So I'm due in roughly 3-4 weeks, and am starting to freak out a bit about breastfeeding.
I was unsuccessful with DS.i was totally unprepared for the snowball that was DS being born and not latching on...to trying to pump and getting ridiculously cut up nipples....to severe mastitis that wouldn't go away...to finally taking those 2 little tablets that stopped my milk supply so the infection then went away. This was all in the space of 3 weeks! So I failed miserably.
What I would love to know is what are your absolute top tips to prepare for breastfeeding.
I'm booked in for a breastfeeding class this week an I've also got a script from my dr for antibiotics should mastitis strike again (I don't think I responded quick enough last time) that way I can clear it up ASAP.
What if bub doesn't latch on and sleeps all the time like DS did?
trick for mastitis is to catch it before it becomes mastitis. mastitis is where it is infected, so if you can stop the duct getting blocked and fix it before it is infected you wont need the abs =)
umm... I didn't have any of those problems, so can't say from personal experience, except remember the ABA hotline, they are free 24/7, call them about anything and utilise the resource!!
I hear your pain...literally. I had mastitis 5 times within the first 8 weeks.
For me I used a natural product called poke root. Research it and see a naturopath. It stops the mastitis without having to go on antibiotics.
Next, I know they say it doesn't work anymore, but my mum swore by it (she breast fed both first babies no issue, didn't do this and had problems with me), every shower rub your nipples with a flannel and apply lanolin cream twice a day leading up to it. I intend to do this for bub number 2!!!!
Congratulations on your new baby!
Learning as much as possible ahead of time is the best way to prepare, so doing the class is probably your best way to get ready.
My top 3 tips:
1 - Learn how breastfeeding works - this will help you to understand what is normal (And what is not) and avoid some of the common pitfalls
2 - Know that your body is designed to nourish your baby when pregnant and after birth also, and that most mums can breastfeed successfully with help
3 - Find out where to get help if you need it. Not all sources of information and support are equal, and even some health professionals who work with new mums have only a limited understanding of lactation. Keep the ABA magnet on your fridge - 1800-686-268 - and get along to your local support group if you can. Find out if your hospital has lactation consultants available. If not, find one or two in your local area that you can call on if you need help. And don't delay asking for help if you need it.
Remember that every breastfeeding relationship is unique. Good luck!
Contact the ABA. Be prepared with lots of research and take all offers of help and support offered. When you have someone to help with your other child, take baby to bed and feed and sleep for as long as you need/can. Being well rested puts all problems into perspective and makes it all more easy to deal with. Above all else believe in yourself and know it gets easier with time.
You might find that your next bub attaches and hopefully you don't get mastitis if they're draining your breasts. Just putting it out there, b/c our first son had reflux and was a shocking feeder and hardly stayed on and then DS2 fed brilliantly. I wasn't expecting such a difference between our kids, but it was such a better experience, second time around. Wishing you the best for the birth and a really positive feeding experience, this time around
Good on you for planning to succeed! Step in the right direction
As little O says, you don't need to prepare your nipples in any way before breastfeeding. Respectfully, I have to disagree with the next suggestion about the face washer and lanolin! The reason we don't need to prepare is that your nipples look after themselves by producing an oil that keeps them nice and soft.
A breastfeeding education class is a great idea. Please ask lots of questions while you are there!
Your class fee covers membership to the ABA so you can go to group meetings, even before baby is born. It'd be good for you to get to know your local group and counsellors as they will be invaluable to you when baby arrives.
Ask for help!!!!!! It is so important for you to spend the time you need to establish your breastfeeding relationship with your bub. Let everyone else deal with the domestic stuff.
Call the helpline whenever you need to! Ask questions on here! And believe you can do it. Attitude is so important.
don't keep formula in the house!! That would have been my undoing if we did that when i was having troubles with DD.
don't be afraid to use a nipple shield. they're not always bad. we used one for a few weeks with DD until she got the hang of it.
always ask for help if you need it. research LC's in your area especially. i tried ABA counsellors, and they could do nothing to help us, sadly. and the LC seemed to be able to do something no others could? (can't remember what though now, perhaps it was breast compressions while feeding? )
definitely an ABA membership and attend the classes, it's always good to go and get a refresher and even talk to people about the problems you had before, you never know if they might have good advice which could be your saviour!
don't be afraid to pump/hand express and use a syringe to feed bubs if you really need to! that's what we did occasionally, and even used a bottle here and there! but obviously try to keep it to a minimum. that's where a nipple shield can come in handy
be confident!! you CAN do it! try and relax when you're feeding as stress can hold back letdown (well it did for me anyway)
If you need to pump, make sure you have the right sized tunnel on your expressing kit. The hospitals often don't stock multiple sizes, and they don't always know how to tell if it's the right size. A too-small tunnel shredded my nipples, and on of them only finally healed up last week - at the 12 week mark! I needed a large on one side and the XL on the other, but was given a medium in hospital, with no mention that they even come in different sizes.
Painful damaged nipples = stressed and fearful when baby is going to latch on = poor let-down = poor drainage of breast = mastitis.
Do a bit of research on baby-led attachment - it's amazing, and it works
When bubs arrives, try to do as much skin-to-skin as you can, for as long & often as you can. This will help with BLA
Please, please, please, don't do anything to "prepare" your nipples - your body already has that under control beautifully. It's poor attachment that causes nipple damage, not lack of "preparation"
Make sure your DH is on board. Stats say that a supportive, educated partner makes a significant difference to BF success.
And remember that BFing is a learned skill for both of you - it can take a good few weeks for you both to really get the hang of it. Do skin-to-skin
Good luck - I hope it all works out for you this time
See a Internationally Board certified Lactation Consultant ASAP. I spent $120 and had almost 2 hours of 1:1 education with a brilliant LC who taught me about attachment, sucking reflex stimulating exercises to do with DD from day 1 and how to stimulate my supply etc. she wrote a bf plan which meant I knew what to do from day 1 and had some confidence and I was mainly left alone by the midwives so I wasn't getting loads of conflicting advice when feeling vulnerable.
Once DD was born my LC was in contact daily and I could contact her whenever I needed support or reassurance. She didn't even charge extra for this!
I have to squeeze in a second tip. Read ' Breastfeeding Naturally' which comes as part of an ABA membership and if possible, get your partner to read it too so they are on board to support you when challenges arise.
Good luck and enjoy those newborn snuggles.
I second talking to a Lactation Consultant before birth and in the first day too. Don't be afraid to pump if you start getting lumps in your boob, it was one thing that kept me from mastitis this time as DS3 doesn't always drain the boobs properly.
If you can sit and relax when you feed and don't rush.
Oops sorry I've been shot down about the preparation! Just know I will be trying whatever I can this next time!
I second the ABA help too. A LC can be great too. My mastitis wasn't due to poor attachment as the LC worked out, but my dd's mouth. She was able to keep me going, even with shields
I honestly feel that to succeed you need to believe in yourself and what you are doing is the best you can
What I have sometimes done for nipple prep is rub a bit of breastmilk or colostrum on them. I found this helped when sometimes they seemed to be quite dry and sore. also I have heard breastmilk can help the healing if your nipples crack and bleed (haven't had bleeding nipples myself, but my friend did and swore the milk helped).
Baby led attachment. It is amazing. They should show you a video about it at your class.
If you want to read, I recommend Breastfeeding Naturally, and Sue Cox - either Baby Magic or Breastfeeding: Mum and I can do that. Your local ABA group might have them in their library. (If not, mine does, I'm also in Bris)
Whats your top tip to prepare for breast feeding
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