Do I need a breastfeeding class?

[bluelikejazz]

We're going to take a joint "birth" and "baby basics" class, but I can't decide if we should also take a breastfeeding class (they offer them all three combined, but I can't make that one, so I'd have to take it separately).

Confession: I'm willing to try breastfeeding, but honestly, it's more about saving money on formula than anything.  If it doesn't work out, I'm don't think I'm going to be heart broken about it.  I'm afraid I'm going to be shamed into "nothing is as good for your baby as breastmilk" and leave feeling terrible for not being 100% sure.

I get 12 weeks maternity leave, and my office has a "wellness room" for pumping/storing milk, so I'm set up for success on that end.

Thoughts?

[scribellesam]

There's some benefit to it but I think BF classes in particular can be a little too theoretical to be especially helpful beforehand. It's easier to get help from a BFing support group or lactation consultant afterward once you can cater the help toward your specific baby and situation.

[demandypants]

I hadn't taken the class, but we did need to see a lactation consultant a couple days after being discharged. We had a bad latch that was causing me a lot of pain. It helped tremendously. The LC group was affiliated with my pediatricians office and was covered by insurance and I just had a copay.

Before DD was born, I also had done some reading up on general BFing techniques, and familiarized myself with the gist of it all.

[luv2rn4fun]

I'm not sure if it's necessary but I just signed up for one. It's free so why not. I'm kind of bummed though...it was recommended that DH also attend (the whole "two ears is better than one", especially if I'm having trouble he might remember something that I'm not since I'll be the one more stressed) but the class is on weekdays at 9:30-11:30.

[MamaMaui24]

I agree with Rex. It's hard to learn how to nurse in a class without your baby but the biggest take away was what DH learned. How important spousal support would be, etc. With friends, I know their husbands were the ones on the phone with lactation consultants while the mom was trying to nurse.

[linz]

I feel the same as you about breastfeeding and I don't plan to take one. I guess I feel like I've lurked on MMM enough to know basics and will call an LC if I need help. A lot of it too I think you have to wait till baby is here and you actually try.

[blushing]

I never took a BF class and could do it fine, but I was lucky. DS took to it like a duck to water.

I also just wanted to say that please don't let anyone force you into breastfeeding. I am happy you want to try it, and it is not easy to establish it. But if after 6 weeks you find that it is making you miserable then consider if it is worth it to you. I am a peer to peer breastfeeding supporter, meaning I am trained to go into hospitals, lactation groups and people's homes to help them learn to breastfeed, and I will go to the end of the earth to help a mom learn to breastfeed. I am a great supporter of breastfeeding, but I also believe more than anything that it is something that the mother must want to do, and not something she feels forced into. A happy mom makes a happy baby.

[bluelikejazz]

Aug 28, 2014 9:36:32 GMT -5 luv2rn4fun said:

I'm not sure if it's necessary but I just signed up for one. It's free so why not. I'm kind of bummed though...it was recommended that DH also attend (the whole "two ears is better than one", especially if I'm having trouble he might remember something that I'm not since I'll be the one more stressed) but the class is on weekdays at 9:30-11:30.

Ours it $40.  BUT, they have a weekly "hands on" breastfeeding class for mom's with babies up to 8 weeks old that is free.  Sounds like that might be my better option, since it's with a lactation consultant who can actually watch me and give pointers.

I think I'll just have DH read up on spousal support for breastfeeding (and I'll do a little more internet reading as well) instead of spending $40.

[Deleted]

Aug 28, 2014 9:50:27 GMT -5 bluelikejazz said:

Aug 28, 2014 9:36:32 GMT -5 luv2rn4fun said:

I'm not sure if it's necessary but I just signed up for one. It's free so why not. I'm kind of bummed though...it was recommended that DH also attend (the whole "two ears is better than one", especially if I'm having trouble he might remember something that I'm not since I'll be the one more stressed) but the class is on weekdays at 9:30-11:30.

Ours it $40.  BUT, they have a weekly "hands on" breastfeeding class for mom's with babies up to 8 weeks old that is free.  Sounds like that might be my better option, since it's with a lactation consultant who can actually watch me and give pointers.

I think I'll just have DH read up on spousal support for breastfeeding (and I'll do a little more internet reading as well) instead of spending $40.

That class sounds really good.

Yeah we took one first time around and I found the best thing about it was DH learned it was a full time job. The LC who ran it basically said that while I was feeding he should do dishes, cook a meal, do laundry and then when I was done he should take the baby, burp it, soothe it and change diapers. I loved her

Also, it was nice to have an LC we already knew before the baby arrived. I was able to call her for advice and if I needed to she could do home visits.

[rbp]

I'm doing fine without having taken a BF class. I may have gotten lucky because M has had a good latch since birth. I also had some really good instruction in the hospital. All the PP nurses have lactation training, so they showed met the basics of how to hold him, how often to feed him, etc. I requested a visit from a hospital LC, and she spent two hours with me going over details of positioning, helping me get a good latch, and showing me how to pump. Not all hospitals will offer this service, though.

I was willing to pay a private LC for a house call, but so far it's been unnecessary.

I did read The Nursing another's Companion, which is a good reference book and pretty non-judgmental.

[specialk]

Medela offers online classes, and there are always coupon codes floating around for free. I got one from Motherhood Maternity. I plan on taking those (I think there are 12 sessions or something like that) since I can do them on my own time and just show DH the parts I think he would need to know, and I can review again anytime I want. If I feel like they aren't enough after taking them, I can always sign up for an actual class.

[smm5623]

I think it's more important to see a LC after birth and get 1:1 help. I would save the money and do that instead.

[CrazyLucky]

I went to the breastfeeding class with DH, and found it very useful. It was a three hour class, and I'd say worth the time.

As far as not giving yourself too much pressure. That is a good thing. I think with DS I was so focused on exclusive BF'ing and I wish I wasn't. With DD I was more relaxed, but she was way easier. However, once you get the hang of it, you may find you enjoy it for reasons other than saving money on formula. It is so nice to have to stop everything and spend 10 or 15 quiet minutes with LO. (Of course, that's only for the first one. With the second one, you're busy answering questions. What's that mommy? Why doesn't she drink milk out of a cup? Is she sleeping? What is that noise she's making? Did she just poop?)

[jewel]

Aug 28, 2014 9:26:11 GMT -5 bluelikejazz said:

Confession: I'm willing to try breastfeeding, but honestly, it's more about saving money on formula than anything.  If it doesn't work out, I'm don't think I'm going to be heart broken about it.  I'm afraid I'm going to be shamed into "nothing is as good for your baby as breastmilk" and leave feeling terrible for not being 100% sure.

I did take a breastfeeding class, and I honestly felt like they spent about 90% of the class trying to push the breastfeeding agenda, as opposed to any actual teaching of techniques.

Most of us had specific questions, related to pumping, breast shields, possible issues, etc. and the teacher (also a LC) basically answered them all by saying that each mom and baby are different, and specifics are best addressed once the baby is here and a nurse or LC is working with you directly. I don't even feel like it helped my husband understand the challenges of BFing, because most of the conversations ended up at "it might be hard, but it's worth it." Obviously, we were all there because we are interesting in BFing, so the pressure to consider it the only (or omg BEST BEST BEST) option was really unnecessary.

I'm sure a big part of this was just my awful teacher. Luckily, the class was free at our hospital, but I'd like those 2 hours of my life back.

[ringstrue]

I also read books and used kellymom.com and got through. I did have a LC # on hand if I needed it. I agree that personalized help (and GBCN support!) while you are in the thick of it is probably more helpful than an intro class. The PPs has a good point about spousal support though.

[FastHands]

I didn't read aaanything prior to birth, and was relying on the bf class that we ended up missing because I was sent to the hospital to have the baby. But the LC in the hospital was AMAZING, and while I would have done better if I had that info on day 1 vs day 2 when I saw her, it would have been helpful (maybe I could've kept his sugars stable w/o adding preemie formula that first day), but we did ok.