How to breastfeed?

Motherhood
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Ok BREASTFEEDING Mama’s!

Is there a book or anything out there that is SUPER specific and breaks down breastfeeding for dummies?!

My oldest is going to be 2 this month and I tried to breastfeed her but she had a lip you and tongue tie that doctors wouldn’t cut because she would take a bottle so it “didn’t effect her eating and gaining weight” :roll_eyes: … I got zero support so I pumped after the first day and naturally i never got into a rhythm with her latching and everything so I wasn’t responding to the pump. A couple of my cousins were this way and could breast feed just fine but wouldn’t respond well to a pump. I tried different pumps and nothing helped. I tried everything I was suggested to increase my milk supply but the only thing that brought my supply from an oz combined each session to just under 2oz each session was mother’s milk tea. My breasts were constantly engorged because I just wouldn’t respond to the pump. I suffered for 3 weeks pumping every hour so my little girl had something to drink every 3. I was getting 20 min increments of sleep between.

I’m in a different state and so a different hospital this pregnancy and I got a little sneak peak of the birthing center there and they seem to really have a lot of support with breastfeeding … so that is wonderful!

But I’m realizing I forgot a lot about breastfeeding and maybe didn’t know as much as I should or could about it in the first place.

I get confused with the terminology (let down?) And the process in general. What’s normal what’s not. Etc. I plan to take a BF class when I get into my 3rd trimester (only just shy of 11 weeks now)… but want to start brushing up on it.

I REALLY want to be successful this time around. I know it’s gonna take work but I feel like last time I had no support and this time it looks like I will have that support.

Any advice or any fingers pointing me in the direction of a good, easy, understandable break down of a read on breastfeeding would be WONDERFUL!

Thank you !

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If you have any questions feel free to PM me. I’ve been breastfeeding for 4 years straight between 2 kids

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Well only thing I can say is shame on those doctors for not taking care of your first born lip tie and tounge tie. If not for the breastfeeding then at least for the language development. My son had tounge tie that we actually didn’t know about bc they never mentioned those things 10 years ago. And he is still in speech therapy to this day even after getting it clipped a couple years ago. Now that your in a new state seek out a dentist and have them evaluate her. They may want to get it fixed. With my youngest we was having issues with latching and noticed a Lip tie and his dentist didn’t hesitate, she clipped it bc she knew how much breastfeeding meant to me. Only made it 8 months though.

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I don’t have much personal experience since I was only able to breastfeed my first for like a day. But I’m getting ready to have my second and I joined a breastfeeding support group on Facebook that has given me a lot of information. Always a bunch of helpful people if you have a question. Even in the middle of the night because they’re all up feeding too lol

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I took a breastfeeding class at the hospital I go to, when I was around 30 weeks. It was a one night, 3 hour class. It went over everything and was much more helpful than any book or online article! See if your hospital has them :blush:

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Add the pages Dairy Queens and Milky Mommas. You will receive lots of great support and the best advice from real people with real life experiences.

My advice is definitely take advantage of the lactation classes and ask your lactation consultant all the questions you can think of. Everyone’s journey is different so if it doesn’t “come natural” don’t get discouraged. Some of us take longer to get into the rhythm. Make sure you have a good support system and don’t give up, the first few weeks are rough and you’ll feel as if all you do is feed that baby but it is completely normal.

Good luck!

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Get a lactation consultant lined up and talk to them before you give birth. You also need to get the baby on the boob within THE FIRST HOUR.

If you have any problems seek help from lactation consultant because while your baby‘s pediatrician will mean well, they just usually don’t know as much as an LC. When I went to my son‘s pediatrician they told me that he had to go on the bottle due to not gaining enough weight at first. If I had known different and gone and seen a lactation consultant probably they would’ve been able to help me. But once he got on an actual bottle, he never wanted the breast again unless i used a nipple shield. So make sure you don’t make that mistake unless it’s the lactation consultant that is the one that tells you to give the bottle

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My first would never latch properly so I had to pump until I finally lost production when he was 9 months. I was not given great advice at the hospital on the ins and outs of breast feeding. I have a 4 month old now and the hospital did an amazing job helping me to be successful this time around! They taught me how he should be latched and everything. First thing they recommended was not to introduce the pacifier for the first 2 weeks until he learned to latch good. Also if the pump is not an option purchase the milk saver cups for your breast. When you feed on one side the other tends to leak. These cups will catch that leaking milk so that you can use it for storage. I had a freezer full of milk the first month not having to pump at all until I went back to work just by using them!!! And finally to increase production…POWERADE! And also oats. I can notice my production lowering and I will drink a powerade and it shoots right back up. That and water. Staying hydrated is so important! Goodluck!

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Personally I managed to breastfeed my oldest with a lip tie, and my third had lip and tongue tie and we still breastfed. It takes time to find your rhythm, much longer than a day.

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La Leche League offers meetings so you can take your little one and discuss anything related to breastfeeding. The organization has a great book as well called The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.

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Breastfeeding may be natural but it can come with challenges. Don’t be scared to ask for help.

Do the golden hour in the hospital. Skin to skin. Latch baby as soon as possible and as much as possible. Watch YouTube videos on to latch/ the breast crawl. Check for tongue/lip ties as they can cause painful latches and interfere with milk flow.

The baby’s stomach is as tiny as a cherry when born. They need the colostrum.

The first 6 weeks are hell. :blush: cracked/bleeding nipples. Cluster feeding. Growth spurts. Feeling like baby is always attached to your boob. (No worries-they are but they are regulating your milk supply.) Coconut oil is your best friend.

It does get easier. Don’t stress about it.

Don’t watch the clock. Watch your baby’s hunger cues. Crying is the LAST hunger cue. As long as baby is peeing/pooping, you’re producing enough.

Make sure to take care of yourself as well. You need to stay hydrated. Drink at least half your bottle weight (in ounces) of water.

Don’t pump before 6 weeks as that can create an oversupply, and associate risks with that. (Clogged ducts, mastitis, etc.) what you pump is not an indication of supply-babe is so much more efficient than a pump and some woman don’t react to one.

Make sure to research pace feeding when giving a bottle. This is crucial so that babe doesn’t prefer bottle over breast. They only need 1-1.5 ounces per hour while gone. This never changes as the components of breastmilk changes to meet the baby’s specific needs.

Breastmilk is not made from your stomach contents. Despite false info, what you eat does not effect babe. Milk allergies are actually rare.

Babe will go through growth spurts, sleep regressions, leaps, and will clusterfeed during all that. And that’s okay!

Also remember that babies don’t just nurse for food. They nurse for comfort, sickness, tired, hurt, cranky, sleepy, missing mom, etc. When in doubt, whip it out.

Breastfeeding is supply and demand. The more you nurse/pump, the more you make. Fenugreek is commonly suggested to up your supply but it is known to drastically decrease your supply. I advise never to take it.

Your insurance should pay for a pump. I recommend the Spectra! (Research closed vs open systems when picking a pump.) https://aeroflowbreastpumps.com

Contact InfantRisk if you have any questions about medications and breastfeeding. Doctors and pharmacists are not properly trained in breastfeeding. They will tell you to pump and dump to save their butts. It’s actually rare for the need.

Less than 5% of woman worldwide cannot physically breastfeed. Lack of knowledge and support are the reasons woman quit. Don’t give up if YOU want to do it! :heart:

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I struggled for 2 months breastfeeding because my nipples hurt so bad. I used butters, and nipple shields which really helped to have on hand, my baby wasn’t latching properly. I met with 4 different lactation consultants and finally a lactation specialist which made a huge difference! I pumped im between feedings to increase my supply and to have a extra. And drink tons of water💦 ! I can’t feel when I “let down” but I can tell because he swallows more. Don’t give up, My baby is EBF at 7 1/2 months💙. Best of luck😊

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I’m surprised they don’t have a lactation specialist available for you to speak to. Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor.

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Hoslitals have wonderful people to help you get started just ask…ive had 4 kids and breastfed with all…3 of mine needed their tongues clipped…last one had lip tie that was never fixed…i would say the most helpful advice is make sure you have a good latch …if not your nipples will be hurting bad or even crack and bleed (you dont want that)…feed on demand…if the baby sleeps extended hours pump every 2 to 3 hours the amount of time she usually eats (i did about 20 min)…drink lots of water and eat regularly to keep your supply up! (.important** ) if you want to message me feel free!! Hope this helps

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Take a breastfeeding class, get in touch with a lactation consultant, kellymom also helps, also if you want you can message me. My baby is about to be a year, going on extended breastfeeding until he weans.