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I feel like I'm still learning three weeks in but the biggest helps were having watched my sister feed my nephew a lot, and reading all about it on here. My hospital did have a lc and a class while we were there which was pretty helpful, but my sister and hb were more helpful.

There is also a drop in bf support group near me that I went to yesterday that helped a little- you night want to see if there is something like that near you.

But yeah- I am definitely still learning!

I read LLL's The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and took a class at the hospital beforehand. After LO arrived, I had a lactation consultant come by to work out kinks and attended my local LLL meetings. Those meetings have been great for fellowship and for practicing nursing in public.

I read breastfeeding make simple while I was pregnant. That gave me a great understanding of what's normal. You can look into local Le Leche League meetings. You can even start attending while pregnant. I also learned a lot on here and Kellymom.

Oh, and I had an AMAZING lacation consultant in the hospital that really helped us get started with latch, positioning, things like that.

We took Bradley Classes and I read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. My doula was also a lactation consultant, so she stayed for awhile after my labor/delivery to make sure we got the latch correctly.

I read blogs and asked questions on there, the nurses at the hospital gave some guidance and a couple days after she was born I read Womanly Art of Breastfeeding since there were lots of questions that arose.

I took a class and lots of trial and error.

@Vegmama: One of the nurses who cared for me after my c-section really helped me get a hang of things, and then I read a bit about it when I came home. I wasnt really prepared before hand because I wrongly thought it couldnt be too hard.

I took a class, had a hospital LC, hired our own LC, recommended through a friend (but you can just google it- best money I've ever spent, BTW- she came to us and it wasn't expensive), read a lot online. We had a hard time for the first 6 weeks and now things are super.

I took a class at the hospital and it was fantastic! There were SO many things I didn't know about and the LC was so good about making sure everyone felt confident when they left the class.

I took a class. But really, I just shoved my boob in his face with no problems. You can hate me.
ETA: I did obsessively google breastfed poop, and was attached to Kellymom, but other than an overactive letdown i figured it all out myself.

I took a breastfeeding class offered by our hospital (but anyone can attend regardless of where you decide to give birth), read Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding, and watched some youtube videos to make sure she was getting a good latch and to learn about experienced moms 'tricks' and tips.
The class was really helpful for me to see babies feeding, hear the sounds they make, and get expert advice about what is normal/how much they need. It was also good for DH to attend (even if he was a little bored) so that he knew how difficult it can be and how to support me by taking care of other things. It also reinforced the supply/demand relationship for him so that he didn't automatically think that I could just give her a bottle or pump whenever and have it be no big deal.

There was a lactation consultant at the hospital who stopped by the room a few times while we were there and gave me some pointers like pulling his chin down so he had the more in his mouth. Then a few months later I joined La Leche League which definitely helped me feel more comfortable breastfeeding. I also got The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding from them to read. I feel like I was lucky though because I took the few pointers from the LC and we did fine. I know at my La Leche League they had numbers and emails where you can ask them questions and for help and they would answer anytime of day or come and help you.

http://www.thealphaparent.com/2011/12/timeline-of-breastfed-baby.html?m=1

The above is a great link about breastfeeding as your baby grows from a newborn to a toddler, lots of good info!

I think one of the biggest things that will help is knowing what is normal when it comes to breastfeeding a freshly hatched newborn - stuff like colustrum, growth spurts, cluster feeding, engorgement, sore nipples, supply and demand etc. it might not help you with latching on but it will at least help you avoid bring completely blindsided like I was!!

Oh man. Trial and error. Lots of trial and LOTS of error. I wish I had had a CLUE how hard it would be for me. I thought I would be one of those lucky women who just came to it naturally!

Have the name and number of a great LC on call in case you need to contact one after the baby arrives. Take a class if you can, read a book. But a lot of it just depends on your particular baby.

Good for you for being so proactive!

@Vegmama: I had a homebirth 3.5 months ago and have been able to EBF. I worried more about breast feeding than labor so I spent months reading everything I could. My midwife was incredibly supportive, so was our doula & pediatrician. We took Bradley classes that covered breast feeding and one of the midwives who works with our midwife is a lactation consultant and taught a class. If I were you I'd talk to your midwife and see if she knows of any classes or maybe attend a couple of LLL meetings. I surrounded myself with a group of mamas who have successfully EBF. They shared their stories--good and bad and offered support. I read most of the books that others have mentioned too. The Leaky B@@b on Facebook is also filled with tons of information. I would try to find a LC before baby comes so you have someone on hand and maybe have an initial visit with them so they can cover basic stuff and look at your nipples to see if there's anything that could cause an issue. For example,
I have a flat nipple and mentioned it to my midwife so starting in the second trimester she gave me this little device that would draw the nipple out. By the time my baby arrived that nipple wasn't nearly as flat and she's latched on to it with no issue or shield or any other type of assistance.

It's hard work, but you can do it! Everyone told me the first 4-6 weeks would be the hardest. I only struggled the first two weeks. I did get mastitis right away when my milk came in and it was horrible but I pushed through it and used coconut oil like crazy--I never had cracked or bleeding nipples, thankfully. My baby has an upper lip tie, but she's been such a great nurser we haven't messed with it yet but I know a lot of people struggle with breast feeding when babies have ties, so be on the look out for that to catch it early.

I had no clue about breastfeeding until LO was born. The nurses and a lactation consultant helped in the hospital getting him to latch and telling me what to do about the sore nipples. My midwife had a few tips about the sore nipples at my first postpartum appointment. At first we had some issues with getting him to latch in the middle of the night so I met with a lactation consultant at my doctor's office and she gave some tips. Things worked out great for several months but then LO just became too distracted to nurse sometimes (most of the time now at 11.5 months) so rather than fight it I just started pumping and giving a sippy cup when he wouldn't nurse. I probably should've gone back to see the l.c. again. There are also free breastfeeding support groups at our hospital and I know some women that went to them. I'm sure there must be some at other hospitals too.