To all the Newly BF mommies!

Just wanted to applaud you all on your efforts and your GREAT accomplishments on doing something that takes dedication, determination, a will and LOTS of patience!

Even though to some it comes easier than others, it's still something that I admire in anyone that chooses to do it and continues to do it well...

I definately plan to give it a try again this time around (BF for 3m with JA, should have and could have 'stuck it out' longer ) I also have my sister and hopefully my SIL too, as support and guidance, but its nice to know how many of you are here!

I feel good that all of you are here for support and for sharing experiences day to day.
Last time, there werent too many around here! (although I did find other BF boards, there's nothing like LIW gals )

I look fwd to joining your circle!

Keep up the great work, no matter how long you choose to do it. Even one little ounce or one little day

(And to those who chose not to BF, please dont take this as offense in any way). My big boy did just great with Enfamil after our BF, and I plan to have good ol Enfamil as my little backup support Hugs to all of you too

I second that...even though I haven't had my baby yet, I think it is great that everyone here can count on each other whether they breastfeed or not! There is a lot of support on this board when it comes to prenatal, the different stages of pregnancy, and birth and on! You LIers even have taken some of us LIWers by default under your wings! :hugs:

I signed up for my boobie class at the end of next month. I have the support of my mom (who breastfed all 7 of us) and my 3 sisters who also breastfed. I can't wait to talk boobie!

Thanks for the vote of support ladies! I have to say I am thrilled that Sophia is 100% breastfed right now. I had a huge advantage though in that she was in the NICU along with only 2 other little peanuts, so I had an extreme amount of attention from some VERY knowledgeable nurses/mommies and learned lots of tricks of the trade. Its a lot easier when somebody is actually maneuvering your breast FOR you and showing you how to get your little one to latch on, stay awake, relax, etc.

When I was learning all i could think was GOD - how are we going to do this on our own....I bought formula in case and went home a wreck. But after trial and error and a lot of patience, she latches on like a champ. It's very rewarding, and she is gaining weight and filling diapers. Of course, I am nervous to have her weighed tomorrow - because she was a preemie and pumped with all that magnesium during labor, they really won't allow her not to gain exactly what she should with supplementing....so each weigh in will be a true test.

In addition to all your other support systems I highly suggest that you seek out the lactation consultant in your hospital while you are there. They are NUTS, but very helpful - keep in mind they are really hardcore about breastfeeding and have a very Holier than Thou La Leche League mentality (no offense to anybody out there - but this woman was like GO BOOBIE) but she was a huge help and extremely informative. (though the most advice came from the nurses that were just around....)

Good luck - I feel great about it - that Sophia didn't have a great healthy start to life and I am doing all I can to ensure that we make up for that.

I wanted to do a post about BF today too. You beat me to it.

I must say that it's the most rewarding experience. It is difficult, and I was ready to give up in the hospital. The first time they put Briana to my breast, I screamed out in pain. Even though she latched on very well, the first few days were painful. After day two and my milk didn't come, she would be at my breast for what seemed like hours and still not be satisfied. I was heartbroken. The 2nd night at the hospital I took her back to nursery in tears. The nurses were so helpful, they conforted both of us.

One month later, I am proud of myself for continuing to BF. It's not easy, and I would not put down any mom who decided not to BF. But for me, the experience is priceless -- it's the way she look up at me when I BF her, the bonding is amazing, the satisfaction in knowing I am providing sustenance to my daughter. I could go on and on.

For those planning on BF, rely on the nurses in the hospital. They are there to help you. I also met with the lactation specialist. I had them come and see me to make sure that she was on latching on correctly.

Natasha and Jen - reading your posts is making me cry! I pray to God that I can and will have better success with baby #2 than I had w/Paul....I pray to have the type of experience that you both describe! Go Mommies - you are all doing great!

Natasha, when you mentioned how amazing it is that your baby looks at you while your BF'ing her, I got goosebumps. That sounds like such a tender, beautiful moment to share with your child!! I am praying that it works out well enough for me that I can have that experience too!

It's so nice to hear everyone's experiences and heartfelt emotions on breastfeeding.

I cant wait to try again !

Questions, just as I remember little bumps in the road that I hit last time, where I got fustrated and sometimes discouraged.

Have you gotten very engorged yet? As much as I tried to keep up with my milk flow, at times I didnt 'catch up' (either pump or feed) and I was so engorged that I was crying like a baby
Also I remember a LC telling me to SHOVE the boobie into the babies mouth, toward the babies palate (upwards) this way the baby would be biting on as far back on the areola as possible. JA always just got the tip (their mouths are so small, how can they possibly get so much in that little mouth ?) and that 'bad latch', although it seemed fine at the time, I PAID for it BIG TIME later on as the soreness and cracks and ouches came along... Some days were simple as pie and others I felt like I was doing everything wrong

Sorry if that was TMI, Im just hoping to clear the bumps in the road now and get off to a better start this time There were times that my sister latched him on for me, and even though she said the latch looked perfect, it still hurt... so sometimes its hard for someone else to judge, other than mommy herself, right?

All great questions!

Have you gotten very engorged yet? As much as I tried to keep up with my milk flow, at times I didnt 'catch up' (either pump or feed) and I was so engorged that I was crying like a baby

This is a very true statement. The engorgement is close to unbearable. And it came on so suddenly! one minute my boobies were their boring flacid selves...and next they were these hard bazoongas! It was like somebody blew them up with a bicycle pump and added rocks. I found that waking Sophia up a little earlier than her feeding helped a little - we fed a little more those couple of days and I massaged as we fed. Just little circles on those lumpy patches and kind of pushed towards the nipple (sorry if TMI) - I dont' know if it works, but it made me feel better. Also - dark beer really helped. I hate beer but it was worth it. I drank a small glass while feeding again during that time, and I think the milk just flowed a little easier thus lessening the engorgement feeling. Hot showers helped, but God forbid even a drop of water should hit your breast! The PAIN!!! So that was kind of counteractive, but hot washcloths along the sides helped some. I think it's just about getting through those few days when the milk officially comes in. It hurts like hell but does go away. Also - make sure to stay away from underwire bras of any kind. Even the nursing ones.



SHOVE the boobie into the babies mouth,

Yeah that's not gonna work. I find the trick to the latch is to first squeeze your nipple starting back on the areola and express a tiny bit of milk. Then kind of tease the upper lip with that until the baby starts to open. You have to shove the baby's head to the breast. Not the breast into the mouth. Kind of guide the head. You'll find as you do it that they open a little wider, and no they are NOT going to get the whole thing. My nurses told me as long as she's got like an inch of areola it's fine. You'll feel the difference. The baby will get this weird machine like sucking sound that is very rhythmic once perfectly latched on. and it takes time! We are really good at it now and sometimes STILL take a few minutes to get the right latch. Sometimes she just wants to gum and screw around. You might find the football hold to be best - I found that better than others to get the right latch because you can control the baby's head more.

Soreness and cracks: yuck. They hurt bad. I cheated and put a little A&D ointment on them. Dont' tell anybody.... - it worked like a charm. I just couldn't bear the pain. Never be without the bra on - that will help the soreness. And really don't let the baby play with the nipple like a binky! Just keep sticking your finger in there, break the suction and start over! Eventually the baby will be frustrated and hungry enough to open up!

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Also - dark beer really helped

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My mom swears by beer when breastfeeding. She always tells me that beer is a miracle when it comes to breastfeeding! I, of course, can't wait to use that 'treatment' because I love beer! (Of course, you can't go overboard with beer...but dang it I haven't had a drink since July! )

Jenny, thanks for your little refresher course! WOW that brought little flashbacks and everything you said, I had TOTALLY forgotten about and Im glad you refreshed my memory!

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It was like somebody blew them up with a bicycle pump and added rocks.

WOW, great description! I couldnt have said it better myself! I remember being on the phone with my sister and having hot towels all around me, and since her hubby 'coached her' so well when she went through it, he was on the phone giving me advice
Massaging definately helped also.

I did like the football hold best also. It just seemed more comfy for both of us, and it worked better.
You have to shove the baby's head to the breast. Not the breast into the mouth.
OH YEAH, FLASHBACK!
Youre so right about that ! I rmember when the LC did that for me, I wanted to hit her because I thought she was hurting the babies delicate head
She had TONS of experience and came highly recommended and she did latch him REALLY WELL but I couldnt help but cringe when she did that
express a tiny bit of milk. Then kind of tease the upper lip with that until the baby starts to open.
Its kinda cute to watch that little mouth kinda salivating for more!

keep sticking your finger in there, break the suction and start over!
Oh, how tired my pinky was from all that DE-latching I felt like my other fingers were too big to shove in his mouth
I felt so bad doing it because he'd get so angry that I was taking his milk away.


Jenny thanks again for your funny and helpful response. Sounds like you and Sophia are doing GREAT! Keep it up mommy!!!

and thanks everyone else for responding also

That was great advice. I never heard about the beer thing.

My aunt was my BFing coach, and she swore by the beer thing to help your milk production, too!

It is something to do with the Hops of the beer. My mom did warn me that light beer doesn't really work.

what a nice post!! This has been such a wonderful experience for all of us.

One of the moms in our BF support group recommended taking a Tylenol about 20 min before nursing (assuming you know when that's going to be!) which may also help take the edge off of a painful latch on.

A note of encouragement ... Maria's little mouth was also so small at birth that I never thought she would take anything but the tip, but now ... at 10 weeks ... she's got the hang of it & she's bigger which means that she can take more of it into her mouth! It really does get easier!!

to you all for support!