Just curious, what is your opinion on breastfeeding classes? I was thinking that I would be able to figure it out with the stuff I am learning from friends and some books. I don't want to be naive, though! I want to successfully nurse our baby. I know it won't be easy, I am already dealing with uncomfortable stages of progress in this area.
I will have excellant support once Joseph is here from my doctor and the lactation specialist at her clinic, but I am really wondering if just going to this class will fill me with more support, knowledge, and hope that all will be well.
I did not take a breastfeeding class before having our first child. We got alot of support at the hospital so that I felt completely comfortable taking her home and being able to feed her. Once home things went well at first and we had support from the lactation specialist at the pediatrician's office, but then I started having let-down issues...as in my milk started letting down really fast and it must have been like a firehose jet stream of milk...and we started having issues. So then I attended a La Leche meeting just once and it was enough to get the tips/info I needed to make it through/past that issue.
ReplyDeleteSo in my opinion, I don't feel like I needed a breastfeeding class beforehand, but afterward it was nice to be able to have some extra tips when a problem came up. I'm sure you will do great! And if you think you'd feel more comfortable taking a class beforehand, go for it!
My opinion, don't stress just wing it! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm winging it all...hahahahaha Not preparing for anything, I know I might get stoned, but it's nice just to not have to prepare....
I'm trusting on some instincts, some help from others, late night telephone calls....
I have no idea what to prepare for and I'm very hands on learner, so it wouldn't do be any good to prepare. :)
So that is why I'm like that...You might be different. :)
So if you take a class, I might be calling you! ;)
I think it is really up to you. The classes are probably beneficial, but so are La Leche League meetings (my hispanic dh thinks the name is hysterical). My mom was a LLL leader for YEARS while I was growing up, so since she's coming pretty shortly after the birth I'm just going to wing it (of course, I did read most of the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding too).
ReplyDeleteI think it depends on your personality. I'm opposite Sew. I research everything in advance and I would be nervous about all BFing just because of all the difficulties I've heard about. So I would probably do it if the class seemed like a good fit for me and was reasonable.
ReplyDeleteClasses will be informative, but not very helpful for practical use. And you will forget it all anyway at 2 in the morning when your baby won't latch or you are engorged:)
ReplyDeleteYou could go, but don't expect a whole lot. BF is one of those things that are kind of "on the job" training. Your baby will be so individual in his/her ability and needs and temperament. While I wouldn't wing it completely, make sure you have some BF'ing Mom's as a support and the number of a LLL person who is willing to come out to meet you and help. Call the lactation consultant on duty at the hospital immediately after baby is born and get some hands on help.
The Womanly Art of BF'ing is the "bible" of nursing. But still, it's a book:) Good luck to you. Even in the best circumstances, nursing is a demanding and difficult job at first and it is easy to become discouraged.
Best advice is to seek out women who can support you:)
Never took a class or read a book.
ReplyDeleteGot complimented on his latch (??!) by a couple of different nurses.
One doc asked if I was sure I had never nursed before.
I did watch my sisters and many friends BF, though, so I guess it depends on if you have any watching experience.
;)
(Also, it's fairly simple if Baby is a "good" latcher.)
I think you should do whatever makes you comfortable or seems interesting. Once you actually start nursing, it might very well be challenging for the first couple of weeks or so, and then it becomes easy and convenient, and cheap, great bonding time, etc. So, just mentally prepare for some problems at first, but don't give up if you feel it's really something you want!
ReplyDeleteNursing is hard and I think it is not good to assume it will come naturally or you might get very frustrated and anxious. I found the class helpful. However, I think it is okay not to take the class too. Reading about correct latch, etc would do the trick too. And I took full advantage of the lactation consultant in the hospital. And the nurses too. I had them show me each time how to do it. If you do it wrong, it HURTS. If you detach them wrong, IT HURTs. It doesn't just hurt, it breaks the skin and you can get infection. I did-ouch! Very important you know the symptoms of the infection (mastitis) to catch it early. I am not trying to scare you, but diet posture relaxation make a difference and if you are prepared, like anything, it will go smoother. I really wanted breastfeeding to work, but I knew from friends not to expect it to go smooth. To just try my best and not be too hard on myself-baby and I were both learning and it came with time. I am sure you will do great! Totally agree with Leila, give yourself time and keep your expectations low and it will come together.
ReplyDeleteAlso, our hospital has a breastfeeding support group lead by a lactation consultant. You can weigh your baby to make sure they are gaining, ask questions, meet others who are new moms...they are great. you may see if there is one in your area through the hospital.
ReplyDeleteWe went to the class but it was not helpful at all to me. It was somewhat helpful for DH to be onboard.
ReplyDeleteI had some serious nursing issues (low supply, lazy nurser, weak suck, and using a nipple shield) so I had to work with a lactation consultant a few times and attended a BF group every week from weeks 3-10.
The books were somewhat helpful, but I didn't realize that having the hormonal issues that I had (hypothyroid, PCOS, post partum hemmorage) put me at great risk of not having a good supply. We are still nursing, baby takes a bottle well and gets a few ounces of formula a day. I just had to keep taking it day by day in the beginning and week by week. I also had to give myself permission to quit, but I haven't yet.
kellymom.com is a great resource and the forums are quite helpful, too.
Just make sure you have supportive friends and/or family. DH wasn't as supportive as I thought he would be, but I had great support from friends, my sister and mom. The group was really helpful, too.
Once I got back on the metformin, it helped my supply a bit.
I never took a class, but I did call the lactation consultant in several times while I was in the hospital with both babies, and also went back to see a LC at 4 weeks with both babies, just to make sure we were doing everything right. We had some issues with M (allergy issues - no dairy for me) but once we figured that out it was smooth sailing. I nursed M for 20 months and JP for 17 months - just weaned him a month ago! You can do it!
ReplyDeleteI probably won't take a class, but I read "Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" and will look into the LLL in my area.
ReplyDeleteI'm taking a free class our hospital offers in a couple weeks basically just because it's free. And because I'm not a big reader! I'm also hoping the class will just help give my husband a good overview of the process.
ReplyDeleteOh, and also, I'm a proponent of bf for many reasons and I'm sure you'll do great, but do NOT beat yourself up if there are difficulties.
ReplyDeleteI am a formula baby, my daughter is a formula baby.
It is not poison, formula feeding does not make you a bad mother.
My son eats both formula and breastmilk, and we are happy, happy, happy.
;)
GET SUPPORT! However you can. I think a class beforehand can't hurt, reading the womanly art of breastfeeding can't hurt, and definitely use the lactation specialist right away in the hospital so you can see how to do things right right off the bat. It's difficult, especially with baby #1 and you want to be successful. And blog your questions for help!
ReplyDeleteI did take a breastfeeding class and I read a couple of books on the subject during my pregnancy. I also took advantage of the advice of lactation consultants in the hospital (and once by phone after I went home). I found all of those resources helpful, but it is true that it's one of those things you kinda can't be fully prepared for until you're doing it.
ReplyDeleteI will say this: I was and still am extremely grateful for my friends who told me that it might be really hard. For me, this was true! I don't say that to discourage you, though. It helped me tremendously that so many people had told me to stick with it for at least those first two weeks. I did and it definitely paid off! Things improved drastically at two weeks,and again at six weeks. I finally feel like we have a great routine going at eight weeks.
My main advice would be (as others have said) not to beat yourself up over it. Just like in your pregnancy, you will wake up each day wanting to do what's best for Joseph and meet his needs. Some days that may include supplementing with formula, which is totally okay! I was so glad to have formula on hand to get us through some bad times (Lily's jaundice before my milk came in, my medical problems post-delivery when I had to "pump and dump", and even her first growth spurt). Now at 2 months in I'm so glad that I persevered and stuck with nursing. It is very rewarding! I'm just thankful for every single day that I can continue with it, no matter how long it may last.
I'm here to encourage you! I hope and pray that it will be very smooth and effortless for you and baby Joseph. Even if it's not, though, I say give it some time. If it ultimately doesn't work out, he'll still be a wonderful, happy, and healthy baby boy! :)