeping through feedings.

When she started getting more alert during her feedings, I introduced the boob again and now she switches between the boob and bottle with no problem. Gives DH a chance to bond with her and a chance for me to nap!

Oh - we also use a pacifier to soothe her... Introduced it at the hospital before we started supplementing with formula (after she nursed my nipple for an hour causing a massive blood clot) She loves it and I can always tell when she's hungry or just needs soothing.

Just know that there is no "perfect" way to breastfeed and if you stick with it, you will hopefully find a way that works for you.

Re: Girls thinking about Breastfeeding......(Very long)

My son is 4 weeks old today and I can honestly say how happy I am that I stuck with BF. The first few nights were hard and I was brought to tears because he kept getting up every few minutes to eat.

My saving grace? The Medela nipple shield. I LOVE IT!!! The lactation consultant gave it to me at the hospital b/c my baby was having a hard time latching on. I now use it with every feeding and it protects my nipple. I don't leave home without it!!! If it wasn't for that lactation consultant and that nipple shield I would have given up while still in the hospital.

You can find it at BRU and BBB - they sell for about $6 and basically look like a bottle nipple that attaches to your breast. It makes it easier for the baby to latch on if you have smaller nipples and it really protects you from damage to the nipple.

I urge you moms-to-be who are interested in BF to at least try it - and take advantage of the lactation specialists while in the hospital! GOOD LUCK!!!