Was Breastfeeding hard or easy for you and what advice do you have for a first time mom?

I really want to Breastfeed my daughter when she comes, I know some people can't because of health reasons etc..But so far I have had a very healthy pregnancy. Also I know that Breastmilk is the best for my baby but also my husband and I don't want the added expense of formula (Here is Michigan it's like 26 dollars a can and the can says for 6 8oz bottles)


However alot of women told me that it was too painful to breastfeed or the baby would not latch on. Is there anything I can do now to prepare myself for nursing? I also want that one and one connection that breastfeeding can bring and the added benefits of possible sliming down a bit faster.Was Breastfeeding hard or easy for you and what advice do you have for a first time mom?
For me, yes, it hurt. Like hell. But I was determined to breastfeed for at least a year for the health benefits for my baby.





Usually, any real pain is due to a bad latch and a lactation consultant can help you resolve that. In my case, her latch was perfect, I just had really sensitive nipples. After about 2 months, the pain finally subsided.





The best thing you can do to ensure success at breastfeeding is to read all you can about it before the baby comes. That way you know about a lot of the problems you might encounter and how to resolve them and you'll be much more likely to breastfeed for as long as you desire to.





However, if you don't prepare yourself, then you'll likely quit as soon as you hit a bump in the road because you don't know what to do.





For instance, some women think that they're not producing enough because the baby lost weight in it's first week of life. This isn't true...all babies lose weight in the first week.





Some think they aren't producing enough because there's no a lot of milk at first. Not true. It is true that there's not much milk at first..that's normal. They baby is getting colostrum which is monumentally important to their overall health and it's all they need until your milk actually comes in.





Some women think they're not producing enough because the baby wants to nurse every hour. This isn't true either. Every 2-3 hours is the average, but some babies will nurse more often and it's fine.





The way to tell if your baby is getting enough is to check her diapers. If she's urinating at least 5-6 times in a 24-hour period, then she's getting enough.





Some women think that if the baby suddenly starts nursing longer and more often, that they need to start supplementing. Again, not true. Growth spurts happen and the frequent nursing is how the baby gets your milk supply to increase to meet their new needs.





Some women think that if they get sick, they have to stop breastfeeding. Again, not true. Breastmilk has antibodies that help keep that baby from getting sick or help him get better faster if he does get it.





Some women think that if they have to take medication, they can't breastfeed. In most cases, this isn't true either.





There's tons of different scenarios and I can't put them all here. But again, the way you'll know all these things is by reading. I'd suggest a book called The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. Yeah, I know the title is kind of strange, but the book is FULL of tons of great information that will help you.





And it's important to know what breastfeeding really protects against. You've likely heard ear infections and respiratory illnesses, but there's so much more. Do a little research on it so you really know why breastfeeding is so important.





And finally, determination is key. If you are not determined to breastfeed or think formula is almost as good, then you're unlikely to be successful at breastfeeding because you'll give up the first time something doesn't go the way you thought it would.





And if you are determined, then refuse all formula samples the hospital will try to push on you and make sure the nurses know that they are not to feed the baby ever. Keep the baby in the room with you and/or tell the nurses to bring the baby to you when it's hungry, even if you're asleep.





Don't keep formula at the house ';just in case'; because then you might turn to it after a sleepless night and one bottle that one time turns into two when you need to get dinner done, and then another because you're too busy with something else and then before you know it, your supply is dropping and soon your baby will be on all formula because you ';couldn't produce enough';.





And last but not least, stop worrying. The actual number of women that truly cannot breastfeed is so insanely small, and the majority of those people have had some kind of breast surgery.





You hear a lot of women say they couldn't breastfeed, but the vast majority of them failed because of lack of education or lack of determination.Was Breastfeeding hard or easy for you and what advice do you have for a first time mom?
I agree with the first answer. DON'T GIVE UP!! So many times I wanted to give up on my daughter because she wasn't latching on properly, but I knew I would regret it if I didn't try my best. In the end, she turned out to be a very good nurser and I didn't wean her until 23 months.





Talk to your lactation consultant at the hospital and look into breastfeeding classes. Hospitals usually have classes for that.
Breastfeeding is a breeze! My daughter is still nursing at 8 months, and there has been no pain at all. As for the being prepared, I suggest asking your doctor about any breastfeeding classes. Also, you can get books or just read stuff online.
It can be difficult. If you really want to breastfeed just don't give up if it gets hard. Most importantly remember if you end up switching to formula your baby will be perfectly fine.
I had a wonderful experience thanks to my nurse, who was also the lactation consultant. She told me about the benefits of ';skin to skin'; contact immediately after the baby is born - basically, if the baby is healthy, she would be placed directly on your chest. (You can't be too modest, though!) I did this with my son and he found my nipple and latched on correctly and began to nurse with NO help from me! I never had any pain with nursing and I loved it! Rooming in if possible helps. And tell them NO FORMULA. They will give it to the baby in the hospital so they don't have to wake you to feed her if you don't.
I breastfed for three days and it is painful (not bad, just enough to make you want to stop! lol) even if the baby is latched on correctly. I saw a lactation consultant and she said I might be sore for a week until I was more used to it. Use a good Lanolin cream, it really helps. The one they gave me at the hospital was horrible, sticky, and didn't help at all (purple one?) but I bought the one made by Medela and it worked awesome.





However, I only breastfed for four days because my breasts got so engorged and nothing helped. I did all the suggestions online such as pumping some, cabbage leaves, etc and nothing helped--my baby couldn't latch on. It was the weekend and there wasn't anyone I knew available to help me--so I ended up bottle-feeding.





I'm grateful that my baby got the colostrum and that we got to bond. I totally hope everything works out well for you and that you stick with it as it really is best for your baby. Just know that there is a line between healthy and sticking it out. For me, I was angry with my baby and frustrated at myself that we kept trying and weren't getting it and he was hungry. I chose to give him a bottle for my own sanity, and thank God that I did.





My best friend breastfed her first daughter without help, and it went great for her. Then, she had her second daughter and had the worst time in the world and six weeks later, she is still struggling with it.





I hope it works out for you, but know that it is HARD and if you decide that it isn't working then don't beat yourself up over it. I'm a better mom because I'm relaxed and can cuddle my baby happily instead of being angry, crying, and mad at my baby for weeks as some of my friends have been. In the end, I wanted to enjoy the first two months wtih my son and I have. Best of luck to you, and I've read that if you can make it through the first two weeks that its awesome after that!





Edit: Oh, and I did shrink REALLy fast and I'm sure it was from breastfeeding! I had a healthy pregnancy too and although I looked 6 months pregnant after I gave birth, I got back down to within 10 pounds and a single size bigger only 10 days later.





-And we are switching to Target formula this week. Its the same ingredients and nutritional content as the name brand for $10 cheaper!
My best advise is don't give up. It can be difficult at first. There is some soreness and some babies do have latching problems which can make breastfeeding painful. Not all babies have latching problems though. With my first she did have latching problems. I never really got used to breastfeeding and I stopped when she was 7 weeks old. With my second child he never had any latching problems at all. I nursed him until he self-weaned at 13 months. Just try to be patient with yourself and your baby. The more relaxed you are the easier it will be. If you are stressed about it the baby will pick up on that. Call your doctor's office and see if they can recommend a lactation consultant.
I'd recommend researching the subject and finding a certified lactation consultant in your area. Read up/watch videos on holding positions and how to get your baby to latch. For some women it's as simple as putting the baby to the breast. For others, it takes some adjustments to get things going smoothly.





Breastfeeding was not hard, per se, but I had a lot of pain which I just had to get through. For most women, there is some discomfort. The level of pain I experienced is not typical and was due to thrush which went undiagnosed for a long time. In my opinion, a *huge* part of being successful at nursing is just being determined to get through any challenges that may arise.





Don't let people tell you that your baby needs formula in the beginning. You should expect to have only colostrum in the beginning, and that's all the baby needs. Your milk will come in a few days after you give birth, but until then, just put your baby to the breast frequently. That is what stimulates your milk to come in.
I was determined to breastfeed my son when he was born and at first it is difficult, not going to lie. It hurts, it bleeds, it cracks, plus the swelling and everything.. but trust me, it does get better and it's worth it (it was to us, I know it's not to everyone). At first since I had no idea what I was doing my husband would literally have to force my son's mouth onto the nipple and hold it there until he latched on, I just couldn't figure the positioning out right at first. If it wouldn't have been for the support of my hubby I probably would have quit. My advice is just make sure that someone is there to help you (hubby, mom, sister...etc.) b/c sometimes I wanted to quit but I breastfed exclusively for 5 months then introduced formula along with rice cereal.


Also, we were freaked out about the expense of formula, but we use the walmart brand (Parents Choice) b/c my pediatrician said it was perfectly fine and that's what she recommended and used on her own children. I live in Oklahoma and it's 11.88 for the BIG can.





Also, just FYI- breastfeeding did help me lose a lot of my babyweight, it just melted off. I also recommend getting some of that nipple cream from Medela or playtex and using that... it's safe for the baby even if you put it on right before they nurse and it helps with cracking/bleeding..etc.
To prepare yourself, get yourself around other women who breastfeed. You can do this by joining a local La Leche League support group (you can go before baby is born and after) or talk to your OB-GYN about other services in yoru area. You can find a LLL group here: http://www.llli.org.





Buy the book: ';The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding'; and


bookmark the page: http://www.kellymom.com





Know that the first few weeks are tough. Cultural norms and formula advertising may make you think you are failing and you don't have enough milk. You have enough. Take advice from a lactation consultant or support group regarding latch or google for pictures of a good latch. Every time you are struggling with an issue, look it up on kellymom.com to see if it's normal (it usually is!). Set yourself goals: 1 week BF, 2 weeks, 8 weeks, 3 months, 6 months (or whatever goals work for you). Try not to quit before 8 weeks as by then things usually settle down, both in terms of breastfeeding and your hormones, so after 8 weeks post-partum a large problem is easy to handle, whereas at 2 weeks post-partum a small issue may seem insurmountable.





Tell your husband now that what you need when baby is born is praise and ';you can do it'; type support. Men often just want their partners to be happy and out of pain so say ';just switch to formula'; as that'll take the pain away, but it usually makes us feel worse. Discuss ways he can help and bond with baby now, so that he knows what to do when baby is here.





And last: good luck and enjoy motherhood!
there are lactation specialist at the hospital to help with latching on,its something that has to be shown over said, Sorry,


BF is a great thing and a great way to bond. I did it for a month till for some reason I stopped producing enough and my son was hungry. We gave it up and went to formula. There is nothing wrong with it. I support both BF and formula I feel there is no right or wrong answer to it and is more a personal choice!





Remember to relax that is #1! The football hold on the side is popular but some say the cross the belly is the best for latching.





Drink DRINK and drink lots of water if your not hydrated then you cant feed your child.





Watch what you eat You might want to make a chart of what you eat and the babies reaction, some babies when the mom eats certain foods the baby has gas, tummy achs and other issues, There is a list on the internet of not good BF foodings. LOL


Make google your friend You can google what foods to eat when BF and so on to get info to make choices for yourself.





A good nursing bra is needed. Your gonna want support and easy access. LOL





Do not I mean DO NOT buy disposable breast pads. They are used to catch leaks works like a maxi pad LMAO Get the washable gerber pack. That way if you have a heavy leaky day and go through two sets its cheaper to wash them dry and use. The disposable are thin and cheap LOL the washables hold up better and when soaked they dont have that nasty heavy wet cotton look. LMAO My gf still makes fun of me for the disposable cause of the look they had through my shirt... but eased up after I bought the reusable LOL








The important thing is to RELAX BOND AND ENJOY! If it dont work out its not a big loss.





Also check with WIC or any other program out there to help buy formula if you need to help cut costs. GL








Also BF can help you lose weight faster, really fast my gf lost all her pregnancy weight in 3 months
I don't know of anything you can do to prep in advance (short of having your nipples sucked on all day, which just isn't practical).





Here are a few things that will make breastfeading easier, though . . .





- use a boppy or a mybreastfriend or other similar nursing pillow. They help a lot when your baby is little. Otherwise you can end up with a sore arm/elbow, and using the pillow also makes it possible to nurse with just one hand or even hands-free, which is nice.





- buy lansinoh and rub it on your nipples between feedings. You may find that you don't need it, but I'd play it safe in the beginning.





- buy comfort gel pads for your breasts (you can find them here http://www.amedaonline.com/amcohycopa1.html). You may not be sore. I wasn't. It took a few days of patience to get the little guy latching on properly, but after that, it was a breeze. Friends who have had a tougher time have used these pads, though. You can refrigerate them and wear them between feedings.





- buy a good electric pump. My Medela pump is fabulous. And I recommend pumping and freezing milk right away. That way you have a supply built up and if you need a little extra sleep or want to go out for the afternoon, dad can feed the baby. I didn't give my little boy a bottle until he was about 4 weeks old because introducing babies to bottles too early can sometimes mess up their latch (we had no problems with that), but regardless of when you decide to introduce the occasional bottle, you will be glad to have milk on hand!





- take care of yourself first . . . in the beginning, breastfeeding can take quite a while (sometimes 45-60 minutes in the beginning, for me). So make sure you've had something to eat and drink, that you've gone to the bathroom, etc. Sit down in front of the TV (as long as you don't get too distracted from baby), turn on some music, grab a book . . . do whatever feels right to you. It will be a better experience for both of you if you remember to take care of yourself as well as of your baby!





- don't let the nurses at the hospital freak you out. Your baby probably won't latch on right away. Just keep trying. He/she is not going to starve. And it will get easier and faster as you and baby both learn.





Nursing has been a wonderful experience for me and my little boy! Hope it is for you, too.
its true it is very painful when they dont latch on right but they will get the hang of and so will you.. my little girl is great on my left and getting better everyday on my right. i gave up for a day because my nipples were bleeding and it was so painful but i started crying cuz i felt bad so i went back... somedays i still think of just giving up but dont for some reason.. i heard if right after you deliver if you put them on your cheast they learn to breastfeed faster its called skin to skin. its really cool i guess they are like puppies they can smell your breasts and pull themselves to them..i wish i could have done this but she had a bowel movement in me..you would just need to tell your nurse's.
Just be patient! It's hard work don't just think it'll come naturally because then you will be in for a huge surprise. It's a lot of work and sometimes a hassle but it's best for your baby so it's worth it. If you havn't already buy a boppy and a nursing stool makes a huge difference! You will be comfortable and can concentrate on getting your little one to nurse properly. My mistake was giving my daughter a bottle too early and then she wouldn't nurse so i'd get your little one used to nursing before you introduce a bottle if you plan on doing so. After you and your baby get the hang of it you won't even think about it just the first few weeks can be tough. Good luck.
Don't give up! Most women give up breastfeeding right away because its really difficult at first. Its soo painful at first (your nipples may crack, blister, and overall be insanely sore) BUT after the first week it gets better. And after the first 2-3 week you will have mastered it! And so will your baby!





What you can do to prepare yourself is get lansinosh (sp?) cream, its a life saver. You put it on your nipples after every feeding and it keeps them from getting cracked%26amp;etc. The hospital should give you some, but I would bring some with you just in case. Also, most hospitals offer a free consult with a lactation consultant while your in the hospital, I suggest you take advantage of that, and get her number. This way when you have questions you can call.





ALSO, contact your local La Leche League because they are a great source of contacts, all of those women have successfully breastfed their children so they know how it works! Lots of them are lactation consultants too! There are LLL's EVERYWHERE.





But most of all, just remeber, don't give up, because what you are giving your baby is the best for them!!
lol at the slimming down faster! breastfeeding really does help with that, anyway im currently breastfeeding my son, hes now 4 m/o. all i can say is trial and error, get all the help u can at the hospital and if she isnt latching on properly get some help! i mean thats what nurses get paid for. and remember that she is learning too so u cant think she should know how to do it bc she doesnt and knows just about as much as you do lol congrats and good luck!


o yes and there should be a cream you can get for breastfeeding mothers for your nipples, i advise to get some and use it a couple of weeks before she arrives and then onwards