Reply to I do have my heart set on breastfeeding this baby

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[quote=Anonymous]OP you are probably getting from this thread but there are a lot of posters here who are not especially supportive of breastfeeding so make sure you’re getting a more uniformly supportive message somewhere else as well (LC, Reddit, something not intended to undermine you).

Here is what worked for me:

1. Prenatal breastfeeding class. That “golden hour” is not going to have a lactation consultant to help you get the baby latched, it’s going to have a bunch of nurses milling around so you need to have some idea what you’re doing.

2. Ask in your hospital tour what the staffing is in terms of LCs during COVID. We had to wait more than 24 hours to see one for the first time and it was *bad*. Luckily in the prenatal class there had been a bit of expressing colostrum so she was getting that from a spoon while we waited for the LC to show up.

3. There are LCs in the area who make house calls. Book one for the first full day home. If you’re using a doula you could also make sure to hire one who is a certified LC but they tend to have the lesser-hours certification.

4. Have food (especially breakfast) ready before you leave for the hospital. I woke up STARVING every morning because nursing all night takes it out of you. I was dizzy and weak and could barely hold the baby. My mother in law totally came through for me and baked me about a million breakfast pastries but I would have some pre-positioned.

5. While nursing is getting established that’s your only job. Your husband can change every diaper and wash every dish. You nurse, eat, and rest in that order. Your physical recovery from childbirth and your success at nursing are closely linked so don’t push yourself to do an extra load of laundry— nursing successfully is more important than clean clothes.

6. Make sure you’re at a pediatric practice that is supportive.  Not lip-service AAP supportive, but things like has LCs on staff to do weighted feeds early on (we had one in our first checkup out of the hospital) and experienced with tongue and lip tie. I know you have extended leave but our pediatrician signed off on extra medical necessity for some breastfeeding mothers, which I took as a sign of genuine supportive attitude.

Good luck OP. The fact that you want this really does matter![/quote]

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