BR: BFing question

Married2MrWright · January 2010

So now that I know Libby will be here this week, I am in full-prep mode! I have not taken a BFing class, but do have the LLL book, "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" and have downloaded videos of latching, etc.

So now I am reading Baby Whisperer and she says to only feed from one side after the first four days. Does this sound right? Something about making sure they get all the stages of your milk, including the hindmilk. Whereas switching sides every 15 minutes keeps them from getting to that.

What are you doing? Any tips or advice would be great! Thanks!

MrsNFB · January 2010

Hey Lori - once my milk came in, I alternated breasts for feedings (i.e. fed from right breast and then a couple hours later, fed from left breast). Even then, my boobs became so full that sometimes I had to pump in between to relieve the pressure.

A friend of mine would wear one of those 80s plastic bracelets to keep track of which boob she used last. I have an Itzbeen Timer (my favorite baby item of all time) which also helps keep track of which boob (there's a switch at the bottom).

I leaked A LOT so these really helped me, I got them from the lactation consultant at the hospital for sore nipples but they worked awesome for leaking as well. I used these plus I used the Lansinoh breast pads.

Get a couple breastfeeding PJ tops now (obviously get a size or two bigger). I didn't do this so we went to the mall a week after SP was born so I could buy BF tops.

We took a breastfeeding class but it was really my overnight nurse that helped me "get" breastfeeding. She was awesome, she took SP, put him on my boob and then told me how to do it...so much more effective than the class! Our hospital had a lactation consultant stop by the next day but by then, I had it thanks to our nurse. So I guess I'm just trying to say...the nurses are there to help especially w/BF (especially at first when there really isn't anything coming out and you are not sure if you are doing it right).

HulaLove · January 2010

MrsNFB:

Hey Lori - once my milk came in, I alternated breasts for feedings (i.e. fed from right breast and then a couple hours later, fed from left breast). Even then, my boobs became so full that sometimes I had to pump in between to relieve the pressure.

Hi Lori, I've been out of the loop - I'm excited for you to meet Libby this week!

Like MrsNFB I BF on both sides. You will probably find that you want to BF on both sides because your breasts may be sore if they get too full.

Even though you didn't take a BF course the nurses in the hospital will help you with latching and answering your questions. I found them really helpful.

Plus the hospital should have a lactation consultant that could come see you. It is standard for them to visit moms in the hospital where I live. There also may be LLL meetings that you could attend after leaving the hospital.

Yeah for Libby coming!!

sanae78 · January 2010

We just went to a BF class yesterday and she said that they get the foremilk for the first 15 minutes so you should do 20 minutes on the first side (so they get 5 minutes of hind milk) then 15 on the other if they'll take it. Then you should start with the opposite side the next time you feed. Seems like a long time to be feeding though, huh?

mrs.winter · January 2010

I read "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" and referenced it many times along with KellyMom.com . The only reason I feed from the same breast during a those 4 hours because I had a hind/foremilk imbalance or at least we think that was it (super gassy, green poop, gaining weight rapidly and always hungry). Once I started block feeding he got way better, oh and I also give Ashton probiotics (thanks Sarah) twice a day. I also had milk spraying in Ashton's face constantly so that is also another reason we did (do) block feeding.

Go with the flow with breastfeeding and read que's from Libby. Breastfeeding is the one of the hardest things I have done and it does not come naturally for either mom or baby, so don't beat yourself up. The first month was rough. I do recommend Nipple Butter as opposed to the others. It was the only thing that helped me and I feel comfortable if Ashton wanted to nurse with it on my nipples.

Good luck. The breastfeeding board over on thebump also has good info.

vanceandlori · January 2010

I BF on both sides, but at BF class they said to switch sides each feeding (or to feed from one side, and offer the other. If baby doesn't want the other side, you start with that side next feeding). I've also read that timing BF sessions is not always the way to go because some babies just take longer to eat... they will get the hindmilk if your breasts are empty (soft)...

Can't believe you are so close to holding your little one!

mie · January 2010

I alternated sides during the same feeding and if I started with the right side at one feeding, I'd start with the left side for the next feeding. It was important for me to alternate sides because my DD would fall asleep while eating during the first few days.

mrspresley · January 2010

hmmm you know i had never heard that. i mean, i know there is foremilk and hindmilk and if they "snack" they never get the hindmilk, but i had never heard to feed only on one side.... i will feed her on both sides during each nursing session. A seems to know what to do b/c she always pulls off the boob when she is done w/that side and then I'll switch to the other side....occasionally during the day she'll nurse on one boob and then refuse to wake up to nurse on the other side and so i let her, but only during the daytime....sometimes she'll nurse 5 min, sometimes 10 min, sometimes 15, sometimes 20+.... i really just feed her on demand (i only do a "scheduled" feeding when she sleeps so long that we are approaching the 3hr mark) and then i let her nurse as much or as little as she wants and we haven't had any problems w/weight gain so i assume that she is getting enough hindmilk when she wants it.

i do alternate which breast i start with, since they always suckle stronger on the first boob so i want to make sure both boobs get equal stimulation. when i am home i just leave the clip on my nursing tank half snapped on the boob i end w/so i can remember to start w/that one the next time. or, i will put a little stuffed animal in the corner of the crib to her right or her left to remind myself which boob i started with the last time (when she gets more mobile i'll have to remove it from the crib)

myday1708 · January 2010

Hey - Excited to meet little Libby! I wouldn't worry too much about the specifics, you'll get it once you try it.

I switch sides that I start on. Or I start with the side that feels fuller. And I switch sides during a bfing session when she pops off one side and seems done with it. I usually always feed from both sides. But if you have a bigger supply, then you might alternate sides and feed from only one side.

In the hospital, she would do 20-30 mins a side. Then a nurse told me to switch her every 15 mins. But then the book I read (Breastfeeding Made Simple) said that switching every 15 mins is old-school and they won't get the hindmilk that way, so you should focus on one side, offering the other only when they finish the first.

HTH! It really isn't that hard once you get the hang of it!

MauidAims · January 2010

Hey Lori! The ladies gave you great advice, and I just wanted to say that BF is hard work. Its not easy for most women so dont beat yourself up if it doesn't work right away. I was one of the ones that struggled with it and Kai even more (because he was tongue-tied). Trust yourself. The only thing I would rec'd is the wool nursing pads for leaking. They are washable and you only need a few. Best thing ever. The other ones in the store either caused a round thing under my bra or kinda stuck. Oh and Hooter Hiders (cover up) are very nice.

MrsZiz · January 2010

mrs.winter:
I read "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" and referenced it many times along with KellyMom.com.
Go with the flow with breastfeeding and read que's from Libby. Breastfeeding is the one of the hardest things I have done and it does not come naturally for either mom or baby, so don't beat yourself up. The first month was rough.

Those are both good resources. Lori, no offense but I hated the book you are reading. It doesn't seem to encourage BF and seems a little rigid for me (and kellymom recommends against it). I also LOVE the book milk memos, good to read before you head back to work, it gave me tons of motivation!

I personally think you just take cues from baby and feed on demand. Dont' you want to eat when you're hungry and not on a schedule? At least that's what works best for us and our family. Bella is a champ breastfeeder usually and we've been very lucky with no issues so far (Crossing fingers it doesn't happen!). I would ask for help right away at the hospital, the LC's at my hospital were amazing and the nurses were also very helpful too. I think THE most important thing for BFing is a good latch, if baby has a bad latch all sorts of issues seem to come up from it.

Also I've been lucky in never having to take any sort of supplements. I do eat oatmeal once in awhile and tend to pump more at work on those days.

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