Breast Feeding First Timer

Ok so its no secret im so nervous about breast feeding and hoping it goes smoothly and that she latches on good... idk I wanted to see if there was any advice you mamas could give me to have a smooth first time... I mean i know that if she doesnt want the boob then she doesnt want it... but any advice is accepted!

As ive heard of the breast crawl.. has anyone every attempted that?

Most babies will want to latch. My advice is instant skin to skin after birth - have staff at hospital wait on the bath, weight, measurements, etc. until after baby latches on and put baby on the breast immediately following the birth. Avoid pacifiers and bottles altogether for at least a week or two. Avoid pumping until you have established a good routine. Just keep baby on the breast constantly for about a month lol. Maybe invest in a good baby wearing device.

After that, it's really just all gray areas. Get the number to LLL or other lactation consultants, even postpartum doulas added into your phone so when you're at the hospital you can call them if you have trouble. If baby doesn't want to nurse after birth, there are sometimes tricks you can try to get them to latch - like taking a bath together.

Quoting ♥ darah ♥:" Most babies will want to latch. My advice is instant skin to skin after birth - have staff at hospital ... [snip!] ... doesn't want to nurse after birth, there are sometimes tricks you can try to get them to latch - like taking a bath together."

good advice.. I did see the whole skin to skin thing right after birth and I so love my child but I get grossed out so easily and I know shes my baby but the blood and everything lol.. i know crazy... But i will attempt to try it if it means it will help. Now the whole bath together.. that would have to wait for her umbilical cord to heal and fall off first correct?

It's not a matter of "if she dosnt want it, then she dosnt want it"

All babies, 100% of them are born to want it.
Some have trouble, or some are not physically able (cleft lip, tonge tie, ect)
But every baby is born to breastfeed.

You may have trouble, it is rare that you won't have enough milk, in my opinion, if when your milk comes in, and you get engorged, you are capable of producing enough milk.

It is almost un heard of women not producing ANY milk.

Breast crawl is the best and most natural way to breastfeed a newborn.

Like all mammals, human babies can find their way to their mommy's nipple just like a puppy does. It's instinct. Obviously unless the baby has some disability, they are capable to find it with little or no assistance.

Sorry for any typos, I'm on my phone and using one hand  

Quoting Silly Mily's Momma ♡:" It's not a matter of "if she dosnt want it, then she dosnt want it" All babies, 100% of them are born ... [snip!] ... they are capable to find it with little or no assistance. Sorry for any typos, I'm on my phone and using one hand  "

I had a bad experience the first time.. got engorged and she wasnt latching on right and I honestly had no idea of what I was doing and ended up hurting... so I stopped and suffered through my engorgment but this time I wanna make sure I do things right.. use the lactation nurse at the hospital and just make sure it works out for us... thats good a advice though and ill have to remember that.. im considering the breast crawl...

Quoting Krissy and Gizzy's Mommie:" good advice.. I did see the whole skin to skin thing right after birth and I so love my child but I ... [snip!] ... it will help. Now the whole bath together.. that would have to wait for her umbilical cord to heal and fall off first correct?"

No, it does not. Just don't saturate it. A bath can very easily stimulate the baby.

Personally i left the vernix in place for awhile because it just never bothered me. I mean they can wipe the baby off, but they should put the baby right on your chest if possible. Try rubbing baby's cheek to get her to root and she will most likely latch on. The trick is to put baby to breast immediately, and try not to let the hospital staff traumatize her.

Quoting Krissy and Gizzy's Mommie:" I had a bad experience the first time.. got engorged and she wasnt latching on right and I honestly ... [snip!] ... make sure it works out for us... thats good a advice though and ill have to remember that.. im considering the breast crawl... "

The engorgement is normal and you will have a few days when you're engorged. That is a good sign, either your milk has come in or baby is on a growth spurt. The important thing to remember is that it doesn't last forever. If you are able to handle baby fussing at the breast, breastfeeding is probably for you. :-)

If it's not something you don't truly want, then there are other options available. I would encourage you to at least try it - it is extremely rare that baby or mother would not have the capabilities to giterdone. have someone who is experienced in breastfeeding close at hand so that you can call them, text them, etc. - a friend, a doula, an LC, anyone who has done it successfully.

There is nothing wrong with not wanting to nurse and in this society with working women, it can be incredibly hard to do so. If it's something you truly want, you WILL make it happen.

However, good luck with whatever you choose.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Krissy and Gizzy's Mommie:</b>" I had a bad experience the first time.. got engorged and she wasnt latching on right and I honestly ... [snip!] ... make sure it works out for us... thats good a advice though and ill have to remember that.. im considering the breast crawl... "</blockquote>




Yea it very tempting to quit, especially when you are a new mom, in pain, tired, ect.

When LO was little, I was a first time mom, I had no help, I was alone with her all day, I was depressed, tired, in pain, she wouldn't latch, my milk took forever to come in, I was so engorged that she couldn't get ahold of my nipple, so I had to use a nipple shield. It was great at first, but it made my supply go
Down because she wasn't in direct contact with my nipple.
Then she Wasn't gaining enough weight because she wasnt getting enough milk, so I had to give her formula to help her gain weight I was so sad that I had to give her formula. But she was severely underweight  
Then i had to feed her with an
SNS tube.
She finally got the hang Of it and i got my supply up when she was 3 months old.
Then, I started getting hives all over my chest, an found out I was allergic to the hormones that are released while breastfeeding (oxytocin and prolactin) so every time She would get a growth spurt my Milk supply would go up,
And so would the hormones. So my doctor
Told me that basically I was allergic to breastfeeding.

But no matter what i stuck with it and
Now she is 2 and still nurses a couple times a day 
100% worth it, and I wouldn't change it for anything.

Quoting ♥ darah ♥:" Most babies will want to latch. My advice is instant skin to skin after birth - have staff at hospital ... [snip!] ... doesn't want to nurse after birth, there are sometimes tricks you can try to get them to latch - like taking a bath together."

this!