Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

can you share your BF experiences?

I really want to BF, then pump for at least 6 months to a year.

I will be off for 2 months, then going back to work 3 days a week until Aug 09.

I am really nervous about this. I am reading a book right now about BF 'Breastfeeding Made Simple' and taking a class on Wednesday.

I know I will have to start pumping within 4-5 weeks to start storing milk and getting the baby adjusted to the bottle.

I have my own office, so pumping at work shouldn't be too bad for the three days I am working.

For some reason, I am more nervous about this, then labor and giving birth.

I am hoping after my class this Wednesday, I will feel more confident.

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

BF is a wonderful experience! You may have some setbacks with it, I think most of us have, but so worth it! I think you made the right decision to take a class! I wish I had! I would advise having the number of a lactation consultant on hand also. They are a big help.

An essential website, IMO, is kellymom.com. This has been my bible!I had a hard start with BFing and was determined not to give up and this site really helped as did the wonderful ladies on here!

You are going to do beautifully, don't worry! Part of it is relaxing and you will get help in the hospital from their lactation consultants as well!

We are all here to help.

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

Don't put too much pressure on yourself. I went into BF hoping it would work out, but I didn't have a set timeline or any expectations.

I never took a class, but Ella made it easy. She latched on right away - would transition bottle to boob with no problem, etc.

I BF and pumped for 6 months.

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

I was on the fence about BFing and just went with the, :I'll give it a try and see what happens" attitude. DS took to it really well and He was on BM for 5 months. I returned to work after only 3 weeks, so I had to start pumping and giving Ds a bottle early on. We were very lucky and were able to go back and forth between the boob and bottle for months.

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

I returned to work when DS was 11 wks old. Since then I've been successfully combining BFing and pumping. (My DS just turned 10 months old.)

When I returned to work, I also had very little stored. It was never a problem for me. I pump more than my DS needs and have built up quite a freezer stash.

I also found that I had more questions about BFing after DS was born. Reading about it and taking a class was one thing, doing it was another. The nurses and LC at the hospital were very helpful.

If you have any specific questions after you baby is born please come on here and ask away. You can also FM me if you want.

GL

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

First-i think it is great that you want to BF. It can be a hard decision b/c it really does put a lot of responsibility on you. I did not go back to work and the only thing i really hated was pumping so i can't give too much advice on all of that. but i can give encouragement. BFing was the single best thing i decided to do-and i NEVER would have believed that in the beginning! DD is almost 9 months and we are still BFing. i will admit that in the beginning i wanted to quit EVERY day-even with DD being good at latching on and eating. it was just hard and i felt SO responsible and a little trapped at times. however, this period was just temporary and passed so fast. as the months passed BFing got easier and so natural for us. i feel extremely bonded to DD b/c of this and i really cannot explain why. i feel like it was not only the best thing i could do for her but for me too ironically. i wish you all the best with everything-from your delivery to your BF experience! good luck and don't ever hesitate to ask questions here-everyone is so helpful!

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

I was really nervous about BFing before delivering. I read about how it could be painful, and I took classes on it, worried that I couldn't go anywhere w/o the baby, can't drink (alcohol), etc. But honestly I had no problems with it whatsoever. It came very easy for me and I am sooo glad I did it. (My goal was only to do it for 3 mos so thats what I did). I had no pain really at all. I was able to leave him places for other people to watch and pump enough to have bottles ready to go. When I drank (the few times that I did) I pumped and dumped...not a big deal b/c I had so much in the freezer.

My advice, pump as much as you can in the beginning...your milk will come in and you should have more than enough for the baby so pump the rest. I pumped a lot from day one and kept up a good supply until I had a lot in the freezer if I needed to leave him w/someone else for a few hrs.

I did go thru a week here or there that I wondered if I was producing enough milk but I think it was just my body adjusting...and the baby being hungry every hr and a half!! For most people it all works out and you will be so happy you did it!!!!!

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

i think it's great that you're going to breastfeed!!!

to be completely honest, breastfeeding has been challenging for me. nursing was never really the issue, even though we did have periods of fussiness at the breast and nursing strike. all in all, he nurses well.

it's really been pumping that has worn me down. i went back to work at 12 weeks and my body doesn't respond all too well to the pump. so i've spent lots of time pumping to get not so much milk. over time the whole process has gotten the best of me - i am exhausted. so i am slowly weaning and introducing more formula, and plan to be completely switched over to formula by the time ds is 6 months.

having said that, i wouldn't have done it any other way. i've enjoyed the time i spent breastfeeding and i will do it again for my next child.

don't be nervous - you will do just fine with it!! we will all help you through the ups and downs.

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

its very very very hard the first few weeks - 6 weeks for me. Its painful at first, neither of you will know what you are doing - and for me, there was a lot of frustration. BUT - for me - I truly feel the only reason I am still BF is due to my determination to not give up. Not to fail. I kept at it and even my dr. was impressed

Just know, it does get easier. Now, my DD is 3 months old and its a breeze. Its the quickest way for me to feed her - no warming of bottle, no mixing - just stick the boob in and 10 min later she is done. Nothing hurts anymore and its a breeze.

My advice: if you really want to do this, stick with it, be determined not to give up and always remember, like everything else with a newborn - it does get easier.

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

the most important thing is a positive attitude.

I would research an LC in your area now.

I gave birth is a super BF friendly hospital where we had LC support around the clock, they had pagers and we would call them just like we would call a nurse.

They bring confidence and correct latches.

I rented a pump from the hospital, I had engorgement issues. I started pumping in the first week.

I don't live near anybody, and DH works a lot, so my baby was always bad with the bottle. I would have someone else give your baby his bottles so he gets use to it.

6 weeks. That's what its going to take for BFing to feel okay. Make each day a goal...but when you hit 6 weeks, I think you are good to go.

Next baby, I am investing in a really great sling. Maybe look into those?

good luck! you can totally do it. People are always shocked to hear I am still nursing. It becomes a very small part of your life after a while...in the beginning it seems as though its all you are or do. it will fade.

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

Everyone gave great advice. I just wanted to add:

-Hot showers will help relieve engorgement in the beginning (especially first thing in the morning).

-For the first few days, try not to supplement if you can. My ped told me that newborns don't need to eat that much the first 48 hrs so if you're having latch-on problems, just keep trying (of course, a LC will help with the latch).

-Offer a bottle early on (2-3 weeks). We didn't give ds a bottle until about 8 weeks & he would never take it. He's still not 100% with the bottle & he's 6 mos.

HTH

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

Ladies, thank you so much for your advice and support. I am so looking forwarding to joining you all on the parenting board.

It really is so nice to have a support system here and to be able to come on and ask for advice.


All you ladies are the best!!!!


I am definitely going to do my best with BF, it is something that I really want to do. I know I need to be flexible, but I am also determined.

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

Hi Tara!

No advice since I didn't BF but I just wanted to say how excited I am that it is your month!

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

I so wanted to do it and i only lasted 3 weeks :(0

Looking back I wasnt relaxed enough and there was too much family asking to come over...i felt so miserable....so, good luck and keep guests to a minimum

Re: Hi Ladies, I am due this month, I was wondering

I breast fed the first month and someone gave me a nipple shield because I was having trouble with my daughter latching on because my nipples are little.. The nipple shield helped very much with that and when my nipples got sore and even cracked.It's a life saver! You're local wic office has those and I think Target sells those..