Breastfeeding (or lack of) at hospital - debrief...

[Sterla]

Oh Ali, that's awful! Don't feel embarrassed - you were a new mum! I was completely clueless with DS too!

I wasn't overly impressed with the b/f 'advice' I was given in hospital. I was never told or shown how to get DS to properly attach. Because I'd had a c/s, I had to buzz the midwives whenever DS needed a feed anyway, as I couldn't get out of bed. Only problem was, the midwives way of getting DS to attach was simply to force his head and my boob together . Before I had DS, I was told in the antenatal classes, etc, about how breastfeeding friendly the hospital was - but I really don't feel like I was offered much support. There seemed to be a bit of a 'work it out yourself' attitude.
I've found midwives are generally not much help when it comes to b/f - but LC are absolutely wonderful!

Sorry you had such a bad start - but look at you now!!!

[*TripleJ*]

similar story here but there wasnt much forcing but not a lot of help i got a cracked nipple after the first feed i met an LC too little too late i was already discouraged and it was enough to make me wanna stop after 5 days coz of the pain

[AliBaby]

similar story here but there wasnt much forcing but not a lot of help i got a cracked nipple after the first feed i met an LC too little too late i was already discouraged and it was enough to make me wanna stop after 5 days coz of the pain

Thats terrible as well. I didnt get to see the LC until the end of my second day . I also got cracked nipples from hospital even though it was the midwives that were the ones attaching DD.

[ladybird11]

Very similar cicrumstance happened when I had DS too hun - it is dreadful isn't it?

I actually lodged a complaint due to the lack of support when it came to b/f. Post natal care is just as important and sometimes it doesn't seem like its a priority (well certainly at one hospital which shall remain nameless ).

Hugs hun.

[Visitor3]

Oh no hun that's terrible ! No one is born with that knowledge so don't even think for a minute you should have just known what to do, when and how. I was only a little opposite to you. I thought I was doing everything right in the hospital ! Not one midwife or LC came to see me or check if I actually was even holding DD correctly let alone if she was latching. I went to a 3 hr breast feeding class through the hospital before I had DD so I thought that's was everything I needed to know ? I also didn't know how often to feed? By the third day when my nipples became so sore and cracked I told a midwife that I didn't think DD was latching properly because now I was really sore and she grabbed DD and my boob and pushed us together like she was playing the cymbals !

It's hard when there is such little focus placed on guiding new mums on how to BF, milk supply, correct latching etc. You're not alone and you certainly can vent about it. On the upside look at you now...Good that you're one of the lucky one's to be able to BF successfully.

[~Raven~]

I think that sometimes we are so unsure of what to do and if we get a midwife that isn't quite so good we can be terribly let down. Being told different things creates awful confusion I agree!

One would also expect for bubs chart to be checked and questions asked about input and output so as for it not happening by any one of those Drs or midwives throughout the day isn't good enough on their part. I had no idea that they would be so concerned about that stuff as a first time mum.

It's so overwhelming and you didn't do anything wrong OK!

[Barb Glare]

Hi, Ali,

What a difficult time you had of it. It is a complete credtit to you that you have persisted.
Sadly, what you describe is common, but still inexcusable.
For any other woman expecting a baby there are 2 things you can do to make sure your early breastfeeding experience is a much more positive one.
Join the Australian Breastfeeding Association, and go to one of their breastfeeding classes - held in most areas. I'm starting to think of it as "your baby's first immunisation against stupidity". (Other people's stupidity!)
There are a galaxy of uninformed people who deliberately or inadvertantly will derail your breastfeeding experience. Having sound research based knowledge, and quick access to supportive people will do much to circumvent this.
The second thing is to make sure you are giving birth in a "Baby Friendly" hospital. This is a World Health Organisation and UNICEF accredited scheme and means that certain standards including staff education must be followed

[AliBaby]

Thanks so much Sterla. You are so lovely.
I think that alot of hospitals want to say they are breastfeeding friendly and they might encourage women to breastfeed but dont help to educate them. Like you, having a midwife thrust DD's mouth onto my boob didnt teach me how to b/f, in fact I found it quite the opposite.
It would just be good if all midwives were trained to be lactation consultants as well just to get women off to the best start that they can.
Thanks again for your kind words