Last Updated on 2 July 2023 by Colette
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It doesn’t matter how “natural” it is breastfeeding can be really daunting. Before I had Ben I never really thought I would breastfeed, I didn’t really like the idea of it somehow. Once I was pregnant and thought more about it I realised I wanted to give breastfeeding a try. Having heard lots of horror stories of people struggling to do it and making themselves really miserable in the process, I decided it was really important to maintain the attitude that I would do my best but that if it didn’t work for us I wouldn’t beat myself up about it.
I remember being shown this video in our antenatal class of a newborn baby delivered onto its mother’s stomach and after some skin to skin this tiny baby just miraculously inched its way up to the breast and latched on . . . cut to me in the recovery room shortly after Ben’s birth, immobile from the chest down with a midwife grabbing a good handful of breast and literally shoving his head onto it . . . once he had latched on he fed for a good 45 minutes and was off to a roaring start.
Over the next few days we had good feeds and not so good. When my milk came in my breasts were quite frankly enormous and so hard that he couldn’t get his little mouth round the nipple – this led to quite a comical scene where Dave was hand expressing milk onto some tissue for me just to soften them up a bit when a midwife popped her head round the curtain. Embarrassed much? Dave was a complete god send with feeding – he used to help me express, get Ben into a good position and latched on etc.
A few days after Ben was born I found myself sat on a bean bag on the living room floor crying whilst feeding him because my nipples were so cracked and sore. At that point I could have given up – but we intentionally had no bottles or formula in the house, I wanted to make sure I gave it my best shot. A friend recommended Lansinoh but it was a Saturday night and everywhere was shut. Luckily we got some the next morning and it was a complete miracle product. I’m so glad I didn’t have any bottles in the house that night and that I powered through.
When Ben was a couple of months old I got mastitis – the symptoms kicked in in the middle of the night and, somewhat irrationally, I thought I was dying from swine flu! (I had all sorts of crazy thoughts about dying and leaving Dave to cope with this tiny baby) Thankfully not and a quick course of antibiotics sorted me right out.
Chloe didn’t get off to quite such a flying start and was pretty lazy with her breastfeeding in hospital, she just couldn’t be bothered to latch on properly. In the end we (Dave!) had to hand express and cup feed her to get her started. Once she had a taste for it though she was away – to the point that we struggled to get her to take a bottle when we needed to!
Amy has had her breastfeeding sussed right from that start and has been a great little feeder so far – although she is occasionally a bit lazy with her latch and needs taking off to try again. I really do need to start introducing the odd bottle of expressed milk though just in case I want a bit of freedom! I fed Ben and Chloe to about 8 months each and will most likely do the same again with Amy – Ben pretty much stopped himself, I think Chloe would have liked to carry on for a while but I was going back to work and it really wasn’t feasible.
So three children down the line what have I learned about breastfeeding?
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Make sure you get your latch right in hospital. The midwives should be happy to help. Once you’re home check out local support groups, ask friends for help. (I used to have to get Dave to help me get our Ben to latch on in the early days!)
Drink plenty
Breastfeeding is thirsty work. I’ve never drunk so much in my life as I do in the early days of feeding a newborn.
Keep stocked up on breast pads
Try a few different brands of breast pads until you find ones that suit you. I like Johnson’s Breast Pads best but they do seem to be hard to get hold of. I’m also a fan of Little Lamb washable pads after being introduced to them by a friend.
Be prepared for cracked and sore nipples
I’ve always said breastfeeding is a bit like wearing in new shoes – your nipples just aren’t used to this! The official advice is to express breast milk onto your nipples to help them heal – personally I found Lanisnoh to be much more effective!
Don’t be afraid to try different positions / holds till you find one that suits you both
I’ve used the rugby / underarm hold at some point with each of them but have never been keen on feeding lying down (I’ve always been to worried I’d fall asleep!)
Keep muslins handy
I tend up pop one under my breast during a feed to catch any spills and they’re obviously useful for mopping up a bit of sick after a feed. (I really like Faye and Lou’s Cozios)
Invest in low level lighting for night feeds
With good low level lighting for the night feeds, neither of you have to wake up properly! We have a dimmer switch in the bedroom but a small lamp would be just as good (I’ve even had to feed by light of my phone when we’ve been away from home!)
Use a scarf to cover up if you want to
Use a scarf to cover up – but don’t feel you have to. Be confident. I’ve always been of the attitude that people would rather see a bit of boob that listen to a hungry baby crying!
Make sure your bra fits well
Your breasts will change shape during the course of the day and will often be tender in the early days of feeding so a well fitting, supportive bra is essential. (Also make sure your bra is easy to undo / fasten with one hand and that you’ve got a few as you will likely get puked on!)
Fantastic tips. It's not always easy, and I agree that Lansinoh is a life saver at times, but there is nothing lovelier than sitting feeding your tiny baby, watching their little face and their tiny fingers curling. I could go on….but I won't 😉
That little milk drunk face! 🙂 *swoon*
Some great tips, it sounds like you had a similar attitude to breastfeeding that I did, glad you found it relatively easy. I've just stopped feeding LM and I'm so sad about it but, still, glad I was able to feed both of mine for as long as I did.
It is so sad when its time to finish isn't it.
Fantastic tips! I wish 11 years ago I knew what I know now….The support in the hospital was none existent so gave up with my eldest after a couple of days….
Oh what a shame! I have been so lucky with the help I received in hospital with each of mine but I do think it helped that they knew I really wanted to do it (and in the case of Chloe was "an experienced feeder") – they certainly weren't pressuring other people to do it if they weren't bothered if you see what I mean?
Great tips here, we've not been very succesful in the past but hoping for a longer innings this time round! Dave sounds like a bit of a god send – hi five that man!
He's worth his weight in gold Fiona, I'm very lucky that our children have him as their Daddy.
great tips that helped me with remembering back i cant wait to BF again and hope this time i will have it easier and no nasty mastitis to go with!
Good luck! Even though Chloe was harder to start with I do think feeding is easier second time round x
I managed two and a half weeks with breastfeeding, had a horrendous experience really and had very little support. The Boy would latch on to me greatly enlarged breasts (B to a EE cup) and fall asleep, *ever* *single* *time* I was feeding him independently.. It made feeding a nightmare and when I asked for support someone would come over and he'd feed properly. Grrr!
How frustrating for you! I have to say big boobs can make things pretty difficult at times! Amy was a very sleepy feeder to start with but she soon sorted herself out.
Great Tips!!
If we ever have another baby then i will most deffintley be breastfeeding.
Great post.
#MMWBP
Beth
Thanks Beth!
Great tips. I fed both of mine until 9 months, and was one of the lucky ones with it as they both took to it well, despite tongue ties. They did both have reflux, though, so I was vomited on several times daily, but hey ho!
Vomit pooling in you bra is always a win 😉
Great tips.
I remember a story on lbc radio where a woman called in to retell how an old cleaning lady once showed her how to breastfeeding breastfeeding in the middle of the night.
The show was then inundated with callers saying the same cleaner helped them.
so sweet
Oh how lovely!
Great tips, especially low lighting, we have a torch on my iPhone it's just bright enough to see but not wake for snoozy feeds
Amazing tips and what a great post. You are amazing do you know that! Powering through when things got tough…you soldiered through it all. Love it. I fed all 5 of mine, but all for different times. Sadly my 2nd son being 6wks early hadn't developed his suckle so I expressed for him and gave it through the bottle. You do what you need too, to give them the best that they need right? Loved reading this.
Thanks so much for linking up to #MMWBH xx
Thanks for your lovely comment Debs – you made my cry x x
These are really good tips. I will pass on to all my new mummy to friends. Xx
Brilliant advice!!
I've always been told breast is best! I had a damaged oesophagus when I was a baby so was never breastfed but I have a healthy understanding that it is what's best for baby! I will be sharing this post with some of my friends who have newborns or are expecting (and there are a few this year, I think 2013 was the year of getting BIZZAY!) xx
There must have been a lack of good telly 😉 x
Are you kidding?? The storylines in the soap have been top notch! haha xx
Well done for persevering, you certainly reaped the rewards 🙂
Great post! I'm currently successfully feeding my 2nd baby after not making enough milk for 1st baby. So even if it doesn't work out for one baby, don't be put off trying again!
You're absolutely right. I hear so many second time success stories x
Great post. It's funny how different two children can be on breastfeeding. I loved feeding my kids and fed Buba for a year no problems at all. But with Missy Moo, if you haven't read my breastfeeding posts (http://www.letstalkmommy.com/2013/11/breastfeeding-hitting-a-brick-wall/), it was the worse traumatic experience ever, and after six months of mastitis numerous times and biting and bleeding etc I had to physically stop and just give her breastmilk in a bottle. It can be so up and down. Great tips listed here.
I guess you just assume once you've done it the first time you'll be ok. I remember being surprised that Chlo was harder to feed in those first few days!
Great tips! I always forgot the drink of water I'd need WITH the feed in the beginning and it used to really wind my husband up!
I've never been so thirsty in my life as I was the first couple of weeks after Amy was born – I literally couldn't drivk enough
Great positive post about breast feeding. We really struggle with my little girl and got so stressed out about it. Im actually looking forward to trying again when i have my next baby in a month or so!
I have everything crossed for you that it works out! X
Info like this is so important. I was really lucky to have support from a fab midwife in hospital first time around but some of the subsequent health visitors etc were pretty poor.
I guess the message should be give it a good go. It is pretty tough at times and can hurt more than most classes etc let on but it is a really lovely feeling if it works out. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your tips.
I often say that to friends – they say it won't hurt but it does! To start with it can be really painful but so worth it once you get going x
Great hints etc. Pleased to read that your husband was supportive. Good of you to share your experiences, as this can assist others when in a similar situation.
Rachel Craig
wish I had had so many helpful tips! took 2 weeks of pain to get it right with my daughter but I made it to 17 months in the end
Wow! That's good going! X
This is fantastic – definitely a great read for mums-to-be. I couldn't breast feed any of mine. I tried so hard, and maybe I needed more support, I don't know. But I absolutely love the fact that you are clearly a pro at this! Your photos are lovely as well, well done you! xxx 🙂
Its so hard isn't it. I have quite a few friends who haven't been able to feed for one reason or another & I know I'm extremely lucky to have had such good experiences.
I do think there needs to be more support both practical & emotional! X
I was so naive about bf & thought it would 'just happen'. Great tips x
I can totally understand that thought – we are pumped with how "natural" it is we expect it to be easy x
Great tips Colette. I had the same attitude as you, I thought I'd give it a go but if it didn't work out that so be it. I didn't expect to be as upset as I was when it soon became clear Little O wasn't getting enough milk from me. He lost 8oz in his first week and as a teeny 5lb 12oz when born he couldn't afford to lose the weight and we were referred back to the hospital 🙁 I'd definitely like to give BF another go if we have another xx
I must admit that though I went in to it all with that attitude I'd have been devastated in the end if I couldn't do it – especially with the girls when I already knew how much I loved it.
Here's hoping you get another opportunity x
Brilliant post, full of really good hints and tips. I couldn't bf for medical reasons but we made the best of it. Well done you!
It must be so rewarding!
Great tips. I managed to get my 3 month premature baby to feed and he is still going strong at 20 months x
Great post and the tips are brilliant. I had to bottle feed all of mine which I was and still am okay with but I would have liked to have at least breast fed one of them.
The thing to remember is every baby and mum is different. I BF my oldest for 1 year and the youngest for 3 weeks. I really thought that having done it before, with milk aplenty, it was going to be a doddle the second time. But it wasn't to be and I was SO grateful for formula milk.
My tip is to try and have a nice, warm shower. It helps to relax your body and thus helps with flow.