BFing

To anyone that has, or plans to BF...
Is it necessary to attend some sort of class beforehand? Will it truly increase your comfort and level of success?
I plan on trying and want to be successful (I know some babies just don't latch) but I want to put the best attempt forward that I can but I am not sure I want to attend a class. Opinions?

Re: BFing

I took a class and found its most helpful if you are on the fence about bfing. The go over all the benefits of it. They do try to show you how to hold the baby using a doll - but IMO it's nothing like having a newborn in your arms.
I found the lactation consultants at the hospital a lot more useful than the class I took

Eta- I delivered and took the class at Lij Katz center in new Hyde park

Message edited 2/15/2014 8:41:36 AM.

BFing

We took a class and it really does not make you successful or more comfortable IMO. When you deliver they have lactation consultants in the hospital to help baby latch, show you different holds, etc. That helps more than a class.

Re: BFing

i think that it is def beneficial to go to a class before hand if you can. some people get lucky and not problems rt away, but some it takes time, to get the whole thing going. It took my DD 3 weeks, and i EBF until 4 months.

Re: BFing

I did not take a class and went on to BF my DD until she turned 2 years old. But i think a class would be a great way to gain info and be prepared ahead of time of things to expect. I DID read up a lot on BFing prior to giving birth, and was very well informed. I read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and highly recommend it. It was my BF bible in the beginning. There is a lot of BF misinformation out there, and some was even given to me by nurses in the hospital. Every baby can latch, some just have difficulty at first, or a problem (like tongue tie) that prevents them from latching successfully until the problem is resolved. There are lots of BFing road blocks, which is why being informed is a great idea!

Good luck!

Re: BFing

I think the most important component to BF success is being committed.

Eta: I took a class and it was interesting but the best was having an LC come to my house after he was born. The nurses at the hospital weren't helpful at all (and this was Winthrop!!) and the LC at the hospital who came to see me just taught me how to pump.

I've been EBF for 6 months and absolutely plan on going beyond the 1yr mark.

Message edited 2/15/2014 9:51:06 AM.

BFing

I have to agree with the two previous posts. Go in with the mindset that you can do it, it's what your body is designed to do! I know there are unavoidable issues for some but that is rare. I took a class at SB and it was helpful to an extent but I found reading even more helpful. I read Breastfeeding Made Simple which was so helpful as well as some articles on kellymom.com. The LC at the hospital was in and out pretty quickly and by then the nurses had already convinced me DD was starving and needed formula. The nurses I had at SB were not helpful at all except for one they day I was leaving. DD took over a week to start gaining well so an understanding ped and a visit with a LC were what gave me enough time for DD to get going and ultimately she was ebf for 16 months.

Re: BFing

When DS was born he was whicked away into the NICU and stayed there until we were both discharged a few days later. In the NICU first he was given a glucose drip, then was allowed to eat later on that night but I was not told when and they just gave him formula. I went into L&D thinking nursing was natural and that i would do it, having no clue that baby needs to latch on right away. When in the NICU with my little man, the nurses were so focused on making sure all the babies were well that there was zero focus on BFing. It wasn't until the day we were discharged that I could finally get a LC to help and she was VERY discouraging, telling me it was really too late and that my son was a bottlefed baby. I choked the tears back as she told me this. I tried everything in my power once home but he never had a good latch. Just a couple of times really. I pumped as much as I could but barely any milk came in. I nursed for four weeks (never exclusively) and then stopped when my supply dried up. It was a terrible experience. This time I intend to go in guns blazing with all the tools I need and hope for the best. I was naive last time and not prepared enough. I fully intend to take a class (Stony Brook offers one each month I believe from 7-9:30 and it is free), get an awesome baby wrap so hopefully I can nurse hands-free so I can take care of my toddler, and be as prepared as humanly possible. I have heard from several nursing mamas that the class helped a lot. I would totally go for it, especially if it's free. It literally cannot hurt.

BFing

A lot of pediatricians have newborn classes and have drs that are also certified in lactation. That might be something you could look into. I feel I always learn best hands on.

Re: BFing

I didnt take a class before. I did one "class" with baby in hospital after he was born that was run by a lactation consultant. They helped with his latch. Just go in with the mentality that you can do it and it will work and you will likely succeed. Kellymom.com is also a great resource

Re: BFing

Work with the lactation consultant at the hospital when you give birth to your LO. I had all intentions of BFing our first child and it didn't happen as easily as I wanted. I supplemented by pumping.
I also know woman have hired lactation consultants to come to their home to show them new methods and to become more comfortable after they were home from hospital.

Re: BFing

Awesome, thanks for all the responses.

Re: BFing

I think if you know absolutely nothing about breastfeeding the class is helpful. I had a ton of friends that breastfed and I read a book on it so by the time I took the class I felt that I wasn't learning anything new.