is there anything i can do in preparation?

**Ginger** · September 11th, 2007, 09:56 PM

i'm really keen to bf my bubs when it finally comes out, am just wondering if there's anything i can do in preparation for successful bfing? i have had a couple of friends who reckon they just couldn't do it. i really want to perservere with it cos i believe in the benefits it has for both mum and bubs, has anyone got any advice for a mum to be??

**Astrid** · September 11th, 2007, 10:11 PM

Get to know your local ABA group. The women are lovely and don't forget the phone counselling that the ABA provides. Just wish I remembered that when I first had trouble

From personal experience it is best to not have people around who are very negative about breastfeeding. It can be emotionally exhausting defending your self, best keep that energy looking after bubs and yourself. Good luck

**christyb** · September 11th, 2007, 10:16 PM

Hi Gracie. The best preparation you can do is to educate yourself. Read as much as you can and get the people around you to read about it too as you will need their support if you should encounter any difficulties. You can also join the ABA and go to BF classes before your bubs is born. The ABA is also great for support in the early days and weeks too. It's not only great for bubs but one of the most beautiful experiences for a Mum. I couldn't imagine what it would REALLY be like before my DD was born but I'm 100% loving it!! Have fun!

**Ginger** · September 11th, 2007, 10:20 PM

thanks guys- yes i've been on the aba website and am thinking of joining up- just gotta borrow dp's credit card!! ha will def make sure i have no one around me whose negative about bfing! mil can p#ss off!

**Ca Plane Pour Moi** · September 11th, 2007, 10:25 PM

Expect to have a problem. It is toe-curling in the early days for latch-on, even when you're doing it right.

You and bub will quickly find the best position for you, don't feel you have to try out every position because the midwife likes it best.

Remember your milk takes a few days to come in. Midwives forget.

Feed as often as possible at first - better a slight oversupply than undersupply.

**Liz** · September 12th, 2007, 12:08 AM

I went to an ABA class and read up heaps. I think when you join up now you get the Breastfeeding Naturally book for free too.

Definitely the more you educate yourself, the easier it is to sift through all the different/conflicting advice you will receive. And you WILL receive it. LOL. Be it from different midwives at the hospital, from rellies & friends.. it goes on and on. And only take advice from someone who has actually successfully breastfed! I'm sure all advice is well meaning, but when you're tired and worried and struggling, you don't need to hear little comments about supplementing with formula etc coz it can undermine your confidence.

Read up on debunked myths too! Such as many people think their milk dried up around 6 weeks or so coz their boobs didn't feel full and the baby started fussing... but in most cases, it's usually just the boobs self-regulating.. no longer overproducing.. together with bub starting to demand more to up the supply for a growth spurt. Knowing little things like this helps you to ignore comments like "my milk dried up around this time, maybe yours is too".

Sounds like you've got the right mindset to be successful! Enjoy it!

**Barb Glare** · September 12th, 2007, 06:19 AM

Hi,

I second the suggestions about joining ABA and going to a breastfeeding class that they run.

Babies are born to breastfeed. It's natural, but it's something a new mother has never done before and neither has the baby, so you are likely to have ups and downs as you both learn.
I would also get a copy of Sue Cox's DVD "Mom and Baby I can do that" It talks about getting breastfeeding off to the best start in the birthing room. Put into your birth plan that you want your baby skin to skin with you until after the first feed - at least an hour, and you don't want to be interrupted. You don't need to weight the baby if all is going well. Ask your partner and relatives not to take the baby or hold it - he needs to know his mummy first.
Now, of course, many babies have had a different start to this, and have gone on to breastfeed fine - but in my experience it sure makes things a lot easier.
Ask the hospital if they have a Lactation consultant and how to contact her. It's good to have all your support stratefies in place.

Warm Regards
Barb

**Tobily** · September 12th, 2007, 08:24 AM

I agree with the other ladies in saying to have your support lined up before baby comes.

I remember with my first bub I was a sleep deprived mess by the time I needed help, and I could barely think straight long enough to even sit down with the phonebook and try to find the numbers of the ABA or look for an LC.

With my second bub I had everything written down, had decided on an LC to call etc...but luckily I didn't need it with him.

Also agree with the point about surrounding yourself with people who are positive about it, and aren't going to infect your mindset with their beliefs of the myths of breastfeeding.
My DS is 11 months old and still doesn't sleep through the night - at least once a month someone will say to me "Are you sure you've still got milk?? Maybe the quality isn't very good....blah blah"....If I weren't confident in my body's ability to feed my baby I would've probably quit months ago!

Good luck you're off to a great start!

**Roryrory** · September 12th, 2007, 09:43 AM

I second all that's been said, especially about reading as much as you can. The ABA's "Breastfeeding...naturally" is fantastic. I don't mean to brag but I apparently had such good "technique" when in hospital that one midwife asked if this was really the first time I'd breast fed.

I remember with my first bub I was a sleep deprived mess by the time I needed help, and I could barely think straight long enough to even sit down with the phonebook and try to find the numbers of the ABA or look for an LC.

I can sooooo relate to this! As prepared as I was for BF I hadn't read how to use my steriliser for expressing EBM and I swear it took me about 2 months to get the mental energy to read the instructions and sterilise for the first time. I kid you not - there is a lot going on in your life with a new bub and the last thing you will want to do is learn a whole new concept (which BF is for many) when you are tired/emotional. There is so much information and support out there about how BF works and IMO you will be much kinder to yourself if you start learning now.

But that said an important thing to remember is that BF is a RELATIONSHIP! It is not one sided - you need to get to know your bub and that takes time. Nothing is perfect from the start, some babies are lazy latchers, your milk might be fast or slow, whatever. Give you and your baby plenty of time to get acquainted, surround yourself with fore-knowledge and options for support and trust your body and baby.

**chocolatecatty** · September 13th, 2007, 01:37 PM

It's great to read such good advice! My tip would be to get hold of a breastpump for when your milk does come in - mine took about four days adn I woke up with rocks that Caty couldn't latch onto for the firmness (I also had flat nipples but that's another thread!). A breastpump relieved me of much pain!

**Ginger** · September 13th, 2007, 01:53 PM

thanks everyone for your advice- i've been on aba website reading up, checked up on lactation consultant at hospital, and yes they also run follow up clinics for people having trouble...and i've also got a breastpump all ready to go!

**mbear** · September 13th, 2007, 08:01 PM

I never bought one bottle prior to having DD#1....this baby was going to be breastfed no matter what. I didnt want a bottle in the house for fear of me givnig up and thinking 'oh well....theres always the bottle'...............Old cliche, but bit ike riding a bike, saying 'i can do this, i can do this' really does make a difference.
Breastfeeding, for me, was the ONLY way my baby was going to be fed....the thought of formula feeding had not even entered my mind.

**Ca Plane Pour Moi** · September 13th, 2007, 09:34 PM

I had family buy me bottles because you "need" them

- but I was determined to prove them wrong! I was actually determined to prove that BFing a toddler isn't wrong, so had to keep BFing to do that!

**Jac** · September 13th, 2007, 10:59 PM

Hi Gracie,
I suggest breastfeeding bubs as soon as possible after birth, ringing the nurses everytime when you attach bubs while in hospital (even if you think you're doing it right) - yes they might give conflicting advice but I listened to them all and learnt a lot that way. You're only in hosp. for a short time so use it to get all the nurses to help you learn good attachment techniques. Once you've got that down pat you should be fine. I agree about the bottle/formula thing, I never had either of these in my house only because I always knew I would be breastfeeding so why would I need those? I found breastfeeding to be easy and pleasurable and you will too! Not everyone has difficulties with it.

**SSmiles** · September 19th, 2007, 02:28 PM

I don't know that there is anything that you can do in preparation, except to expect some pain... I tried all the suggestions that I'd been given and still had MAJOR pain for the first 5 weeks or so. I was determined to BF so I kept going - through the tears and toe-curling pain - it was HORRIBLE...I was so scared each time that he was due for a feed that I'd want to run away. But it finally got better and in the end it didn't hurt at all.

Good luck and I hope that it goes smoothly and relatively pain free for you!!

**Ozziehoffy** · September 19th, 2007, 04:25 PM

My advice would be to remain relaxed. Put bubs on your breast as soon as you can after birth and hopefully you will find bubs knows what to do already. Enjoy, it's such a lovely time... I still enjoy it.. which is good cos I tried him with EBM in a bottle when I had to express to unblock a blockage and he wouldn't have a bar of it!! He wants the real deal...lol.

Matryoshka · September 19th, 2007, 06:03 PM

Just assume that you WILL breastfeed and see it as the only option. That's basically what i did. Also do NOT keep any formula in the house "just in case". I was lucky to not have any initial attachment issues but i was feeding round the clock, constantly for days and weeks and months, and i was exhausted. Many a night i told my dh i was tired and i wanted someone else to feed him. My dh flat out said no! while i was furious at the time i'm glad he was strong and supportive because he kept me motivated and reassured that the difficult period would not last forever. So make sure you're dh is also educated and right behind you in this quest.

**SweetPea** · September 25th, 2007, 02:41 PM

I was so determined to breastfeed as well and it really helped to have the support of the people around me, it never crossed my mind to put him on the bottle and we've exclusively breastfeed since he was born! I also found the aba a great resource, I had mastitis early on and got lots of helpful advice from them. Good luck and enjoy, it's the most amazing and rewarding experience!
Just saw you're due any moment, sending you labour vibes!!!