[~MyPrinceAndPrin...]

hi ladies,

I was unable to BF DS. I gave up after 10days Im mad at myself for doing it BUT I really had no support or help until it was to late.

anyway Im pregnant with #2 and I wanting to BF SO BAD!!! Just wondering if there is anything I can start doing to prepare myself to getting it right this time.

One thing I will be doing to joining the Breast feeding Assoc.

Do creams and that kind of thing work? I used Lanolin (SP?) with DS.

Shields etc

any help would be great
thanks

[0zeKid]

Give it longer than 10 days (and I don't need that in mean way), if it doesn't work at the start persist, do bottle and breast (which is what I did expressed breast milk in a bottle) and keep trying. I know that THEY will all say that baby gets confused with bottle and breast but if you are struggling then you can only try it.

I had a really hard time at first and got no help as it was over Christmas. I struggled for 6 weeks or more before it became easier (and after seeing a home nurse), this included persisting through dehydration and a urinary tract infection (my DD not me).

She had EBM and breastfeeds until about 8 months and then just breast until just after one when she switched to cows milk.

With No. 2 I am going to try again, this time I went to breastfeeding class at the hospital and the consultant is going to visit me on the first day to help us get off to a better start.

Good luck.

[*My3Stars*]

Hi little~king,

In my experience support, support, support and some more support is the key when you are having a hard time trying to establish breast feeding.

DD1 - I had a terrible time. My nipples were so cracked and bleeding by day three that I had to formula feed her until they healed. Even though the hospital tried as much as they could to help me in the end I paid a lactation consultant to help. Eventually after 4-6 weeks it all fell together and I feed her until she was 14 months old.

DD2 - I thought it would be easier but it was just as hard this time. Cracked and bleeding nipples again. Having to formula feed and express while they healed again. What was invaluable to me was my hospital (different one DD1) offers a lactation clinic free of charge for the first fortnight after your baby is born. I basically went there nearly everday for help getting the attachment right. And just being able to talk to someone that was understanding and supportive helped me get through those really hard first weeks. Check to see if your hospital offers this service. Also, this time I also found changing positions constantly with DD2, ie from cradle hold to football hold, seemed to help minimise nipple damage. This time it only took about 4 weeks for everything to fall into place and it has been great ever since.

I also found using a hand or an electric pump caused more problems than solved. If you need to express at all due to damaged nipples I think it is best just to do it by hand. It is a lot slower but your nipples heal so much faster and you can't damage them any further.

I also used Lansinoh. I tried nipple shields but they did not work for me.

I wish you all the best.

[Bondia]

Persistence!

I second the PP 4 week comment.

I almost gave up SO many times in the first month. Had mastitis week 1, and generally just in so much pain I cried through many feeds. Bleeding. THe works. I never expected it to be so hard!The only reason I kept going was because I thought it just can't get any worse, and everyone said it does get better!

Anyway after about a month things did settle down and I breastfed til over 12 mths. The nightmare of month 1 slowly faded!

So my advice to anyone struggling is just to try really hard to endure that first month. Call the ABA any time day or night, they are great. Express if you can (I found this time consuming and fiddly but others seem to have success).

[~MyPrinceAndPrin...]

thankyou so very much ladies. Im sure I'll be in this forum alot up until the birth and everyday after. thankyou

[KylieB]

A lactation consultant! I have used one each time. First time wasn't until about the 2 month mark. Second time about 2 weeks and the third in that first week. I always have problems in the first 8 weeks or so. The one on one time they give you is great and if you call one before you are due, she may even be able to come in to the hospital after you have given birth and help you get everything going. It can be expensive but usually you pay a larger first fee, they are available for you to ring for advice at any time and subsequent visits (if you require it) usually don't cost as much. And if you have private health insurance it may be covered one way or another They have always called me a few days after seeing me to see how we are going, too, which is nice.

Best of Luck. How exciting for you.

PS What city are you in? I have the numbers of a few good ones here in Brissy

This post has been edited by KylieB: 23/01/2007, 10:04 PM

[~Cleopatra~]

Don't just join ABA, see if you have a local group and start going before bub is born. That way you will have a ready-made support group when you need it Have a counsellor sit down with you and go through everything you need to know to feed a newborn (they do a "first six weeks"/"early days" topic). Ask other mums their stories, borrow books from the group library etc.

Good Luck

[rockymum]

Persistence is the key!!!

And being prepared to comp a little with bottles (EBM if you can or formula if expressing is just too much) when the going gets tough to allow you to build up a little more supply.

And drink lots and lots of water...a big glass before you sit down to feed, one while you are feeding and one when bubs is finished.

I combo fed my first boy for 9 months then had to stop as totally dry. Now with my 2mth old, he has only had 50ml in a bottle in the last week, 150ml the week before that, so we are really getting things sorted now and I hope to feed him as long as I possibly can - beyond 2yrs if possible.

Just keep at it as long as you sanely can!