Questions for April on Breastfeeding:)

Well I was reading Rachel's post, and didn't want to hijack it

April you are so helpful all the time on here. I love reading your posts!

I am planning to EBF and have a few questions and you seem like a pro.

Do you need to give the baby water? I mentioned to my grandmother yesterday that I don't want our son to have anything but breast milk for the first week or so, not even a pacifier so he doesn't get confused, and she told me that I have to give them water or he will dehydrate? I'm so confused. Any help would be great!

TIA!
Rachel

I'm not April but I took a breastfeeding glass this weekend and the instructor stressed NOT to give water. The baby will get all the healthy hydration it needs from the breastmilk. Just thought I'd throw in my inexperienced 2 cents while I was at it!

Thanks! I KNEW you didn't need to. But arguing with grams is like well you know The elders are more experienced lol. I have a really good breastfeeding book, and no where does it say anything about that. And I really am serious about EBF, in the beginning, and then pumping/expressing so dh can feed. I just want him to nurse really well from the breast, rather than preferring a bottle. Hell, I could be all wrong for all I know, I really have no clue lol. Hoping some of it comes naturally? Thanks for your input:)

Sure, any time. I plan to do the same. My teacher also said that if you intend to switch to a bottle to wait until 3 weeks to try anything other then breast. And then, mom should be nowhere near and the not the one offering the bottle. Supposedly they have "boobie-sense" and don't want to take a bottle if mommy is around. She said to start with one feeding a day and that you can pump off the extra after the morning feeding since you'll still be BFing for the rest of the time (it's when you have the most milk) to help build up extra milk.

I definitely look forward to using April's experience when I run into problems myself!!!

Can you ladies suggest any good books for breastfeeding?


Dee

Sorry it took me so long, i was sitting here paying bills and didnt even check posts.

To answer your question.. like Jeni said.. No water. There isnt a need. And it would interupt your nursing schedule. The baby will get plenty from you. Keep in mind the growth spurts at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3mths and around 6mths then after that you can really figure them out. The baby will act like shes not getting enough but really she needs to nurse more and on demand to stimulate more milk. Babies know how to do it, so just take their que and let them nurse even if it feels like thats all your doing all day long. Be very careful with pumping before your milk is established. It is smart to pump once after the morning feeding cause thats when you do have the most milk.

I feel like im missing something here.. hmmm

Oh ya... www.kellymom.com is what i have for reading material.

SequoiaAutumn wrote:Sorry it took me so long, i was sitting here paying bills and didnt even check posts.

Yeah, you kinda had me worried! I thought maybe the time had come

I'm enjoying a book that's a combo of really feeding and sleep philosophy called Babywise. Looks like it's had mixed reviews on Amazon though. It really doesn't cover how to actually breastfeed so far. I know that there should be plenty of nurses there to help you with proper positioning, etc. tomorrow. I also hear that it's worthwhile to attend a local LaLeche league meeting if you can.

http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Baby-Wise-Reference-Worldwide/dp/0971453209

Keep in mind that the hospital nurses are not trained in breastfeeding. I go to a breastfeeding support group where Grayson was born. The lactation specialist has the hardest time with the nurses. For them, its easier to say.. well your just not ready to nurse, baby needs nutrition now so give them a abottle, babys mouth is too small, your milk isnt enough etc.. its easier for them to say bottle feed. You really want to ask for the hospitals lactation person on call.

Thanks for the tip April. I do remember during our tour that they said a Lactation Specialist would come and help.

Dee

April, have you read The Nursing Mother's Companion? A friend recommended it, so I ordered it but it hasn't come in. Just curious.

I believe that is the book I have too. Actually 2 copies of it, I ordered one and a friend gave it to me as well, said it helped her a lot. I know its going to be painful, and hearing stories from the other Rachel, that is confirmed:) I am really looking forward to doing it successfully. My "girls" were not big to begin with, and haven't really grown too much with this pregnancy either, but they leak a bit already, and I am hoping that they will make milk! LOL

If there is a lactation specialist at your hospital, definitely take advantage of her!! Like April said, she will know WAY more than the nurses!! At my hospital in the States, the LS also made house calls like a week after being home with the baby just to make sure things were going well...it was sooo helpful!! My "girls" are small to begin with as well, but I've never had a problem producing milk...now it's been 5 years since I've nursed a baby and I'm starting to feel anxious that I'm not going to have enough milk. I know it's just anxiety, but I keep thinking...what if...?

Haha, glad to know small ones work too:) Well our hospital kind of sucks. I had a friend who delivered her son Dec 30. She totally planned on breastfeeding. Way before she had him. Well I went to see her on New Years Eve, and the nurse was bringing in a bottle of formula for her to give him before his circumcision. I was like what are you doing? She was like they told me hes not getting enough. She tried to BF him for about 15 minutes, then he didn't really take the bottle after that, and the nurse was like why isn't he eating? I didn't really argue with her, I don't really think she was prepared, or read up on how it works. But I am going to be a HAGATHA at the nurses after my baby gets here. NO BOTTLES! And if hes fussy bring him to me. I actually plan on having him with me all the time, so there should be no way for them to sneak him shit I really have in my mind how I want all of this to go, and I am so afraid of hospital "protocol" and "procedures". And I do not know for sure if we have a lactation specialist here, I know there is one in the town about 30 mins away at the other hospital, and maybe a LLL person there too. But nothing here in our podunk town:(

Awww those are unfortunate stories indeed! Perhaps where I'm delivering they're just odd in that they're pro-breastfeeding? The labor nurse that taught my class was familiar with the other nurses there and was very re-assuring. Either way, I'm sticking to my guns (LITERALLY) and she assured us that the baby will get what it needs even if it's minimal the first couple of days. She showed us the size of a newborn tummy and it's the size of a marble. I was in shock. Don't get discouraged ladies!!!

I agree--I think part of it is just not getting discouraged!! Try the best you can--no, you probably aren't going to have milk for a day or two (everyone's milk lets down at different times), but that doesn't mean that your body isn't producing exactly what the baby needs. The baby might be fussy, but stick to what you want and don't let the nurses push you around. That's just my opinion.

Wendi.. I havent read the book but i have heard of it. I am on the more budgeted side of things so I tend to find reliable web sites for info. You'll have to let usk now how it is.

That is such a great question. I have not b/f for seven years and I totally forgot about the anguish of thinking your baby is starving. The nurses will tell you one thing, but your instinct as a mother is telling you that your baby needs to eat ASAP! I am also nervous about this because after a c/s sometimes milk does not come in for a couple of days. If I remember right the nurses did give my son a bottle because I was not producing but also because I was out of it due to medication from the c/s. When my milk came in my son was exclusively having breast milk from me. He was not nursing, but had to feed through a tube taped onto my finger until he learned to latch on. So, I think that it is different for everyone and wait until you are in the situation before you worry about it.

can'twaittobeamommy wrote:I want to EBF. I am kinda torn 1. if I will produce milk and 2. what do you do if your milk does not come in and your baby is starving. My sister is a postpartum nurse where we both work, and where I will be delivering. She has told me half jokingly "you are not going to let Ruby starve, if I have to I will give her a bottle myself." I have been up visiting my sister at work and have seen/heard hysterical newborns. My sister says "the mom is refusing a bottle. The baby is hungry. She isn't producing anything yet." What are you supposed to do? Ya the baby may not literally die of starvation right then, but the baby is still crying because it is hungry. Not everyone's boobs work. How do you know when to give in and give a bottle?

This is exactly what im talking about. What did woman do when there was no formula? Why did God make the human race? To make them starve? Okay there are the select rare few that does not produce enough or any milk. In that case back then they either died or had a wet nurse. Your baby will not starve. They dont really need to eat for 24hrs after birth. They nurse on the colostrum until the milk comes in. The colostrum is loaded with lots of antibodies from mom that will stick with them and equaled with sugars to help their levels. Its the liquid gold! Grayson slept the first 12hrs after birth. The nurses were having a fit! I basically told them to get out and leave me alone! he will eat when hes ready.


Your sister isnt fully trained in lactation issues. I am the mom and i know many others, who refuse the bottles. Three of my kids went their entire life without bottles. We are made to feed our babies. But a mother shouldnt be made to feel guilty for chosing to bottle feed. If a mother choses to ebf then she should be offered the best advice.

Here is a good article on jaundice.
http://www.kellymom.com/newman/07jaundice.html

April....I agree with you. The women I am referring to had nothing coming out. No colostrum. It was 24 hours later. That is when I would not know what to do. I agree, breasts produce milk. That's what they are created for. My boobs are fake so that's why I am worried about them. They are under the muscle and through my armpit so my nipples and milkducts were not disturbed.

can'twaittobeamommy wrote:April....I agree with you. The women I am referring to had nothing coming out. No colostrum. It was 24 hours later. That is when I would not know what to do. I agree, breasts produce milk. That's what they are created for. My boobs are fake so that's why I am worried about them. They are under the muscle and through my armpit so my nipples and milkducts were not disturbed.

I hope things work out for you. My friend had a reduction and was worried about it, she nursed well for 6mths. I was very proud of her for trying!

April...that's good that they worked after a reduction!! For a reduction they take your nipple off and pretty much make a new one. I thought it disturbs hour ducts. My sister had one, but she had her kids prior. I have another question for you if you don't mind. If you dont have enough colostrum and your milk is not in, and you give your baby a bottle. Will it ruin everything, or can you still bf successfully?

One of my concerns is that I have GD and that when Jake is born his blood sugar will be checked. If he has low blood sugar I have requested and will request again that I be given a chance to breastfeed him before they give him the sugar water in the bottle. Now I also know that if his sugar is too low then there is a chance they will give him a bottle right away. I understand that it would be medically necessary to do that. I just hope it doesn't come down to that because I really want to breastfeed.

Dee