A Few Breastfeeding Questions

I think the other moms already gave some good tips on the questions you have so I just wanted to give you my 2 cents. If you really really want to BF then don't even try giving your new born formula at all. The best way for your baby to learn how to latch on correctly and for your milk to come in good and strong is to just BF 100%. After you and baby got it down you can give your baby a bottle of breast milk so your hubby can feed her too but I wouldn't worry so much about pumping at first. Also BF hurts a lot! but if you just keep with it it will get so much better. Also BF babies eat all the time. Formula babies can go 3 to 4 hours in between feedings but not BF babies. She will eat like every hour and 1/2 to 2 hours round the clock at first and that is totally normal. it doesn't mean you don't make enough milk or anything like that. A good thing to do is not worry about the clock or when was the last feeding and just feed on demand. You and your baby will be less stressed this way. Plus as she gets older she will got longer stretches without needing to eat. I wish you the best of luck. I BF both my babies for the first year of life (no formula at all) and it was the best ever!

2 moms found this helpful

Congrats on planning to breastfeed! I bf my babies till they were over a year each and it was one of the best decisions I ever made!

I'll try to go in order:

-It can be more difficult for some babies but not necessarily with a larger chest. Getting a good latch is key. Make contact with the lactation consultant at the hospital and go over it with her prior to delivery.
-I also like the nursing tanks (got mine for about $20 at Motherhood maternity) they were nice after delivery because I wore them under my regular shirts so it helped keep my back and sides covered and warm.
-As far as formula you would need to discuss that with baby's doc but that really shouldn't be necessary. The best advice I can give you is be confident in *your* ability to feed your baby. Our bodies are amazing at taking care of baby. Follow baby's lead and you will do well!
-Medela is the best. I can't recommend a cheaper one because I lost my pump in Katrina and bought a less expensive Medela and it was nothing close to the Pump In Style that I had. It's worth every single penny. You can use it from one child to the next and even sell it when you are done.
-Do not start pumping now. Your body isn't designed for that. Baby needs the colostrum that you will produce. And like McK4 said nipple stimulation can trigger labor.

Besides staying confident in your ability to feed baby, read, read, read as much as you can. Babies will do things to make you doubt what is going on and then you'll find out it's perfectly normal. Like:
-crazy eating patterns in the first 6 weeks. This happens because they are building and regulating your supply.
-cluster feeding in the evenings around at 2-3 months. They will stay on the boob for 2-3 hours practically but this helps them get lots of the hind milk and keeps them satisfied. Thought I was losing my mind when my daughter did this. Didn't know what was going on. Come to find out perfectly normal! Also helps comfort them during the "witching hour" in the evening when they get cranky.
-During growth spurts they will nurse like crazy for a few days to a week. Don't think you are losing your milk and don't supplement. Let them nurse to signal your body to make more milk. Breastfeeding is supply and demand. Greater demand, greater supply!
-Don't feel like you have to hide baby under a huge blanket or leave any public place to nurse. it's very easy to be discreet and get the job done. And never feed that baby in a bathroom! I wouldn't take my food in there to eat and neither should your baby heehee!
-Please don't worry that your hubby can't bond with baby over food. There are far more opportunities than feeding time. Changing diapers, clothes, just holding baby, provide invaluable bonding time.

I really liked the breastfeeding book by martha Sears. Also, kellymom.com has great breastfeeding info.

Good luck!

edited to add-wanted to address what dawn B said-you can nurse when you are sick. It's actually very good for baby because they will get antibodies from your system to protect them from whatever illness it is. And even if they do get it, it will be very mild thanks to mom's hard work with nursing.

1 mom found this helpful

I'm a new mom myself and am exclusively breastfeeding my daughter. A couple of things that I have learned along the way.... if you can at all avoid it, don't supplement with formula. I know that sometimes it's unavoidable due to illness, but in most cases, formula can have an adverse effect on your milk supply. Lots of women supplement with formula because they don't think they're producing enough milk. However, your supply is based on demand. The more you nurse (or pump), the more you produce. Conversely, the more you supplement with formula, the less milk you produce which in turn forces you to supplement more. The hospital nurses will try to force formula on you (they did to me!) but if you really are set on breastfeeding, don't take it. Your baby's belly is super small in the beginning so s/he doesn't need tons. My little one only nurses for 5-10 minutes at a time, but at the hospital, they said most babies should nurse 20-30 minutes at a time. I was so nervous that she wasn't getting enough so I saw an independent lactation consultant and it turns out that I just produce a lot of milk very quickly and my daughter is a really efficient nurser. The fact that you're leaking colostrum now is a great sign that you will have plenty of milk and your baby will get everything s/he needs from you.

Also, set up an appointment with a lactation consultant for the first week or so that you are home. I found one who really made such a difference for me. Breastfeeding is hard and as a first time mom, it can be really frustrating, especially if you have lots of people giving you contradictory information. The woman I saw gave me such peace of mind, she was worth every penny.

Best of luck!

1 mom found this helpful

HI! Yes nursing with a larger breast can be somewhat more difficult in the first few weeks only, as the baby is so small and the momma's breast becomes engorged. If you are patient and hang in there during this period, you will have the most wonderful experience or your life! You may have to ask the lactation consultant to show you how to hold your breast away from the baby's nose for breathing, and positioning with larger breasts. It appears that your baby will not be premature and hopefully will be a big baby who can latch on with strength. I was an E cup too at delivery and all went well. I nursed two children, past their first birthday and my boy was 20 lbs at 8 months totally off of the charts with no solids! It is so fun and so easy, although you might expect a few bumps in the beginning which will smooth out in a few weeks. Then the ensuing months will be a breeze and so much easier and more conforting than bottles! Be patient though if it does not happen immediately, as it will. No you should not pump now, as the colostrum that you are making now is nutritionally perfect for your newborn. And since it is all supply and demand, you don't want to start removing the supply before y ou have any demand, or you will be very painfully engorged BEFORE you even deliver which would complicate your nursing experience. It does sound like you will have a great supply though. As for bottles/formula, it is not recommended that you use a formula, as that will lessen your milk supply. There is no reason contrary to any info you may have heard why you will not be able to nurse and fulfill all of your baby's needs without formula. Remember too that you do not want to expose your child to cows milk early in life anyway, because that will only predispose the child to allergies, and infections. Your milk will keep your baby from getting sick due to all of the immunoglobulins in it. Formula is so inferior to breast milk that it is not recommended by those who understand breastfeeding and nutrition, and should not be needed. It is a wonderful experience....one of the best in life....to nurse your child! Yes Medela is the best pump and I know of no other better. Sincerely, B. S. RN. CCM, former lactation consultant. ____@____.com

First of all, congratulations on your pregnancy. And I think it's great that you have chosen to breastfeed. I have supplemented breastmilk with formula for my first child and exclusively breastfed my second. I did not choose to supplement my first, but I had to due to medication that I had to take when she was two weeks old. I had to "pump and dump", then I was able to go back to breastfeeding. I was very lucky that she went back to the breast. And I have to say that supplementing also made it easier to wean her from the breast (not such luck with my second). Here are some tips that I hope can help.

DO NOT PUMP NOW...it can cause the uterus to contract and may cause early labor. Also, you need the colostrum for when the baby arrives. I leaked too, but the doctor said that it was a good sign of milk flow/supply. It is embarrassing, but get some absorbent breastpads and hang in there.

The type of formula you use will depend on the pediatrician. We tried several before we got it right. She tried Lipil, Nutramigen, and Prosobee. Eventually, she was able to digest the Good Start the best. Every baby is different.

I had a manual Avent pump and Medela pump. But I also had an electric Evenflo pump. Out of all three, I preferred the Evenflo.

For more info, you can visit the la leche league website or talk more to your lactation consultant. Your hospital may even have a class on breastfeeding. I took one and it answered a lot of questions for me.

Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy and I hope that all turns out well for you. God Bless you and your family.

Most of the other moms have given you great answers. I will only add that it is important that you line up a support person now, doesn't have to be some one that has nursed just someone that will encourage you as the first month can be difficult (by two months you will be happy that you stayed with it!). If you can find a local LLL. There are not many in the rural areas, but you can contact the nearest leader by phone now. The leaders are great resoures.

I am not sure about the first 2 questions, I am pretty flat chested myself. I used Similac to suplement with and Sams also has a really good brand Members Mark that I used a lot. I used to do half breast milk half formula. As far as the pump goes, I heard the same thing about Medela but was not able to afford one for myself. I did find a really good one though, Evenflo makes one that is electric or battery powered and it pumps both breast at the same time, it was around $50 I believe at Wal Mart.

Hope this helps, good luck,
J.

I have enormous boobs so I can relate!

I went to a specialty bra/lingerie store and found the Goddess nursing bras to be the BEST. They have one style that I've gotten numerous times which goes up to an H or K, and it's so supportive that I still wear them even though I've stopped breastfeeding! They can order it for you, I can look up the style # if you need it. Expensive, around $50 each, but so worth it. Only problem with these is that the plastic rings tend to break over time, so I had a seamstress replace them with metal parts after they broke for about $10.

I had some other bras, including Medela, which were ok, but the Goddess gave the best support by far!!

Also essential was the "My Brest Friend" nursing pillow. Much better than a Boppy for big boobs. This one actually latches around you, and has a firm, flat surface, so the baby is really supported. I carried this everywhere, couldn't BF without it for at least 6 months! It supported my boob as well as the baby, so they were even with each other. Otherwise my boob would have hung into my lap!

We used the football hold, where the baby is on your side. Much easier for large boobs. I also had really flat nipples, common for large boobs, so had to use a nipple shield for a long time, but it helped so much and we eventually weaned off it.

Meet with the lactation consultant at the hospital & get contact info in case you need to have a consultation later if problems arrive. Also, your local La Leche League is awesome, full of seasoned breastfeeding vets with tons of info & tips and support!!

Good luck, email if you have questions!
C.

Good Start is a good formula to use they say it eh next best to breast milk,. My daughter loved it . i dosen't hvae a harsh smell to it niether. I also bought some wonderful bras at target and i know JcPenny had a nice selction for nursing moms.

I am currently breastfeeding my 6 week old and am using a Medela double electric pump to start getting baby girl use to a bottle. I purchased my pump from Craigslist..yes it was used..but you can but replacement parts for everything that touches you and the milk.....I'm happy with mine..just know you will be told not to use a used pump..but honestly I see no cause for concern!

No, don't pump until after the baby is born! Nipple stimulation can cause premature labor. You don't want a preemie baby! Don't mix formula and breast milk, do one or the other in a bottle. Similac or Enfamil are the best infant formulas. If money is an issue, though, Wal-Mart has a good one as well, called Parent's Choice. It is comparable to Similac and Enfamil. Breastfeed as much as you can, don't offer baby a pacifier for the first two weeks, as that can cause nipple confusion. When baby is fussy, offer him your breast. You shouldn't have any more trouble with breastfeeding than you would if you had average sized breasts. I want you to know you are giving your baby the BEST start in life, so don't let people talk you into formula feeding. There are a lot of people "against" breastfeeding, I don't know why! Good luck!

www.breastfeedingbasics.com/.../Large_Breasted_Tips.shtml
www.plus-size-pregnancy.org, www.biggerbras.com

Try these for some bras and tips. I am also quite large and found much help with the Boppy and My Breast Friend pillows. I didn't have much luck with different holds other than the footbal and laying my DD across the pillow. I sometimes had to hold the girls out of her face for fear of blocking off her little nose. It was a challenge and took about 6 weeks to get right and 3 months to get a good rythm going, but once we did! Boy was it worth it on ALL fronts. Cost, bonding, feelings of self worth. It is one of the hardest things I accomplished, but I was so glad I stuck with it and nursed for the first year. It does get easier.

GET A MEDELA! Don't mess around with the rest, just get the best. With the money you save on formula, you will make up for it. I wouldn't waste money on the double pump unless time is a big factor. I had a problem doing both at once, possibly I am not coordinated enough and I felt a little bit bovine. BUt I went through 3 pumps before getting the Medela and it was night and day.

I started supplementing formula at the evening feeding (like 9pm) so that she would sleep for 3-4 hours as she was going 1 hour in between breast feeding and by week 6 I was a wreck. She only had 4 ounces a day and I'd pump right after. Pumping, even for a minuite or two on each breast will help increase your supply.

Most of all, get someone on your side to support you who knows how important this is for you, and for the health of your child. It will be difficult, it will hurt for a while, but it WILL get better, and there is NO other experience on earth like feeding your child this way. No one else will ever see your baby from this angle, it is just you and them and it is some kind of wonderful after you get it down. Hubby, Mom, friend, Lactation consultant. Someone who can encorage you and give you moments of clarity when you are frazzled and ready to give up. My hubby spent more than one 2AM feeding telling me I was great, how healthy she wold be and what a wonderful mother I was while I sobbed. It made ALL the difference in the world, when other people we telling me to just switch to formula (I had a hard time getting started and a yeast infection...get a lactation consultant and touch base with her at one week and again at 3 or 4 or when you need her...it is worth it) It is also wildly convinient (Old Navy dressing rooms are great on the go!) and I HATED washing bottles.

Good luck!

Just a few quick things--I wouldn't pump now. The first milk that comes out will be colostrum and the baby will need that right away and more importantly, it could trigger early labor.

I loved nursing tank tops because you can just expose your nipple and not have your entire stomach hanging out. Not sure if they make them in your bust size (but they SHOULD) and if they don't, they are now making these bands that you wear around you belly that come up to your bra area, again to cover that part up while you are nursing. You feel much more covered this way. Not that I was ever one to cover up while I was nursing. Hell, I've walked around Costco nursing my baby, but since my stomach wasn't hanging out, no one could really tell and it looked like I was just holding her (I always refused the drape--but hey, I live in Boulder, CO).

As far as the leaking, just buy some cotton nursing pads and it soak it up. You'll need them once baby is born anyway.

Good luck. You are about to experience the most incredible day of your life!

i would not pump before you have your child because you milk has special vitamins etc for your new born. get some breastfeeding pads to put in your bra, or reusable 'lilly pads' are good for leakage.
see if you can rent a pump from your hospital. medela is a very good brand.
my dads side of the family has large breasts and when they become engorged with milk, very big boobs. my grandmother told me it can be hard to BF with such a large chest, definitely sit up while BFing and dont 'accidently' fall asleep. you have to watch baby's nose is clear, sometimes so much milk can come out the baby cant keep up.
june is right around the corner, congratulations!

Hi! Congratulations! I can only give a L. advice on one subject since I have a very small chest and I didn't supplement with formula with either one of my children. However, most people in my family recommended Carnation Good Start which I think now is called Gerber Good Start, but I would listen to the others mom's out there on that subject. Anyway, with my first child, I borrowed my friends barely used Medela pump which she paid almost $300 for. I liked it, it was a double pump and was fast, but I was glad that I didn't pay for it! For my second child, I needed a pump, so I went to Wal-mart and bought the Evenflo Select pump (single pump) and I love it. It works just as well as the Medela pump and I only paid $45 for it. I think the double one is only $65. My friend just bought a First Years pump that was less than $150 and she is really happy with it. I will say that I am a SAHM and I only pumped to have milk for when someone babysat my kids or to relieve engorgement. I think the Medela would be great for moms that go back to work and have to pump during the day because they come with extra bottles, carrying case and I think L. coolers to keep the milk in. I would think about what you actually need the pump for first before committing to buying a certain one. Also, pumping so that dad can join in on the feedings is a great idea. For both of my kids I planned to do that, but I never did because it was just to easy to open my shirt and pop her/him on. However, I'm not comfortable nursing in public and neither of my kids ever really took to a bottle very well, so it was difficult for me to really get some ME time. My husband never really had the experience and bonding of feeding the kids, however, he did bond in other ways. Good luck to you!

Whew! That's quite a list!I know nothing about pumps, so I'll leave that alone, but I do know about a couple of other things you mentioned. First, you're not leaking milk, so don't start pumping. It's colostrum, which is clear or yellowish. Your baby will drink this before your milk comes in, which can be 2-3 days after birth. It has lots of nutrients and antibodies in it. Also, being big-breasted myself, my problem was small nipples. My son couldn't get enough breast in his mouth beyond the nipple.(Baby has to get the areola in his mouth to nurse because that's where the milk ducts are. They don't just suck the nipple.) Now they have shields, which fit over the nipple and into the baby's mouth to draw the nipple out if it's an issue. Good luck, the mommies here will answer any and all questions--you're in good hands!

I love that you are asking this question!! The fact that you are leaking now is a good thing and I am sure you will have no problems with breastfeeding. No, wait to nurse since the first milk is very dense and very nutritious. After you have the baby, nurse immediately. I had a c-section and I found the "football hold" was the best position for me. That is also the best position for very large chested women. My friend is a D cup and she used the regular hold and that worked for her although she did not nurse long. Ask the nurses to help you get the baby into different positions and see what works best. Always nurse first. If you think the baby is still hungry, then give him one or two ounces of formula. Similac or Enfamil are equally good. If you are having a latching problem or it hurts (more than just feels wierd) then you have to get help from the nurses or the lactation consultants. They are there for you even if you are home and not at the hospital. If you continue to nurse on demand (every 1-3 hours) and you still think the baby is hungry, then you can try herbs like blessed thistle (worked well for me). Medela is the best pump but I didn't do well pumping because it just didn't stimulate my letdown. Maybe it will be easier for you but the only way I got some milk is with the baby on one boob and the suction cup on the other. Are you planning to go back to work? If not, then skip the expensive electronic pump. Get a handheld one that can help relieve engorgement and also give your husband a chance to participate. Even if you don't pump a lot, he can help with the baby in a million and one ways, not just feeding. He can do burping, rocking, changing, walking, helping you, ect. As far as a good bra I found that the tank tops with the built in bras were the best. I don't have big boobs so this was just right for me. I thought nursing bras and sports bras were too annoying. I just liked to pull down my shirt and let the baby do his thing. You will also need nursing pads. For a while, both boobs will leak at once. Can get very very messy but a good opportunity to catch the milk coming out! Good luck!

First and foremost! Take a deep breath. It can be complicated but in the end it all works out. You seem to have it all basically worked out...more then most do before the baby gets here.
The main reason I wanted to cut in was because you said something about supplementing with formula.... YIKES!!!
Okay, here goes... My daughter decided on her own that she was finished beast feeding. Broke my heart but what was I going to do. I pumped for as long as I could (Madela by the way). Breast feeding is THE best thing that you can do for your baby's immune system, development and function. I did a TON of research because I wasn't comfortable with formulas. If, for the simple reason that they are all engineered... chemicals, fillers, sugar and things that you wouldn't put in your body... definitely not in a baby's underdeveloped system!!! We are Brainwashed to believe that it is the best thing that we can do for our children... it is not. I searched for an alternative and found it! You can do your own research. You will find the same thing... goats milk is your answer to supplementing. They have been using it in Europe for years. I discovered that it is the closest thing to breast milk that you can get. . It tastes good and is filled with nutrients. I actually found a lady that raises goats and I get my milk fresh from her. I don't heat or "pasteurize" it since that removes most of the nutrients. I am comfortable with giving it to my daughter raw because I see the environment in which they live and what the goats are fed. My daughter is 19 months now and is NOT vaccinated and has NEVER had formula or cows milk. She is in Excellent health.
If you can't find fresh goat milk you can get powdered (i only found online), condensed and liquid (in a carton like milk) both at Wal-mart. Made by Meyenberg. If you find that your baby has an intolerance to milk or a digestion problem... goat milk is great for that as well.
Here is a link to get you started... It is for both cows and goats just look in your state to see what is available. I don't recommend giving a baby cows milk in any form. www.realmilk.com/where2.html
good luck! I hope that I was helpful to you.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me.
____@____.com
G.

I didn't read the other responses so this could be duplicate.

Line yourself up with a lactation consultant. Good ones are the best thing to have after the baby is born and you may need one to come to the house after.
They are also nice to have to call with questions even when you get the hang of things.

Also, Dont be discouraged if its not as easy as you think it will be in the beginning. There is a learning curve!! It takes practice to get good at it!! (you and the baby!)

Good luck and congrats!

Hey A.,

I really have to say, I just love your question, thoughtfulness and organizational skills. I have breastfed both my babies and just like you had only experienced formula feeding among my family and friends.

I really recommend taking a Breastfeeding course early on if you have any worries but certainly closer to delivery too as you will forget things. I am a worrier and I took my class a few weeks prior to delivery.

I highly suggest speaking to the lactation specialist after delivery. Then request a lactation consult each day you are in the hospital. You will learn so much more from having multiple people explain things differently.

My own advice/personal experience
-I'm large too as regularly a DD but found breast feeding an ease. I didn't find it harder but did find that the position for baby had to be altered. I never needed a boppy or mother's breast friend to nurse my babies(b/c then the baby would be pushed against your breast, no room for all that cushion too.) My favorite way to nurse is laying back with the baby kneeling like onto me, but for this they have to be about 5months of age. Early on It was easier to just sit up, pull my legs up and twist to one side. This allowed the baby to sit up while nursing, lean against my legs as back support and nurse. Find what ever position is comfortable for you and your baby. All in all, I only need my lap to lay my baby in while nursing. It was not hard and it was very rewarding.
- Seek help for bra sizing buy going to maternity store for measuring. Find an older lady as they know what they are doing for sure. I think my bra was medela but can not recall.
-I supplemented just because I did not pump and so that I could see a given amount of intake. It appeased my worrying self. Neither of babies had so called nipple confusion. I learned alot between 1 & 2. I still believe all the benefits of breastfeeding but I recommend a mixed approach. I learned that I'd breast feed my next baby for the first 24hours but that I'd quickly supplement with 2oz nursers once a day, maybe twice the next 48hrs to get the levels of bili rubin down. This has to do with amount of initial breastmilk/let down and the babies need fluids and to excrete urine to clear bilirubin from their bodies. I regret not knowing this from baby 1 to 2 b/c baby 1 was pricked and blood drawn 6 times and baby 2 only 2 blood draws.
-I supplemented with Enfamil premium ready made nursettes. I still use the 6oz glass bottles for my 8 month old when not emptying the 8 oz can. Another lesson learned on baby 1 was that severe reflux responds better to mother's milk or heavy formula. Ready to feed mixes are thicker due to the suspension process of the liquid. The same brand mixed with water at home will be thinner. Enfamil will ship free to your door. But do compare prices at local stores as the cost of formula seems to alternate. If your making plenty of milk, then do pump and just put that in a bottle for dad or for later. If I'd of had this surplus of milk, I'd certainly have done that over a bought supplement. I would not mix breast milk with formula as the main goal is to get all the breast milk in your little one's tummy and then any formula would be just an add on.
-When I pumped, I preferred my hand pump over the expensive one. Mine were by Avent. I haven't seen the available since the 1st baby. I do not have any experience about the Medela line so keep asking more recent mom's. I'd really suggest renting a pump machine from the hospital or a maternity store. You will need to buy your own lines but the cost of the machine is high and renting might give you flexibility on how long to keep, etc. I did not need nipple cream, a blessing I know but I did find that expressing breast milk after the feeding and smoothing around my nipples helped to decrease pain and cracking (don't let this scare you, bf was not painful.) Though I suggest having some cream on hand and want to warn that medela creme stinks but lansinoh(sp?) is much more pleasant.
-As for the leaking, do not worry. It shouldn't be embarrassing, so sorry, it should be a precursor to great things. As for pumping early, ask an expert but I would NOT. I say this because that is milk that is leaking but in my opinion pumping would cause your body to make colostrum sooner and then you'd be pumping that and storing it away. While colostrum is not plentiful in quantity, the quality is the best and you want your baby to have that as one of the first few feedings in the first few days. But again, ask an expert. Again, what is leaking is not colostrum but just early milk, so no worries.

Lastly, my own advice. Breastfeeding is natural, you can do it. The technique does have to be learned but just remember to not get frustrated. Here we have so much education but get flustered by breastfeeding. I reminded myself that women in 3rd world countries do it all the time. So speak to the consultants and learn it. Drink plenty of fluids post delivery to keep up milk production and enjoy all the special bonding of nursing your little one.
Many best wishes for a wonderful delivery. Babies are the best blessings anyone can every have. I hope you enjoy motherhood to come and Happy early Mother's Day!
-MB =)

Congrats on the upcoming birth. I won't try to answer every question - I don't have E size boobies, but when I was nursing, they were much bigger than they are now! LOL! (So maybe they were E size for a while!)

Some babies, like mine, could go easily from breast to bottle and bottle to breast. I think that's some much better - it's very hard to handle a baby who won't take a bottle if all the sudden there is a circumstance that requires it. There are certainly lots of women who can stay at home all the time and never need to offer a bottle, never get sick and can't nurse, etc, but it happened to me. Thank heavens my son took a bottle. I was too sick with vomiting and and having diarrhea to nurse. (And thankfully I had it on hand, because I got sick in the middle of the night.)

If you need to supplement early on before your milk is really in, go ahead and give formula. Start with Similac with iron and see how baby tolerates it. After your milk is coming in well, then pump. Your milk is best. I wouldn't mix the two unless you want to wean later on, in case baby doesn't like the formula after all that breast milk.

Don't start pumping now. Your first milk the baby will take in the hospital is colostrum, which is different than the milk you'll have after the first couple days. You'll want to save that for when they bring the baby to you shortly after birth, and offering your nipple is best for that.

Good luck!
D.

First of all, good for you for going against the grain and doing such a wonderful thing for your baby. Breastfeeding can have some challenges, but it is also so amazingly rewarding.
Since you are low on support, I would strongly recommend going to La Leche League meetings in your area as soon as you can. You will find them full of mamas with lots of experience and advice. You will get more personalized info than you could ever get in a message board. You can find your local group here- http://www.llli.org/. Don't wait until your baby is here, start going now so you are as prepared as you can be. It's also free. :)

I'm not big busted, so I cannot help with those answers, but I can say that I would hold off on thinking you will need to supplement with formula. When you supplement with formula, your baby nurses less, and that tells your body to product LESS breastmilk for your baby. So, nurse your baby as often as it needs to, and your body will keep up with the demand. Our bodies are so amazing- not only do they make as much milk as our babies need, they are also capable of changing our milk based on our babies needs! Formula could never do that. So give your body time to adjust to your baby, and you will do great. :)
I agree that you do NOT want to start pumping now. Save your colostrum for the baby. Pumping and/ or nipple stimulation in general, can put you into premature labor. It's a great sign that your body is ready, and will be when the baby comes. :) I'm due in 2 weeks and have noticed little dribbles here and there. :) If I can make a suggestion, I would make a card/ sign for your hospital room/ door (maybe make a couple?) if you are delivering in a hospital, to let them know that you are going to breastfeed your baby. You cannot let them know this enough! Make sure it is in your birth plan, and make sure to tell any nurse you see. Also, don't let your baby out of your sight. If they need to take your baby for tests, etc., have your husband/ partner go with. Keep your baby in your room whenever you can, and let them sleep in your room too. I've heard of too many babies being given formula by well-meaning nurses. When we had our son- we did not leave our sight.

I've used a Medela pump and was very happy with it. I would talk to LLL leaders or a lactation consultant who might be able to tell you about cheaper alternatives. Some pumps can be used by multiple people, so you might be able to find a used one and just buy new parts for it. Medelas are single-user pumps and should NOT be shared.

Please feel free to reach out should you need more support! I nursed my son for over 2 years, through mastitis and a bunch of other challenges, and I know a lot of other moms on here have done the same. Trust your body to take care of your baby, and it will. :)

Good luck!!!!
T.
www.ReadandGrow.com

Many hospitals and ob offices not only offer birthting classes, but also breast feeding classes. I would consider looking into a class to get all the info.

I too am very large breasted. I had no issues with breastfeeding. I breastfed both of my children for over a year. With my first child I requested a meeting with the lactation consultant before I left the hospital. She was extremely helpful. In the very beginning, I had issues with getting a good position because of my breast size. She suggested a few holds and also folding a wash cloth to support my breast. I only needed the holds and washcloth for a few days while I figured things out and got more comfortable with breastfeeding. But I was grateful for the help.

Please DO NOT pump. I have heard that it can cause you to go into labor. Your body will do what it needs to do when the time is right. My son was a larger baby and the lactation consultant also gave me some tips to help my milk come in sooner after he was born.

As for bras...I went to the Motherhood store and got measured for a nursing bra. I loved the wireless ones I got from there and I lived in nursing tanks shortly after the births of both my children. I think bras are a personal preference, but I was happy with the ones I bought.

You can rent pumps from the hospital. I am unsure of the cost, but it may be cheaper than buying a pump. I just used a $50 manual pump from medela. It did take longer, but I wasn't pumping too often, so it worked for me.

Your pediatrician can help you choose the best formula...like the bras a lot of that may boil down to personal preference. :)

GL! Congrats.

Hi! Thats great you are already making plans to BF! I've breastfeed all 3 of my children, my son until 18 months and my twin girls until 14 months.
- First, do NOT start pumping now. It can cause contractions and possibly put you into premature labor!
-Medela is the best breastpump. I used the pump-in-style for my son and then rented the hospital grade Symphony for my twins. I only rented it for 2 months and then returned it b/c I really didn't need to pump like I did for my son.
-I loved the Johnson & Johnson nursing pads. Those might help with your leaking issue. I was always one to leak a lot too.
-I am larger chested and had no issues breastfeeding.
- I'm not sure about the mixing BM with formula. You might check kellymom.com which is a great BF resource! As far as formula, you hopefully won't need that much. I just whatever samples I had been sent. I never even usued all of the samples up with my son. I did supplement a little more with my girls and I used Similac Advanced at first, but ultimately changed to generic (target brand). If your baby has no intolerances, you should be find to use almost any of the formulas, they all have to meet the same standards. My son had some issues with milk and so I had to cut all milk out of my diet for the first few months I BF him. Probably if he was on formula he would have been put on a soy formula or milk protein free (very expensive) formula!
-I always had trouble finding bras in my size!!! I did go to motherhood maternity and look at different ones and did find one that I like, but had to order online b/c they didn't carry my size in the store. I never liked any of the Medela brand bras.

Good luck! Stick with it. It'll be hard at first, but I promise, it will get better!

I personally loved the Lansinoh double pump. Cheaper than Medela, and extremely effective.

As far as pumping while pregnant, I wouldnt as it will stimulate contractions.

I am also large chested and have successfully bf two babies and am currently nursing number 3. I don't think that your size will cause you too much trouble. You will however have trouble finding a good bra! I have used the Medela bras in the past and they were okay. But recently I found the Bravado Bras. They are awesome--very comfortable and they do a good job of hiding breast pads. You can get them online at diapers.com or amazon or many other websites. Pretty much any bra that fits is going to have to come off of the internet, so check out return policies before you buy. Diapers.com has a great and easy return policy and they pay for the return shipping. I never supplemented formula and I really think that you won't really need to do that if you are willing to pump (breast milk does freeze pretty well). As far as a pump, unless you are going back to work and planning to pump several times a day you shouldn't have to buy a really expensive pump. I had the Medela Harmony manual pump and I loved it. I also had a Medela single electric pump and I actually preferred the manual one over the electric--I could pump faster and get more with it. I did not pump a whole lot, but once the babies started eating cereal I did pump a little milk every day to mix in with their cereal. And the Harmony manual pump was great for that. So if you just want a bottle for dad every once in a while that would be adequate. (It is only about $30 I think).

Do find a lactation to consultant to begin with and plan to stick with it for at least a month. That first month will be hard, but so worth it. After that it gets much easier.

A.,

Here are a few answers for your great list of questions. I've nursed 3 babies, and never had to supplement. Sometimes I think that if we assume we will need to, it ends up happening. I would assume you won't have to, and not worry about it at this point. If you nurse on demand, most women can make enough without having to pump or supplement.

Having your husband help with feeding is great, but I highly recommend waiting a few weeks before introducing a pump and bottle. My pediatrician (who is a lactation consultant) gave me the following advice:

If you do not want to have supply problems in the future, nurse on demand (which means whenever the baby fusses or sucks her/his fist or roots) in the first few weeks. Latch that baby on and plan on hanging out for a while! It can seem like a lot of work at first, but if you put it in at the beginning, it helps establish your milk supply for your babies first year. Nursing on demand and establishing your milk the first 6 weeks can help you through lower supply times at 6 months.

Other mom's already mentioned this, but don't pump now. Start after baby comes... and as I said, unless there is a reason, I'd wait until baby is a few weeks old.

Also - take a bf class at your hospital if you can, they can be really helpful and will help you make contact with the lactation staff there (especially if you don't have family members who have nursed before).

Good luck! Congratulations on your first baby!

J.

A couple of other answers, although I did not succesfully bf my son for any duration. I had milk supply issues.

- bf with a larger chest should not be an issue for you. I'm an E, and had no problems with positioning, etc...
-I liked the Medela bras. they seemed to stretch well.
-I used them all. You'll find that your child reacts to different formulas different ways, so you'll have to see what works for yours. I started with Similac, which made my son very gassy. Then switched to Enfamil, which was terrific, and finally, switched to Target's brand (when he was 6mos old) purely becuase it's the same content, just 1/2 the price!
-I mixed breast milk and formula together, when I was supplementing. Again, it'll be a question of what your child prefers. Mine didn't care.
-Medela does make the best pumps. Hands down. See if you can rent one, if cost is an issue.

Hope that helps!

- I am a size g chest, and didn't have any problems feeding, other than getting used to the feeling, the first two weeks are a bit tough.

- I got some nursing tanks from Target, they are pretty comfortable and offer decent support. I also went to a specialty bra store and had them fit and reccommend some bras for me. I have two playtex bras I got at the outlet store which are ok.

- I have the Medela, but heard the Lansinoh, is basically the same pump, in different packaging. It's a lot cheaper, so I wish I had went with that one!

- Don't pump. Pick up some breast pads (disposable or reusable) and put 'em to work!