First Time Mom Breast Feeding Advice

Read up on the topic now while you have TIME. Then ask your OBGYN to recommend a good lactation nurse. Talk about non-hormonal birth control that won't affect your milk supply. Stock up now on breast shields - you may start leaking before baby is born. Get the cotton ones - the disposable ones stuck to my nipples and got all wadded up in my bra - gross! Also - at your maternity clothes store they should sell soothing ointments for your nipples. Your nipples will get chapped and hurt in the beginning.
Buy a pretty shawl or poncho or some of those Hooter Hiders so you can nurse without nasty old men oggling you.
I was induced 5 weeks early because my wiggly boy kicked a huge hole in the water bag. I went through labor without any pain meds but did get an episiotomy after pushing for 90 minutes because his heart rate was making the midwife nervous. I would reccomend a prenatal yoga class to learn relaxation and meditation techniques I credit yoga for my 7 hour labor from 0-10 - the hospital staff was amazed.
The episiotomy took forever to heal so next time I will fend them off - I think being induced made it harder to push - I just didn't get much of an urge so I pushed when they told me to.
Anyway, play it by ear and make sure you get a carseat and bassinet this week - just in case your kiddo is in a hurry too.
;)

2 moms found this helpful

Hi D.,

I had my first son with pain medication they gave me throught my IV and I was so out of it, I could barely keep my eyes open. My 2nd son was born au natural and I loved it! It was the greatest experience, yes painful, but to be so aware and alert of what was happening made the pain seem insignificant compared to the moment. I am now 34 weeks pregnant with my 3rd son and plan to have him natural as well.

I had to remind myself that I could get through anything and with that I was able to do it the 2nd time without medication. It is painful, but the contractions are only a few minutes and you have to continue to remind yourself that you can get through a few minutes of pain. As far as the actual delivery (pushing him out) I was okay with that, it was only the contractions leading up to the pushing which were painful.

As far as breastfeeding, I breastfeed and bottle feed my 1st son, solely breastfeed my 2nd son until 11 months, and will solely breatfeed my 3rd son for the first year of his life. With my first son I was slighlty overwhelmed and he starting biting me around 5 months and my milk supply started drying up around 6 months so he was bottle feed from 7 months-12 months. With my 2nd son he refused to take a bottle, and then was soley breastfeed until 11 months, but after I weaned him, I wished I would have nursed longer. I went back to work part-time 6 weeks after my son was born, I pumped during breaks and lunches and had to arrange my nursing scheudle to accomodate my work schedule so that way the baby was fed and full before I left. I worked close to home, so if I had an hour lunch I came home and nursed him or shorter lunches, I pumped while I ate my lunch to keep my milk supply up. We started rice cereal and baby food at 4 months, due to the fact that he refused to take a bottle. I breastfeed about every 3-4 hours depending on when I was working or not.

It is all possible (natural birth) my mom had all 3 of us kids natural and it was something that I wanted to do as well. It doesn't mean that it is the correct way, there are all kinds of ways to have a baby and no which way makes you a better mom or not, it is what you do with the time once the baby is here that counts and the love that you give them.

Congratulations and good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi D.,

I know you've gotten a lot of advise, and with 2 little ones with me right now, I don't have time to read them all. Congrats on your pregnancy and I'm glad you have decided to breastfeed. I'm a member of a play group and probably 95% of them have breastfed their kids and had them naturally (sometimes not by choice). So it is definitely possible.

When I was pregnant with my first son, I had all the intentions of breastfeeding him, but it didn't work that way. We had a horrible time trying to 'make him' breastfeed, but he wouldn't latch on. After weekss of trying and worrying if he was getting enough to eat, I had to face the fact that it just wasn't going to work. I decided to pump and supplement with formula because I wasn't giving enough milk. I felt like the worst mother ever not being able to feed my son the way I wanted and everyone said it was the best way to feed your babies.

Also, when he was born, I ended up having to have a c-section because his head was too big and he was 'stuck'(for lack of a better word) and wasn't going to go any further.

I had the same feeding problem with my second son, but I didn't wait so long before deciding to just pump and supplement. I just wanted to share my story a bit because it shows that things don't always work out as we plan. My boys are very happy and healthy and doing great. I plan on having another baby, and will try again to breastfeed, but I understand that it may not happen. That's OK...as long as they are healthy and happy! Just relax(as much as possible) and try to enjoy this time, because babies grow so fast!

Good luck and God bless.

1 mom found this helpful

Both are definitely possible! Look at your mom! I wanted to go natural and even got a doula. However, I ended up asking for the epidural. Don't feel too disappointed if you need pain meds, especially if you have a prolonged labor. Many many women go natural though - how? I don't really know.
Breastfeeding is difficult in the beginning but by 2 months it was not painful and I felt such a close bond with my son doing it. I am a big advocate. I thought it would be hard to pump at work but I was able to keep it up until my son was 10 months.
The only thing I'd like to draw your attention to is that by 4 to 6 weeks you may not be fully healed. I went back at 12 weeks and was a bit sore still walking around the office. Best of luck to you! If you have to work you have to. Congrats on baby Ryan!!!!!!!!!!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi D.!

Congratulations on your growing family! What a beautiful time of pregnancy you are in. Your stepsons must be having soooooo much fun watching & feeling your belly move :O) This will really help "ease" the transition of a blended family.......been there :O)

Breast feeding advice...........well, as a new mom I wanted to do "the best thing" for my newborn son, too. I committed to breastfeeding immediately and it was a lovely bonding experience. Especially for a new mother. HOWEVER, breastfeeding is not for everyone, and I don't want you to feel like a "failure" if you choose that it's too diffuclt to continue. I would definitely try it, but if for whatever reason it's not for you, then it's not for you. Your son will be just fine with formula :O) I nursed for the first 3 months, as I read that was the most important for my baby. That was a huge commitment for me. It's an absolutely beautiful experience, and it can be very hard for some. Only you will know when it's time ;O)

Delivery......I think we all PSYCH ourselves out before delivery. It's normal to be afraid of the "unknown". We always ask LOTS of questions because we believe it helps us be prepared for that big day :O) BUT.... when your day actually comes, your own motherly instincts will automatically kick-in and it will all come very naturally. Delivery is not a contest, I would vote for the epidural ;O) Don't feel like you have anything to prove to anyone, so don't let your decisions be influenced. Same goes with allowing anyone in the deliver room. The choice is yours :O)

OK, that was fun reminiscing down Memory Lane :O) Good Luck to you, D., and welcome to Mamasource!

~N. :O)

1 mom found this helpful

D.,

I bet you are overwhelmed with the amount or responses. But, like you I wanted a natural birth and to BF right away. I had my baby last June and I am still breastfeeding. I went back to work 3 months after she was born. I will tell you what I did - I invested in a REALLY good breast pump (don't go cheep, it is worth the investment) Becasue you will need to pump when you are away from your baby. Plus you want to keep your milk production flowing. Another thing - I wanted to go natural on my birth - the nurse I had (not so brite) told me I had another 2-6 hours of HARD labor before I was going to have her - so I thought to myself and said hell I am not this strong I guess and I opted for an Epi. Well by the time they got to me and put it in I was lying on my side waiting for them to put the cathader(sp) in at that moment is when my little girl was crowning - needless to say they couldn't put it in and I had her 8 pushes later. So you never now how things will go - had they checked me before the Epi I certainly would not have gotten one. Also, had I known that the amount of pain and pressure I was feeling was right when she was coming I could have told myself to hang in there and I would have had her naturally. So I guess what I am sharing with you is to be open - go with the flow. I breast feed her right after she was cleaned up and given back to me - she latched on with ease. Lucky for me! don't be frustrated if it doesn't happen for you right away - One piece of GREAT advice I got was DO NOT GIVE UP - Stick with it and don't worry!!!!

Good Luck and Congratulations - You sound like you will be a fantastic mother!!!!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi D.--It is NOT impossible to have a natural birth and breastfeed for as long as you want! You can do it; I know lots and lots of people who do. It's important to educate yourself and surround yourself with people who are into natural birth and breastfeeding, so you can have the kind of encouragement and support you are looking for. Here are some suggestions for how to do that.

First, get yourself some great natural birth and breastfeeding books if you haven't already. Books by Dr. Sears and Ina May Gaskin tend to be the favorites in the natural birth community.

Second, get in touch with your local natural-birth/breastfeeding community. Your local homebirth midwives and doulas will have information on any groups, meetups, stores, and community centers in your area. The homebirth community is your best resource for natural birth even if you plan a hospital birth, so don't let the "home" part keep you away. Google a local doula, call her and ask her how to get started.

Third, get in touch with your local La Leche League and go to a meeting or two. They welcome pregnant moms who just need a little exposure to regular old breastfeeding, and you can meet lots of other breastfeeding moms and other support people there. Be sure you have the phone number of an ICBLC (certified lactation consultant) before you have your baby, just in case you need to call someone for help after your birth.

Fourth, join online communities that share your interests. Mamasource is great but it's pretty solidly mainstream; you need groups that are focused on breastfeeding and natural birth to support your plans. Also, the internet is great because it's open 24/7! I would suggest creating a (free) LiveJournal account and joining the natural birth and breastfeeding communities here: http://community.livejournal.com/breastfeeding/profile and http://community.livejournal.com/naturalbirth/profile

Others have found the mothering.com forums useful. I'm sure there are other online groups as well.

You can do this; thousands and thousands of us do. Best wishes to you and your family!

1 mom found this helpful

Don't get to caught up in what people tell you about what happened to them. I found that the bad stories come out because people don't want you to be unprepared. And if your plan doesn't happen the way you had planned, move on from it. My plan was like yours, natural birth, no drugs, but the baby stopped breathing and her heartbeat slowed way down and I had to have a c-section to save her. I felt as if I was cheated out of my beautiful birth experience. But in the long run I realize that the most important thing was what was in my arms. In the end, the way she came into the world didn't matter. Write your birth plan, and don't let the nurses give you drugs if you don't want them, but listen to your Dr and trust your gut feelings. I knew something was wrong. Keep trying to nurse even if it seems like it will never work, but in the end no matter what happens the job of mom starts once the baby is here in your arms. You don't "fail" if the plan doesn't work out the way you expect. Many many many smart, healthy, well adjusted people were raised on formula and or born c-section. :)

1 mom found this helpful

Hi!
You have lots of good advice...but I wanted to add a little as well. I have just went through all this 6 months ago with a baby girl! How fun!
My best advice is BE OPEN MINDED! I wanted "natural" and all that too, but when it comes down to it you don't know what your body will need/want. So just be VERY open minded and "OK" with things changing quickly. You have nothing to proove and all that really matters is a healthy baby in the end : - )
Breastfeeding...oh the joys! I have to be honest and tell you that my trust in Lactation consultants is very thin. I feel like those Lactation people are NOT open-minded...so take their advice but also use your own judgment first. I personally am well endowed in that department (like DDD) and none of them were of course, so what they told me just simply didn't work for ME, and through trial and error I (as will you) found a position and routine that worked for me and baby.
And don't be afraid to give your newborn a sip of formula to get him through till the breastfeeding thing is working for you. I did, and it saved us for sure. When baby is starving/cranky do everything you can to " make it work" And I also used a "nipple shield" which saved me from quiting the whole thing. Eventually you won't need it, but its worth a try if you are having trouble.
I went back to work at 8 weeks and breastfeeding was the best thing I ever did. Having your precious baby in daycare is hard enough, but having that bond with him will be worth it. However it doesn't work for everyone, so don't beat yourself up if it doesn't work. It takes A LOT of work in the begining (and is so NOT natural) but if you stick it out it will be worth it : - ) Congrats!

1 mom found this helpful

Giving birth is one thing, but breastfeeding shouldn't be too difficult. Most people manage it just fine. And if you're having problems, there are plenty of people to consult.

1 mom found this helpful

D., CONGRATULATIONS!!
I had epi's with both my babies, so I can't give advice from a 'natural' perspective. Why do people tell you you won't be able to bf if you have a natural birth? You will likley get tons of feedback from moms who had natural births and bf no problem. I do know that breastfeeding is natural, so your baby may be able to help you out. You can also have a lactation or even a L&D nurse help you out. With my 2nd baby, we went back & forth a bit- birth and the first day were fine, she bf for 2 days but then she got sick, we went back into the hospital, she had issues nursing, so I pumped into bottles for a few days. when we got home, I stopped pumping and only offered the breast and within 2 feedings she was back on the boob!
As for returning to work, you will be able to pump, and your employer is required by law to give you the time to do so.
A tip is to start increasing your supply and storing milk from day one. Time-consuming but worth it! For tips on how to increase and build supply, go to the la leche league site, there is a ton of info there, as well as finding old posts on this site.
And I am totally not judging, but I wanted to put my 2 cents in around the issue of epi or not- I was in so much pain during labor and when they finally gave me the epi I felt soooo much better, and was able to actually enjoy the process, I actually had the nurse exclaim during my first daughter's birth that I "laughed her right out" I mean, would you have a cavity filled without novicane? I'm just sayin'... Best wishes to you- whatever you decide!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi!

Congrats! I didn't have my son naturally (had an epidural), so can't help you on that front (but Good Luck!) but I have been breastfeeding for 8 months now. I feel like I've taken on the role of being a Breastfeeding Cheerleader, I've become so passionate about it. My first 3 months were ROUGH. Two infections, improper latching, a huge chunk missing from the side of my nipple, but I found that what helped SO much was attending a weekly breastfeeding support group at my local hospital. It's been amazing to have that support for all new-mom related things and it's run by a lactation consultant so any problems/questions I've had, there's been help. I also saw a lactation consultant for one-on-one help for a month. And while my experience started out super rough, I'm SO glad I've stuck with it. I have a healthy, chubby boy who thoroughly enjoys nursing and I love the time it gives us together. HIGHLY recommend finding a group like my support group. If you are in the Castro Valley area (or want to come to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley), we meet at Eden Medical on Tuesday mornings. It runs from 10:30 - 1:30 and it's a show up when you want/stay how long you want deal. Occassionally we'll have guided discussions about certain things we are going through. I still go almost every Tuesday, even though our feeding is fine.

Feel free to contact me if you want more information!

Best of Luck & Congrats,

M.

Pooh. Just go with what you can do and take it from there. Dont make up your mind one way or the other beforehand without knowing what you are capable of!

I am a huge wimp when it comes to pain. We went to a child birth education class (best thing we did! I highly recommend it to anyone!!!) and learned about epidurals and other medicines & pain relief options. I *knew* that I was a wimp when it came to pain and I planned to ask for an epidural when the time came for me to need one.

Well, I was in the hospital pushing all morning, and breathing and walking around, rocking on the ball, etc... (learn your options! and use them!) All along the pain was fine, I just rolled with it as the contractions came. Then I decided I'd had enough after my water broke and wanted to have an epidural. But at that point, the baby was already crowning and they said it was too late. Wha??? But there I was, having my baby naturally without drugs (and by the way, when I hear "natural" childbirth, I think of it as "not a c-section" as opposed to drug-free.)

I am so very happy I had my child the way I did. Both because I totally *amazed* my sisters and mom (AND myself!!!!!!) and because I do think it made a big difference in how my son was at birth - maybe it's just personality, I'll never know but he was sooooo alert and bright eyed at birth. The nurse cleaning him off said she'd never had a baby watch her & stay awake like that. Maybe because there was no drugs in either of us, maybe not, who knows?? But I did, and if *I* could, others certainly can too!!

As for breastfeeding, it was a challenge to learn and my son never ate much but I did exclusively breastfeed (stopped BF'ing totally after around 14-15 months old)

Do try it, and dont freak out beforehand, just say "it's good to know" if people insist on sharing their stories. It may be that they're sharing their experiences (women love to tell stories of their labor & delivery, so it may just be that too) in order to help you realize it is always a surprise. you cannot write a script for how your childbirth will go and expect it to happen exactly like how you picture it to. There is *always* the possibility of this or that or the other thing happening. Which, again, is why I heartily endorse taking a child birth education class, since you learn about all the options and what the effects of this or that decision is so that *if* it comes down to a situation where something has to be done, you can voice your preference if there is a choice of what can be done.

Hi! First, Congratulations on making the decision to breastfeed and have a natural birth. I have a 1 year old daughter and am still breastfeeding. I work full time, train, etc. So, I am a huge advocate for breastfeeding.

For me, the most important thing is to find a great pump and freezer bags. Only if you are going to freeze the milk, which I found helpful to get me through some dry spells when I got sick, stressed out, etc.

I was told that you can start to pump within an hour after the baby nurses. So I started with that. Then returning to work, I start at 8, would pump at 10, then nurse her at 12, then pump at 3. We have a ladies lounge at work so I had some privacy, but it still didn't stop people's comments, negative and positive. For the negative, I just posted the info about how healthy it is for us and for the babies.

I have been through it all with the nursing. From Bronchitus, breast infections, stressed out, not eating enough calories, and a lot of negative feedback. Just remember it is possible to nurse for as long as you need to. And I hope that this is helpful.

Good luck to you and Congratulations!

Hi D.,

First of all, congrats to you! I just had my first baby (a little girl) in October and I was determined to breastfeed as well. Like you, I kept hearing about how hard it is and how frustrating it can be and some babies don't latch on, etc...well, guess what --- I had no problems whatsoever! I think one thing that really helped is about an hour after she was born, the nurse came in and had me place her on my boob. She wasn't able to really nurse, but it got her 'used' to the idea of it. After that, I placed her on my boob to nurse every couple of hours and she took to it - no problem! I really think you need to get them used to it asap. Even if they aren't getting anything at first (which they probably won't) they need to learn how to latch on and suck. It's been over 6 months and she's still going to town - lol! She also took to a bottle and a binky (pacifier) easily.

In regards to going back to work, I would invest in a really good pump. The medela has an electric double pump one that retails for about $330.00 and it's great for going back to work. I have a medela pump as well, but it's a single pump one and I wish now that I had spent the money on the double pump one instead. It's quick, easy and will help you keep your milk supply up. Lots of women at my work use it and really like it. If you don't have the money to get one brand new, you can find a used one and replace the breast shield, etc. Make sure you get it from someone you can trust and make sure that all the parts are in good working condition. Or you could get a less expensive one, just make sure you get a good brand (like medela which is what some/most hospitals recommend) or you'll end up spending even more money on another one later on.

One more piece of advice that my lactation nurse told me was to wait until after the baby was born to invest in a pump just in case I wasn't able to breastfeed. Breast pumps can't be returned (even unused ones) and there are situations where breastfeeding just doesn't work out. You don't want to spend all that money and then lose it.

Remember to be patient and relax...I think the baby can sense when you get frustrated too!

HTH and GOOD LUCK!

Hi D.. Congrats to you! I know you have a lot of responses, but here's one more. I went back to work when my oldest son was 5 weeks old, again when my second son was 8 weeks old, and I was able to breastfeed both of them until they were a year old. I have a Medela pump and LOVE it! (The one I have is a Pump In Style Pump - they've changed the design of the bag a bit in the 4 years since my oldest was born, but they are great pumps). I read "On Becoming Babywise" (revised and updated edition) by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam, and I felt this really helped me establish a workable "schedule" for my kids. By knowing my kids' general eating times, I set them up so that I was able to go to their daycare on my lunch hour and nurse them, then pump at work during their other daytime feedings. I started pumping a few weeks before I returned to work to build up a good supply. I recommend intruducing the bottle at about 3 weeks, to make sure Ryan will take it well, after breastfeeding has been established. Have your husband give him the bottle of breastmilk - if you are around, Ryan may want you instead!
I just had a baby girl (she's 5 weeks old), and I will be going back to work next week. I am doing the same thing with her, and she is doing great. All of my kids had gained weight by their 1 week check, and are growing well. The Babywise book helped me figure out if the babies are/were crying due to hunger or being tired - I couldn't imagine trying to figure that one out without having some sort of schedule to go off of.
I also had all 3 of my babies without any drugs (or even an IV) - amazing experiences!! "The Birth Partner" by Penny Simkin, P.T. is very informative. It discusses labor, coping mechanisims, and drugs, in case you end up wanting or needing anything. I like that it is non-judgemental about childbirth - a lot of other books make you feel guilty if you decide to use pain control.
Bottom line is - don't let anyone tell you what is possible or not. I got a lot of unwanted "advice" and horror stories. If you want to do it, it can be done, period!
Please feel free to contact me with questions - I love talking about this stuff!!
Congrats again, and good luck to you! Little Ryan will be here before you know it!
- N.

I found the john & Martha Sears books very helpful with breastfeeding. They have one specifically for breastfeeding, but much of the same info as the baby book (very useful). Lansinoh creme was also a lifesaver in the first couple of weeks. Apply it after feeding each time (take some to the hospital) and you will find that the sore nipples heal faster. You can also ask at the hospital for time with the lactation consultant. Mostly you will need to be patient and keep trying. Give yourself at least three weeks to get the hang of it. Also find a local la leche group (support group for breastfeeding). Don't let other people drive you crazy with their opinions. You are the mom and you will have your own style.

Although you may not realize it yet, sleep will be a huge issue. I recommend reading Dr m weissbluth's healthy sleep habits happy child.

Have a wonderful birth experience and don't worry about being perfect.

Breastfeeding is hard in the beginning but it certainly is not impossible. You have to be determined. There can be obstacles and it is painful in the beginning but it gets easier and easier with time.

After the birth of your baby have the doctors place him on your chest as quickly as possible. After they clean him up you can try nursing for the first time....

My biggest piece of advice is to stick with it and get a lactation consultant if you are struggling.

Hi D.,

Giving birth naturally and breastfeeding is absolutly possible!! I find it strange that your family is telling you otherwise... many, many moms have a baby naturally and breastfeed their baby... (that's how God made us)... it's an amazing thing! I have 2 children, my 9yr old was breastfed for 4 months and then I had to stop (he got teeth early and would bite hard and cause pain and bleeding)... I pumped for an additional 2 months (so he was breastfed for 6 months). With my 2nd baby, who is now 16 months old... I am STILL breastfeeding him and even though he has teeth, he doesn't seem to be a biter. We just recently started weaning him as we will be trying for another baby in June or July. =)
Anyways, it IS possible. It may be a little harder once you go back to work because you'll need to take enough breaks at work so you can pump to get enough milk supply for your baby AND to keep your supply up. Many employers these days allow time to pump but many still don't...you might check with your employer to see what their policy is.
Good Luck!

Natural birth and successful breastfeeding are both very achievable things - you just need good preparation and support for both. I had my daughter without drugs and it was incredibly helpful for me to have as much information and preparation about childbirth as possible, to know what was coming, what was normal, and how to cope with the pain. And the role of the partner is also critical - they need to know what's going to be happening, and how to support you. We took a Bradley Method class to prepare, and it was wonderful. It's a big time commitment (12 weeks I think) but totally worth it if you want to try for a natural birth.

As for breastfeeding, I knew that I wanted to do it, and knew it could be hard at first, but wasn't prepared for the difficulties we faced. My daughter literally did not figure out how to latch and suck until she was about 5 weeks old. Prior to that, we were trying to nurse and then I would pump and give her the pumped breastmilk by syringe and later by bottle. It was incredibly frustrating and difficult - the support of a lactation consultant was absolutely essential. AND, the support of my husband, who knew I wanted to breastfeed so much, and who knew how hard I was trying with very little success for so long, was absolutely critical. When she finally did figure out how to breastfeed, it was so rewarding, and we went on to nurse for 10 months. (I wish it could have been longer.) Some people have very little problems with breastfeeding - mom has milk right away, and baby knows how to get it out. Others like me have problems beyond sore nipples - that people don't talk much about in breastfeeding books and classes - that can be very hard to overcome but CAN be overcome in most cases.

Good luck - and get the education and support you need ahead of time and in the moment.

Not only are natural childbirth and breastfeeding possible, but a huge subculture of women are doing just that. Check out Mothering magazine and its online forums, the nationwide groups La Leche League and Holistic Moms, and consider employing a local midwife or doula who can connect you in to the local scene.

I delivered my daughter naturally and yes, it hurt, but when I had done it I felt like a queen. I had this huge sense of triumph and power--especially since the general cultural message for us American expecting moms is that You Can't Do It. You'll Collapse From the Pain. Nonsense-it's just pain. I did it! And you can do it!!! Believe me, natural childbirth creates a great start to your relationship with your baby which will resonate through the stressful years of early parenting (my girl is now 5)--you got through that, you can get through this latest crisis too! No one can take that away from you. It makes you more assertive and confident in all areas of life, and your baby is going to need that from you.

Please tell your family they must stop telling you horror stories. Ask for their support instead (that means helping YOU toward the birth and feeding style YOU want) Also, don't watch the TV shows about birthing. They are always scary, sensational. These cultural messages are undermining your resolve. If at all possible, attend a real-life birth. Read Spriritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin. I know it's a cheesy title, but the book is full of anecdotes of real, normal births that Ina May attends as a midwife in Tennessee. You'll get a sense of what a normal birth entails.

I breastfed for two years. Have patience with yourself for the first week or two and you'll get the hang of it. You can always call a lactation consultant or the volunteers at La Leche League if you run into problems. A great book is The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding--another case of cheesy title, invaluable information.

You can do it! It will be great!

Feel free to email me if you want more info!!
J.

D.,
You are at my favorite part of pregnancy, I loved the science experiment of the entire change in my body and the growth of the baby. Enjoy each kick and wiggle.

I wanted to have both of my boys naturally and with both had epidurals - i did request that they be on the light side, so I was able to move my legs, but the pain was much less. In both cases, it was good to eventually have the epidural and i still certainly felt like I had given birth and gotten the whole experience. With my second son i had an emergency c-section and was certainly not prepared for that situation, Just be open and trust your doctor. In my birthing class they kept saying healthy baby and mom is the only goal, but I was hell bent on no drugs. Just be flexible.

Breastfeeding is hard in the beginning and you do need the support of your partner and family. After a month or so it is amazing and totally worth it. Don't supplement unless the baby isn't gaining weight at their check in appointments. It will hurt, but that is normal and totally worth it eventually. Pumping is also a little inconvenient, but worth it. If you are anywhere near san jose, Good Sam Hospital has a wonderful breastfeeding support group. It used to be on Tuesday afternoons and I HIGHLY recommend going the first Tuesday you are home. It is worth going to on your way home from the hospital it is so supportive. You don't have to deliver at Good Sam or even live in the area. It became my first outings and my most important trip of the week in the beginning.
You can do it!
S.

You can do it! Ignore the horror stories and prepare! Read books, find local resources, learn all about labor, make a birth plan. Both things, breastfeeding and natural birth, were very difficult for me but I stuck with it. Kept telling myself that it was worth it. I like this phrase about birth: It's work. It's hard. You can do it! BF especially is difficult in the beginning but it gets so much better 6 to 8 weeks into the process. Working and pumping are not easy, but it is very rewarding to provide milk for your child while away from them...

the la leche league can help with personal questions and CONGRATS on the baby and the decision to breast feed. breastfeeding is fairly natural (beyond the whole nature thing of breasts) but can be difficult. try in the hospital, and let the nurses help you. i had one nurse moving my breast around and moving the baby because she was falling asleep so much - not glamorous but effective. i had pain a few times but learned to help the baby latch on more effectively. i recommend the medula pump in style for going back to work. i used mine for 2 kids and learned to double pump in a very short amount of time and never had a starving baby. just like when you were preggers you'll need to eat healthy and drink plenty of fluids. you and your little one will work out the details.
S.

I think the two things that can keep your milk from flowing most is lack of water and lack of sleep.

make sure you drink COPIOUS amounts of water, including up to your due date and while you are in labor(if you can stomach it), so that you are not dry once they baby is born. A hard or long labor can drain you quick - get a ton of water in you after the birth , so that you will have the milk to give.

I breastfed my middle child for a month after he was born, my first and last child were soley formula(due to being dry/no milk with my first born, and having candida with my third) My middle child doesn't have the IBS problems that my other two have.

Well congratulations first off! And second take a breastfeeding class, normally offered through the hospital that you will give birth at, call them and see if they offer a class. It normally costs about $15 or so. Next make sure you get help from the lactation consultant while you are still in the hospital and make an appointment with her for after you leave the hospital. You can also contact LaLeche in your area and they will help. Don't even buy formula, because if I knew if was in the house I knew I'd use it and give up. Invest in a really good pump because once you go back to work you will need it, if you want to try them out you might want to call around you can rent them sometimes. I know people say it's natural but I'm not going to lie to you it's difficult at first, and you are tired and there is alot going on, just hang in there. It would really help if you had support in your husband, and no one is pushing formula on you. I would have bottles but not formula, that way since you are going back to work, you can express milk and your husband can give the baby a bottle of breastmilk (after the first couple of weeks, not at first) like once a day, maybe at night or something so the baby is used to this. Good luck and congratulations!

I breastfeed my children until they are 5 years old or wean themselves sooner. I choose 5 years only because this is when they physically stop benefitting from it and this is the average worldwide weaning age.

I also home birth unassisted (without midwife or doctor). So it is very possible to do both natural birth and breastfeed.

Most people today are so used to modern convenience they forget that people did just fine prior to 200 years ago (when natual/home birth & breastfeeding were the norm.

This last labor I had was an exception for me. My fourth baby decided to try and come out sideways his left arm came down the birth canal after my water broke. So we packed up and headed to the hospital where I experienced my first hospital experience and I can say without a doubt it was worse than anything I ever went through. All of my first three labors and births were a breeze despite being 42 hours long with my first, 19 1/2 hours with my second and 10 hours long with my third. The epidural and c-Section was the worst thing I have ever felt and would never choose that method unless it meant life or death as it did in the case of my last labor.

My baby was healthy and strong according to their monitors and devices. But after they gave me their drugs for surgery they had to recesutate him with two breaths to get him started. I know their intervention directly affected him but I also know in this case without it he was stuck in me and it became our only option.

He is now over two weeks old and doing very well he gained 2 lbs in the first week and a half on breastfeeding alone (my milk did not come in for 3 days after he was born).

I however am still in pain from surgery and recovering when all my previous births I was already back to my old self.

I'm glad you are going for natural and breastfeeding. I hope it all works out for you as this really is the best thing you can do for you and your baby.

PS. Breastfeeding has always helped me shed the pregnancy lbs. immediately. A huge plus in my book. I was 122 when I got preg. 175 when I went into labor and two weeks later I'm already 140 and steadily going down.

uh? WHY & HOW would it be hard to have natural birth AND then NATURALLY breastfeed? are you going to do childbirth classes? they usually include a breastfeeding part OR your clinic/hospital may have a separate class for breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is AMAZING and Fantastic, just understand there may be challenges so that you don't get frustrated when or IF you have any. Both my babies were breastfed & i had NO 'Problems'. the only small challenge i had was the first baby i began losing my milk at 3mo, but his Dr put me on Reglin & it came back. i relied on La Leche, WIC & Pediatric to help if i had any questions. AND 'First Five' is great as well! I would trade BOTH my CSections for a Natural Childbirth. I've never labored so i don't know, but a Few hours or even a day of pain & discmofort compared to WEEKS of recovery after a CSection sound like a much better sacrifice!

Hi D.,
I am a first time Mom to my 8 month old son who is still breast feeding! I too was a little worried about breast feeding since my best friend and a co-worker had a really hard time and ended up not being able to. However, I had a great lactation coach at the hospital that helped me out during our stay. She showed me different techniques and holds to be the most comfortable. Make sure you have plenty of back support (pillows) and use a boppie pillow or regular pillow on your lap to help bring the baby closer to your chest. Also, my son had a hard time latching on at first and the hospital provided a nipple shield which helped out so much! So ask them to show you how to use one if you need it. The first few days are the hardest as you both are learning how to get the hang of it but just be persistant and you will be pros in no time! (By the way if you are worrying that your baby isn't getting enough milk at first, their stomach is the size of a golf ball so they don't need too much)
I also work full time so I purchased a breast pump and pump during work. Before I went back to work I pumped at home so that my husband could let me sleep a little more and feed the baby on his own a couple of times a day.
So just ask the nurses at the hospital for help or if they have a lactation coach you can speak with to get you started. Once you get going, nature kicks in and it all works out! Best of luck!
G. :)

Hi D.! Congrats! Well, I'm 36 weeks pregnant and I also have a mom that thinks the same way as your mom. I whole heartedly support your choice to breastfeed as long as you can! It's the best thing. My mom, who is also a nurse , thinks that I won't make enough breastmilk and that I should supplement with formula. I know from all the research and books, and breastfeeding classes that our babies need nothing else but breastmilk for a minimum 6 mos. I say stick to your guns!! I know it's gonna be hard and she's your mom but it's up to you and you only! I know that I am going to breastfeed and nothing including my mom is gonna alter that. It's not going to be easy but I am going to make it happen! Good luck and you are not the only one with this problem. YOU CAN DO IT!

I didn't read the others so this may be a repeat but it never hurts to get too much encouragement. I had my first son naturally no meds until the very end they gave me a pudendal block (shot to numb the vagianl area) because he was not turning and had to use forceps to turn him. I found out after he was born that it was because he was 9 lbs 2 oz needless to say I had c-sections for my next two which I loved and had no problems with the recovery. So anyway it is great to go for natural but don't be dissapointed if he decides he needs to come another way. I breast fed all three of my kids for one year and went back to work, not quite as early as you, but my cousins did go back to work that early. I would suggest getting a very good breast pump medela are the best. The choice to breast feed is a great decision for both you and the baby, it is more time consuming and can be difficult or slightly painful at the beginning while you and your baby are learning just utilize the lactation nurse as much as you can. Also often hospitals provide breastfeeding classes that you can take prior to having your baby. Those that bottle fed their baby will tell you to just give him formula at the points where it is slightly difficult so you really need to find some support from other breast feeding moms. My babies took to it easily and I had a great experience but some babies take a little more teaching so don't get discouraged if that happens because it is a short a wonderful time of bonding.
C.

Follow your own instincts and believe in yourself. I birthed two 9+ lb baby boys with no drugs, and I breastfed them until they were 2.3 yr and 15 months old. I would have gone longer with the younger one, but he weaned himself cold turkey. I encouraged the older one to wean when I was pregnant with the second one. You know what is best for you, your children, and your family as a whole, so don't listen to anyone else tell you how hard it may be. Parenting is hard, but we take on that challenge because the rewards are so great. The benefits of breastfeeding are well documented (bonding, best nourishment, building immune systems, available anytime/anywhere, etc.), and formula is a poor substitute (bottle washing, expensive, etc.). Invest in a good breast pump, so that Ryan will continue to receive the food that is made specifically for him when you return to work. If your friends and family are not supportive, join a local La Leche League or meet with a lactation consultant. Believe in yourself and your body. You can do it! Best of luck.

I had my baby naturally at home with a midwife (who had over 40 years experience-- I wouldn't do it with anyone who only had 10 or 15 years because I live an hour from the hospital). I also breastfeed my baby (1 year today!). Breastfeeding was no problem but I lathered on the lanolin in the beginning-- after every feeding. Also, a lactation nurse showed me how to properly latch him on.
To help prepare for a natural birth I HIGHLY recommend reading "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth". She explains what is happening in your body and how to relax the right muscles. You can do this!! Millions of women have throughout history.
Also, I agree with the lady who said to avoid the hospital if you want to go naturally. There was a moment early in the labor, before I got into the "zone", that I got scared and might have accepted drugs had there been any around. Later on I didn't even think of drugs. I did enjoy a warm bath though-- it really reduced my back labor pain (baby was sunny side up).
About your going back to work request. I had planned to go back to work after four months but found that I couldn't leave my baby. I finally started back at work when Oliver turned 10 months old. Dr.Sears (of "The Baby Book") says that happens to a lot of women and even though you are financially poor for a while your baby ends up doing really well to have his mom around him for so long.

First of all, welcome to Mamasource, I've found it a truly great resource!

In my opinion, have your baby naturally if you can because in most cases the recovery time is much shorter than with a c-section. There's always exceptions of course b/c you can have problems w/natural or c-section births, but think about it...women are built to have babies naturally, not to have their bellies cut open to have them. Unless of course the health of the mother &/or baby is at stake, then by all means do what needs to be done, but I don't agree w/women having a choice - it should be natural unless there is a health risk. Another plus is you don't have to worry about caring for the big wound in your belly as well as having to care for your baby. I've had many friends & 2 sister-in-laws who had to have c-sections & wished they could've went naturally. And definately breastfeed because it's the best that you can give your baby.

Just so you know, I'm not just flapping my gums, I can definatley back up what I am saying b/c I have almost 4-yr old twins that I had naturally, yes naturally, as well as breast fed both (mostly pumped, but they still got my breastmilk), so yes natural birth & breastfeeding is definately possible & do-able, espcially since you're only having one! And I really don't mean only one b/c taking care of any baby is work, but I say that just b/c I have twins & if I could do it w/two, mothers can definatley do it w/one.

My son was first & head down, so pushing him out was just like any other natural birth. My daughter was not in the right position so the doc tried to turn her around, but couldn't so the doc had to pull her out, so no I didn't push my daughter out, but she still came out the same way my son did. You obviously wouldn't have to worry about that since you'd have just one to push out. The main thing about a natural birth is that the baby is in the right position or can be turned in the right position, but don't give up right away if yours is not yet b/c they can move a lot right up until birth.

As for breastfeeding, I tried to do it tandem w/my twins, but that didn't really work because each baby fed differently & then I tried to do it one at a time, but that was way just too time consuming, so I ended up pumping exclusively so that 1) they would get my breastmilk & 2) daddy or someone else could help feed b/c the breastmilk was fed by bottle. Since you only have one, exclusively breastfeeding might be for you, but if you have to go back to work & still want to breastfeed, pumping definately works. I had a hospital grade pump at home & an electric portable pump for going out (trips to the hospital-as my daughter stayed for 2 wks while my son came home when I did, trips to the park, store, etc...). The thing about pumping is that you need to do it every few hours in order to keep up your milk supply. Nowadays I've heard it's mandatory for companies to have an area for breastfeeding moms to be able to pump privately, even if it's the restroom, but w/the ability to lock the door. Or if you have your own office, lock the door when you need to pump. I was able to take 6 months off of work, so I never had to pump at work, but I pumped the entire 6 months & took that last month & a half to slowly ween off.

Sorry this is so long. Good luck & just know that you can do it!

Congratulations! This is such an exciting time, and also a time for major anxiety. When I was expecting I read as much as I could about everything, and the only thing that scared me was breastfeeding. I too heard so many horror stories, but I was determined to succeed because I felt it was the best thing I could do for my daughter.

You can do this! It is totally possible, even as a working mom. There is a great website, kellymom.com, that has tons of great information and lots of links to different resources.

When my daughter was born I was 43 years old, and we did have a hard time at first. She latched on well, but my milk didn't come in right away. We supplemented with a few ounces of formula after every feeding, but we only had to do this for a week. She gained well, even though I never saw any milk, and her pediatrician said that it was fine, keep it up, nurse as much as possible. I took fenugreek (which I learned about on kellymom.com) and drank Mother's Milk tea to bring up my supply. About a month after she was born, I finally felt the milk let-down for the first time! So up till then my daughter was getting plenty, there just wasn't any leftover to leak or become engorged.

Find a La Leche League near you, they also have a website http://www.llli.org. There you can meet other mothers who are experienced nursers who can help you, and support you in this new part of your life.

Breastfeeding my daughter was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life, there is nothing like it. I know you will be fine, just persevere if you have any difficulties, and set up a support team to help you through. Don't worry too much about all the naysayers, I think that there are a lot of misconceptions out there because breastfeeding had fallen out of favor for a while.

If you want to, feel free to send me a message if you have any questions. I know it can be scary, that was my biggest fear, being unable to nurse!

There is lots of information about natural birth out there. Lamaze, Bradley Method and Hypnobirthing are some methods you can look into further. I am a natural childbirth educator (I teach Bradley Method). Due to a lot of misinformation and the medical establishment there is much working against women having normal/natural births. I would be glad to talk to you by email, recommend books, and even lend books (if you are in the San Jose area. I had to do my searching on my own, talking to mom's who had natural births to figure out how to do it, but I was successful. This led me to want to teach moms how to have natural births. Unfortuneately, there are so many moms who want a quick birth & mistakenly believe that natural birth takes longer and is harder. My two natural births were 15 hours to two 1/2 days shorter than my two epidural births, even though it had been 14 years since I had given birth. I would be glad to answer any questions. Please feel free to email me. P.S. I also have more than 5 years of breastfeeding experience (between my four daughters).

I had ABSOLUTELY no problems breast feeding. Why would it be impossible? It's what our bodies are supposed to do! You need to be patient, plan on spending those 6 weeks at home with the baby, relaxing, nuzzling, and letting him nurse when he wants, so your body will produce LOTS of milk! Pumping is not as productive as nursing and is no indication of how much milk your baby is actually getting. If you can start pumping in between nursings and build up a supply, that would be very helpful to you. I love breastfeeding! My baby is going to be 1 on the 23rd and still nurses 3 times a day. I love that time with her.

This has basically been said before, but just an additional reminder from the childcare provider's standpoint... do get some good bottles and begin pumping once your baby has latched on and gotten with the breastfeeding really well. Let Dad or someone else feed a bottle to the baby once a day or so to get him used to taking that as a supplement. That will make the transition when you go back to work much easier on you, your child and the provider.

As far as the horror stories your family is telling you regarding natural childbirth and breastfeeding... just don't let people scare you that way. Every childbirth and every nursing experience is a little bit different. Just listen to your mother's experiences and be confident.

My advice to you, is to ignore all the horror stories and do what is best for you. If you want a natural birth and to breast feed, then do it. You can go back to work and pump your breast and bring home the milk. Women do it all the time. Don't listen to anyone but yourself. That is the best advice there is.

Hi D.,

I would recommend renting "The Birthing Story" produced by Ricki Lake and watching it with any of the nay-sayers you feel you need to get through to. (Close friends or relatives.) That might help them get over their fear and see where it comes from. Great documentary, made me cry tears of joy.

I nursed my second son for 6 mths before I had to go to work and than he took a bottle at daycare and I nursed when I got home. He naturally weened himself by the time he was 7 mths because I think it is MUCH easier for them to feed from a bottle and the nursing takes more effort. Taht was sort of what it seemed to me anyway. I pumped at work religiously so I don't know if my supply went down or not.
Just something to be mindful of.

-K.

oh and I would also like to agree with everyone about getting a good pump. You can rent them from the hospital for fairly cheap if you want a hospital grade one, I paid $179 for 4 mths with my first son. Most hospitals also sell breast pumps at a discounted price. I got my Medela that is usually $350 or higher, for $199. It's a double. and I also agree to put your baby on your breast as soon as possible. With my first son, I gave him a bottle when he was about 10 minutes old, he drank 3 ounces of formula, never got sick and was NOT interested in my breast after that ha ha. My second son was a c-section and I put him to my breast about half an hour after he was born and he didn't drop off until that 7th month.
Good luck!

You got a lot of responses, but just wanted to add to them by saying that I was also surprised by how little support for a natural childbirth I too got from family and friends. It was like they took offense to it, and then offered horror stories. Read some books, join a listserv hire a doula, if possible, rent some movies-- Orgasmic Birth is terrific! Surround yourself with positive people and resources that will support you.

As for going back to work soon, just try pumping when you can, and try it a few weeks before going back to work. Hopefully your workplace will be able to support pumping. Then you breastfeed when you are home, on weekends. Good luck!

Of COURSE it is possible!!! All of my friends have done both. I am wondering why your family thinks otherwise. I have 2 boys. I delivered both naturally and have breastfed them both. I had no problems at all with breastfeeding (and yes, I KNOW that I am really lucky with that!). I breastfed my first son until he was almost 2 years old. My second son is 14 months old and is still breastfeeding. I know if you go back to work and pump, it will be much more challenging, but if you really have a desire to continue, you can. Most people just give up after going to work, because pumping at work is both too challenging as well as a pain. But it is definitely something you CAN do if you decide to put in the extra effort. Good for you! I recommend a GREAT book to read before you have birth. It is called Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. It will arm you with a TON of useful information about natural childbirth. You can go into the hospital and feel like you know what you need to have and what you don't need.
Good luck!

Breastfeeding was a wonderful experience for me and my son. It is one of the best gifts you can give your child. What I would recommend is to take a breastfeeding class before to give you a solid knowledge base and one you have your baby ask each nurse in the hospital that is with you after you give birth to help you with positioning, your baby latching on and showing you what it should look and feel like if these are done correctly. Every nurse that I asked had different suggestions and information, all of which were extremely helpful when I went home. Ask them to come in and help you EVERY time you put your baby to your breast, they won't mind and they are such a huge help. By the time I went home I really had it down. My son was very natural at latching on, it just took me a little bit of time to learn the correct way to position him and make sure he was getting milk. Don't even consider giving up and enjoy every minute with your new little miracle!

D.,
I breast fed all three of my kids, and had them naturally as well. Each child was different. My son refused a bottle, and at that time I was at home with him anyway. The other two got breast fed for 6-8 months.
The great thing about it was there were no bottles, no mess, and it was easy to do. The only advise that I have is when you buy a pump, be sure to get a good one. Also,
there are lactation consultants out there if you need more advise. My mistake was I did not realize that the holes on top of the pump need to be released every few seconds like when the baby releases to swallow, or breathe. I wore out my pump for that reason, and had to buy a new one with each child. ALso, the last six weeks of your pregnancy, use a wash cloth and to over your nipples while you are in the shower every morning, this will greatly help to prevent any soreness you would have without doing this. I did not do this with the first one and my nipples cracked and bled.
W. M.

First of all CONGRATULATIONS! Next - I had 3 kids all natural (one at home) and breastfed them all. I also went back to work with my last one but he was almost a year old but I still fed him in the morning and when I got home. (Oh and he grew up to be a high school football star, so it doesn't hurt them to breastfeed as long as you are comfortable with it.)

Each birth was different and I can honestly say that using the breathing techniques got me beyond the pain and I didn't really feel "pain" but it was a lot of work (labor). If it gets too hard you can get a shot, but don't let all these stories scare you.

If you lose milk after you go back to work and pumping isn't enough, don't give up and there is no reason why you can't use formula and breastfeed - that's what I had to do with my first one and it wasn't because I was working. I guess some kids won't take a bottle and a breast, but that didn't happen to me.

Bottom line - natural childbirth is hard but not so bad and breastfeeding is the most rewarding feeling in the world! Some people mean well with their horror stories and some people don't have a lot of endurance, but I think it's mind over matter and don't be afraid just go for it!

Corats and you can absolutely have a natural birth. Just keep your options open. Breast feeding is amazing. You can start as soon as he is born.

The best gift that you can give your child for a healthy start to life to to breastfeed. I had a hard time at the beginning but it was well worth what I know I am giving to my baby boy. There are so many benefits both physically and emotionally for both you and your baby. I have been pumping and working for a full year. It is possible you just have to make the decision that you will do whatever you need to to make it work. Call La Leche League and use the lactation support before you leave the hospital. Don't give up it is a beautiful way to connect your little boy. I also gave birth naturally and I was in labor for 24 hours. You can do it!!!

Hi D.,
Congratulations on your baby-to-be! I can't really speak to the natural birth thing - both times, I had an epidural. Here's the thing about labor and delivery. You just need to be flexible and not dead-set on any one way of having your baby. Like my mom told me, and truer words were never spoken, babies aren't delivered, they're born. In other words, your baby is going to decide how he's going to come out and all you can do is go along for the ride!! If you go into labor and hardly feel a thing - GREAT! Go with it. If you go into labor and feel like you're going to die, then get an epidural. If you go into labor and your baby is laying sideways, then you'll end up having a c-section. In the end, none of it matters as long as you leave the hospital with a healthy baby! Relax and try to enjoy it, it will be an unforgettable experience no matter what.

Now, with regard to breastfeeding, I would recommend that you take a breastfeeding class at the hospital before your baby is born. Bring your husband with you. As silly as that sounds, he will be the one up in the middle of the night with you when your milk comes in and you can't figure out how to get the baby to latch on! =) It just helps to have Daddy on board with the process, I've found. Then once your baby is born, have the L&D nurses check and make sure that your baby is latching on properly, or if there's a lactation consultant, ask her. Once you get the hang of things, it will be easy for you. If I might suggest as well, I found "On Becoming Babywise" by Gary Ezzo to be a really super helpful resource on getting FULL meals into my baby - he has some great suggestions for new moms and is very supportive of breastfeeding as long as possible. It's a quick read and is really very common-sense. Once you get a feeding schedule going that works for you and Baby, you can work in pumping as well, and your return to work will be easier.

Best of luck and please let us know how it goes!!

You can do it. I have 5 kids and all were born natural with no meds, my labor is very fast so there is no time for meds. Also, my third and fourth were twins and I had them both naturally with no meds as well. The best thing for you is having a great support system. I had a midwife for my first two pregnancies and that was key to the entire labor and delivery. Also my husband is amazing. Make sure that your husband knows different ways to help you through the pain. There will be times where the pain is very intense and just being able to have someone bring you back into focus will help. Also, let people know to keep their horror stories to themselves, that unless they have something of worth to give you then they should just keep quiet. Something also to keep in mind, when you labor with no pain meds, the baby often will come out more alert and easier to breastfeed, that is what my lactation consultant told me and it has proven to be true with all my kids. Breastfeeding is not easy in the begining, but once you and the baby get the hang of it becomes second nature. And don't let anyone tell you that there won't be pain. There is pain in the begining, but it is only temperory. My twins I exclusively nursed until they were a year and #5 is almost 3 months old and still nurse him. Three pieces of advice.

1. Put your baby to the breast ASAP. Let your doctor know that this is what you want to do. Don't let them get him all pretty for you, as long as they towel him off after the birth then put him immediately to the breast.

2. Do not offer up any other artificail nipples, no pacifiers. One of my twins was given a pacifier in the hospital and she got such bad nipple confusion. No bottles in the begining as well, soley the breast. Once the baby gets a little older you can start to offer the bottle with your milk.

3. Take it one day at a time. In the begining it will feel as if the baby is nursing all the time, and he will, but once your milk comes in it gets better. Nurse as often as the baby wants as this will help your milk come in faster and set up a good milk supply.

Also be flexible. Don't beat yourself up if you can't do all that you want to do or if you don't do it as long as you wanted to. Being flexible and rolling with the punches is one thing that you will need in motherhood. Enjoy your moments with him, they grow up very fast and this infant stage goes by so much more quickly.

Hi D.,

Congratulations on your boy! You will have so much fun being a mom. I ended up getting an epidural with my son because he was in destress and I was not able to get out of the bed for several hours (natural birth is totally doable, but laying on your back while in labor is very painful and I wasn't allowed to get up).

The best breastfeeding advice I can give is to nurse your son immediately after he is born. Let the nurses know that this is your plan before you deliver him and they'll help you get him latched on.

Second, realize that it can take a few days for your real milk to come in, but that is normal and natural. You DON'T need to supplement with formula just because you have no milk the first couple of days. The little bit of yellow colostrum (sp) that you do have will be fine for the baby.

I agree with pp about the breastfeeding class now, and if you want help after the babies here, check into a breastfeeding group or lacation consultant through your hospital.

Hope this helps,
T.

I breast fed all of my daughters until they were 2 1/2. I'm currently nursing my third daughter who is 18 months old. I only nurse at night now because she can drink regular milk during the day. I nursed exclusively for the first six week and pumped after returning to work. She was supplemented with formula because I couldn't pump enough for the entire day. I enjoy breast feeding and the bond is irreplaceable.

I commend your decision and hope that you are able to stick with it. I am the mother of 4, ages 9.5 yrs down to 1.5 yr and I birthed them all naturally and breastfed them all (still doing the last)! My older three all breastfed until at least 20 months. With my first 2, who are 2 yrs apart, I was also working, although I was able to work part-time from home.

For natural childbirth I used the hypnobirthing method, which worked beautifully for me for all of my children. It is much easier to use if you know that you can be hypnotized and you have a supportive partner. My husband delivered 2 of our babies, both unintentionally (one at home and one at the hospital), but I was able to use my self-hypnosis experience to enjoy all of my birthing events.

After my first was born, the most useful and supportive resource for me was consulting then joining my local La Leche League. The leaders are an excellent fountain of knowledge, and the mom-to-mom support is inspiring. You can find your local chapter by looking them up in the phone book or on the web.

Good luck to you, and don't let your family discourage you! Natural childbirth is not out-dated or impossible and can be a beautiful experience. Breastfeeding is the most natural and healthy act you can do for your child and yourself.

I haven't read all the posts, but I didn't see anyone say write a birth plan. In it you can specify things like wanting a natural birth, even if you do it at the hospital. Share this with everyone - the hospital if you preregister, your docotor, whoever will be with you, the nurses when you arrive (unless you are not planning a hospital birth). It helps to have a plan in writing ahead of time. You can also refuse drugs, even if they are recommended - it is always your choice.
I had both of mine naturally, but I also had a nurse the second time who was new to the delivery floor and would have loved to have me lie in bed hooked up to the monitors. The head nurse had worked at a hospital where natural births were common, and told me to let her know if I was at all uncomfortableor felt that my wishes were not being followed. Your doctor also makes a difference. When I delivered my daughter, my sister-in-law told me that she overheard some nurses saying if _____ had been the attending doctor, the baby would be here already. I was the only one giving birth naturally, and my husband said I scared him because I screamed so loud, but I wouldn't trade the experience for the world. With my son (my first), I had an episiotomy and some fentanyl, and don't remember them putting him on me to nurse right away. He was also sleepy the first few days, unlike my daughter who actually raised her head and looked at me, which I remember clearly, 4 years later.
I breastfed both, and pumped so that they could have breastmilk while I was at work. Find out what arrangements there are at your workplace for where you can pump in privacy. Also, give yourself time to adjust. There are lots of resources for help - most hospitals have lactation consultants or similar services. Mine had drop in services, althought the teacher of my parenting class was a lactation consultant, and I got free consultations when I bought my breastpump for her (with a discount for taking hte class, so it was at least as cheap as anywhere else I could buy it).
While there are horror stories about mothers trying to nurse (I had a friend who had been loaned a hospital grade breast pump because she was having trouble, only to have the major blackout back east a few years ago), most of us manage with only the occassional funny stories to tell later on. Much less exciting/dramatic, so you don't hear about it...

Wow, I can't believe everyone you know is giving you such negative advice about breastfeeding! Most of the women I know who have small children have breastfed or expressed milk via a pump. I am not a fanatic about it, I say if it works for you, that is great but some mothers do have a hard time, or their babies don't take to it easily. If that is the case then don't beat yourself up over it, just do the best you can. I have a 3 yr old who I breastfed exclusively for 3 mos. After that I had to go back to work, so I would only breastfeed in the morning and at night and would pump enough for him to have 1 bottle during the day and the rest was formula. I also have a 6 mo. old, and since I was laid off while still pregnant I have not yet gone back to work. This one I started off on using a bottle at about 6 weeks, but only so I could have others help me feed him. I still primarily breastfeed him, and do pump so that when I am out doing errands he can still have breastmilk from the bottle. But again I'm easy going about it. If my husband for example wants to get a bottle together asap and doesn't want to defrost breast milk I don't get upset about it. I always give my son a formula bottle before bed to keep him full longer. If I went back to work at this point, since I am looking for work now, I would probably do the same as I did with my other son. BF in the morning and when I get home from work and pump as much as I can. Don't give up, you will know what you feel is right for you. Good luck with everything!

Congratulations! I breast fed both of my daughters my first for 12 months and my second for 6. I had to go back to work both times when they were 8 weeks old. My advice is to buy a good pump and then check with your employer and find out if they have a mother's/lactating room available. If not conference rooms work great too! I would pump three times a day at work and then once when I got home if they were just fed at daycare. I found that if I pumped or nurseed every four hours I was able to keep my supply up. It was difficult but with my first I was very determined to only give her breast milk. With my second I didn't have as much time to be as dedicated but at least we made it 6 months. There are also a lot of breast feeding support groups and information online. Good luck, you'll do great!!!

I nursed my older daughter for 27 months, and my younger daughter self-weaned at 19 months.

A (former) friend of mine used to constantly hassle me about how "I shouldn't make the public watch me nurse" and I "didn't need to keep nursing my kids after the first few weeks." She didn't nurse her daughter at all, so I can only guess that if she could convince me that nursing wasn't "necessary" that it would "justify" her not nursing. I finally had to let her go as a friend because she was too negative about how I was raising my daughter.

I think that breast milk is better (whether nursing or pumped milk), but that there is absolutely nothing wrong with formula. What ever you decide, don't let people hassle you away from your beliefs. You can firmly say to someone who is heckling you "We'll have to agree to disagree" or "I prefer to talk about other topics with you" and just smile and change the subject every time.

When my daughter was born, I had no clue if she was getting any milk when she latched on. I wasn't sure it worked at all. I didn't know what "letting down" felt like.

We called a lactation consultant who came to our home. It was a good thing because my milk wasn't in and she wasn't getting any milk. How would I know.

It was the BEST decision we made!
S

Just a word of encouragement (you seem to have enough
advice :). Women have been having babies naturally and breastfeeding since the beginning of humankind. Not only is it possible but really very common in most other parts of the world. Some day we Americans will figure out that in most cases women are perfectly capable of having and growing babies without doctors and formula. If it doesn't work out exactly that way for you don't worry about it, just follow your heart and know your baby is already so lucky to have a Mom that cares so much!
You can do it, good luck!

It is possible I did both.

First natural child birth. My biggest advice is to go into it open. Know what you want but be open to things changing. Psychologically you can withstand a lot more things if you feel you have an option out, Plus if something happens you will not feel like a failure. tell your nurse/dr that you do not want anything until you ask, at some hospitals they are required to ask at certain intervals of time if you do not state that.

Breast feeding....

I breast fed my son until he was 2. It is totally possible and I mourned giving it up. But we were not getting pregnant while doing so so I had to. Pumping is hard and time consuming. Just to let you know that up front. Also know it is possible. Get one of the funny looking bras that hold the cups to your breast, and a very good pump. The type of pump you chose will make all the difference. I like the medela ones but there are many others out there. I chose not to go back work but I pumped for other reasons. It came in very handy when I had to go in for emergency surgery when my son was about a month old. Don't listen to all the nay sayers as they will get you all worked up. Attend a breast feeding class and learnthe positions and fell out what is right for you and your child.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. I've breast fed all three of my children, and let me tell you it makes a huge difference in their health and development. Plus there are tremendous health benefits for mommy too in the long run. As for working, I was fortunate not to have to work, so I really can't give any advice on breast feeding and working out of the home. I can say, however, that breast feeding your baby builds an incredible bond between mother and child. It can be difficult and frustrating at first, it was with my son--although I was very young and didn't have good resources or the patience, so I only nursed him for about 3-4 months. With my two daughters, however, I had experience, and everything seemed to fall into place for me thankfully. I nursed each of my daughters for a little more than a year, and would have tried for two years had I not had health issues. As I think about it, the big difference between nursing my son and my daughters was being able to nurse right away in the hospital. With my son, we had some complications and he was given a bottle before I could try to nurse him. With my daughters, however, they were both given to me after being checked in the delivery room, and I was able to start nursing right away. I think timing and not introducing a bottle to the baby at all is key if you can avoid it at the beginning. Hope this was helpful to you. Peace. :)

** didn't read other responses, sorry if it's repeated **

I can only speak from my experience, but the biggest lesson I learned from my first birth experience is that YOU ARE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE. Of COURSE you can "attempt" a natural birth, but during the pregnancy, if you have any doubts, questions, concerns - ASK THEM. And KEEP asking if you are not satisfied with the answers you are getting. I KNEW my child was breech for at least 2 months & the dr.'s nursing staff "convinced" me that my son was in the correct position, just fine, blah blah.

4 days before my due date, Dr. checks me for dilation & wouldn't you know it - he's butt down, head up. Nothing they could do at that point except a C-section (or so I was told - again, trusting my Dr. too much). So at this point, talk talk talk to as many moms as you can if you have concerns or questions, not just your Dr.

As for a natural birth - yes you can, of course. BUT, always be prepared for alternative birthing methods because nobody knows what their body will do, how it will respond, etc. - even if they've already had a child & it all went great & wonderful. Every pregnancy is different. Do your homework, know what you're potentially in for, but also don't allow yourself to not be flexible when it comes to the "big day".

Breastfeeding: my experience (I'm on Day 7 of baby #2!) is that it is most definitely something to be LEARNED. It's not a natural occurrence - it is challenging, it is time-consuming, it can be painful in the beginning, etc. BUT it is so well-worth all the effort. I do know a few mom's who had easy beginnings, but mostly, it's challenging. Take the breastfeeding classes offered through your hospital or through an off-site La Leche League program. Get some good books like:

http://www.amazon.com/Nursing-Mothers-Companion-Revised/d...

and

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Breastfeeding-Book-Answers...

READ the basics before your baby comes, just so you are prepared for what to experience.

Most importantly, get into contact with a lactation consultant before the birth. My hospital offers them through the pediatrics department, free of charge. I met with one before the birth & she attended the delivery & was there immediately to help with breastfeeding. She visited me several times during my hospital stay (another c-section) & I've been able to visit her office to get advice, get help with latch problems, etc. since being home.

I would have a bottle or two at home with some formula available, JUST IN CASE. DON'T buy a pump - you can rent them from the hospital in most cases or elsewhere. I was never able to pump, regardless of the quality of the machine. Again, you have no idea how your body is going to respond, so to invest $300 in something that you can't return once the box is opened is a little risky to me. Once you know you're able to pump (which shouldn't start until at least the first 2 weeks of nursing is established), then you can start looking for the right type of pump for your needs.

Good luck! Sorry for the discouragement from family but be encouraged that you have great resources at your fingertips!

Hi D.,

I had my children naturally and breastfed them all until they were 6-8 mos. It is possible but it is really hard if you are going back to work. I went back to work at about 6 weeks and then at work I pumped during the day and my babysitter fed them that while I was gone. Then I nursed them in the mornings and the evenings.

Before I went back to work, I pumped extra feedings so that there was some to start with. It was hard always needing to take a break to pump, but my employer was really understanding about it.

It can be done.

Good Luck,

D.

Good for you for believing in yourself and looking for support and encouragement from other strong women!!!! I don't have time to read all the responses you got but it looks like you got a lot of good feedback.

I did both natural childbirth and am still breastfeeding my 12-1/2 month old. My best friend who was in the delivery room with me said that she had seen LOTS of her friends recently immediately after giving birth - all of them with medical interventions (epidurals, c-sections, etc.) - and they ALL looked completely beat up and worn out. I, in contrast, looked fresh and relaxed.

She never had a desire to do the whole pregnancy thing, but said that, contrary to scaring her away from childbirth, seeing me do it without any medical interventions made her think that's definitely the way she'd go if she did do it!!!

And natural childbirth makes breastfeeding all that much easier.

Read "Birthing from Within" and I'd strongly recommend getting a doula who can help you stay on course for the kind of birthing experience YOU want, not what the hospital or anyone else wants. I recently read a letter from a mother who said that she decided to have a home birth at the last minute. And, after giving birth without any medical interventions, her OB told her she would have ended up with a caesarean section if she had been in the hospital (because her labor was longer than hospitals like).

So - more power to you girl!! You go!!!

There's a secret in our society and it's not that labor is painful...it's that women are strong!

Cassie

Hi-I have a 2 year old and wanted to breast feed no matter what. I had many problems. My advice is that if you have problems see a BCLC - Board Certifiied Lactation Consultation as soon as possible. They are extremely helpful, and the sooner you see one the better. I was able to overcome my difficulties after seeing one. Also, many people breastfeed without any problems at all - so hopefully that will be you!! Congrats!!

hi D.,
My name is N.. I have two grown kids of my own. I gave birth to both of them naturally. There is nothing wrong with giving birth natural and breastfeeding, It is the most exciting thing in the world. Especially when it is your first. Ask the doctor about going back to work. My kids are 30 and 33 years old I remember everything about when I was pregnant. So yea, feel excited. so yea, feel excited.
Take care. N..
Let me know how you are doing. okay. bye

By all means, don't listen to negative stories. Mothers have been nourishing their babies successfully for 3 million years. That's the natural thing to do. The minute a baby is born, it is put to the breast ! Would you shove a rubber nipple in it's mouth ?Breastfeeding my two daughters was the best thing I ever did for them AND for me. It creates such a calming, peaceful closeness that cannot be duplicated in any other way. Look for Nursing Mothers Association or La Leche League for advice and encouragement. It takes patience and persistence to get started, but YOU CAN DO IT. If your mother is nearby, I'll bet the process will come back to her if she is there to share the experience with you. As for natural childbirth, the pendulum has swung more toward intervention, so you will have to find a VERY sympathetic OBGYN. I recommend the Bradley method, and even a midwife if you are inclined that way. If you want, I can send you some literature on that path...

Best Wishes, D.

I had a natural birth, but it was an accident. I wanted the epidural, but my birth went so quickly that there was no time. Sure it hurt, but it is definitely doable. Every birth experience is different though, so you should just see how you're feeling when labor starts.

As for the breast feeding, I didn't have a problem with that either. Again, it hurt, but just bring some lanolin (they also usually provide that for you at the hospital in case you forget). I don't know where your delivering, but the nurses at Sutter are amazingly helpful with teaching you how to breast feed. Even if you don't deliver there you can visit their lactation center after the fact if you are having any concerns about it.

Hope this helps and good luck with the new addition to your family!

*R.

Stay strong and believe in yourself! It is possible I had both of my children at home very natural without any interventions from hospital or insurance protocal! I breastfed both of my babies which if done for at least 8 months or a year gives them the most of the antibody properties that your immune system builds for them. My advice for you would be to encourage your family to support you in your choice, let the hospital nursing staff know that you intend to breastfeed and make sure they let your baby nurse right after birth (which by the way helps you to birth the placenta easier and encourages proper nursing right from the start). Ask for your baby to be kept in room instead of taken to the nursery so that they don't confuse him by introducing a bottle and he can be nursed by you when he is hungry. The hospital should have a lactation consultant for you to ask questions so be sure to ask for her to be present after the birth of your baby. As for pumping, after at least two weeks (when you are sure he has got it down and your body has given him all of the foremilk) try to pump at least two times a day (late at night or very early before he wakes up, sometimes if you become engorged you can release the pressure by pumping that extra out before he nurses making it more comfortable for you and not squirting it all over his face) that way you can encourage your body to make more milk, essentially tricking your breasts into thinking that baby is hungry again (there is no such thing as not enough milk if you are healthy and eat well, it may seem like very little milk at first but more will come trust me). You can freeze your milk supply and even let Daddy have one time each day to bond with his boy while giving him your breastmilk in a bottle (Dr. Browns I found to be the best for us but there are many bottles to choose from get a few to try them out) I know this seems like a lot of advice in one e-mail but I hope the best for all new moms and wish for them to have the magical bonding experience that all women deserve! BTW I am not only a mom of two I am also a doula and training to be a midwife so you can pick my brain with any other questions you may have! Take care and you go girl!

Congratulations, D.!
As for a natural child-birth and expressly breast-feeding; I do believe it can be done. I experienced both with my last child. She is now going on 8 years old.(I breastfed for 15 months!) My best advice to you would be to have all the information and support you may need once the baby is born. Given the info you have provided- there are support groups like La Leche League and their books. They are really into helping when you start & can answer any questions you might have. Breastfeeding is not for the timid; like natural child birth. I don't want to give you horror stories because they make one (especially a first time mom) nervous. Just be prepared for ANYTHING and remain optimistic about your expectations. "Text-book" or near perfect is unrealistic, but so long as you are aware of complications, etc., know that WE mamas here at Mamasource are also available for support. Do some reading while you have the time, and know everybody's stories will be different. I have to admit that breastfeeding has so many advantages versus formula, but if you are planning to go back to work after 6 weeks, you will have to give your son a bottle unless you are allowed to bring him to work with you. My little one responded very well to the bottle nipple while breastfeeding, and eventually I did have to supplement after 6 months- but I did continue to breastfeed until she was 15 months old.
I wish you luck, and you can always email me here if you have any other questions. You can do it!
J.

Hi D.,
I personally found the following two sources incredibly useful in answering almost every question I had about breastfeeding, pumping, etc. I recommend them very highly:
1) A book: The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins.
2) Jack Newman's website: http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/newman.shtml
Best wishes for a healthy breastfed baby!
I.

Hello, Congrats on the baby to come. I just had my second child. I wanted to go all natural with my first born. I was very tiered after being in labor for 14 hours. I ended up getting the epidural. I pre-planned to not rule it 100% out and to go with what I felt was the best thing for myself and the baby. If you can do it go for it! But also don't beat yourself up if it ends up not happening.
As far as breast feeding. It is a bit tough the first week or 2. Take advantage of the nurses in hospital and ask the lactation consultant to look at how your nursing (it feels fine until you realize there is nipple damage!). If you do get nipple damage don't give up it will get better withing a week or 2 (lactation consultant!).I went back to work with my first 3 months after having her. I pumped at work. I finally stopped pumping when she was around 9-10 months. I continued nursing her until she was 15 months old. It is very possible to breastfeed and work. Good Luck!

First I want to give you applause for wanting these things for you and your baby! *clapclapclap* :)
Now, I KNOW it's possible, because I did it! I was 23 when I had my daughter, and had heard natural was best, and so was the breast.
As far as natural birth is concerned, you will be most successful having one in a place where epidurals or other pain meds aren't even offered. (Such as at a Birth Center or at home.) But that isn't for everyone, some have more peace of mind in a hospital.
If you are planning a hospital birth, I would really recommend taking a childbirth class with your husband/boyfriend. When he is on board too, and knows the benefits of going natural, he is more likely to be an encouragement to you when you are feeling weak about your decision.
Also, I always recommend hiring a doula to help you and your man relax and take it one step at a time. She would also be very helpful in translating "med speak" (risks vs benefits) to you so you could make more informed decisions about common hospital interventions like breaking your water and receiving pitocin.
One thing to keep in mind is that you can "fire" your nurse if you don't feel compatible with her/him. If your nurse suggests pain meds as soon as you say ouch, your chances of going all the way natural slim right down. The people attending your birth need to believe in you, that you can do it, and it is your right to make whatever decision you want to make. It is YOUR birth afterall!

Breastfeeding! It's such a beautiful wonderful sweet thing. If I didn't breastfeed, I don't know where I would be. It helped me bond with my daughter and it forced me to stop running around and take a break.
When she would be inconsolable, and I was in tears and ready to rip my hair out, we would nurse, and soon we would both be nodding off and in love. Worked like a charm for ALL upsets under the sun.(Endorphins! calms Mom and baby and is similar to opiates) She has had only 2 colds in her life. (Immunities!) She has a vocabulary of 600-ish words at 2.5 (IQ! Jaw and tongue development!)
I could go on and on with the benefits. ;)
You know what you want for your sweet boy, and I know you can give it to him.
Don't be discouraged by the first week, it can be tough getting the hang of it. Try to latch him on within 10 to 20 minutes after birth, and have him skin to skin if you can. As soon as you start getting sore, contact a lactation consultant!! (LaLecheLeauge) Many will even come to your home to assist you in getting a proper latch. Latch is THE KEY. Resist the urge to give even a single bottle for the first 6 weeks. It takes this long for your milk supply to establish and even out. Adding bottles before then will subtract from what your body will make, and it can be hard to get back. It is supply and demand, so if you take less out, you will make less.

As far as the horror stories, they may have a shred of truth. Being a Mom isn't easy, whether you breastfeed or bottlefeed. Neither is birth, natural or with drugs! Just try to come to terms with these truths before your little bean arrives. Accepting and knowing these things deep down with give you strength through tough times when you feel like taking the quick fix route. (That road isn't easier! It just seems like it is.)
Would the people in your life agree to at least stopping with the horror stories? No expectant or new mother needs a negative nancy in their ear.
And I just want to point out that nobody really talks about the horror stories of using drugs during delivery (There are MANY MANY MANY) or horror stories of formula feeding, (There are MANY) Just kind of strange, if you ask me. Try looking up some of those and using them as a response to their horror stories.
Mothering.com has some good boards and chatrooms about these things as well.
I hope my soapbox novel has helped at least a little!
I wish you an easy gentle quick birth, and a sweet and successful long-lasting breastfeeding relationship!

Congratulations on your pregnancy! It is wonderful that you want to have your baby naturally and breastfeed. I just want to say that you can do it! Breastfeeding can be tricky in the beginning because you and your baby have to learn how it all works, but stick with it because you can work it out. I had many challenging breastfeeding moments at the beginning with my son, but it ended up being wonderful for us. I attribute our success to 1. not giving up and 2. getting help from a great lactation consultant. I had to try a few before I found one that could help us, but it was worth it.

You might want to check our Mothering Magazine for helpful resources on natural birth and parenting. http://www.mothering.com

Also, the La Leche League in your area will have great information for you. You can find them in the phone book.

You can do it! Good luck and congratulations.

Best,
E.

Nursing Mothers Counsel was created with moms like you in mind!! We are a non-profit organization who provides one-on-one peer counseling to nursing moms for free. You can visit our website at http://www.nursingmothers.org/ or you can call the hotline at (650) 327-MILK. If you choose to have a personal counselor, you'll get a call from her 2-3 weeks before your due date, but you're more than welcome to get answers to all or most of your questions at one of our breastfeeding classes. I'd be more than happy to mail you one of our brochures with more information as well as our class schedule. You can email me directly at ____@____.com

Aside from all the info, it's not impossible to breastfeed and work, and it's DEFINITELY not impossible to give birth natrually!!! Have you considered a home birth? There are many bay area homebirth midwives to choose from, even if you're just curious. Feel free to email me with questions about homebirth, as well. Congratulations and trust whatever decisions YOU make!!
G.

Congrats my dear! I think of natural as no c-section but you may be talking drug-free. I had an epidural and she came out bright eyed and looking around, and I am glad I did it the way I did. I think it is very possible to go drug free though, my sister did it twice!
I have a 6 month old, and she has been exclusively breast-fed up to now. We began supplementing formula today actually because I am having trouble keeping my milk up. So women's body react quickly and drop and raise quickly. I do recommend a good pump (I went back to work at 6 weeks) I use the medela freestyle. Good luck!! It can be done, women do it every day!

It is possible! Don't listen to people who say its too hard! It is hard it really is so line up a lactation consultant or call la leche league. Some hospitals have good nursing support. And those that don't might encourage formula...don't fret there are answers out there. If you can hang in the first few weeks it will get easier, I promise. If you need resources just let me know!
Good luck