1st time breastfeeding

Melissa - posted on 02/14/2009

My advise is to never give up! Yes it may hurt your nipples very badly but the pain goes away with time and your baby is getting the best nutrition possible. I don't remember the cramping to be any more painful then getting your period. Make sure you have lanolin cream for your nipples and put it on after you nurse to sooth them. Read all the info you can and get as much help from the nurses at the hospital. Good luck, You can do it!!!

Jen - posted on 02/13/2009

Thank you all so much! Keep the advise coming.

Kayla - posted on 02/13/2009

Lactation nurses are the best!! get as much info as you can when i was breastfeeding i had a double breast infection and my daughter was tounge tied i breastfed her while on antibiotics so its safe and it didnt change my milk it took a while to latch her but after she was trained to latch it was so easy. As for cramps i found warm water bottle (also might be needed for breast) works well.

Allison - posted on 02/13/2009

Congrats! I'd highly recommend you check out http://www.kellymom.com and join their forum as well - there are very experienced moms and lactation professionals there who can help you, answer questions, give advice, and generally support you. I'd also suggest you find a IBCLC Lactation Consultant (not just a nurse at the hospital who knows something about breastfeeding) as they are thoroughly trained and have a lot more information.

Try to relax! :-) Most latch problems can be fixed fairly quickly. The cramps go away, and are an indicator of breastfeeding doing what they are supposed to - cause your uterus to shrink up, which prevents post-partum bleeding and other issues.

It's great you're already starting to look into this now before baby is here!

Sarah - posted on 02/13/2009

My suggestion is to read as much good informational books as you can. I liked "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" by the Le Leche League and a couple of others that I can't remember the names of at this moment.

If you check around, you might be able to find a breastfeeding moms group to start attending before #3 arrives. Just being with/around other bf-ing moms will be encouraging and enlightening. You CAN do it. It's not the easiest thing in the world to do in the early days but it gets better and better.

My DD (dear daughter) had trouble latching on properly for the 1st 10 days. I was constantly crying and upset for having to pump and bottle feed. She wouldn't latch in the hospital at all and My hospital had a lactation consultant who came to our house to help. Still, I had trouble. My County Health Department had what the called a peer helper and a lactation nurse that was both able to come and help. It just finally clicked us.

The cramps did not last long and really seemed inconsequencial to me. I wasn't able to lounge around comfortably after DD was born. I was up and moving immediately as she was transferred within an hour of birth to another hospital.



Keep a positive outlook. Look for some pre-bf-ing baby guidance from an in-person mom group so you can have a network for help other than a computer. Good Luck. I loved bf-ing my DD. I did it for 14 monthes and would have longer if she would have wanted to. I hope to have another baby so I can do it again. Well worth it.

Ashley - posted on 02/13/2009

CONGRATS on baby # 3!!!



You can do it, Jen! Don't be scared, breastfeeding is one of the most natural things. Keep in mind that with all natural things, walking, talking, etc. we have to learn, and it's not always easy. With my son, I had a lot of issues. My nipples are inverted(one is flat as well) and I could not get him on. I was determined to breastfeed, so I kept trying. I refused to give up. I asked the lactation nurse lots of questions and even called her after I was home. It took a few weeks to get him latched on to my "problem" side. Once I got him on, I had no problems or pain. I don't remember cramping too much other than slight cramping for the first few weeks. I took prescription Motrin to help with headaches/cramps. My daughter was born in July and I worried that she would have issues. I worried for nothing because she took to it right away and had no latching problems. I considered myself lucky. I know you may not have time with 2 little ones, but the book "So That's What They're For!" really helped me. In fact, I still use it as a reference even though I'm an old pro! I hope I was able to help you.