Breastfeeding this time!

So with my first, I bottle fed. Second, I exclusively pumped, and dried up right before 3 months.  

This time I want to strictly breastfeed. Honestly, how much time will the newb spend on my chest? Is it pretty non stop? I've heard they do it for comfort as well

I'm nervous about doing it wrong or not long enough... not knowing if they're getting enough food or not, etc.

A brand new newborn will bf about every 2-3 hours for 1/2 hour-45 minutes at a time. It is nonstop. By 2 weeks old they usually are more effective nursers; 20-30 minutes each session. They often fall asleep nursing though when they're so tiny. I didn't bottle feed so young, but I would guess that they spend a lot of time with the bottle too?

In the beginning it seemed like she was always on the boob, but after the first month, she was more efficient at emptying a boob and filling her tummy. I never let DD comfort nurse.

Yes, for the first 6-8 weeks you will literally feel like all you do is breastfeed, but that is how supply is established. Don't worry about how long you nurse. Just nurse for as often and as long as baby wants to. They do also nurse for comfort, but if you're not comfortable with that, you can try introducing a paci for when baby seems to just want to suckle.

It's hard work, but it is SOOO worth it. You can do it, mama!

When you are in the hospital the lactation consultant will help you out with any questions you have and every baby is different but my daughter was ebf for a few months and she only ate once every 3 or 4 hours for about 20 minutes and by her two week check up she was over her birth weight and has slept through the night since she was 2o weeks old, by sleeping through the night i mean 9pm to 5 am. And she still does but she sleeps till 7 or 8 at least and she is now 8i months old

For the first 4-5 months of his life he was on my chest nursing CONSTANTLY. He slept there at night, during the day, etc. We couldn't go anywhere in public without him having to be latched on. Then it got to be more of a regular scheduled type thing. He'd want it about every 2-4 hours. He is almost 13 months and just weaned himself October 25th.

I'd do it ALL over again.

We only nursed for 4 months but that entire 4 months it was almost constant. Sometimes every hour.

Quoting Little_Discourage:" For the first 4-5 months of his life he was on my chest nursing CONSTANTLY. He slept there at night, ... [snip!] ... He'd want it about every 2-4 hours. He is almost 13 months and just weaned himself October 25th. I'd do it ALL over again. "

I wish my kids would wean themselves!

Im so nervous because after 6 weeks, I have to go back to work..... What happens then? will I be able to pump enough to keep up a good supply?

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" Im so nervous because after 6 weeks, I have to go back to work..... What happens then? will I be able to pump enough to keep up a good supply?"

With a good pump and regular pumping you should be able to.

Quoting A❤T=P+[It's a Girl:" With a good pump and regular pumping you should be able to."

I really hope so. I felt guilty and wanted to BF after she was born, but she wouldnt nurse, maybe because she was used to the bottle?

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" I really hope so. I felt guilty and wanted to BF after she was born, but she wouldnt nurse, maybe because she was used to the bottle?"

Giving the baby a bottle can ruin bfing. It did for my daughter. They didn't even ask me, they just fed her a bottle and then she wouldn't nurse. We tried for two weeks and she'd fight me every step of the way.

Tell them NOT to give the baby a bottle at birth. Even if they don't want to nurse right away. They will try when they get hungry. Don't let them push you saying they NEED formula. My son barely ate the first day or two of life because he was exhausted from birth.

Quoting Man. Bear. Pig.:" Im so nervous because after 6 weeks, I have to go back to work..... What happens then? will I be able to pump enough to keep up a good supply?"

I had 2 15 minute breaks and 1 30 minute lunch. I pumped on both breaks and on lunch until she was a year old and never had any problems with my supply. I usually had about 10-15 minutes left over to eat lunch.

Quoting 2 Baby Girls:" I wish my kids would wean themselves!"

I didn't even see it coming. He was still nursing a few times a day and night. Then one day he just didn't nurse all day and only took milk from his cup. Same for that night. And I just didn't try to offer the breast anymore.

Quoting Buffy♥:" Giving the baby a bottle can ruin bfing. It did for my daughter. They didn't even ask me, they just ... [snip!] ... let them push you saying they NEED formula. My son barely ate the first day or two of life because he was exhausted from birth."

That's what happened. The nurse made me cry... I was trying, but she said my baby was starving and I felt so guilty I gave her formula until my milk came in 3 days later.