To be Honest...

[Jakabella]

Im sacred to Breastfeed. And that in its self is a stupid sentance! How can I be sacred of something so natural and perfect?

Ill tell you why..

All the stories I hear and read are ppl telling me how hard it is and how many problems crop up and how much pain is involved...I know It can be great - but my first try at it sucked (no milk) and my mum couldnt do it and most of my friends couldnt do it either. I need to hear the good stories - I know it will be hard to start but I want to hear how great it is when it get established.

FF was easy. I am embarrased to admit that - but I found it ever so easy! I had all the bottle made for the day - I just heat and serve. Bella would have 3 hrly feeds and not grizzle or groan bettween and she slept over night from 12 weeks - eveyone telling me due to formula (maybe she would have anyway??)

Im sacred that having a toddler as well as a new born im not going to have time for Bella as I will be stuck on the couch feeding.... again I know how stupid that sounds!

I WANT TO BREAST FEED im just scared of failing again I guess......

Please don't have a go at me for such silly statements - I know that they are silly BUT I cant help thinking about them and worrying!

I wanted to put it out there so you lovely ladies and gents can give me some advice and help set my mind at ease.

Kate xo

[turtleschell]

The whole 'no milk' theory is in most cases, an old wives tale. You can never really see if you have milk, you just have to trust that you do. And don't think expressing milk will give you a good indication, a lot of people can't get any out when expressing, me included.
Breastfeeding works. My boobs didn't grow AT ALL during pregnancy, they were still tiny little nothings, and I thought 'how on earth can they contain colostrum?" and when DD first suckled, I just kept thinking 'she's just sucking on nothing' but somehow she kept growing and growing! Even when I squeezed them, only a tiny lonely drop would fall out. I kept wondering how other mothers squirted theirs so far etc, or how they 'leaked' all through their tops.
And today I am still breastfeeding DD, and we have never needed to even try to use formula.
Trust your body, and if you have doubts or complications, talk to some BB ladies, and see an LC. I promise you can do it. It's only slightly difficult at the beginning. And way easier than FF!!! No cleaning, no preparing, so easy to leave the house! Night feeds are so easy too!

[helle]

Not silly at all hun!

If it's not for you then it's not but when people complain to me about something being so hard I always tell them that it's because it's worth it!

Initially breastfeeding is tricky and it takes practice and patients but once you muster it, it's so easy! It's all on tap, right temp, ready to go around the clock and to me even more convenient when you have a toddler at your toes too. If you have a good support group you will find obstacles you encounter wont be as horrible. Surround yourself with ppl that will encourage you if you really want to give it a good go. Oh, and get some marcallen cream. That stuff is the bomb XD

[Jakabella]

Thanks Turleschell - good to hear your storey.

[Jakabella]

Thanks Helle - Oh Im keen to give it a go! I just know how awfull my last attempt was I guess Im just scared of failing again. I will certainly give it a red hot go!

[Mum2Romone]

My mum didn't breastfeeding past three weeks with any of her three children, me included
my nana couldn't , her milk didn't come in as my uncle was a premmie and nanna had to have a hysterectomy etc

My mother in law breastfed for two year , two children each

I tried, and it was relatively easy, although annoying until I got used to the feeling of it. I breastfed for 22 months and 2 weeks and my son was happy to wean them, because I was sick and needed hardcore antibiotics.....

But I didn't think I would either... And then I I'd. best of luck , whatever you choose to do

[AliBaby]

The way I looked at breastfeeding was like learning to drive a car.

Both bubs and I were on our L plates. We were excited about learning (well she was more like nom, nom, nom) and I was keen to nourish her by BF. However we were both **** scared at the same time. Me that it would hurt and I'd crash and burn and DD that she wouldnt get enough and bcoming a crying mess.

It took me so long to get my P's as I was petrified of failing the driving test. It only took one person to actually say to me... You can do this, you are doing this, so go and do the damm test! .

What I am trying to get at is whenever you are doing something new, whether it is natural or not, it is quite normal to have fear of failure but you can do it hun. Don;t let that fear stop you as you will find there is nothing to fear anyway.

I have the most wonderful memories of feeding DD. We managed for 11months and it was beautiful. There would be many times when I would watch her feed from me and have her look up at me with those big eyes and smile that milky smile. I have a tear of happiness just thinking about it...

You may stall a couple of times when starting out like most people on their L's do, but in the long run, those few stalls that you did on those hill starts will be a distant memory as you find yourself cruising down the BF highway!

[STARRYSKY]

Hi Jak,

You know, the only pain I ever experienced was when I asked a mw at the hospital to help me atatch Jacob. After that I just did it myself, if it hurt, then it wasn't right, take it out, try again. REPEAT, repeat, repeat...
By day 5 when I left hospital we had it down pat and have never looked back.
I had a c sect, my milk didnt come in till I left hospital, (or that day anyway) I didn't let anything faze me, not the MW's, not my mother (can he
breathe??) not anything.

I get quite embarrassed telling people about our BFing history, because we have had it so easy, it just worked. I honestly think it had a lot to do with just trusting my body to it, I didnt give birth "naturally" so I was determined to do this one thing right, luckily I didn't have to really try.
Jacob first slept through (6 hours) at 6 weeks old.

I hope this isnt coming across the wrong way, I am trying to let you know that it can just happen, it doesn't have to hurt, itcan take a few days to get the hang of it.
I know that its a different experience for everyone, but the one thing I tell my friends who want to BF is what I did, every time the baby wakes, on the boob, sleepy? on the boob, cries? on the boob, makes a noise? on the boob...you get the picture LOL. The more they feed, the more milk you make.

I am so lazy with house work, truth be told, I couldn't think of anything worse than having to clean and sterilise all those bottles..then make them all up again... sometimes just popping my boob my boob out with one eye open at night is a chore! LOL. It can be so easy to BF, It has been for me.

[willow5]

I had 2 failed attempts with DS1 and 2 Due to lack of education and no good support. With DS1 he wouldn't sleep well and had "colic" so I was told formula would fix both, well it didn't he still didn't sleep through the night until he was about 2, 2 1/2. I had really sore cracked & bleeding nipples with DS2 and wasn't given any good advice on how to cope with it and gave up after about a month maybe 6 weeks. But he was a good sleeper even on the boob, and there was no difference when we switched to the bottle. I think if they're going to sleep, they're going to sleep!

Ds3 came along and I was terrified I wouldn't be able to do it. I made the decision when I was pg that I would BF and would stick with it! The determination and education helped a lot. Along with BB (I so wish I'd had BB with DS1&2!!!) I won't lie, the early days were hard with sore nipples, I decided while in hospital to ignore all the conflicting advice from each shift change of nurses and go with what I felt was going to work for us and stuck with it. I think there was only 1 nurse in there that I listened to and took her suggestions home with me. You'll know when you connect with someone that actually listens to you before giving you advice.

Anyway I think I'm raving on now. DS3 is 11 months old and we're still going strong the determination and perseverance was so worth it. It is now easy and I love it!!!

I think it became easy at about the 6 week mark. The first 3 were a bit tough and from there it just got easier and easier. I didn't realise how handy BF was compared to FF, I never had a drama with FF with DS1&2. But I tell you when you're up for night feeds not having to go get the bottle and warm it is awesome, and not having to take bottles when you go out it great! No washing of bottles etc is good too. Not to mention CHEAP

But by far the best part is the BF relationship. I love it and will be sad when it stops

I really hope it works out for you this time I understand how you're feeling because I have been there but you can do it if you're determined. And just ignore all the negative nellies out there with their horror stories! You do do what's best for you.

[willow5]

There would be many times when I would watch her feed from me and have her look up at me with those big eyes and smile that milky smile. I have a tear of happiness just thinking about it...

Me too! *insert teary/smiley face here*

[Jakabella]

Thanks ladies! You have truely made me not so scared! I had no help at the hossy and the LC's there were terrible and made me very anxious when I would see them - Im guessing all of that and an emerg c sect helped with no milk. I feeling more calm after your posts and I really do think that I CAN DO IT!!

Thanks ladies!

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

hun, i WISH i had of had the support of BB when i had DD1, i wasn't getting it right in hosp and constantly asked the MW for help and her response was "well how will you do this at home"... umm well thats why i'm asking.

It's not always easy but like most have said it comes with patience, asking for help and knowing your body, if it doesn't feel right, adjust bub and see how it goes.
Ask the MW a million times no matter their response until you feel like you have it right.
My milk didn't come in until 2 days after i left hosp with DD1, the poor thing choked on it, spewed it all up and i FREAKED... gone are the days where we stay in hosp until BFing is established.. don't put the added pressure on YOURSELF... aks, ask & ask again.. were here for you

[bec293]

Jakabella, I was scared I wouldn't be able to bf aswell. It was something I really wanted to do, and I think being determined to do it helped so much. I had to have an emergency c-section, so my milk was a day or so late coming in. During our first few days in hospital DS lost too much weight and had low blood sugar levels. One of the midwives kept telling me to give him formula, but I was stubborn and wanted to get bf working for us. I kept feeding, but as I only had colostrum when DS wanted milk, he'd get frustrated and hungry and would cry during feeds. A different midwife brought in an electric pump, so I expressed every 3 hours and topped up each feed with EBM. Then the bf got harder and harder with a frustrated baby, so I just gave him EBM only. This was very hard work, expressing all the time, but I continued it after we went home. I found a lactation consultant, she came to our house to help me with the feeding problems the next week, and the week after. We eventually got the hang of it, and because I didn't resort to formula my supply was great. Now I am exclusively bf, no expressing at all (except to keep an emergency supply in the freezer), and now it is so easy!!

It may be difficult to start with, like it was for me, but please don't let that make you give up. For me it took a few weeks, and now even though its only been 6 and a half weeks, it is just the best. Night feeds are so much easier, and feeding is a beautiful bonding time for us, I love it.

Congrats on your pregnancy

[Shades]

I had a couple of things that made the difference for me - one worked for the sore nipples I had at first. I was in a lot of pain and I wasn't enjoying it etc but I told myself that if I was still in the same amount of pain at 6wks then I could stop. And having that perceived 'end' to the pain gave me the strength and perseverance to keep going - because I knew there was an end in sight. And by the time we got to 6 wks I was in no more pain and was able to keep going. My darling boy is now over a year old and still a booby monster. The other thing that really helped when even my so-called 'support' person was expressing doubts about me having enough milk because he seemed to be feeding ALL THE TIME was the ABA helpline - they reassured me that it was likely just a growth spurt, and not to doubt myself. My body nurtured and grew a baby from scratch for 9 months... Why would it fail me now?

Oh and the great rule of thumb - when in doubt flop it out! Booby fixes pretty much everything except a dirty nappy!!

[willow5]

Oh and the great rule of thumb - when in doubt flop it out! Booby fixes pretty much everything except a dirty nappy!!

Love it! Agree completely!!

[Cherished]

Hi there, I have a wonderful story for you as I now LOVE breastfeeding. If I am honest and tell the whole story it was very painful at the start but I think I know now what went wrong..... During the pregnancy I had sensitive nipples the whole time and was concerned about how I'd go breastfeeding but bub was put on the boob within 5-10 mins after birth and had a good go on each boob so was probably suckling for around 45mins. Bub knew exactly what to do and because I had all the hormones running through my body it didn't hurt at all. Over the following 24 hours we had the midwives check the attachment at each feed as I'd had it drilled into my head that if the attachment is wrong than breastfeeding can be painful and bub will have trouble feeding etc Essentially it was great to have the midwife there to check on things but one of them really ruffed up one of my nipples she was trying to hand express the colostrum. Why she was trying to do that I have no idea, maybe she thought bub was having trouble attaching and that is why we had her watching and if that were the case then yeah maybe bub being able to smell or taste the colostrum when the nipple was up on their mouth would have been a good thing. BUT it made my nipple so sore that I was traumatised each time bub was put on the nipple. Within a week my nipples were ok and I wasn't even worrying about the attachment cause bub knew what to do. My advice to anyone now would be to not let the midwives express your colostrum unless there is a real reason to because it bloom'n hurts. From what other midwives told me the majority of babies do know what to do and will find the nipple themselves if you allow them to so all the intevention isn't really necessary. I love, love, love breastfeeding now and am so glad I stuck it out with my sore nipples as it is well worth it. When my little boy looks up at me there isn't any place I'd rather be in the whole world

[Nai]

I had 2 emergency c/s and BF both girls for over 14 months. With DD1 I was worried my milk wouldn't come in because it took 4 days and she was jaundiced and needed topping up. I had to hand express to try and get the colostrum to come in. DD1 was so little and skinny but once my milk came in and we got home things got easier and it was so easy. It never hurt at all which surprised me.

DD2 was different, my milk came in earlier but she grazed my nipples at the start with poor attachment. A visit to the LC in hospital fixed that and then she was fine. Once again I never had any issues once that was fixed. The first 6 weeks are definitely the hardest as you are learning about each other and how to work the whole BF thing so if you can stick it out for that length of time it will start to become second nature.

[Catastrophic]

Hugs hun, not silly comments at all. they are you fears and you are allowed to express them xoxoxo I hope you get the amazing breastfeeding journey that you want - But just remember even if you don't, your not a failure. xoxox