Hello from the CD board

[hq]

Quick intro!

I hang out on the cloth diapering board and am due in 4 weeks with baby 2. I did not nurse my first baby; overwhelmed FTM with no intention to nurse. But, parenthood has made me tougher and I'm intent on at least giving it a good go this time around.

The problem is I am completely terrified to nurse. I get nerved up thinking about it and I'm not an anxious person. Do you recommend any videos for learning what a good latch looks like? I've read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and am set to take a class next week.

Thanks in advance for any insight, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for smooth sailing and maybe you won't end up seeing me around here much

[casey]

Welcome and congratulations!!

There are some good YouTube videos if you need some visuals (an example here: youtu.be/I-YwsSjzRCc). For me, it was hard to picture until we were in it.

Hopefully the hospital class will help your confidence. And, you can always ask the LCs or nurses in the hospital to observe when you feed LO. They were able to give me some quick tips while also boosting My confidence.

No need to be scarce or wait until there is a problem ... Join right in. We also just started new check-ins by stage, so you'll be in good company.

[emmyg65]

For me, the most useful thing by far was working one on one with a lactation consultant. I took a class and read a ton of articles and books before my son was born, but I really needed to try it to understand it. Have the LC visit you while you're still in the hospital and show you what to do.

[melody330]

Welcome!  

Do you know what exactly you are nervous about?  I find that when I am anxious, I tend to jump head first into learning everything I can about what is bothering me.  www.kellymom.com is a fantastic website with a wealth of information - and it is all credible sources.  I also read and recommend this book - www.amazon.com/Breastfeeding-Made-Simple-Natural-Nursing/dp/1572248610  

It was my bible after we came home from the hospital.  A lot of people like The Womanly Art of BFing, but I didn't like the way it read.  The information was good,  but it isn't my favorite book.  

Good luck!

[sgio7485]

Hi! I was also super nervous to nurse. My first child is a little over 3 weeks old. I read one book and took a general childbirth and breastfeeding class. What helped me the most was the hospital nurses and LCs. I used them as much as I could during my hospital stay and had the nurses check the latch for me and the LCs were able to give me tips for positioning LO as I had a c-section and was struggling with how to position him comfortably. The first 5 days were the hardest, and there are still hard days (3 week growth spurt=no joke), but it's so much less scary than I imagined it to be (and kind of enjoyable!) Good luck!

[vvvvvfee]

BFing expert dr. jack newman has a lot of latching videos on his website: www.breastfeedinginc.ca/content.php?pagename=videos

i took a class beforehand, but i found it difficult to really envision what to do or how it would work until DS was born. like PPs said, i'd suggest working with a LC (hopefully there will be one available where you deliver) in the early days as much as possible, and seeking out a BFing support group or La Leche League meeting to get continued help and support.

GL!

[ashanne88]

Feb 12, 2015 9:43:47 GMT -5 emmyg65 said:

For me, the most useful thing by far was working one on one with a lactation consultant. I took a class and read a ton of articles and books before my son was born, but I really needed to try it to understand it. Have the LC visit you while you're still in the hospital and show you what to do.

This exactly.  Another thing is to find out if there is a BF or new mom support group in your area.  Talking with other women who are going through the same thing or have gone through struggles and are now successfully BFing made me feel more confident and less anxious.

Welcome!

[spacedew]

Welcome! I recommend finding a LC before you give birth. If they are not part of the hospital it will be easier to meet with them after you leave. As others have said Kellymom is also really great.

[hq]

Wow! Ya'll are so welcoming and helpful. Thanks for the links and advice! What am I specifically nervous about? All the things that can go wrong, including my nipples falling off. I'm pretty sure I made that one up in my head. Also I'm pretty conservative with my body and the thought of having to get help with latching from nurses/LCs makes me shudder, so all the advice of meeting with LCs makes me all the more anxious. I'm definitely not one of those people who had a baby and lost all sense of bodily dignity LOL! But, it sounds like it just comes with the territory so I'm trying to let go of the reigns and see what happens. Thanks again for the support and insight.

[jesster88]

As a ftm breastfeeding was the thing I was most nervous about when pregnant. I have to admit that I enjoy it much more than I ever thought I would. We had quite a few issues in the beginning since ds was in the nicu and had to have bottles right away. Appointments with the lc definitely kept me going - she has been an invaluable resource for us.

[Deleted]

Welcome and congratulations on your upcoming arrival! I too am conservative and once my LO was born, I welcomed all the help I could get from friends, family, LCs and nurses. I had no problem with them seeing and touching my breasts because I was determined to nurse and wanted to do it right. I will second finding your local la leche chapter. They are very informative and supportive women and helped me greatly in the beginning. Our pedi also has an IBCLC on staff who she always has new moms and babies see at their first visit to address any issues with. Check with your pedi. Breastfeeding has been so much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. Almost 14 months later and we are still doing it. I currently couldn't imagine quitting anytime soon because I love the bond and snuggles.

[liziz]

I was really surprised with how OK I was with the LCs/nurses helping me out (and in the process touching me in all sorts of ways) while I was in the hospital (also pretty conservative about my body). It was a short amount of exposure for a long term benefit.

[taberbtb]

I will second what @mamak1218 said. I am also conservative, and was nervous going in about flashing my breasts to strangers but to be honest I got over that fairly quick once we started nursing. After birth all of a sudden it became far more important to me to get LO latched and feeding correctly that I was not nearly as shy about it.

That being said I was nursing in front of support people (midwife, LC) that I knew and had met previously so it didn't feel like I was just whipping out my breasts in front of strangers. I recommend meeting with these people ahead of time to get to know them, it can help with some of the feelings of apprehension.

[catlady22]

I didn't read any books so I can't help you there, but I found the LC's to be a huge help. I got one to watch over my latch in the hospital and give me tips. That was a big help. I was shocked by how much my son seemed to already know by instinct!

[mooncharm]

Hi hq! I think getting help in the hospital ASAP (as in, moments after the baby is born) from a nurse who can help you get the baby to latch is key. I remember wondering what it would be like, and how to get the baby's little mouth onto a nipple that had never been used for feedings before. But somehow it just works! Though seriously having a good nurse help to get the baby to latch on was a huge help to me! Even my husband still remembers that postpartum nurse who helped us out! She got there way faster than the LC. so she was wonderful.