Questions On Breast Feeding?

The hospital will provide you with a lactation consultant. He or she (probably a she) will spend as much time with you as you need and show you what to do.

I've been breastfeeding my daughter since she was born, so if you have any questions about it feel free to ask me!

where i live (manitoba) there are so many resources. i've been getting referred to the resources to help me breastfeed at every turn during my pregnancy. there are postpartum doulas, public health nurses, lactation consultants and nurses in the hospitals, breastfeeding classes, healthy start programs, pediatricians, la leche league, midwives and friends and family that are willing to give advice. also all the women on here who are big advocates of breastfeeding and have a lot of experience. i think it's because there is such a consensus on the fact that it's good for both mother and child, that there are so many places you can turn to for help. i've just taken out "the womanly art of breastfeeding" by la leche league from the library.

i'm not the most confident person when it comes to being a new mom but i know that i am determined enough to at least give it my best effort for the sake of my baby's health (and Rich's bank account). i am really looking forward to it actually and i am NOT judging but i kind of have a hard time understanding why someone would choose not to without even giving it a shot (not including women who can't because they have to work or whatever). i feel like i'd be cheating myself of that experience if i didn't do it.

Yeah i really want to do it. I just don't know if it's for me. I only have 4 weeks off of work, and i think it's going to be hard to do so when i go back. I know there are pumps, but will that give enough milk for a 8 hour period while i'm at work?

you would probably have to pump at work. see thats different. i'll be off work for a lot longer than that so i feel like that is my work, to breastfeed. it would be a lot harder if i were going right back to work.

wow.. that seems like it's going to be hard for me. I guess it depends on how much we get saved from now until the baby is born. If i can save up some extra $$$ then i can take more than 4 weeks off.

Even if you're only able to breastfeed for 4 weeks, that will give your baby a great start. That's 4 weeks of your antibodies being passed directly to your baby. 4 weeks is much better than none at all, so keep that in mind sweetie.

True, very true. What about breast feeding while at home, and formula while i'm at work? Or is that to confusing, and it should just be either one or the other?

Well, my suggestion would probably be to try to pump as much of your milk as possible and to bottle-feed your own milk rather than formula. It wasn't an option for me personally... I couldn't get anything out of my breasts with the pump. But I stay home with my child, so it was never an issue. If your breasts aren't pump-shy, I would highly recommend pumping.

I think i'm going to try it for sure this time around!

yeah, even if they just get the colostrum the first few days that would be better than nothing. i hope it goes well for you!

Thanks! I have NO idea what i'm doing, or need to do. But we are going to take some of those classes cause he wants to. This is his first child. So i will have someone help me out.

Well definitely listen to the lactation consultant when you meet them in the hospital. She'll (it'll probably be a woman) help you with teaching the baby the proper way to latch, different ways to hold the baby, what to do about sore nipples and engorgement, how to deal with a blocked milk duct, etc. And we're always here too!

And you should have a local chapter of LLL in your area as well if you need additional hands-on help once you're home with your tiny one.

I there I was just there browsing through and I thought I would share my tale, I also recently had my second child and through my whole pregnancy breastfeeding is not something I wanted to do, I did not breastfeed my first child because I was a single mom and knew I was going to return to work quickly. Well the day I came home from the hospital with my second child I had a desire to breastfeed and It hurt really bad but he liked it, I did not take any trainging it just came natural, I feel as if alot of those classes maybe over do it with pressure and can forcefully make your decision, good luck and you will do whats best for you and your baby.

Yeah that's exactly why i didn't before. I was left a single mother at 3 months, and i don't exactly have the mother father, or family help that some other people have. I went right back to work.

I know what you mean alot of women do it but most of them have help, or have jobs that are leanient , not mine I was promoted right after I had my first son and the terms of the position were that I need to come back one month after having my C- section but I knew the financial option is something I needed. Even with my second child in only lasted a few weeks even now that I am a stay at home mom, but I also have my four year old to look after and it just seemed real stressful, and after having a baby it is just something I couldn't handle. My first son came out just fine without breastmilk and with the little amount my second child has had he is just healthy and strong.. Good luck..

my midwife gave me a few tips while i was pregnant and then whilst i was in hospital the midwives there helped me to get .Mika latched on properly and how to tell when she wasn't and gave me help with winding etc. The best piece of advice i've been given is to rememebr that they are breastfeeding and not nipple feeding

Just another question i thought about... I was just wondering if while breast feeding you should stay away from any kinda four play? lol i feel kinda weird asking that.. but it's kinda a big thing for me

thats a good question lol. i guess if they don't mind getting squirted. i think if you're able to both be awake enough and in the mood and he's not freaked out by it you should just go for it. i think someone told me you should pump or feed first because your breasts will let down during foreplay and with orgasm. i dunno, i hadn't even thought of it yet. interesting one!

*isn't oxytocin released during breastfeeding and isn't that the same thing you get when you have an orgasm??