Nervous About Breast feeding......Any Info?

I was determined to breastfeed no matter what. And it turned out we were lucky and didn't have much trouble getting started. I'm really grateful for being able to nurse my son.

I think it was what we didn't do that made the most success. Tips:

If you can, avoid medications in your labor. They can make baby sleepy and baby won't want to bother with latching on. If you do have a medicated labor, be patient with baby and do your best to encourage a wi-i-i-ide-mouthed latch. Baby's lips should be flanged out onto the breast and the lips should be taking in not only the nipple, but as much of your areola as possible.

Don't introduce artificial nipples or pacifiers in the first 4-6 weeks. At all. Ever. Some babies can switch back and forth between the bottle and breast without problems, sometimes all it takes is ONCE to sabotage baby's latch abilities. You don't know which baby you have until it's too late. Give baby a clean finger to suck on if your nipples are tired. :o)

Don't supplement in the first few days. Your milk won't be in yet, but that's fine. It's -normal- for a newborn to lose up to 10% of their body weight in the first few days. They'll usually get back up to birth weight within two weeks.

Use lanolin to moisturize and before each nursing to keep the friction on your nipple down. Rub breastmilk into your nipples and allow that to air-dry after each feeding.

Offer the breast to baby before she is so hungry she cries. Calm babies latch on much better. There are lots of early hunger cues like rooting and hand-mouthing.

You might want to have a hand pump on hand to express a little milk from your breasts before feeding if you become engorged. It's hard for baby to latch on to an engorged breast.

If you are having pain while nursing (a little soreness is normal, but it probably shouldn't be toe curling), or if you are still having trouble getting baby to latch, ask the hospital for a lactation consultant. You want someone "internationally board certified" (an IBCLC), not just a lactation consultant. Anyone can call themselves an LC. IBCLC means they've had actually classes and training. I had an LC shove my screaming newborn onto the breast at the hospital -- a great way to turn baby off to the whole experience. She really didn't know what she was doing.

For free help, contact La Leche League. They have groups in most areas. Contact them ahead of time and bring the leader's phone number with you to the hospital so you can call with any questions. My LLL leader was most helpful when I was breastfeeding.

Sending lots of warm wishes your way for a beautiful birth and a peaceful breastfeeding relationship with the wee one. :o)

I didn't read the other comments so sorry if I am just repeating what has already been said but this is what I think. Breast feeding a new born is hard no matter what size the mouth is on the baby. I read that it takes 21 days for them to learn how to latch on correctly. So when they are first born every time they eat it is like the first time for them all over again. The best thing is for the mother to be really aggressive. You have to make sure their mouth is open very wide and then basically shove your boob in their mouth as you draw them in close to you. It is hard. I had lots of problems with my first daughter but I stuck with it and was able to BF both my girls for their first year of life. Also don't worry too much about your baby not eating enough. BF babies eat a lot....like every 2 hours or sometimes even less at first like every hour and 1/2. As they get older then can go longer stretches but not at first. So it's best to not look at the clock and just feed on demand. As long as your baby is having plenty of wet and poopy diapers and is gain weight then he/she is getting enough milk. Both my girls pretty much ate every 2 hours for months and months after they were first born and both were chunky babies. So I new there are getting plenty of good milk. But if you still feel like you want to learn more I know there are BF classes you can take to help you feel more prepared.

Way to go with the breastfeeding! I know it may be a little nerve wracking- especially with not doing too well the first time, but many women say it just gets easier and easier with each child (even if you didn't do well the time prior!).
The only advice I would give is to just completely relax and not worry about it. He's either going to latch on immediately and have no problem, or you'll both have to work a little bit at it. No need for stress. :)
And if he does have a little problem with it, just make sure you don't give up and give a bottle too quickly. Hunger is a great motivator, and one babies understand.
And if you get a mean lactation consultant- change quickly and get a new one! How yucky to have a grumpy/mean person there while you're baring yourself and loving your baby!
Good luck, and congrats! :)

Don't worry too much if the baby doesn't latch on IN the hospital.

Our 2nd was taken by ambulance to a NICU at another hospital and they were going to give him formula. My husband said no, that I would pump and send the milk over. The NICU doctor said it's okay. Babies DON"T NEED to eat for the first few days of life. Our midwife got the baby released into my husbands care as long as he brought him up to me at the other hospital. So our baby was about 18 hours old when he got back. He would NOT latch on at all! The nurse there GRABBED AND PINCHED MY BOOB so hard to shove it in his mouth that I got a bruise! So after that, I just said, YEP, he's nursing fine. He did not latch till we got home from the hospital. (3 days old.) After we were home and COMFORTABLE, he nursed like a champ. Exclusively for 9 months and continued till 18 months.

Don't let the hospital give your baby any bottles or formula! Give it a few days of trying to nurse exclusively. LET YOUR BABY USE YOU FOR A NUK! Nurse on demand. If your baby is fussy, try nursing. It's okay for them to just suckle and not necessarily have a full meal every time.

I felt that nursing was easier with our second. Our first nursed like a champ immediately after she was brought to me in recovery (c-section). But my milk dried up at 6 months. With our second, I nursed EVERYWHERE AND ANYWHERE. If he was hungry, I nursed! If he was fussy, I nursed! He was very content baby! It was a much better experience and I'm looking forward to nursing our 3rd that is due in September now that I know to nurse on demand.

Good luck.

Yeah, the small mouth theory can present some challenges but should not be a reason why a baby cannot breastfeed. If she was hungry all the time, I bet she was pinching off the flow of milk because she was not latched on correctly, which in turn can decrease your milk supply and make a baby really tired because they are working so hard to pull the milk from the breast. Do some research on the "asymmetrical latch technique," a lacatation lady from Australia named Rebecca Glover, and "baby-led breastfeeding." Get many resources that you can rely on for support after the baby is here, such as lactation consultants, doulas, childbirth educators, moms who have breastfed their babies sucessfully, La Lech League, etc. There is a great support network in our town. Don't just rely on one or two people. Go to La Leche meetings while you are pregnant. Take a breastfeeding class that teaches asymmetrical latch technique. You can do it!

C. M., CBE, CLD
Westside Birth Connection

A small mouth really shouldn't be too much of a problem. There should be an LC at the hospital, and you shouldn't leave until you feel that all your questions have been answered. If you don't like the LC, ask for another. You may also want to ask about a Breastfeeding group that may be offered at the hospital once a week by the LC's or the Le Leche League. You may want to try to go to a few meetings before the birth to ask questions, etc. You can build up a good relationship with one of the LC's so that you can get help when the baby is born.

Just be aware, the one that I attended is a really loose format where everyone is free to breastfeed with no covers, and they typically just went around the room, introduced themselves, and asked any questions that they had. The LC and the moms would offer advice or experiences to help.

There may also be a Breastfeeding 101 class that you can take and ask any questions that you have there. As far as buying things, I can't think of anything other than a boppy type support, and maybe some nipple cream, and some washable pads. (I loved mine, so let me know if you are interested, and I can forward you the URL.)

Don't give up, and hang in there.

have you looked at kellymom.org or .com I cant' remember. Anyway, it has good info. Our LC was fantastic so I feel bad that you had that experience. Also La Leche League may have an office or groups in your area. Also, our son took a long time to be able to nurse well (4 weeks) and we had to feed him with a syringe and bottles after every session for awhile. Some of them just take longer to get it. I loved my boppy, I also likes using the mybreastfriend pillows at the Lactation clinic. Good luck!

I just wanted to comment on the small mouth and difficulty latching. My son appeared to have the same problem. My boobs were huge, (HUGE) and wasn't opening his mouth at all. No matter what I did. Well, the hospital LC was very encouraging and nice and I really liked her so I had no reason to doubt her advice when she gave me a nipple shield. Nipple shields are very helpful with latch issues, but I would not rush into using one. We started using one and had no problems, he latched on great on and I was producing actual milk in no time.

BUT. On the last day at the hospital before we were leaving an LC came in to check on me one more time and I mentioned that his mouth was opening much wider. She asked me if I had been given pitocin. I had been. I had been given A LOT because my water had broken 12 hours prior to me going in and I wasn't dilated at all. (Another story altogether.) But to avoid c section, they really cranked up the pitocin and gave me all they were allowed to give. Apparently pitocin can cause thier jaw to almost have lock jaw type thing going on, and baby will not be able to open thier mouth very wide for about 48-72 hours. At the time of my checkout, my son was opening his mouth just fine. This LC told me that if I had just waited and done my best while waiting for the pitocin to wear off, I wouldn't have needed the nipple shield. Oh well, I couldn't change that now, so we left. I had no idea that it would be almost impossible to break the habit of the nipple shield, and that you shouldn't use them long term or they can compromise your milk. It took me several months to get my son to give it up, and I was very lucky to have not lost my milk supply.

The new LC did also tell me that for large engorged breasts it can help to pump or hand express just a little bit before latching the baby on to soften them up just a little and help baby be able to latch on.

I just wanted to let you know my experience in case the LC gives you a nipple shield. Question why you need it and get some solid advice on how and when to use it and to stop using it. I'm not saying don't use it, but just get the information before you leave the hospital. They basically just handed me one and sent me on my way, and I had no clue what to do with it or that I should not use it long. My pediatrician is the one who ended up helping with all that when she realized I was still using it. And the pumping a tiny bit might be something that can help you too, if baby can't seem to open thier mouth wide enough.

Good luck and congratulations on your new baby!!!

If you don't like this LConsultant that shows up at the hospital , you can look up others in the phone book, yet you'll have to pay for their service. I was very glad to have a LC help when my son was born. Took him a few days to get the hang of it, but we just hung in there and kept trying. Have some lanolin handy at the hospital. I needed it and luckily the LC brought me a sample size to use.

I don't know of any products that help a baby latch. Other than pumping and giving the baby a bottle, I don't have suggestions for what to do with a tiny mouthed baby. Sorry.

Good luck. Hang in there when baby arrives. And be on the lookout for a consultant that you like. Maybe call the hospital or La Leche or numbers in the phone book and see if you can set up a meeting with a couple of them and have one of them picked out already to help you when your baby arrives.

I guess you just have to keep up the positive energy in your head, and transfer those good feelings onto the baby, ... My lactation nurse at the hospital took me in when the baby was a few days old and literally showed me how to SHOVE his face on when the mouth opened. It was hilarious, but it brought up my spirits, and forced the baby to do it right. JUST Don'T GIVE UP! We all want the best for you and your baby so YOU CAN DO IT!

All babies are different so I think you should just go into this with a positive and relaxed attitude and know that nursing is super natural. Some babies and moms have a harder time than others, but don't expect difficulties based on your past experience.
My first baby latched on and everything was fine but she weaned herself much sooner than I had hoped.
My son would have nursed till the actual cows came home if I'd let him.

New baby, new experience, new start with breastfeeding.
My two babies were different as night and day in so many ways so try not to get caught up in thinking everything will be the same with your second baby.
Relax. Get a good lactation consultant. Try not to worry about this so much now. You can't know how things will work out until your baby comes.
Try to have the spirit of being successful instead of worrying that it might not work out.

Take care of yourself.

Best wishes.

my baby was born at 35 so was he definitely smaller than average and not as developed as a term baby. it took him 3 MONTHS to figure out the latch. i pumped during that entire time and it was difficult but so worth it in the long run. all i can say is KEEP TRYING. don't give up. some babies have a harder time with it than others but its in them to do it!

Hi I think that your consultant wasn't any good, see if you can find another one that you click with before you deliver. I don't buy the small mouth story, I nursed my preemie twins and one of them was only 3-12 at birth. Pay very detailed attention to all the advice and diagrams regarding how to hold the breast and how the baby's mouth engages with the nipple because getting a good latch is 99% of the challenge and yes, it can be done, without pain and suffering! Remember too, that if a baby gets ahold of you and sucks without properly latching, he will just make hamburger out of your nipple. So having a little supervision for the first few rounds can really help you out, and keep junior from faking it.

You probably don't need much in the way of special gear but it might be wise to rent an electric pump so that, in case you have some issues with latching, you can keep up milk supply while you work at it. Also, once you are up and running, remember that if you don't introduce a bottle at some point early on (like in the 3-5 week window) even for a snack, you might have a baby that only nurses and refuses the bottle which makes it hard for you to leave him with someone for a while.

Have fun, it's so gratifying, you can do it.

My first took a few (painful) weeks to get it, but I nursed him to about 15 months.

My second baby was a nursing pro after the first time. Sounds like your lactation consultant was having a bad day! Seek the advice of another, it doesn't always come naturally for mom or baby, but it can work.

I had trouble with my son because I got shingles 3 days after I had him and was fearful of him getting it, of the medication getting to him, etc. His suck was weak from the bottle and it wasn't fun. The hospital lactation consultant was pretty worthless when I was there. I was referred to someone else who was wonderful and worked with me for 3 months to get him back on track. I liked her because she believed that breastfeeding was the best, but did not give me a hard time about supplementing with formula till things got back on track. I had to use a supplementing tool - kinda like a milk IV - a little tube that was inserted WITH my nipple into my guy's mouth when he nursed. That way he got a lot of food when my production was low, and I got the sucking to increase my production. We nursed till he was 2.5 years old :)

If you don't like your consultant, get another one. You could even start interviewing them now - tell them your story and what you want help with. That way you'll be comfortable and ready when the time comes.

Take care! Feel free to contact me - I was in CA at the time, but maybe my person can recommend someone or a good place to start to look in your area.