Breastfeeding
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Anonymous
| How to make breastfeeding a newborn successful. Any tips? |
Anonymous
| Get an appointment with a lactation consultant at the Breastfeeding Center and go to their weekly support groups if you feel up to it. |
Anonymous
An lc will help you make the best out of it given your own personal factors and your baby’s. Sometimes it goes badly for reasons you can’t control and that’s ok too! |
Anonymous
| Get a nipple shield before baby comes. When you need one you really need one NOW. |
Anonymous
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It’s fine to combo feed in the early days, and still go on to EBF.
Nipple confusion isn’t a thing, as long as you always use slow flow newborn nipples for a breastfed baby (even when they’re much older.) You just don’t want a bottle that is faster/easier than nursing. My first struggled with milk transfer as a newborn, but had more energy to nurse once we started supplementing with a bottle. And one bottle overnight means you get a four hour stretch of sleep while your partner bottle feeds. Whether you use formula or expressed milk for that bottle really won’t matter in the long run, but just know that a bottle can help set you up for success with breastfeeding. |
Anonymous
+1 I combo fed in the first week and then EBF for the rest of the time. Also get a LC that does a home visit, it made all the difference. |
Anonymous
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Unfortunately I wasn’t able to breastfeed because I couldn’t make enough milk (even enough to combo feed). I did try everything I could though and learned from my mistakes with my first and did things differently with my second (wasn’t successful either but I did everything I could). Here are my tips:
- check to see if your hospital has a lactation consultant (most do). Insist on seeing the consultant right away. - call the breastfeeding center or an in home lactation consultant recommended to you and make an appointment to see her (they will usually come to your house) the day after you are back from the hospital. - ask for a hospital grade pump in the hospital so that in addition to feeding you are stimulating your milk supply - don’t be afraid to supplement if baby is jaundiced, losing weight or showing signs of dehydration - I thought the book Making More Milk before my second was born which contained useful tips. Obviously buy a regular breastfeeding book too or take a breastfeeding class: Making More Milk: The Breastfeeding Guide to Increasing Your Milk Production, Second Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/1260031152/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_83G2XEQTQCSJKPRKHGMM |
Anonymous
Oh one more thing about supplementing. Every single lactation consultant told me that supplementing will give a baby who isn’t getting enough milk from me the strength to continue trying to breastfeed. Otherwise they might be too tired. |
Anonymous
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Read up on breastfeeding, take a class at the breastfeeding center, see a lactation consultant if things aren't going well or you just want someone to talk to about issues that come up.
I have 2 kids. Breastfeeding was so hard with my first and I finally figured out all the issues and my supply tanked and we switched to formula. My 2nd nursed right after birth and we have had 0 breastfeeding problems besides an occasional clogged duct. You don't know what it will be like for you though so educating yourself and having resources handy if you do have problems is the best thing to do. |
Anonymous
Yes!!! I didn’t know to get one and thankfully someone had tossed one in a box of having down baby supplies. We washed it and I cried from relief. I didn’t make everything better those first few days but it sure took the pain down and helped both with latch and nipple healing. I ended up buying them for every room of the house lol. (they are small and easy to lose) |
Anonymous
| Have a prescription for APNO ready. If you need it, you can send dh out to get it. Or you can make it too from over the counter products (4 ointments I think). When I needed APNO I couldn't get appointments that same week and I think a lot of women quit breastfeeding due to the nipple pain or bleeding. |
Anonymous
Depends on the baby! None of mine would allow that nipple shield in their mouths. They cried from frustration even though I clearly had milk. But yes, watch youtube videos beforehand so you know what should be happening. Know about latches. I had planned on formula feeding but my babies absolutely wouldn't take a bottle. Never, not once. So with my first I struggled through the first week of pain and not knowing what to do, as I didn't really have a choice. Lots of lactation appts and I figured it out. My babies luckily were good nursers and when they felt my supply dropping they worked extra hard. I credit them with my ability to breastfeed. Ended up being the most enjoyable part of motherhood for me and I nursed each for 18+ months. |
Anonymous
| Modern formulas, porridges, purees and other baby products made from hypoallergenic, environmentally friendly components help to provide a child's body with proteins, fats, carbohydrates and minerals. I buy my baby https://hollegoatstage1.com/, since I have no milk. Milk-based baby formula is as close in composition to breast milk as possible. |
Anonymous
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I supplemented early on (first week of life) and then did a weighted feed with the lactation consultant at our ped’s office, who saw that I was producing enough and advised me to stop supplementing. Have been happily EBFing since then.
A support system is *crucial* especially for that first month or two - so either a DH who can take time off, a mom or MIL who can fly in, or a day/night nurse. You should only be on the hook for nursing, and cuddling when you’re not sleepy. Take good care of yourself. |
Anonymous
The OP asked how to successfully breastfeed. It sounds like you're from a formula company. |