Have i got this right?
Im after any hints and tips to get breastfeeding off to a good start, any advice would be greatly recieved. Here's my plan of action:
-try to put baby to breast asap after birth
-feed on demand up to 12 times in 24 hours
-dont leave it until baby is crying for food, look out for hunger signs
-feed on one breast, burp, offer second breast. Start next feed on opposite side
After a couple of weeks id like to try expressing so baby will take a bottle. Any advice on this?
Thankyou in advance!
36+2 xx
-try to put baby to breast asap after birth
-feed on demand up to 12 times in 24 hours
-dont leave it until baby is crying for food, look out for hunger signs
-feed on one breast, burp, offer second breast. Start next feed on opposite side
After a couple of weeks id like to try expressing so baby will take a bottle. Any advice on this?
Thankyou in advance!
36+2 xx
0
Replies
- yes definarly do try as soon as poss but dont worry if you cant due to the birth you have. It wa prob a couple of hours till I got to try with my lo.
- feed on demand, great! not sure about the up t 12 times.....I wouldn't count too much to be honest to begin with!
- a hunger sign with be crying to begin with, and nestling into you looking for your breast. not sure about that one tbh!
- try to feed as much as poss from one side as the more they feed from it the fattier the milk gets. I would wind lo then try again on same side, if not satisfied then offer other. Not all bf babies are windy though so dont worry if lo doesn't bring up wind. And yep, start next feed on other side.
(my midwife at postnatal group said you dont need to wind a bf baby but many do need it)
Expressing - dont worry if you dont get much out as your baby will be better at getting the milk out than a breast pump.
Good luck!
Lisa
My lo didn't feed for over 30 hrs after being born and it was very stressful. I'd always been so determined to breastfeed but I could see how if you weren't so resolute it would be easy to go to formula.
Good luck!
I'll definately be asking lots of questions, forums like this are great as you don't feel like your being judged and ive got a lovely MW too x
The best piece of advice I was given was to take a tube of lansinoh nipple cream in to the hospital, and i'm so glad I did! It was very much worth the money. I used it before and after every feed, and you don't need to wash it off before feeding. Very soothing. Also, a midwife told me to just draw the curtains and let my boobs air, lol. Sounds simple but it did help.
I also took my big body support pillow thing in, and ended up with a section so this was great for protecting my tummy and also meant I wasnt craning down to feed.
Riley has one boob per feed and always has done, and gained 8oz in the first two weeks when they're supposed to lose weight, so do what you feel is best for you both. It just worked out this way for us.
Just thought i'd mention those things. Am sure you'll do fab! Sounds like you're determined. I'm rubbish at sticking to things, but Riley is 7 months and still going, and was exclusive till 26 weeks.
Take care, and all the best hun. xxx
my tip is stay in hospital until your happy and then whilst you are there ask ask and ask again, everytime baby latches get assistant to check he is latched right, 99% of the time really sore nipples is due to incorrect latching.
when he is latched sometimes you can 'feed' more of the nipple into his mouth.
Ask m/w to show you how to safely bfeed lying down
good luck
xxDBxx
* Have a glass of waterhandy whenever you sit down to feed, and also some easy to eat food- cereal bars, a sandwich, fruit etc. That will help to make sure you get enough to eat/drink- it's easy to forget to look after yourself.
* On the same track, really do sleep whenever the baby is sleeping in the first few days and don't let visitors interrupt your rest time. Also, let your oh or family do all the housework, cooking, even changing nappies, so you ccan focus on the feeding.
* Don't worry if your milk doesn't come in for a few days, or if it feels like your baby is feeding all the time.
*After a couple of weeks my milk supply settled down and my boobs stopped feeling 'full', I was convinced that there was a problem with milk production, but it's normal.
Good luck- it sounds like you have done all the research and are pretty determined, so I'm sure you'll be fine. Bfing is hard work at first but it really is worth it!