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Things I Wish I’d Known About Breastfeeding by Christie Haskell

Lisa — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 05:59:17 +0000

Things I Wish I’d Known About Breastfeeding is an article on the Stir posted by Christie Haskell on July 15, 2011. This is an excerpt from it……

“I think there are a lot of things that if I’d known before going into it the first time, I could have saved myself a world of trouble.

Newborn babies will eat ALL. THE. TIME. The information I read was the typical crap based on formula-fed babies, so when I read that newborns “should nurse every 2-3 hours,” but sometimes every hour and a half, of course I was concerned when my son nursed what seemed like every 45 minutes, for about 45 minutes (Psst, they can nurse over 15 times in 24 hours and it’s NORMAL!)
Making breastfeeding friends is insanely important. What every mom needs is someone to tell her that it’s okay, it’s normal, and they’ve been there, too. When you want to cry because you’re exhausted and your boob-fiend is at it again, having a mom friend who will say, “Oh honey, I’ve so been there. Learn the side-lying feed and relax,” means more than all the pamphlets in the world.
Even when everything is right, it can still hurt. Who winced seeing me say that? But it’s TRUE. Sometimes a teething baby is awkward for a day or two. When I’d vacation from my humid home to my mom’s arid climate, my nipples would split and there wasn’t anything I could do about it, other than apply ointments all day. Sometimes the bad latch from two hours ago, that you fixed, will still feel sore later even when everything is right. If it hurts, GET HELP and make sure everything is okay, but moms should also know that sometimes it isn’t going to be great.
Well-meaning supplementation makes life so much harder. When we talk about not giving bottles or formula, we’re not just on the breast-brigade. Every bottle given to your baby screws up your feeding schedule from your breasts, which can make you sore, lower your supply, cause oversupply/choking at the next feed, and so on. If you HAVE to supplement or pump, then you have to, end of story. But if you don’t? Then skip it because that is sooo much more work that causes even more work and struggles.
Sometimes you’re going to hate it. Yes, it releases chemicals to make moms happy and relaxed. I love that, I do. But frankly, there are times when I just want to say, “LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!” and don’t want to nurse, don’t want someone needing me, or want to sit down without someone in my lap. Sometimes it’s not a loving act, but one I force myself to do and I spend the whole time tapping my toes, waiting to leap up and do something “more important.” While I do almost always love it, there are definitely times I don’t, but that’s okay.”

You can read the full post here -http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/122976/5_things_i_wish_id and peoples answers to Christies question ‘What would you go back and tell yourself to help make breastfeeding easier and more successful?’.

Things I Wish I’d Known About Breastfeeding by Christie Haskell is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Emma’s breastfeeding story: don’t hesitate to ask for advice

Lisa — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:22:53 +0000

When we asked mums to email us their breastfeeding stories, we received a short email from Emma. Her baby was only a few days old and was experiencing some breastfeeding difficulties. This is what she said:
“My son was born on a Tuesday morning. Soon after, maybe an hour or so, a nurse helped me breastfeed for the first time. She helped me get him latched on and checked to see if he was swallowing. It was pretty uncomfortable for me and I told her this. She looked at the latch and asked what my pain level was. Compared to the labour I had just gone through, it was minimal. She said it was probably just something I needed to get used to.”

That’s also what I was told when my first child was born. I just had to get used to it, like wearing a new pair of shoes. So I cringed in pain and just got on with it. My midwife had been amazing through labour so I didn’t question her breastfeeding advice for a second. Only once I started my training as a breastfeeding peer supporter, did I understand that my baby wasn’t latched on properly. I was holding her correctly, she had to twist her head to feed and couldn’t open her mouth sufficiently. When my son was born, he latched on perfectly at birth and over the next few days, his latch deteriorated and it started to hurt. This time, I didn’t wait a second. I called my midwife and later on headed straight to our local breastfeeding support group (I had made a list before he was born of places and days where I could find breastfeeding advice). A few tips from the midwife and the breastfeeding counsellour, a trip to the cranial osteopath and it all went beautifully after that.

So don’t hesitate to ask for help. There are a few cases where yes, breastfeeding can be painful but in the majority of cases, it shouldn’t. Find someone to give you some breastfeeding advice so you can relax and enjoy feeding your baby.

Emma’s breastfeeding story: don’t hesitate to ask for advice is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Emina’s breastfeeding story: how lack of breastfeeding support affects babies

Lisa — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 19:06:45 +0000

I was really looking forward to breastfeeding my first daughter through all my pregnancy, and was preparing for it from the beginning. At the birth of my baby girl I was overwhelmed with a feeling I just can’t find the words for. It was love at first sight. She was very aware of everything around her, so she slowly crawled up my belly and found my breast all alone and we nursed for the first time. We started off very well.
But after a while, when we came home (I live with my in laws) I was really stressed out and couldn’t find some peace and quiet, and even started feeling depressed. My milk supply was reduced, and although I tried really hard, after 3 months, our breastfeeding was over. That made me really sad and helpless. I promised myself that if we had other children, I would not let anything interfere with my breastfeeding babies.

And soon I got another chance but this time it was even harder in beginning. My baby boy just couldn`t latch on correctly, so my breasts were really painful. I tried and tried to get him right everytime, but it wasn`t getting better, and after a month and a half, when I almost gave up, things started getting better. I was finally starting to enjoy our connection while breastfeeding.

He is a 1 year old now and we were breastfeeding right up to his birthday-which was a few days ago. He suddenly weaned when I started working and he started going to a daycare center, and he didn`t accept it well. He is still cranky and under a lot of stress, so I think that is to blame. I am really blessed to have been able to breastfeed him for a whole year. Breastfeeding babies is hard work but I am so glad that I didn`t give up!

Emina from Slovenia

Emina’s breastfeeding story: how lack of breastfeeding support affects babies is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Claire’s breastfeeding story: overcoming problems

Lisa — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 06:02:01 +0000

I would like to share my story in the hope it gives anyone who is struggling with breastfeeding encouragement to keep going.

When I had my first daughter breastfeeding seemed to come easily while I stayed in hospital for the first few days after her birth.
Once I got home, however, and my milk came in, I began to have serious breastfeeding problems latching her on. She was a relatively small baby and sometimes I would be trying for over an hour to latch her on, we would both be incredibly upset and I began to think I may not be cut out for breastfeeding. I remember, one particularly bad night, my husband actually ended up driving us 15 miles, at midnight, to our nearest hospital so the midwives could give us some breastfeeding help with latching her on for a much needed feed. I have to say the midwives were fabulous and made sure we were both happier before we left to go home.

Our breastfeeding problems didn’t go away over night but with perseverance and A LOT of support and breastfeeding help from various sources (my husband, friends, midwives and La Leche League) I managed to keep breastfeeding my daughter and it became so easy and natural I didn’t want to stop!

Expressing breast milk before feeding my daughter helped make my breasts softer for her to latch on to. I also made sure she wasn’t over hungry so she wouldn’t become so upset made a huge difference.

I am currently breastfeeding my second daughter and things have gone so much smoother this time around, so if you haven’t managed to feed one of your children before don’t let it put you off trying again. I am thrilled I have given my children the best start to life and feel really proud of myself!

Thanks Claire for sharing your story. Many mums experience these early breastfeeding problems. It can be difficult learning something completely new when you’re already so tired from the pregnancy and birth and so worried about your baby. Claire’s story highlights a key to successful breastfeeding: ask for help. Don’t hesitate to contact your midwife, your local Leche League, Breastfeeding network and all the breastfeeding support charities. Most places now have breastfeeding support group. You can visit them while you’re pregnant so you can find some breastfeeding advice before your baby is born.

It also highlights how important the role of partners and fathers are. Their support is key to successful breastfeeding.

Claire’s breastfeeding story: overcoming problems is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Chery’s breastfeeding story: watch the baby not the scales

Lisa — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:48:39 +0000

This is the first of a series of personal breastfeeding stories. To celebrate Breastfeeding Awareness week each day there will be a new breastfeeding story on the Natural Nursery Blog and if you feel like a breastfeeding related treat you can pop over to the Natural Nursery Shop and buy a beautiful Bravado Bra with 20% off!

If you have a story you would like to share please email us – lisa@naturalnursery.co.uk

I’ve got three gorgeous children, aged 8, 4 and 3-months, and I breastfed all of them – for 6 months, 9 months and, with my 3-month-old son Pierre, hopefully even longer. So I’m pretty much “an old hand” and I know what I’m doing. But even so, I almost cracked in the first few weeks with my new baby, due to the unrelenting pressure of the medical team. This is the bit I hate about breastfeeding.

Pierre lost more weight than ‘normal’ after birth. The midwives saying I wouldn’t be allowed to take him home from hospital if he didn’t gain weight – I basically forcefed him every 2 hours (he was sicking up little bits after every feed because he was too full) and he gained 60g in 24 hours. All the signs were good – he was drinking (though he kept falling asleep at the breast!), filling nappies and was content. I could hear my milk flowing and see him swallowing, I also leaked everywhere if I forgot the breast pads so I knew I had milk.

Then his weight stagnated at one month. The replacement doctor said he’d give me one week. Pierre would have to be given formula if his weight didn’t pick up. I obviously wanted what’s best for Pierre but I hate the way they always look at you as if you’re selfish for wanting to breastfeed (“obviously your milk isn’t rich enough or there isn’t enough of it”). I went home in tears feeling like a total failure and desperate to keep breastfeeding. I logged on to a chat forum I use a lot and had a rant, hoping for loads of moral support to pick me up.

The replies to this cry for help :

reply #1
Ditch the breastfeeding and put him onto formula. You can see exactly how much he is taking each feed and hubby can feed him as well. Plus when people visit they can all feed him too while you make everyone a nice cup of tea. Pierre will happily be fussed by everyone and will love every second.

reply #2 :

I have no personal experience of this but a friend’s little girl had this issue too. She was a tiny pre term baby and wasn’t putting on weight with breast feeding and she swapped her to formula and continued to express breast milk too. Her little one is piling on weight now. I know you want to do best for Pierre but perhaps whats best for him is mixed feeding of some sort.

reply #3 :

Iv’e had 2 kids and never breastfed.

reply # 4 (at last, this finally came in and made me cry again, but for the right reasons this time !! )

This is no pressure to carry on or give up just my experience. No anti bottlefeeding from me. I breastfed twins and had enough milk for two and they both lost weight in first few weeks, boy was tube fed in hospital and then always wanted nipple shields as he couldn’t suckle so his weight fluctuated. I had a lot of advice from TAMBA. A friend who had breastfed her child continued to encourage me. It’s probably not true that your milk isn’t rich enough.

My husband had already said a couple of days before that maybe my milk wasn’t rich enough and I told him that, according to the books, breastmilk is always rich enough, it’s adapted to baby’s needs. So to have a doctor turn around and say the same thing just blew my reasoning out of the water. I eventually followed my instincts, ignored the scales and the pressure and just kept feeding. Within a couple of weeks, it had all sorted itself out and his weight was on the upward curve again. When I saw my doctor the following month, he said that I was right to follow my instincts.

So if your little one is slow to put on weight, don’t spoil the special cuddles and bonding sessions by worrying over the numbers on the scale. Go with your gut instinct – if all the signs are good and he appears happy and healthy, don’t let all the criticism undermine your confidence.

Thanks Cheryl for your story. Many nursing mothers find themselves dealing with unsollicited breastfeeding advice and when it comes from unsupportive health professionals it is very upsetting. As a new mum, you are genuinely worried to do the best for your baby. If you find that the breastfeeding advice you’re getting doesn’t help, keep searching. Contact the Leche League, the Breastfeeding Network, the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers your local breastfeeding support group, or find a lactation consultant. There you will find accurate breastfeeding advice from mothers who have been there done that and followed an extensive training. They will be able to advise if your baby is getting enough milk, or if you should be worried.

Chery’s breastfeeding story: watch the baby not the scales is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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Breastmilk and Growth Spurts

Arabella Greatorex — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:04:17 +0000

One of the most common worries for a breastfeeding mum is her milk supply. Here are some reassuring words and helpful tips to help you carry on breastfeeding through a growth spurt.

First of all – DON’T PANIC! One of the things that can slow down milk is stress, so try to relax as much as possible – easy to say I know but it is important.

If your baby is nursing more than usual and you are worried that they are not getting enough milk they might be going through a growth spurt. This generally happens between 4-6 weeks and again between 4-6 months. When my son was at this stage I felt like I never stopped breastfeeding and it was exhausting, but it was worth it. As long as your baby is getting bigger and producing wet nappies you should have no need to worry. What the baby is doing is changing the calorific value of your milk to suit them better as they go through different growing stages, once through the growth spurt they tend to feed less often and sometimes have been known to sleep longer, though I think that is a myth, my son still thinks sleep is for the weak! If you formula feed through a growth spurt you will be telling your body to produce less milk and your body will not be triggered to change the nutritional value of your own milk to suit your baby.

Drink gallons of water – It helped me to have a small bottle of water everywhere I was likely to breastfeed, because as soon as I settled down I would become incredibly thirsty.

Change your position – It is very easy to settle into one breastfeeding hold but you will probably feel more comfortable in the long run if you change your position occasionally so that you drain all your milk ducts.

Forget the ironing – This time with your baby will not last forever, revel in your super power to give them the best start in life and let the housework slide. You are burning off about 500 calories a day by breastfeeding so you need rest, and possibly chocolate!

Support your system – Oats are supposed to be very good for helping you produce milk – they are also a good supply of iron and there is something very comforting about a bowl of porridge. Welcome World Breastfeeding Support Tea is made by a specialist birth and herbal healing company. The tea comes in a packet that has enough for 40 servings and there is a a free advice line to call if you have any concerns.

If you are still worried about your milk supply there are lots of free breastfeeding helplines who can give telephone advice or tell you about the nearest breastfeeding support group.

Breastmilk and Growth Spurts is a post from: Natural Nursery Blog

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