Nursing Words of Wisdom

What made it a nightmare the first time? Latch issues, milk supply, pain, what was it? I might be able to help if I knew what went wrong back then. Good for you for wanting to try!

It is tough and I applaud you for wanting to try it again. The only thing I would suggest is to not to give up the first week. There is sometimes some pain involved and latching problems but after some practice, the soreness does go away after the first week or two. Also, try different positions to find the one that works best for you and your baby. Congratulations on your pregnancy and good luck!

Be VERY careful who you take breastfeeding advice from. If you are having a hospital birth be sure anyone giving you advice is a board certified licensed lactation consultant. (IBCLC) If they are not, you may as well ignore everything they say. Google board certified lactation consultant for a list of people in your area.

Sadly, most hospitals in the US label workers as "lactation nurses" and "lactation consultants" even though they have absolutely no specialized medical training in breastfeeding. A IBCLC lactation consultant has the training to handle and solve almost every problem out there. Ask-don't assume.

OBs and peds have almost no training in the biology of breastfeeding, and the AAP even did a study where the vast majority of doctors were giving advice to breastfeeding mothers that was contrary to the actual medical research and standards of practice. (The number one factor in low breastfeeding success at 6 months and 1 year in the US.)

The American Academy of Pediatrics has a detailed statement on breastfeeding that is easily googled. Have a copy of it and refer to it often BEFORE you give birth, while you're in the hospital, and at every postpardum and pediatric doctor visit.

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is one of the best books covering every possible question you could have.

Basic rules for teaching babies to breastfeed:

No pacifiers or other artificial nipples ever.

Drain one breast completely of both fore milk and hind milk before switching sides to keep up your supply.

Nurse at least every two hours.

( I relactated for my adopted baby before she arrived from other side of the world more than 5 years after weaning my last birth child-drainage and frequency are critical to establishing a milk supply.)

Make sure latch on is correct-mouth wide open, taking in as much of the breast as possible, tongue under the nipple with baby's body facing mommy's-not facing the ceiling. Lips should be flipped out so the soft moist underside is rubbing against mom-not the skin on the face above and below the lips.

Feed the baby BEFORE (s)he cries. It is harder to latch on a screaming baby.

Find a La Lech Legue meeting in your area for support. The may or may not fit your parenting style, but the breastfeeding advice is great and the success rate is huge. Take what works for you and your family and leave the rest if it's not for you.

I think it is much easier the second time around. I hated it with my first son and tolerated it, even enjoyed it sometimes, with my second son.
i agree with the comments here. i used a lactation consultant both times and that really made the difference.
be prepared to "include'' your oldest child in the process. mine was four and really curious about the whole thing. he likes to sit on the couch with me and read a book or watch a show while I nursed. I think he wanted to physically be with me as much as the baby was.

Susie is a discussion leader in the east valley for arizonamoms.com. She has two sons, ages 6 and 2.

I had a hard time with my first son, as I was so engorged, he couldn't latch on. And the nurse was no help either, which made it worse. With my second son, there was a consultant there for me, he caught on right away and I nursed him for a year. (Luckily, he didn't get his first tooth until after age one!) I really enjoyed it and my oldest was very comfortable with it as well, just as the other comment said, let the older child "hang out" with you while you nurse, that way they won't feel neglected. Also, the other reason I loved nursing was that we do a lot of fishing and camping and I didn't have to lug around a bunch of bottles, formula and bottled water!!

For me, having a routine was the key. We always ate, chaged diaper, played, slept, and just kept on that cycle - that simple piece helped with the breasfeeding believe it or not.

I had a bad experience with my lactation specialist, but every nurse I had was awesome. I would ask each of them to help with with my daughter at first. I was warned by my doctor about some extermist lactation specialists who use guilt to make you feel like you are doing everything wrong if you don't do it there way. The lactation specialist I had tried to guilt me and I was glad I had been forwarned.

The first week was hard, but after that it did get easier. As far the nipple confusion, my daughter had both a pacifier and a bottle in the first 24 hours. Now at three months old, she get's mad if you even offer her the pacifier and won't take a bottle. She latches so well I sometimes feel like Maggie's pacifier from the Simpsons.

My best advice is don't give up! I would recommend taking a breastfeeding class -- that was my best preparation.

Good luck!

Take a class!
Taking a class specifically on breastfeeding was my saving grace. I know La Leche League offers various classes. I took one through the DC Breastfeeding Center (I lived in DC at the time). The class covered ALL of the basics and we each held a doll to get comfortable with the different positions. I BF and had absolutely no problems with the initial latch, etc. and I attribute it all to the class... now, being engorged, that's a different story - engorgement was not covered in my class and I was in so much pain and did everything wrong (as a first time mom, I knew nothing about engogrgement)....but that's a different post. Good luck this time around!