I only breastfed my first baby a couple days... I really want to try harder this time to breastfeed. Does anyone have…

@keeping_upwith_harperkate, I totally get that! Babies often do what they call cluster feeding. It seems like they are starving and feeding non stop but ultimately it’s a necessary thing to increase your supply. I personally pumped from the very beginning with both my boys once a day. They both also took a bottle of pumped milk randomly from the beginning so I could sleep longer. They say not to because it could cause nipple confusion but I never had any issues with my boys.

@keeping_upwith_harperkate Also, by not introducing anything other than breast you avoid the chances that there will be any nipple confusion/refusal which will upp the chances of success, at least until breastfeeding is well established (after the first month)

Also to add, I do recommend you purchase a haaka pump once your milk comes in and you are producing a good amount. All it does is catch your let down from your other side while baby is latched, it's like a little silicone suction bottle but it doesnt draw out your milk, just catches what's already coming out. If you pump, you risk eventually having an oversupply and the risk of mastitis is highest the first 6 weeks.

@keeping_upwith_harperkate

I never pumped, assuming that baby is latching as he or she should be, you do not need to nor should you pump.

- Just think of it this way, your babies stomach is always going to be the size of their closed fist. The first few days the size will be of a walnut, so colostrum is enough for baby at first although it doesnt seem so. Because breastfeeding is demand and supply, the fact that baby will always "seem" hungry doesnt mean baby is actually hungry (given that he or she is wetting diapers appropriately for age), that is because at first baby will suckle continually to stimulate your milk to come in, and after your milk comes in baby will need to tell your body how much milk is necessary to satisfy his hunger in order to regulate your supply accordingly. The amount of milk baby needs constantly changes as baby grows, therefore there will be days where baby will be latched constantly but that doesnt mean that hes hungry. In the beginning, the amount that baby suckles supplements the amount of prolactin you produce which is what will be responsible for all of your future milk supply. The first 10 days are the most crucial in the production of this hormone. The more baby stimulates the nipple, the more prolactin you produce when it's most important, the better the chances that breastfeeding and future milk supply will be successful and abundant. So you see, there are many reasons why babies will seem hungry, but the reality is that breastfeeding is an event driven by instinct and ruled by mother nature. There is no wrong answer to how hungry baby may seem especially in the beginning as long as no well checks are missed and adequate diapers and weight gain is present. Hope I was able to give some insight!

@simplyshantell, thank you for your advice!! Should I not pump the first couple of weeks and just try to do strictly breast since you say no paci, bottle, etc?

@noenahiza, yes! Will definitely look into a breastfeeding class!

@mrsskiddish, I’ll have to check in to that and see if my hospital offers that. I was afraid I wasn’t producing enough with my first, so I quit. My mom breastfed all of her babies, but she lives in a different state, and my bf tries to be supportive, but isn’t the best so I definitely need better support with it this go round.

@1st_time_wonder, I wasn’t in pain with my first, so hopefully I won’t be this time either.😧 I was just afraid I wasn’t producing enough so I quit.

@newlyironman, Yes! I the reason I quit the first time is because I was afraid I wasn’t producing enough... Should I not pump? I thought pumping made you produce more. Thanks for the advice!

Drink lots, eat plenty of food, accept that you will be in pain for possibly the first 2 months so purchase a GOOD quality nipple cream/butter to help you get through that first stride because without it I wouldnt have been able to do it.. its toe curling pain, and even after the 4 weeks when that subsides there will be days (growth spurts) where LO will be latched seemingly all day long and your nipples will get sore again. Have someone there who is willing to grab things for you, have water all over the house because you will be very very thirsty probably every time baby latches. Dont give in to the temptation to supplement with a bottle feed if your baby is gaining weight normally. Do not use a pacifier or nipple shield if your baby is latching fine. Dont introduce anything other then breast..

It gets easier as time passes, hes almost sleeping through the night, so the stigma that breastfed babies dont sleep through the night is BS. He woke up twice (barely, because he wanted to sleep lol) and hes still sleeping right now, but that won't even matter to you. Just remember, as long as your baby is wetting diapers they are eating enough, push through that initial pain, be around your baby constantly the first 2 months, and you're golden. You dont need an automatic pump. A manual pump would suffice.

If you can take a breastfeeding class take it. Its a big help! I breastfed both my sons and it was hard at first since i wasnt producing alot of milk but it comes in time drink alottttt of water.

My hospital offered lactation classes 3 times a week that were free and you could drop in during a specific window of time. They had lactation people there and they weighed the baby then we fed then they weighed again to see how much they ate. They gave me a ton of tips and honestly I credit them for my success. It is super hard and you will constantly doubt yourself but if you can make it 6 weeks you will see the light. I also had flat nipples with my first and used nipple shields they were wonderful! Having a network of support is huge for when you have questions too!

Go through the pain. A lot of women complain about pain but believe me, after a couple weeks it'll be over with and worth it.

A. You have to fully commit. It takes A LOT of determination to get through the pain, and worrying you're not making enough.

B. Be strong willed and don't listen to people telling you that you need to supplement because they don't think you're feeding the baby enough. Unless M.D. follows their name.

C. Don't worry when the baby feeds frequently (I mean almost hourly) around 2-4 wks. Growth spurts are serious!

D. Don't use bottles, if you don't have to!

E. Even mom's who do this for years still get nervous that they're not producing enough. That the baby isn't eating well enough. It won't be just you.

F. Find a support network of other bf moms

G. Get your partner on board. They will be more supportive and you'll be more likely to succeed

H. Have a goal in mind. It will give you something to strive for. So you made it says last time, this time say ill make it a month (or whatever helps)

I. Include your baby. You can read a story or have them sit with you so you don't fell guilty.