Any type of general advice for women who really want to try to breastfeed would be helpful.
Anything from recommendation on equipment to advice on increasing milk supply.
I have a few questions I will post and if anyone can offer some guidance, I’d appreciate it.
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
As a currently nursing mommy (with lots of previous experience on this subject hehe) here are some from me:
Breastfeeding is not suppose to be painful! If you're in pain every time baby latches on he's doing it wrong and you need to correct his latch!
Feed on demand (unless your baby is jaundiced or his doctor says otherwise)
Make sure you get a good latch, if you don't you'll have to break it by inserting your (clean) pinky into baby's mouth and starting over again. Baby should open up WIDE and get as much of it into his mouth. You can use your finger to get him to open up wider. Baby's chin should touch your breast! And you both should be tummy to tummy. (this is just what works for us, if it doesn't for you try other positions!)
Try out different nursing positions until you find what works best for you.
At night, feed laying down (you on your side and baby facing you - tummy to tummy)
Wear nursing bras and tanks. Invest in a night time nursing bra (no wires) ... they are so comfy!
Lanolin will be your best friend for the first few weeks.
In the initial weeks, feeding your baby can take up to 1 hour ... hang in there!!!
It WILL get better!!! Just keep telling yourself that when you feel like giving up.
Pumping every once in a while can be life saving. Let your husband feed baby while you take that bubble bath!
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
It is really relentless in the beginning. I used to be in bed almost all the time. Baby used to cluster feed for hours on end especially in the evening. So take it really easy and ensure you have loads of bo sets or streaming or good tv channels for the breastfeeding.
Always keep a jug of water nearby. I get really thirsty when I feed.
Everthing Wendy said esp about the latch. Try to get it fixed before you leave the hospital. Ask as many people as you need to until u feel perfectly comfortable. It shouldn't be painful beyond the first few seconds. Skin to skin really helps. I watched YouTube videos too so I had an idea and also attended a breastfeeding class. That helped me too. But most important is the practical face to face he,p you can access at the hospital. Some midwives. Have no idea about it so keep asking for a lactation consultant till you get it right.
Breast pads are essential in the beginning as you will leak a lot.
also when baby is born their stomach is the size of a grape so they will feed little and often. Your colostrum will be sufficient for them so don't supplement and feed as much as possible as it will build up supply. Milk comes in around day 3 when you will get engorged.
If baby gets sleepy tickle their toes or circle their arms to wake them up and finish the feed.
it does get very very easy after the first 6 weeks.
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
does anyone have specific recommendations/recipes for lactation cookies/teas/diet?
excellent thread @Reha ... you beat me to it!
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
What if you start to see liquid/milk/something before you deliver? Is that normal? Is that colostrum? Does it need to be saved?
And I am also looking for recipes to help milk supply.
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
OH and has anyone had any experience storing breast milk?
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
OK, I know this is typically a ladies only section, here's a guy's point of view.
1) Get a boppie pillow, it really helps hold the baby in position without fatigue for you.
2) Learn the foot ball hold.
3) Have a routine, my wife did one boob, diaper change, other boob.
4) Have a book handy in case baby wants to feed for a long time. Wife read the entire Twilight series with a baby attached to her.
5) Make your husband be your champion, he should encourage breastfeeding and do whatever he can to help.
6) Get nipple shields.
7) Get a madela pump and storage bags. I was in charge of freezing and keeping track of milk stock. I was always demanding more production, a slave driver, she appreciated it.
8) Pump when the baby isn't hungry and you're full.
9) Get a hooter hider.
10) Pump some more.
11) This is going to make you unbelievably close to your baby.
Nothing against moms who don't breast feed, but I am really proud of my wife who was working 80 hours a week and we exclusively breastfed or bottle fed breast milk. Weened at 1 year. Good memories and mammaries.
God speed.
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
That was so helpful!
Yay for supportive dads and husbands!
I have to contact my insurance for the pump and how I'll be getting it covered...fingers crossed.
I am really going to try and EBF for as long as I can so been reading endlessly on it and what I can do to help keep it going. Inshallah.
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
Don't introduce bottle early on as that can mess with your supply. You can introduce it after 4-6 weeks to avoid nipple confusion. I haven't pumped much as I am kinda on my own and didn't want the extra hassle but I wish I has introduced the bottle just so I could go out once in a while.
You can get pre sterilised breast milk bags and store milk in them. Frozen breast milk keeps for 6 months.
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
Reha leaking colostrum is normal and no you Dnt need to store it.
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
Reha most imp thing for supply is to feed as much as you can. Breast production works on supply and demand basis. The more you feed the more you will produce. I didn't eat anything special just healthy normal stuff.
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
OK, I know this is typically a ladies only section, here's a guy's point of view.
1) Get a boppie pillow, it really helps hold the baby in position without fatigue for you. 2) Learn the foot ball hold. 3) Have a routine, my wife did one boob, diaper change, other boob. 4) Have a book handy in case baby wants to feed for a long time. Wife read the entire Twilight series with a baby attached to her. 5) Make your husband be your champion, he should encourage breastfeeding and do whatever he can to help. 6) Get nipple shields. 7) Get a madela pump and storage bags. I was in charge of freezing and keeping track of milk stock. I was always demanding more production, a slave driver, she appreciated it. 8) Pump when the baby isn't hungry and you're full. 9) Get a hooter hider. 10) Pump some more. 11) This is going to make you unbelievably close to your baby.
Nothing against moms who don't breast feed, but I am really proud of my wife who was working 80 hours a week and we exclusively breastfed or bottle fed breast milk. Weened at 1 year. Good memories and mammaries.
God speed.
great advise.
have you/your wife any thoughts on increasing supply? thats where i ran into trouble last time ........... nothing that i tried seemed to work man ... nothing!
though i didnt try the commercially available teas/cookies .... just the home made fennel and methi/fenugreek tea that my mom had suggested.
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
@ehl-e-chamman This was like 5-6 years ago, so my memory is a bit vague, I know that Steph tried various teas and then ended up getting a specific medication from Canada that is not FDA approved in the US.
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
Kellymom website is the best. Any problems issues you can ever run into is discussed on there
Re: Breastfeeding Do’s and Don’t’s
Ehl-e-chamman try this Increasing Low Milk Supply : KellyMom
Re: Breastfeeding Do’s and Don’t’s
Thank you! the medication worked?
domperidone (motilium/motilidome) i believe. i’m sill waiting for the conclusion of the USA EMPOWER trial … :bummer:
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
thank you @Hmmna ... i will read through that.
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
Someone told me that the first feed (within 20 minutes or so of birth) should be from the mother and not the formula (Enfamil is what my hospital uses) they usually have at the hospital. Is this true?
Re: Breastfeeding Do’s and Don’t’s
good lord 20 minutes! 
you re not even back in your sense that soon after and the baby is likely still being wiped down, APGAR’ed …
BF soon as possible after birth certainly … if thats 20 mins for some … all power to them!
colostrum … the high powered/antibody rich first “milk” is around for the first 48 hrs or so … so first two days … its small in quantity … couple of teaspoons only … but thats ok because the babys tummy is about the size of a marble anyway. this is also why you hear/read all the time that “milk comes in 3rd day”
Re: Breastfeeding Do's and Don't's
I had a c section so it took a good two hours for them to stitch me up. Baby just waited around hanging with dad. I had said that I was gna feed the baby on my birth plan so they didn't give her formula but waited for me.