Ok, I was a complete failure at breastfeeding, and I still ended up pumping 8 x day for 8 + month. AF came back about 10 months post-partum. You can always rent a pump at the hospital if things don't work out! :)
I failed at BFing, too. It still torments me to this day.
The very best thing you can do to keep your breastfeeding relationship strong is SEE A LACTATION CONSULTANT! I wish I had done that. Most babies DO want to BF (hence the 'rooting' reflex), it's a natural thing for them to do, so don't freak yourself out over "what if he doesn't want it" because he probably will. It's getting him to get the hang of it (and you, too) that's the tricky part.
Go to an LC. Maybe take a BFing class. Buy or rent a hospital grade pump. Make sure you do everything you can. I'm sure you'll master it.
I guess you could say I was one of the fortunate ones who was successful w/ b/f. I was able to b/f for about 8-9 months and then when I had to go back to work, I pumped during the day, so I was able to keep my son on b/m for a year
( ... )
I'm getting my tubes tied so no birth control for us!
Thanks for everything you said. If we don't have bottles or formula, we have no other choice so it has to work. And Maddy didn't do it because she was early, not because I couldn't or anything. I think I just needed someone else to tell me to stop freaking out.
Try going to a local LLL meeting -- go before giving birth if possible. They can provide a lot of support if you are struggling. Try to get the number for a good local lactation consultant (some of them do not give good advice, and IME hospital LCs are frequently worthless), even if you don't get good support from the LLL hopefully someone there can at least hook you up with an LC.
I got my period back at around 18 months. It was soooo nice to have a whole 2+ years off! Bleeding from the uterus is so annoying :)
oh, all the other stuff -- I did it in the same room as people, especially in my own house. I felt weird doing it around my ILs, so I tended to go to a quieter room where my FIL wasn't. Do whatever is comfortable for you.
Some babies nurse for 15-20 minutes, some nurse 45 minutes out of the hour. It really depends on his sucking needs. Get a good sling to carry him in, nursing on the go will be a real lifesaver for you (plus a sling is naturally discreet, if you are worried about that). As long as he is having good output, you can be assured that he is getting enough input. Check out kellymom.com for more info than you can possibly put to use.
Cosleeping can be really helpful if you are nursing, it is a great way to get sleep. Once you master nursing while lying down, you don't have to get up in the middle of the night, so you don't really have to wake up completely. Saved my sanity.
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Ok, I was a complete failure at breastfeeding, and I still ended up pumping 8 x day for 8 + month. AF came back about 10 months post-partum. You can always rent a pump at the hospital if things don't work out! :)
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The very best thing you can do to keep your breastfeeding relationship strong is SEE A LACTATION CONSULTANT! I wish I had done that. Most babies DO want to BF (hence the 'rooting' reflex), it's a natural thing for them to do, so don't freak yourself out over "what if he doesn't want it" because he probably will. It's getting him to get the hang of it (and you, too) that's the tricky part.
Go to an LC. Maybe take a BFing class. Buy or rent a hospital grade pump. Make sure you do everything you can. I'm sure you'll master it.
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Thanks for everything you said. If we don't have bottles or formula, we have no other choice so it has to work. And Maddy didn't do it because she was early, not because I couldn't or anything. I think I just needed someone else to tell me to stop freaking out.
Reply
I got my period back at around 18 months. It was soooo nice to have a whole 2+ years off! Bleeding from the uterus is so annoying :)
Reply
Some babies nurse for 15-20 minutes, some nurse 45 minutes out of the hour. It really depends on his sucking needs. Get a good sling to carry him in, nursing on the go will be a real lifesaver for you (plus a sling is naturally discreet, if you are worried about that). As long as he is having good output, you can be assured that he is getting enough input. Check out kellymom.com for more info than you can possibly put to use.
Cosleeping can be really helpful if you are nursing, it is a great way to get sleep. Once you master nursing while lying down, you don't have to get up in the middle of the night, so you don't really have to wake up completely. Saved my sanity.
Reply
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