Preparing to Breastfeed

Any tips on preparing myself to breastfeed? My mind is already there and this is my second child. My experience with my son was/is saddening for me since I quit bc of the pain/loss of milk (from trying to pump exclusively with a cheap pump.)

I'm scared that it is going to hurt worse this time. My nipples are sore to the touch already. DH hasn't been able to touch them since I got pregnant (before we even knew I was...) How in the hell am I going to handle letting a baby use them  

Can I do anything to ensure this time around goes smoother?

Lansinoh and lots of it right from the start!

Know your boobs will adjust and dont keep any formula in the house. Research whats normal and use the LC in the hospital. Trust your body and know it gets easier/better.

No formula here and I bought an expensive pump so dammit, this is what I'm doing! haha! I have to go back to work at 8 weeks so I will be attempting to build a supply.

Your body will change after the baby and your nipples shouldn't be as sore (mine weren't sore at all afterwards)

If you see your milk supply starting to drop try taking fenugreek pills, they worked great for me! I didn't try the tea because its a much lower amount of fenugreek so I felt the pills were the way to go.

Also, breastfeeding is such a different feeling than someone just touching them. I couldn't and still can't stand my nipples messed with but I breastfed for 2 years 4 months

Quoting Jennybananna:" Know your boobs will adjust and dont keep any formula in the house. Research whats normal and use the LC in the hospital. Trust your body and know it gets easier/better."

Small world, I live in Sunnyvale

ugh, unforchantly nothing worked for me. i hated the nipple cream, the sheilds did nothing. so, i just toughed and cried thru it. just tell yourself it doesnt last! for me, it was very painful from week 2-6, and then never hurt a bit!! the milk will come in, and will increase and regulate if you excluisvly bf, no pumping in the beggining. resist the urge to supplement, it does nothing for your sucess. and once you get past the pain, there is nothing greater, easier, or cheaper than breast milk!! good luck, and stay strong!

Quoting Alyssa's mommy [EBFT]:" Your body will change after the baby and your nipples shouldn't be as sore (mine weren't sore at all ... [snip!] ... than someone just touching them. I couldn't and still can't stand my nipples messed with but I breastfed for 2 years 4 months"

You give hope!

Thanks  

Quoting Alyssa's mommy [EBFT]:" Small world, I live in Sunnyvale"

nice it is a small world.

I found harassing the nipples during pregnancy (not stimulation so not to try to induce) but that helped them be tougher for brewstfeeding personally. But I had bleeding nips for first 7 days with blistering as my son was latched 24 hours a day. But it gets better so you just have to fight through

Quoting Mandy Evans:" ugh, unforchantly nothing worked for me. i hated the nipple cream, the sheilds did nothing. so, i just ... [snip!] ... and once you get past the pain, there is nothing greater, easier, or cheaper than breast milk!! good luck, and stay strong!"

I cried cried cried with my first. It was excruciating. Felt like (and looked like) my nipple was being ripped off.

Thank you for the advice!  

Quoting Emilyy:" I found harassing the nipples during pregnancy (not stimulation so not to try to induce) but that helped ... [snip!] ... for first 7 days with blistering as my son was latched 24 hours a day. But it gets better so you just have to fight through"

Super cringe.   Sorry!

Oh and pumping exclusively is hard no matter if you haveb a cheap pump or a $300 medela. The pump can ever stimulate your breasts the way a baby does so your milk supply will eventually lessen and then stop completely

<blockquote><b>Quoting Freckleface Watermelon:</b>" Super cringe.   Sorry!"</blockquote>




Best thing when it happens is sunlight on them and squeezing a few drops of milk out, spread on nipple and letting your milk dry on them before putting away after a feed.

Quoting Alyssa's mommy [EBFT]:" Oh and pumping exclusively is hard no matter if you haveb a cheap pump or a $300 medela. The pump can ... [snip!] ... pump can ever stimulate your breasts the way a baby does so your milk supply will eventually lessen and then stop completely"

Well, that sucks.