in hospital/breastfeeding question

I've been getting mixed advice regarding breastfeeding when I first deliver. I know I want to try right away. Some people tell me I'm going to be so tired that I should get whatever sleep I can and let the nurses feed the baby through the night, other people tell me I should have them wake me up and definitely not to let them give the baby a bottle. My MIL is a neo-natal nurse and says that even if the baby was given a bottle or 2 it shouldn't make breastfeeding any harder b/c they are too young to know.
I was wondering what your experiences were with this and what everyone thought was best...? TIA!

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

I BF the entire time in the hospital. The nurses new I wanted to and to come in with her if she was crying to eat. And they did! Was I tried, SURE, but I was not really sleeping much in the hospital anyway (just uncomfortable for many reasons).
Even though I was tired and my DH was in the room sleeping in a chair...I woke and seeing her made it all the worthwhile.

JMO, i thought it at least gave me some idea of what to expect once home and might as well gotten used to it....and even then I realized, the hospital was like a vacation! Once home I realized just how much the nurses must have done at night!

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

Both of my DS were primarily bottle fed in the hospital. DS1 was bottle fed because I had developed pre-eclampsia and was on too many meds to BF. DS2 was NICU baby so he was given formula to gain weight. I successfully BF DS1 for 9 months and I am still BF DS2 (he is just 8 months).
I don't believe in nipple confusion and I agree that you should try to get as much sleep while in the hospital as you can.

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

At the hospital I delivered my daughter at, I had the option to leave her in the the nursery (as opposed to keeping her in my room) and they would bring her in to me to nurse twice during the night. They actually had set times...but of course if she had been fussy, they would have brought her in sooner/later.

The idea of getting rest while in the hospital is good...in theory. In reality, your door is a revolving stream of nurses coming to prod you/take your temp, workers coming in to clean your room, visitors wanting to see you and your baby, etc.

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

I nursed both of my DD's throughout the night in the hospital. Honestly, I slept like crap regardless. I was uncomfortable and crampy; I was hot and cold; nurses took my vitals every 3 hours. Hospitals are not really a place of rest. I found that I bonded best with both of my girls in the wee hours of the morning in the hospital. The TV was off and it was just the 2 of us.

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

i thought for sure i wouldnt want to have to wake up in the middle of the nite to nurse my dd..but i remember staring at the clock WAITING for her lil face to come see me..i was actually the ONLY mother on the floor walking around at 2am and getting my dd from the nursery myself lol...i just couldnt wait to hold her again ;) Plus, i knew the first few days were the most important to me for us to get to know each other without any distractions..

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

I will be honest those middle of the night BF sessions are some of my most precious memories with both of my children. I wouldn't trade it for anything I wouldn't let them have bottles at all in the hospital.

Message edited 4/15/2009 10:36:22 PM.

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

I nursed right from the start. It was important to me that she not have a bottle. Get your rest while your still pg, sleep will not be the same after baby arrives

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

When I was breastfeeding in the hospital I had them bring the baby to me in the night, I didn't want to worry about n!pple confusion as it had happened to me with DS2 (it can happen whether people believe it or not). I ended up with a fever one night and they had to feed her in the nursery, so they actually cup fed her formula. Maybe they'll do that for you if you want for one of the feedings in the night?

She ended up dropping too much weight and the ped insisted I supplement...once we got home and she was being supplemented by bottle her latch was beyond messed up and nursing went downhill from there. I know MANY babies can switch back and forth with no problem but mine seem to have issues.

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

thanks for your responses! I will mostly likely have them wake me, as much as I love sleep I know seeing my baby will be something I will be happy to wake up to! at least that early on!

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

I fed both babies through the night but I also know people that gave bottles in the hospital. It's always good (so I have heard) to nurse as much as possible to encourage a good latch. I think that you should see how you feel afterwards. You really don't know until you are in the situation what works for YOU. Everyone has an opinion but do what works at that time.

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

thanks! another question I was wondering about... if you had a roomate would they get annoyed when the nurse would be coming in to wake you thru the night?? I heard of that happening which would suck.

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

2 things-- The nurses gave my DD a bottle in the middle of the night and we are successfully breastfeeding now. She still gets formula supplements and it hasn't given her any nipple confusion at all whatsoever. Secondly, one of my friends didn't supplement with formula before her milk came in and her son got severely dehydrated and got very sick with a high fever int eh hospital. The poor baby had to stay in the hospital for an additional week to recover.

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

I didn't want them to supplement with formula so they brought the baby in for 2 night feedings.

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

Message edited 4/16/2009 7:29:49 AM.

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

My hospital stay was nothing normal. DS was born at 11 1/2 pounds and was put right into NICU. He ate at least once per hour. I guess it was due to his size. (Not exaggerating, the nurses kept commenting on how he didn't let me go more than a hour.)

I didn't get to feed him at all the first 12 hours after he was born. (My plan was to immediately feed him as soon as he was born. My plan was to never give him a bottle in his first 6 weeks.) After those first 12 hours I would walk to NICU and feed him. Once I got back to my room it was time to feed him again.

The last night in the hospital I wasn't feeling too well. They kept telling me they could feed him one feeding and for me to rest. I finally gave in and let him get a bottle of formula on his fourth night.

I was released on a Tuesday and was back in the hospital on Thursday. (I had some rare complications.) Obviously, I didn't have any breastmilk stash in the freezer. I hadn't started pumping. As soon as I was admitted I begged for pump. Nurses argued with me to just give up. I put up a fight. FInally one nurse got me a pump. I was in the hospital for another 4-5 days. DS was given mainly formula, but got as much milk as I could pump and send home. I also got to BF him once per day while he came to visit.

What is the point to my long-winded story? I had lots of plans. They were all shot to hell. But, after those first few weeks I EBF him for 6 months and continued to BF him until a year. He never had nipple confusion. I wasn't a bad mommy.

Good luck and do what you feel is right.

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

if you want to bf, the nurses should NOT be giving the baby a bottle...have them come and wake you when the baby needs to eat, or even better, keep the baby with you in your room and nurse on demand

this is if you really want the BF'ing to work, IMHO

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

Posted by Mikismom

if you want to bf, the nurses should NOT be giving the baby a bottle...have them come and wake you when the baby needs to eat, or even better, keep the baby with you in your room and nurse on demand

this is if you really want the BF'ing to work, IMHO

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

I Bf'ed except for one session (the 2 AM one). I let the nurses take him to the nursery at 11PM and then they brought him back in at around 4/5.

That way, I got at least 6 hrs of sleep but was able to mostly BF.

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

I BF for every feeding in the hospital - and so far to this day....is it tiring - yes, but you don't really sleep much anyway. It is a totally personal decision, but if you want to EBF, then I would have the baby brought to you in the middle of the night, but that's JMO

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

I kept my DS in the room with me at all times, so I didn't sleep at all. At the time I was so insistant on him not having a bottle but by day 3 I was so exhausted and DS wasn't latching properly that I reluctantly gave in and gave him a bottle. To be honest I think your MIL is right and at that time he didn't know the difference and the next time around I think I will supplement right from the start to keep my sanity.

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

My kids were in the NICU so I only BF them when I was there(usually all day long) At night they woke me up every three hours to take my temp and bp(I had preeclampsia so I was never able to sleep long anyway.

That said-I pumped for them and they went from bottle to breast easily in the first 8 weeks. I now exclusively pump for one of my sons and had not put him to breast in weeks. I have been trying the last few days and he does not like it-cries and fusses-so I think at this point maybe he prefers the bottle

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

Re: in hospital/breastfeeding question

I BF DS # 1 in the hospital and bottle fed when we got home. He had no issues switching between the bottle and breast and vice versa and fed both ways.