Breast Feeding Anxiety - LONG

I am due in less than a week and am having a lot of anxiety about breastfeeding. Right from the beginning of my pregnancy I planned on breastfeeding…now as the time comes closer…..I am not so sure I can. Part of my hesitation is I have to return to work somewhere b/t 6 and 8 weeks and the baby will be in full-time daycare.
I have been reading as much as I can and even took a course, but like with everything else there is so much conflicting information out there.

I just have a couple of questions that may help ease my mind. Here goes:

1. I have read that you should try to feed your baby every 2-3 hours b/c breast milk is digested quicker than formula. How long until they can go longer stretches of time.

2. Do you wake your baby up for feedings or do you let them wake up on their own.

3. If breastfeeding, when did you first introduce the bottle.

4. Do you also supplement with formula?

I know I am just emotional right now and I plan on giving it my best shot. Did /does anyone else feel this way?

1.The amount of time the baby needs to eat totally depends on the baby. From day 1 (unless Gabriella was in her growth spurts) she would go 5 hours at night.

2. I followed the rule, never wake a sleeping baby.

3. You should first establish a good latch before you introduce the bottle. Most people say wait until 4-6 weeks. I waited about 10 days and everything was fine.

4. In the beginning, no I just BF exclusively. Now as she's getting old (10 months soon) we are supplementing her more to wean soon.

Just try to remember to take it day by day. Don't worry about the future and just take it feeding to feeding (if you do decide to BF.) There's plenty of help here and also there are LCC that many people can recommend.

I think your anxiety is very, very normal. The existance of conflicting information should comfort you in knowing that there isn't just one right way to do this!

My feeling based on the research I've done is that:

1) It takes a few months before they are likely to go for much longer stretches of time (when their stomachs are bigger and can hold more).

2) I believe that letting them wake up on their own is fine, as long as no more than 5 hours pass, at which point I'd wake the baby. So also believe that feeding more frequently during the day, even if waking the baby, will give you the chance of a longer stretch at night.

3) You introduce a bottle when its right for you. If you are going back to work at six weeks, I wouldn't wait longer than four weeks in case you have any trouble.

4) I'll only supplement with formula if the doctor determines that my baby isn't healthy on breastmilk alone.

You should really find out the contact information for your local La Leche chapter. (
http://www.lalecheleague.org/ ) The women who volunteer their time could be very helpful and supportive to you!

First let me say that ANYTIME you can spend breastfeeding is better than nothing - even if only for a few short weeks. It is a GREAT start for your baby.

And let me also say that for my whole life I said I would NEVER breastfeed. My view changed once I got pregnant. I figured I'd start with a goal of 6 weeks and if that was all I could do than it was better than nothing. Well he is now 3 months old and I hope to go to the 1 year mark!

1. I agree with PP, it depends on the baby. My son was about every 3 hours in the beginning. Now he is at about 4-5 hours and has even slept through the night several times with the longest stretch being 8 hours (recently around 12 wks old, I would never let a newborn go THIS long w/o eating). I think the longest stretch in the first 6 weeks he went was probably 4 hours MAYBE once/twice 5 hours because he was sleeping.

2. With my son I did have to wake him up as in the beginning the drs told me never to let him go past 4 hours and he just LOVED to sleep.

3. We started introducing at 6 wks and he took it. Only we didnt keep up everyday and when I went back at 10 wks he refused it. It was very stressful but in a matter of 2 days with the sitter he took it. The trick was to give him to him while he was starting to wake up (still drowsy). We use the Playtex Natural Latch nipple which is very close to the breast so he doesnt have a problem switching between.

4. Ive never had to supplement because of lack of supply. The only reason why I have given him formula in the past was to freeze some of my milk if my backup supply got low.

You have to do what works for you. If you really want to feed your baby breastmilk then maybe consider pumping your milk and feeding your baby with a bottle. You can also mix breastmilk and formula if you wanted to that for a few weeks. There is so much information available online and one of the best sites to visit is
http://www.lalecheleague.org (there are message boards, chat rooms and email contacts) and Im sure MANY girls on here can help you out with info too.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU.