https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 09:04:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-911872 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 03:31:48 +0000 googly-eyes 911872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pepper: same here about the nitty gritty. All the LCs kept saying was "offer the breast" as though that was a solution to every bf problem, hah.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-911871 Mon, 08 Jul 2013 03:30:49 +0000 googly-eyes 911871@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tororojo: haha I cannot imagine dd without her paci! That girl was born wanting to suck on something for hours on end...</p> <p>@Penny Lane: I remember having a hard time finding things on YouTube, but maybe if I do it ahead of time this time i won't be in a frantic rush.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-911453 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 19:32:39 +0000 Penny Lane 911453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will say that I had trouble reading kellymom in the first few months. sooo uppity and judgey!</p> <p>I took a BFing class run by my midwives group. It was so helpful, and I promptly forgot EVERYTHING within a week. I wish I had made DH come with me, because he's always so much better than I am about remembering random bits of helpful information.</p> <p>when LO was a newborn what helped me was watching videos of women latching on youtube so i could see how someone else did it, rather than reading/looking at cartoon diagrams of the ideal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-911410 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 18:56:14 +0000 Pepper 911410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: Haha, "punch him in the face quickly" you seriously crack me up!</p> <p>Kellymom is definitely a little much at times, but a lot of the information has helped me, especially regarding troubleshooting issues like spitting up. I am definitely one of those moms that has been blindsided by cluster feeding, pain, and latching issues. Breastfeeding just seemed so overwhelming to me while pregnant. I would read about the basics, but never got into the nitty gritty of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-911393 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 18:44:21 +0000 Kemma 911393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I guess at the end of the day, Kellymom is a website solely dedicated to and focused on supporting and promoting breastfeeding. It's run by an IBCLC and I guess mixed or formula feeding is not her focus or purpose. And like her website says, it's up to us as parents to wade through all the info and pick what's going to work for our families!</p> <p>And for me personally, formula, bottles and pacifiers would have been disastrous for our breastfeeding relationship and it was a very pro-breastfeeding pair of midwives that pushed me through those awful first few weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-911350 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 18:15:22 +0000 tororojo 911350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: @Cherrybee: Haha, so true about kellymom. But I have found it helpful when researching random questions even though I disobey cardinal rules such as using a paci and giving her bottles (of breast milk!) quite often. Some people are just not comfortable whipping a boob out in public, what can I say? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-911211 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 16:23:11 +0000 Cherrybee 911211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: I've done loads of research during my pregnancy and I totally agree with what you said about kellymom coming across as really preachy and judgey. I struggle to see through that to the (really good) info underneath. Its like "unless your child is actually dying, do not let anyone put anything near her mouth except your nipple. Not a paci and definitely not a bottle. If your ped recommends formula, punch him in the face quickly. Breastfeeding is the most important thing ever ever ever, sleeping is for fools and if your husband wants to help with feeding he can darn well fetch you snacks and be happy about it". Agh!!! It actually puts me off trying!! But once you get past that, the factual info is really useful!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-911173 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 15:51:21 +0000 googly-eyes 911173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@tororojo: ill do more caffeine related research! I was in too big a frenzy to know for sure whether it affected dd when she got bm (only ate chocolate not much soda/coffee) but I did cut it out almost completely during pregnancy... Next time I won't. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-911054 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 13:36:32 +0000 tororojo 911054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Caffeine doesn't seem to affect my LO, and I have read (on kellymom and possibly somewhere else) that if you consume caffeine while pregnant (within recommended amounts, of course) then it's less likely to affect your LO while BFing. So basically, just don't give up your coffee!!! ;) I took a BFing class while pregnant and thought it was really helpful to be prepared beforehand instead of waiting for the hospital LC to stop by...since she came by when I was in the shower and didn't return until the next day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-910841 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 09:21:41 +0000 googly-eyes 910841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BKCaribBaby: @T-Mom: thanks for the book rec... As soon as grad school is over (pretty much done this winter!) Ill get on it. :)</p> <p>@MamaMoose: @T-Mom: yes I always say I wish I'd had an lc ready to go, and the only # for one nearby I had was the one from the hospital who I didn't trust.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-910783 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 08:01:54 +0000 T-Mom 910783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I felt the same way as you in that I would be going through bf for the first time, even though I had attempted bf for four months with DD (with much difficulty). The learning curve was not as bad as I had hyped it up to be in my mind. Reading a Nursing Mother's Companion would definitely be helpful, and making sure you have an LC lined up would be great (especially if your hospital offers it). And the best advice I could give is to set a reasonable goal for yourself and just feed on demand in the first 6 weeks at least. The energy comes from pure adrenaline.. :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-910776 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 07:53:11 +0000 MamaMoose 910776@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: I would have the name and contact info of a great LC on hand before you deliver so you can quickly and easily reach out to her if you need some help/support. And I agree about kellymom... She has good info but it comes along with a hefty dose of condescension and judgement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-910720 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 06:48:37 +0000 BKCaribBaby 910720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe a book might be helpful in addition to other resources? I read The Nursing Mother's Companion while pregnant and felt like it provided a good foundation. I didn't find it "preachy" if you are worried about that. There are lots of directions, diagrams, and troubleshooting lists. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-910670 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 02:18:47 +0000 ALV91711 910670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: i agree about the hospital class. That is all I did and there was so much I didn't know, and I wasn't aware that I didn't know. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-910664 Sun, 07 Jul 2013 01:48:39 +0000 googly-eyes 910664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: @kemma: I have seen a bit of that website but had a mixed reaction to it being an ff mom now. To bf is just not an absolute requirement (I'll ff if I again have severe ppd/ppa) but at the same time I want to give my kids the best that I can...and if I'm going to try I want to try the right way. I thought of going to a LLL meeting next time I get pregnant (more exposure/advice/info) but I think they might rip me a new one because I'm not AS willing to go to all lengths. But I'll definitely do more research and reading on Kelly mom w an open mind. </p> <p>@ALV91711: will do! I know I was unprepared last time. The hospital class was a joke! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-910566 Sat, 06 Jul 2013 23:25:22 +0000 ALV91711 910566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Start researching now, then you will have tonnes of knowledge. I wish I had learned more about breastfeeding before DS was here. I've spent many nursing sessions researching about it and wish I had done it before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-910525 Sat, 06 Jul 2013 22:48:27 +0000 runsyellowlites 910525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I totally agree about getting familiar with normal behavior long before your next bub gets here. And next time print out Kellymoms "breastfeeding a newborn" posts to the hospital with you so you know that you have accurate info on your side! I was incredibly surprised how inaccurate the hospital &amp; RN LC's were. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-910521 Sat, 06 Jul 2013 22:44:39 +0000 Kemma 910521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd recommend checking out the Kellymom website and the La Leche League message boards so you can get a feel for "normal" breastfeeding behaviour before your next LO arrives. As a first time mum I was COMPLETELY blindsided by cluster feeding, painful nursing, growth spurts etc and wish I'd done alot more research while still pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-910514 Sat, 06 Jul 2013 22:39:06 +0000 runsyellowlites 910514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@googly-eyes: :) And yea... I was so glad to get caffeine back! The recommendation is 200 mg for pregnancy &amp; 300 mg for breastfeeding. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-910509 Sat, 06 Jul 2013 22:32:18 +0000 googly-eyes 910509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: I hope you're still on hb when this happens; you are such a wealth of bf knowledge. :) And boy am I glad to hear you say that about the caffeine. It is the difference between patience and losing it some days! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-910503 Sat, 06 Jul 2013 22:29:37 +0000 runsyellowlites 910503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The caffeine limit is actually a bit higher than through pregnancy and not all babies have reaction to it. I had to cut it but b/c P was intolerant to the actual coffee bean, not the caffeine.</p> <p>As for the learning curve, G was already quite a bit older so it was easier for me to have time the time to work through bf'ing that I needed. I'm sure with the right support you'll be fine on getting the balance! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/the-bf-learning-curve#post-910495 Sat, 06 Jul 2013 22:25:20 +0000 googly-eyes 910495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are thinking about having a #2, still not ttc and probably will wait at least 6 months, so this is way in advance, but how would you deal with the bf learning curve for #2, especially if you DIDN'T bf #1? So it wouldn't just be baby learning, but mom too.</p> <p>We may be moving closer to family and I may have a much better support system next time around, but I still wonder how I'd have the time/energy to do this. I'm still a coffee addict with a 9 month old that has generally been a good night sleeper, so I have no idea how I'd even get by without coffee, but the nurses at the hospital said the baby would get the caffeine too (which I'm unsure of.)</p> <p>LO#1 in this situation would be around 2, maybe a little older (if ttc is easy.) </p>