Does anyone have any advice please?

Hi Girls,

I am due to have my 3rd child by c/s at 36 wks which is 2 wks from today. Obviously with bub being born at 36 wks we won't know if it will be able to breast feed straight away or need tube feeding etc until it is born.

With DD1 I breast fed her for 4 months and had a really tough time doing it (due to lack of support & info etc) and I ended up giving up. Because of my bad experience breastfeeding her I decided to formula feed DD2 from birth. But now with bub number 3 almost here I really, really, really want to give breast feeding another try.

Does anyone have any words of wisdom, encouragement or support that might be of help? Also if I have to express my colostrum can that be done by a breast pump? I know you can hand express but if a pump works I would like to try that instead.

Also DD2 is only 19mths old, how do you cope breastfeeding and having a toddler around who is very much a mummy's girl? I'm also really worried because DH starts work at 5pm everyday and gets home after midnight, I am worried about cluster feeding right at my busiest time when I am trying to bath, cook, feed and get my other 2 girls to bed. A lot of negative thoughts keep running through my head but I really want to give it a go.

Thanks.

I'm not sure about expressing colostrum, but in regards to cluster feeds at your busiest time... hmm..
THere is usually a 20-40min gap between feeds during cluster feeding times, so I guess you just have to manage your time between those breaks.
Also, perhaps a sling that you can bf in might help you out.
I don't think you need to worry too much, you can find a way to manage!
Best of luck!!

Give the ABA a call - they can give you specific advice on breastfeeding after a c/s and breastfeeding a prem (or baby in need of extra care).
You never know what this baby will be like, so just wait and see. A sling or carrier of some sort would be very useful if you're baby needs to be held a lot - that can leave you hands free to get other things done (and your baby may even be able to feed in there).

Do you feel more confident info/education-wise this time? Joining the ABA and even doing their breastfeeding education class or just attending some meetings could be really helpful. Maybe also think about who you can turn to for support - for breastfeeding-specific support, but also help at home (mum, MIL, friends...)

And we're always here of course.

Hun, it's great that you are thinking about these things ahead of time. I agree with giving the ABA a call - 1800 mum 2 mum (1800 686 2 686, drop the final 6 for VOIP). They have resources for bfing after c/s and for premmies (although 36 weeks should be ok).

My DS1 was 19 months when DS2 was born, and it sure was busy for a while there. A sling is a great suggestion. Also, I found having dinner prepared earlier in the day helped a lot, and even bath times could get changed around when necessary. You might like to jump in the bath with both them if things are hectic - a bath usually settles a crying baby too. Or your toddler could have a bath in the morning while dad is home - or even a shower with your DH before he goes to work. It can take a bit of juggling but it certainly can help to think outside the square when it comes to routines etc.

All the best hun :hug:

good on you for at least thinking of giving breastfeeding another go! I had twins who i breastfeed for 6 weeks and stopped because I was getting really bad information but am still breastfeeding my 9 month old now! You can do it! My babies where 4 weeks prem and it will be tough feeding a premmie and they may want to supplement its feed with formula this may be something you want to discuss before hand if you have a chance. As far as expressing the colostrum do you mean before birth of after? It can be expressed by hand i know this for sure cause i had two midwives milkk me like a cow after the boys where born! LOL I also read somewhere that a women expressed here colostrum before here baby was born and had it stored in the hospital freezer all ready to go.... not 100% if it was in Australia but if you know your little one is coming early it might be worth asking the hospital about this. As for juggling babies and toddlers I am still doing it today my son was born when my twins where 15months old and it was tough! YOU WILL SURVIVE!! Maybe organise some meals now and freeze them so when you have a really bad day you can whack it in the microwave. Organise a big shop now for all your non perisable items so you at least have the basics. Accept help wherever it is on offer and sleep whenever the little ones are...the house work can wait! Take one day at a time and remeber tomorrow is always a new day!

Thanks girls for all your great suggestions. I have been checking out the ABA website and decided to join. Can't wait to receive their book on breastfeeding, just hope it arrives before I have bub. I do feel more informed on breastfeeding this time around. I think I found it hard with DD1 because I didn't know much about it, basically I thought it was going to be easy etc, being my first bub I didn't know any different because I hadn't been through it before. I'm going to try not to stress about it and take one day at a time and I am prepared that some days will be good days and others will be bad. I've got a mini goal to breast feed for at least 6 - 12 wks and fingers crossed can keep going beyond that. I know that you girls on BB will be a great support if I have any questions or concerns.

Thanks again!

My advice would be to get contact details for a good local lactation consultant, and keep them on hand for if you run into problems that the ABA can't help you with. Sometimes there's no substitute for someone who actually comes and sees what's going on (but fingers crossed all will be fine and you won't need help!). As for your little one, get some appropriate DVDs and/or music, and have them ready for desperate situations. And how about a box of books - or even magazines, my little girl loves leafing through junk mail etc! - that she can look at while you're feeding. That way she can still sit next to you, but will hopefully stay still and occupied for a little while. Good luck, hope breastfeeding is much much easier for you this time.

You are doing exactly the right thing asking for help early. There is heaps of support at ABA and on here.

I too thought BFing would be easy with DD1 but stopped at 4 weeks cause it was just too hard without support and my supply was soooo low. But with DD2 DH and I organised heaps of help and we focused on getting my milk supply going in the first few weeks. My theory was every time DD2 opened her mouth I put my boob in it. By three weeks I had heaps of milk.

The ABA book is brilliant. I had it in hospital with me and referred to it all the time. I must have driven my midwives mad!

Good luck with everything and remember, any issues post away in here and someone will always be around to help

Hi Leigh,
Good on you for giving BF'ing another go. I silently struggled alot with DS1, ended up using shields the whole 11months- but always felt like i was struggling. But with DS2, it has been so much easier. Its like he knew what to do (moreso then DS1 anyway) and i felt like all the info that confused me with DS1 just kinda all 'just made sense' all of a sudden. I will admit the first 2weeks i was still adjusting and getting frustrated when DS2 wouldn't latch properly, and was about to organise a lactation consultant- but then i started to relax and things just fell into place- and in glad i did.

I also just thought i'd share my experience too in regards to feeding with your other children around and at that hectic time in the arvo.

My DH works til 6.30-7pm (sometimes later) so my evenings are pretty hectic too. I found preparing meals during the day helped alot- like using the slow cooker alot or cutting up vegies while arvo sleeps were happening. Also i had meals i'd made and stored in the freezer (like spaghetti bols). Or try to make meals with little fuss (mexican meals and stir frys). But you'll find having your other children will (well hopefully like my DS1- who was 20months when DS2 was born)- be helpful at either entertaining bubs (DS1 only has to be playing next to DS2 to keep him amused- DS2 just can't stop looking and smiling at DS2). But i still had some challenging moments where i'd find myself BF'ing whilst stirring dinner and singing for DS1. Plus Wiggles and Ds1's other favourite movies were and still are a saviour.

As for baths- i only bath DS2 every 2nd day still- and i do it with DS1, usually early arvo- as i'd find sometimes DS2 would wear himself out and then sleep for an hour or so- making dinner time so much easier too. Sometimes i would also try to do baths when DH is around (in my case i waited til DH got home, or do it in the mornings on a weekend).

Just remember not too stress to much about it all- you can only do what you can do (and forget about housework- it can wait). Take things one day at a time.

Goodluck with it all...i hope it all works out perfectly for you.

ETA- i forgot to mention that whilst feeding DS2 not only do i sometimes rely on TV, but also i get DS1 involved like i ask him to pass me my water, get me a cloth or tissue. He always seems very proud to have 'helped'. I also found he was very fascinated with it all and quite often would just watch. It was so funny- a couple of times when DS2 would cry then, DS1 would go over, lift up his top, look down at his chest and try to lean into DS2 all with a concentrating look on his face like 'how do i do this'. Its was so cute.