Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

Jeanette and Sandra-GREAT ADVICE!!

It's so true that everyone's experience with BFing is different.....like Sandra said, remain cautiosly optimistic.

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

yes, thanks for all the advice. I'm so excited to give this a try. I LOVE the lipton tea bag advice!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

You are amazing!!!!!!!!!!! thank you! I really cant thank you enough. notebooking this to use later on!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

Wow Jen, thanks for the tips!! Definitely notebooking this!!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

Thank you so much for all the advice! I'm in the middle of BF information frenzy right now. I think I read up on almost everything out there and am planning to watch the Laugh & Learn video about the subject. Keeping my fingers crossed it all goes smoothly but I guess there's no way of knowing until the actual due date...

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

these are all great tips, thanks girls!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

Thanks so much, I am really nervous about breastfeeding, so this is really helpful.

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

Im prego with #2 and this is terrific advice. I used a little reading light last time and it was sooo helpful. I totally forgot about that. The Lansinoh cream is very helpful as well.

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

You ladies have some great advice!

I would like to add as a BTDT mommy who pumped and breastfed....

When it comes to feeding the baby feel free to try all positions you know, BUT your baby may not want that. I can remember crying over breastfeeding books, and with the LC about her refusing. Then one day I said screw it and just did what felt natural to me. Guess what THAT worked. I did it all "wrong" but that's what my Emmy needed.

I COULD NOT get Emmy to latch for about 8wks. I tried ALL THE TIME. I choose to pump and give her bottles and she had a paci. Then one day, see above, she just did it. The point is if breast MILK is what you want there is NO SHAME in doing WHATEVER you have to do to get that milk to the baby. After week 10 she was EBF except when I worked.

I think that the encouragement from your spouse and close family is also VERY helpful. I told my DH a million times I was done and he kept at me that I wanted this. We would fight TERRIBLE about this but now I can say I am so glad he kept on me. It was not easy, but soooooooooooo worth it.

My last piece of advice is this.....just becasue you're bfing DOES NOT mean you have to do it in public, around family, in a bathroom, or anywhere YOU feel uncomfortable. I think sometimes we forget that just because we do this doesn't mean we're getting coffee and "whip it out" and it doesn't mean you have to go to a bathroom either. My point is do what YOU feel comfortable with and screw everybody else. It's your body, your breasts, and your baby.

Good luck ladies!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

Thank you so much for this!! I planned on looking up breastfeeding info before I went in, but now I will DEFINITELY search some out! As well as notebook this!!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

This is so helpful- thank you!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

Thank yo so much for this advice!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

This is GREAT information! Thank you so much for sharing!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

I LOVE your posts! So informative...thank you!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

Thanks so much for posting this! It was very helpful! I'm bookmarking it!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

This went right into my notebook. Thank you so much!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

Thanks soo much for sharing all this info! I plan to EBF too and even ordered the La Leche book Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.

Every bit of info is helpful! Thanks Again!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

As a BTDT (I am EBFing an almost 1 year old and I will be extended BFing), I just wanted to add a few things.

I agree with a great deal of what the OP said.

I had an extremely hard and terrible time BFing my DD when she was born. No matter what I did, she would not latch. My milk was late (this can happen, especially if you are a c/s mom, so try not to freak out). We refused to supplement, which I am glad we did right now (although we had to give her 12 ozs of formula the first few days or she would be re-admitted and placed in the NICU) and we did not give her a nipple. I was crying, frantic and miserable. I pumped and fed her through a syringe. Pure misery. I also found out that I had flat nipples.

Then I found the most incredible creation-The Nipple Shield. It is a piece of silicone that you place over your nipple. It pulls the nipple out and makes it very easy for the baby to latch.

And I would also recommend to those mommies who want to BF to set small goals for yourself. This way, you aren't putting ridiculous pressure on yourself to succeed. I honestly believe if I didn't start out with goals like getting through the hospital stay, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, etc. I wouldn't have made it it to a year and going strong! Now my goal is self weaning!

Good luck and congrats to the mommies to be and remember, when your babies are here, feel free to ask for support for BFing on the parenting board!

Message edited 2/16/2011 1:41:51 AM.

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

You are amazing! Thank you! I am printing this post and bringing it with me - haha!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

Great advice...thanks so much!!!!!!!!

Re: Hi Girls! Some tips for if you plan on breastfeeding...

This is great advice thank you so much