nervous about breastfeeding...

Is it normal to be super nervous? I am having all these thoughts of failure racing through my head. Like not being able to produce enough, her not liking my milk etc. I worry to about giving up, that the cluster feedings and constand nursing of the first few weeks will overwhelm me and i'll give into the bottle.

I was reading online that you should never nurse your baby laying down because you can SUFFOCATE her? Like I wasnt allready worried, now I could kill her by falling asleep with her? I remember being so fatigued id almost fall asleep standing up with the boys...

How do you know the baby has had enough? Like when do you take her off the breast, burp and offer the next? Or do you just do one breast per feeding?

I really want to do this. Ive bought like 6 nursing bras, stocked up on breast pads and lansinoh, bought 2 boppys lol. But... im gettingscared. Can I seriously do this?

On another note, my back and hips have been hurting so badthe last few nights I cant sleep or get comfortable. Any suggestions? Ive taken a million hot baths, tylenol and nothing is helping.

Thanks ladies!!

 

If you haven't already, contact the nursing support group at the hospital you'll be delivering at. They can usually send someone to your room soon after the baby is born to help get breastfeeding started, give you tips, make sure the baby is latching well and teach you different positions to hold your baby. They usually have a support # you can call once you get home if you're still having questions or concerns.

Also, your local LLL can be a great source of support. Even if you're not close to a group, you can read the forums/articles, and ask questions there from moms who have "been there, done that".

Try to have confidnece in your body- it'll probably be exhausting/frustrating at first for you, but remember you're doing what's best for her by breastfeeding. Many moms get frustrated and give up because the bottle is easier.

As far as laying down to feed- I wouldn't do that with a newborn since they're so tiny (YMMV, I found it awkward at first), but there is nothing wrong with laying down to feed an older baby (one that will let you know if you roll over on them). lol

Goodluck.

I felt the same feelings you're describing when I first decided to breastfeed Tyler. I delivered at a hospital who asked right after birth if I planned to breastfeed and I stated yes (even though I had absolutely no clue how to) and they immediately sent a Lactation Consultant to my room. For the first 4 feedings they made sure the LC was in my room with me and then after that she only came to visit to see how I was doing every day for a few minutes.. I had a C-section, so I had 4 days in the hospital to have the LC at my disposal.

To measure if they baby is getting enough? Well they gauged it by the soiled diapers oddly so. I had the same questions with the LC. I was obsessed over how to make sure the baby is well fed, but she insisted if the baby has bowel movements ever so often that's a great sign they're getting enough.

Well when I got home I continued to feel is Tyler getting enough, even though he had regular bowl movements, so I started pumping between feedings and then eventually gave him my milk in a bottle. I felt better as I was now able to measure exactly what he was getting.

See a Lactation Consultant, they'll help a great deal with your feelings.

~~Gina

 I hear ya there on the nervous part. I have had the WIC office and my OB ask me if I was going to breastfeed..Im like Uumm geezz give me a minute I just found out that I am pregnant and all these questions are being thrown at you! I have no idea..but I am considering it..at the same time I am not sure cause this is my first and I have no idea what its about. So I am going to be going to a class to see if breastfeeding is something I am going to do or not.

Thanks ladies so much for the info! I have a breastfeeding class on Wens at WIC, and i am going to ask to see a LC at the hospital. I found a local LLL, and im going to put a call in this week. Im still nervous though lol!

I would have died of sleep deprivation if I had never nursed while laying down.  I'm sure it's ideal to be wide awake while nursing but I really would have been more of a hazard if I hadn't slept enough in those early days.  If you want, try to nurse while sitting up until baby is good-sized (I dunno, 4 months or so?) but laying down nursing is awesome. 

The only downside is that if you continue nursing when baby is big enough to self-serve, you may get attacked and nursejacked in your sleep.    Nah really, if you are a very heavy sleeper or too exhausted, don't nurse in bed, but otherwise it can be a really great thing. 

Chances are you'll do OK with nursing.  It often starts out pretty rough but a rough start doesn't equal the end of nursing.  Try to avoid supplementation unless the baby has a medical issue, expect the first few weeks to be overwhelming, and remember there IS light at the end of the tunnel.  Nursing at three or four days out was daunting and hard.  Just getting baby latched was very tricky.  By three or four weeks, it was already the easiest thing about parenting, IMO.  The cluster feeds and such will drive you bonkers but just get Netflix or something and zone out as much as possible. 

I totally hear you about being very nervous! I really want to BF. I know it's really good for the baby, plus I don't know how I would afford formula

I had every intention of going to the class at the hospital, but it ended up being just one more thing I had to add to my list of things to do. So I am going to depend on the LC at the hospital and contacting LLL too. I'm sure we'll both do well!

T

It is perfectly normal to be nervous! You got some great advice here, but I would add getting a copy of "So THAT'S What They're For" by Janet Tamaro, it's a down to earth book that will be great to prepare you and also to have on hand if you have any questions down the road. You can also get a copy of "The Womenly Art of Breastfeeding" or "The Breastfeeding Book" by Dr. Sears, both really great resources!

I totally understand what you are saying! I was sooo nervous about bf for the first time. I did take a class on bf so I would have a better chance of success. I was also worried about giving up but if you really think about it bf is actually much easier than bottle feeding in my opinion. I never have to worry about bottles or bringing formula where ever I go or even spit up! She NEVER spits up and never has to wear a bib. I don't have to deal with spit rags on my shoulder either. When she would wake up in the middle of the night DH would go grab her and I would just have to feed her and then go right back to bed - no bottle mixing/heating up or anything. I just found it so much easier. I won't lie to you, I did feel very overwhelmed in the first 2 weeks but if you can just push through it and get used to the new routine you will feel sooo much better after those first couple of weeks! Promise!! (as long as ur baby isn't colicky of course!)

As for feeding lying down, it just didn't wor****il she was about 3 months old. She was too small and things didn't line up until she got a tad bigger. Now that is the only way I feed her before she goes to bed and when I wake her in the morning. I admit that yes I half sleep most of the time and sometimes I have even totally fallen asleep for an hour and wake up to her using me as a pillow but I have never had a scare. I am a light sleeper tho. As soon as she wants to move I wake right up. I can honestly say I love the bonding time when I get to cuddle with her and bf. I look forward to it in the mornings!

When Annie was little I would just feed on demand. I would start on one side and feed her for like 45 mins on one side - burp - then start the other side and she would usually just conk right out half way thru and she just wouldn't eat anymore. Then the next feeding I would start on the side she didn't finish and go on like that. Your baby will tell you if she is hungry that's for sure!! If Annie was ever fussy I knew she was hungry. She always ate and then slept. You will know she has had enough by her weight gain and her dirty diapers. She will have about 6 dirty diapers/day and you will also be seeing the pediatrician  often so they will keep a close eye on her to make sure she is getting enough.

Hopefully you are like me and will not have to use breast pads! I do not leak and never have! I was soo worried about that too. I thought I would have to wear these stupid pads the entire time I was nursing but NOPE never. What a relief! The pain of bf does suck for the first 2 weeks but its not horrible! Once she gets eating the pain goes away but right when she latches for those first 2 weeks it does hurt but it fades pretty quickly.

Good luck with BF and I hope you have a good latcher!!

-Ashlie

 Hey mama~ BF'ing is the scariest, most overwhelming, and most REWARDING this I have been through. I was scared to death of BF'ing. I bought everything and was ready and willing to try everything to make it work out. It was pretty easy for me Bella latched on like a champ and has nursed great everyday since then. She lost about 1lb or so before my milk came in but once my milk came in the lbs packed on. She was in the 95% for her weight last Dr appt. I say I have whole milk not skim! hehe! Getting a good latch is everything. Find a good lactation nurse to help you make sure the baby is properly latched on. WIC offices usually have one. I love knowing Bella NEEDS me. I credit her being breastfed to no sickness, ear infections, coughs, or colds.(Knock on wood)  I know BF babies get sick but even the Dr told me she has a great immune system from bring BF. Good luck!!
Jessica