Sucess?

Question

What's your best tips for a first time mom to make sure she has success? I DO NOT want formula. I have put in my mind thay formula doesn't even exist. . but what if my birth is just the worst and the last thing I want is more discomfort trying to get the right latch, ect.  What if when I get home away from the nurses and lactation nurses and I just feel like I can't do it anymore? I'm perfectly okay with pumping! I actually hope I'll be able to pump (I think I read after 6 weeks?) so my husband can do feedings too.

Answer

You could always exclusively pump and bottle feed that way. I would cross that bridge when you get there though, get a pump through insurance and try to breast feed. If you feel like it’s too much try to pump and if you feel like that’s too much just use formula. Formula has been helping babies thrive for decades and i totally understand not wanting to use it (in the same way) but if it comes down to my sanity I’ll use the formula.

Answer

Don't give up.. I really wanted to give up before week 2 because my nipples felt like they were going to fall off!! Just keep rubbing that nipple cream on and telling yourself you can do this. I'm now going on 3 months EBF my son, he has not  had one drop of formula yet. I'm pretty proud of myself. Remember don't give up, it's extremely difficult at first and the pain sucks but it gets better, it truly does. 
Good luck 😁

Answer

Determination and support from your other half. I was absolutely adamant that my baby would not have formula, it was just not an option for us. Together we learnt how to get our son latched on with the help of infant feeding support workers, and eventually got it right by ourselves. It was difficult and upsetting in the first few days, I’ll be honest, but it was so so worth it. Now 13 months in, he’s never had a bottle, and no plans to stop anytime soon :)

Answer

My son is 15 days old and we have had a lot of latching issues. I had my heart set on nursing but knew as long as my boy is eating something, that’s what matters. We only had to supplement with formula for a day. I’m lucky enough to have a very good supply when it comes to pumping, but it is extremely time consuming.  However, since we use bottles, my husband can do se of the feedings. Long story short, any way you do it will be tough at first. Don’t give up trying to nurse if you have your heart set on it, but understand it doesn’t always work out and you may have to pump or do formula.

Answer

I had to pump right away because my daughter wouldn’t always latch. The nurses in the hospital showed me how. Most important thing is you need to either nurse or pump every 2-3 hours around the clock to establish your supply. Some women pump after nursing to build their freezer stash. I had to exclusively pump for 6 weeks until my baby learned to latch. We were seeing lactation consultants weekly as well. 
I also watched YouTube vids of others experiences and the flipple technique. If you want, you can take a breastfeeding class before you give birth but it’s not totally necessary. I didn’t and my daughter is 10 months and has never had formula. 
Try not to stress about it mama. Your body knows exactly what to do.

Answer

My best advice would be to make damn sure that your little one gets checked for tongue and lip ties. My son had a lip tie (I didn't know it existed until he was 3 months old, and I saw multiple lactation consultants who all said his latch looked "good") and my nipples paid the price. Nobody even thought to check for lip or tongue ties, and I suffered through the absolute worst nursing experience that could've been completely avoided. My nipples cracked the first feeding, kept reopening and bleeding more every time he nursed, they developed dark purple bruises from his latch and how hard he had to suck because my nipples couldn't physically get far enough into his mouth, and they also developed dark red sores that bled through the pores of my skin. It was pure hell every nursing session and I'd never wish pain like that every 2 hours around the clock on ANYONE. It took 79 days (yes I counted) until I had a pain-free nursing session. The most your pain with nursing should last is a few weeks, and even then you should be able to get your nipples to heal from cracks and they wouldn't develop sores and bruises. It's ok to say that breastfeeding isn't for you, and it doesn't make you any less of a mom for listening to your body. Do what you feel is right. and don't put yourself through literal torture like I did. My mental health deteriorated drastically and I developed postpartum depression mainly because of the hell I went through with breastfeeding. Please get your LO evaluated for tongue and lip ties, and I'd get a second opinion of another doctor just to be sure. I hope you have a way better time with breastfeeding than I did! ❤

Answer

I actually feel like I was more successful being away from the nurses and lactation consultants. I appreciate what they do, but I was very uncomfortable with them helping me and nagging me about feeding my baby. I know that what they did had its reasons (turns out my baby had a touch of jaundice) but nothing was really explained to me and I just wanted to sleep and let my baby sleep! Lol

Answer

I’ve breastfed for 23months, when we found out i was pregnant with baby 2 and my supply tanked. Breastfeeding should not really hurt, except for the first few seconds of latching, and then it disapear but I feel like it’s more because baby’s hungry and lack finess😂. Do not put pressure on yourself and have a really good support, especially from your SO because you can’t really cook or clean with baby attached at the boob. When baby’s a few months older and you get the hang of it you’ll find a rythm but, at first it may be chaos but thats okay.😉 i’m here if you have any other questions💋

Sucess?

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