Breastfeeding

Hi all,

I am due in Feb.  I am thinking of BFing this time around!  I tried it with my oldest who is now 13, but it was awful!  I had two more after that and I passed on it both times with them.  I feel I would like to breast feed  and pump..how realistic is this to do both?  Also, what is the best and easiest pump to use?

TIA

Jamie 2/26/10

Make a pregnancy ticker

 

Yay! I'm glad you're thinking of Bfing!  It's the best nutrition for your baby.  There are SO many benefits of breastfeeding, both for your baby and you.

It is very realistic to both pump and nurse.  Many moms do it.  My suggestion is that you exclusively nurse for the first 6 weeks to make sure you get a really good supply in.  Then you can start pumping when you have the time to store up a freezer stash.

If you plan on pumping a lot, then you're going to want a good double electric pump.  They're not cheap, around $300.  The other option is a manual pump, like the Avent Isis.  I've heard both good and bad on these.  I used it and loved it and felt it worked just as well as the double electric.  Other say it doesn't work for them at all.

What issues did you have with your first?  Identifying them and planning to beat them this time is a great plan.  Good luck!

I'm so glad that you came to this board. BFing has been incredibly rewarding for me, but that doesn't mean we haven't had challenges along the way. This board has been a huge help as a lurker and a poster.

I agree with Julianna -- if you can rememebr what the challenges were in the past it will help you to educate yourself and try to move beyond them when this baby is born. Another suggestion is to contact your local La Leche League and see if you have a lactation consultant in your area. I had a terrible time getting my first DD to latch because I had flat nipples. I was in such pain while she nursed and my nips were red as cherries. The LC took one look at me, walked out of the room and came back with a nipple shield. We didn't look back after that...the nipple shield was a Godsend! Just one way they can help you identify what might be wrong and help you move past it.

I have a Medela Pump in Style electric double pump. I love it. Have used it for both babies as I work full time. Hasn't let me down yet. It is expensive $279 I believe, but well worth the expense.

Good luck!

I am a pumper and a nurser - it has worked out great for us.

about us - DD was born in June and we had some major challenges with BF'ing - bad latches, painful bleeding nipples, two rounds of thrush - but I really wanted to BF. So I worked with a lactation consultant ONE time who sorted out our latch problems, which resolved the painful nipple problems almost immediately (amazing!) and she perscribed some cream for the thrush on me and the pediatrician sorted out DD's thrush.

I started pumping around 5 weeks (once those poor sore little nips could take it!) and have built up a major freezer stash. It's quite liberating to have actually in case I feel like enjoying a glass wine or night out!

About a month ago - I went back to work and DD went to daycare. I started her on a bottle of breastmilk about one every other day a few weeks before I went back to work so she could get used to it. She needed some practice but took to it WELL - and even better has handled the swapping back and forth with ease. Her daycare is right up the street so I go visit for lunch every day and nurse her so I really only need to pump twice (mid-morning and mid-afternoon) to make the next day's bottles.

I have the Madela Advance "Pump in Style" back pack jobby. It's pricey but the bag is actually well designed and you can fit a ton of stuff in there. I have flown with it, commuted to work with it, even took it to a couple football games and have had no troubles. I know you can buy these on craigslist for cheaper then just buy your own things like breastsheilds (the parts that actually touch your body) so you could get it cheaper out there. My ONLY concern would be - if the unit is older and the engine is a little more run down the pump may not be as efficient. I say that ONLY because I was just visiting my sister and was borrowing her pump (so I wouldn't have to travel with mine) and hers is much older and it just didn't feel as powerful as mine.

Anyway - good LUCK - know there is a ton of support out there for you - and if you have moments when you say "I cannot do this", know that pretty much every other bf'ing mom has said the same thing!! But you can make it through!!

I realize this your post almost a month old but I thought I would share the following guidelines I recently wrote if your still following this thread:

Here is some good basic advice for prepare to breast for breastfeeding:

Getting Started With Breastfeeding
-------------------------------------

* Start with the following link which has a good guide to getting started with BFing I would recombined you read: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/index.html

* I would also recommend that you obtain and read at least one good book about breastfeeding. Three popular titles are:
-So That's What They're For
-The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
-The Ultimate Book of Breastfeeding Answers (known as Dr. Jack Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding in Canada and UK)

* Public libraries are good place to find BFing resources such as books and videos you can borrow for free.

* There are also various educational video titles about how to breastfeed available from places like Amazon, Boarders Books, etc. you may want to watch but you can also view clips from such videos for free online. If you do search on youtube.com, you will find various BF education video clips are available for viewing. Another good source of education video clips that are free to view is: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppworkpump

* Considering enrolling in breastfeeding class during your PG. Many hospitals and birthing centers offer them. Such classes offer a chance to view a BF instructional video, visual demonstrations of breastfeeding technique (using dolls generally) and a chance to ask questions of the instructors.

* Save some links in your browser to a few BF resources on the Internet that you can turn to if you need assistance post-birth. Below are some sites I would recomend.

Iv BF support boards:
Breastfeeding/Lactation Consultant Board: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppbreastfeed
Breastfeeding Board: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-psbreastfeed
Breastfeeding and supplementing: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppsupplmting
Working and Pumping Board: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppworkpump
Extended Breastfeeding Board: http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-psextbf

General info on breastfeeding:
Kellymom.com - Started by a Lactation consultant who worked for iVillage at one time. Best site to start with IMO.
llli.org - Site of La Leche League International with lot's of great info and advice on breastfeeding.

* Consider visiting a local BF support groups prenatally (if possible) such as La Leche League International. They can be a great support source since you will have the opportunity to meet and make friends with others moms who are successfully BFing as well as having access to an LC or trained LLL leader for BF support. LLL meetings are free but many hospitals also offer free BF support groups for their maternity patients. You can find a local LLL group in your area (if available) at the following link:
Note about LLL: There are some people who pass along all sorts of misinformation about LLL who have never actually been to an LLL meeting as well as those who simply didn't like their local groups and have assumed it represented LLL in general. As a volunteer organization, the environment at different meetings varies and I would recommend, if the concept of a BF support group appeals to you, you visit one or more local LLL meetings and see if they environment there is to your liking. It's free to visit a meeting as donations are strictly optional and if you don't like it simply don't go back.

* Check to see if your hospital offers a LC on staff and for how long the LC is available once you are out of the hospital. If your hospital does not offer a on staff LC or in case you need the assistance of an LC beyond the period in which the hospital LC is available then you locate a local IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) here: http://www.ilca.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3337
If you qualify for WIC services, WIC provides free food, breastfeeding support, and even a free breastpump (hand pump or a free rental pump). See if your local WIC office has an LC on staff.
If you don't qualify for WIC but are concerned about the cost of hiring a LC, remember that cost of a few visits to an LC is less then the cost of a years worth of formula. Some health insurance plans also cover LC consultations in some are all cases.

* Try and make sure you are using a GP or pediatrician who is sufficiently pro-BFing. Even if your GP/ped says he/she is pro-BF, if he/she the type to push formula as the solution to every BF problems then you should find another one. Keep in mind that most doctors/pediatricians are not welled trained in breastfeeding in medical school (according to studies) and thus you be careful about relying on them for BF assistance.
How to find a breastfeeding-friendly pediatrician/general practitioner:
http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/phealthcare/0,,7qds,00.html
http://themilkmama.com/2009/09/06/choose-a-breastfeeding-friendly-pediatrician/

Since you unsuccessfully tried to BF in the past:
One of the board CL's asked in the PP some good questions that will help us help you avoid the kinds of problems you had the previous time you tried BFing so if you could get back to use on those I think that would be helpful.