Seeking Good Help with Breastfeeding

I also had some trouble with breastfeeding my first child, but my second was much easier. I would highly recommend taking a breastfeeding class. Most hospitals offer them and some pediatricians offices have them as well. Your ob/gyn should be able to recommend a class near your home. I know that Northside and North Fulton Regional hospital have breastfeeding classes. The books that I read while pregnant were: The nursing mother's companion, The ultimate breastfeeding book of answers, The womanly art of breastfeeding, and breastfeeding your baby. I haven't read it, but I know that there is even a complete idiot's guide to breastfeeding. Most of these are available at public libraries so if you want to save some money just check them out. My last piece of advice would be to invest in a good breast pump (even if you are staying home with your baby). That way if your baby won't eat or you have trouble in the beginning you can pump to keep your milk supply up. With my second child I got a medela pump in style and it made a world of difference. If you aren't ready to spend $300 on a pump you can rent one. Most hospitals rent them or can tell you where to go to rent one. I think they are about $25 a month to rent.

I have never seen any good literature on breastfeeding. I have always received the best help from a lacation nurse. Where do you go to the pediatrician? Mine has a wonderful lactation nurse. She saw me three times a week the first 2 month to check weight and latching. She was absolutely wonderful. Check with yours to see if they have one.
Although, I am currenlty nursing my five month old and it seems to be going better. i still have to supplement occasionally, but for the most part, much better. So I am sure it will go better for you the second time around.

Good luck.

A., I live in Auburn, right next to you. I have a friend that lives in Dacula and she is a doula and also helps people with breastfeeding.

I feel for you. I've felt the beginnings of a clogged duct, but massaged it away and made sure I gave that breast to my little one more often and it usually went away within a day or two. I've had that happen only 3 times and it was with my current little one (my 5th child).

I wouldn't say it was a natural thing because some kids are just more difficult to 'teach' to nurse than others.

I just alternate the breast for each feeding. If they are nursing on both breasts, then I start with the one that I ended from before...sometimes I don't. I can't work this old brain of mine into thinking too hard. lol I don't even pump....actually, I don't own a pump, so I couldn't if I wanted to. I don't own a bottle, so I won't be tempted to use it for any reason.

I remember my 4th child was jaundice, but not so bad. None of my children were to the extreme, but the hospital sure tried to make an ordeal out of it. I just went home and made sure I nursed, nursed, nursed and they were better quicker. Nursing helps with so many things, including a jaundice baby.

I used Fenugreek with my last child, but it just gave her what she needed and nothing more. I dried up in a week when I stopped taking that. If I had to do it over again, I would have used Blessed Thistle (known to start adoptive mothers lactating).

My first didn't go well either and actually ended at about 6 weeks. I finally realized when I was pregnant with my 3rd child that I wasn't going to fail anymore, because I was going to listen to my own motherly instinct and do what *I* felt was right.

If you would like my friend's name and number, I can give you her number so you can ask her about which books would be good to read and any advice she can give you. I know she has some books because she let me borrow them before even though I never read them. lol

Good luck!

A., don't ever ask an MD or a nurse about breastfeeding. That is not their area of expertise. Go visit your local La Leche League chapter now and get to know them before the baby arrives. That way, you'll feel comfortable calling them after the baby comes. It's a breastfeeding support group. To find your local chapter: http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html