What did you read/do to prepare yourself to breastfeed? Is a class helpful? Or is this one of those "try it when you can and let a LC help" situations?
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We took a class offered by our hospital and then they had LC's visit us while we were still in the hospital.
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I took a class and used online resources like Kelly mom and Ameda. I also had LC consultations at the hospital.
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I read online
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Ooh, good question! We're taking a class but I'm scared that I'll be clueless when the time comes. Have heard that Kelly mom is a great resource!
**you might want to enable multiple options on the poll?
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We took a class, read about it online, and utilized the LC at the hospital and the one that our pediatrician recommended.
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Winged it. I thought, "It would be really weird to take a class on breastfeeding...without being able to breastfeed..." I kind of wish I had taken that class, though.
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Tagging!
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Multiple options enabled!
So did you all find the class helpful?
I looked at classes offered by my hospital, but they're offered once/month on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Right when DH has class. So I'm annoyed. I guess I can look at another hospital
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I took a class, read online and sought out an LC. I would say that the LC and the advice of other moms that I know was the most helpful.
I think that none of that will prepare you if something random and weird is going to happen. I had a rare, unforseen complication that no amount of research would have prepared me for.
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add another option - like other:
I learned when I wsa 14 weeks pregnant by watching my sister go through it firsthand! Seriously I learned more in those two weeks "helping" her than I would have from any book.
Once we were in the hospital I had a little help from the nurses, but we picked it up on our own really well. I also kept The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding on hand for reference at home.
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I voted, but forgot to add sought assistance after the baby arrived, too.
My class was extremely helpful and hysterical--especially when we practiced holds with baby dolls. The LC who taught the class was the one I relied on when I had issues with LO's latch.
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Hmm i was hoping to avoid a class since I feel like I'm all classed out already between cloth diapering, hospital childbirth, potentially natural childbirth/hypnobirthing/bradley method and now BFing. Crapolla.
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I skimmed through the first few chapters of A New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding, met with an LC at the hospital but mostly just winged it.
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@zippylef, yeah i think if something really unusual comes up, you just have to rely on your healthcare staff. Just like with pregnancy or L&D. Too many things to keep tabs on.
OK it seems like the class is a good option. 3 hours. Blah.
We're doing an online childbirth class, so that keeps us from getting too classed out. Although I think grad school will burn us out
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I didn't do much, and I was totally clueless when the time came. My baby was in the nicu and couldn't really manage it either. I just had the LC come around and show me, and then they helped me make a plan to encourage my sleepy girl to do it. We didn't have any trouble after that.
I'd personally say educate yourself however you prefer, go into it with some help set up (LLL number/LC number/mother/sister/whatever) and then just wing it. And then get a little or a lot of help.
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I think a class might've been cool, but I sought HB and winged it.
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I watched videos online of how to bf. When I first BFed LO the nurses all said I was a natural!
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I watched YouTube videos read the nursing mothers companion and identified a local lactation consultant with good reviews to have visit us at home. I bought a pump, lanolin, nursing gear, and pads. An LC visited us in the hospital as well. I had my husband there and watching when she helped me practice latching so he could help too - sometimes it's hard to tell when you're sore and their head is so tiny! I also kept baby in the room with us and offered the boob whenever he showed rooting or fussiness signs. He got into the swing of it fast and my milk came in fast without engorgement. Our nurses were supportive and said to try every three hours if not sooner- pediatrician said every two Mac and that's what I did.
Most of all I prepared mentally to hate it and stick it out... But we've had great luck and I've loved it since probably 4 days in!
Good luck
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I started to read a breastfeeding book and it gave me nightmares. So I quit in the second chapter and didn't do anything else to prepare except buying a pump. I don't even think I knew how often/#times per day I needed to BF.
However, once she got her I had the amazing support of a LC that I saw twice a week while on maternity leave (12 weeks). It was wonderful! Plus of course great advice from the online community.
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I read a book and then went to a class.at the hospital after my lo was born. The most helpful thing was to get the nurses and the PC's in the hospital to help you every time you feed. Call them.in the room every single time. In retrospect, nothing could really prepare me for it, I just had to learn as it happened.
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I read a ton of literature from Dr. Jack Newman and my doula lent me his video. For me, actually SEEING moms feed newborns with the doctor there coaching them and pointing things out was crucial. I highly recommend Dr. Newmans website http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca
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We took a BF class and LCs helped us in the hospital. I also worked with multiple LCs after Elliot was born. Even though breastfeeding didn't end up going very well for us I learned SO much!
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I winged it and planned to see an LC had there been any problems. Luckily, we didn't have any that a little reading on KellyMom couldn't fix.
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I read breastfeeding made simple. I also took a class but I didn't find it helpful. I also got help from the nurses and LC in the hospital which was a huge help for me.
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I read things online and they touched on the subject a little in our birthing class. We skipped the actual breastfeeding class though.
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I really didn't prepare at all. Every time I woud attempt to read about it I would get so overwhelmed with it all. I just winged it, and asked a LC for help when I needed it.
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I didn't do anything pre baby. I don't really think it's necessary, but I DO think that you should have the number of a good LC that you can call right after delivery if necessary. I wish I had done that (called an LC sooner) and for baby #2, I'll make an appointment for a few days after we get home from the hospital.
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I took a breastfeeding class at the hospital that was taught by a LC and I'm SO glad I did. That really prepared me for what to expect, more so than any book did. This site also helped fill in the blanks, too
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I also think that going into it with confidence and excitement really help. I just knew I'd be able to do it, and I couldn't wait. We had a lot of trouble when she was on the nicu - she just wouldn't do it. So I figured I'd keep pumping and she'd figure it out, no rush. And she did, and it was awesome. Just have faith, and expect the best.
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Being able to BF LO was very important to me, so I took a class, read a book, utilized the LC at the hospital, and read a lot online. I really think this set me up for success.
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We went to a class and found it really helpful. My nips were never sore and we got a lot of great product recommendations. LO always had a good latch and I thank the class for that. LC also helped while I was in the hospital. I think the most helpful thing I learned in the class was how to hand express.. when you're engorged and don't have a baby or a pump, it's a must!
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I took a class, but we had so many issues once she was born. I guess it helped to know that the issues we were having were not normal. Other than that, I thought the class was a waste and much better taught after the baby is born.
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I completely winged it and had no issues. At the hospital after number 2 one of the lc ladies would come in every little while to make sure I was doing it right and it kind of pissed me off because they acted like I had no idea what I was doing trying to explain how to do it even though we were doing just fine!
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We took a class and I did a little reading - I don't remember which book. The class we took met three times. I think the instructor and material she covered was great. She had a lot of "props" and baby dolls so we could practice.
We had the LCs come visit us in the hospital. I also go to BFing support groups led by the hospital LCs. -
nurses showed me what a proper latch was once he was born, i did a bit of reading online, my baby was a champion nurser and made it easy.
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I took a class and read a ton online before the baby came. Then after she was born I took a class in the hospital, saw lactation consultants, went to nursing groups, read books etc. Nothing worked, and I was unable to breastfeed b/c my supply was almost zero. It was quite a bummer to say the least!
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I winged it too. I was so naive about breastfeeding and thought because it was natural, I wouldn't have that many problems. I didn't realize it would be so painful for me, both times!
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