Breastfeeding?

[katie80]

Did you take a class before the baby was born? My hospital offers one, but I think I'd prefer to learn what I can on my own before, and then meet with a LC in the hospital after the baby is here. Is that a good plan, or would I actually get something out of a class? 

In the meantime, is there a good book or video that you'd recommend? 

[shekels1222]

I didn't take a class before I had DS but I can see the benefit of taking one. Breastfeeding is natural but there is a learning curve.

I read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and got a lot of good info. But my lactation consultants were invaluable. I would have never made it 18 months of nursing without them. They are a wealth of information and support.

[Poppy]

Some of my friends really took to breastfeeding and seemed to have it just click, and some of my friends REALLY struggled, especially in the very beginning when hormones were going nuts, sleep just wasn't happening, and they were worried about the baby getting enough to eat. That second group of women really has me scared, to be honest. So I am taking a class. It's just too much of a risk to me for such a vulnerable time, I want to do everything I can to prevent problems.

That said, I'm a FTM and I haven't taken the class yet, so this decision is being driven purely by fear at this point! I can't really say whether it's the right one.

[Poppy]

Also, my insurance company will pay for LC visits after I leave the hospital. I *believe* this is part of the new ACA requirements (like the breast pump coverage) and may be common now. You should look into it so that you have the resources ready in case you need extra support!

[pinkpeony08]

I completely thought the class was worth it. It really emphasized what a good latch looks like, so I felt very comfortable recognizing a good latch after my baby was born. It was also very helpful to hear what is normal (and to have my husband hear what is normal). I also had the book about breastfeeding from LaLeche League, which was a great reference. Breastfeeding is something that takes learning both for mom and baby. HIGHLY recommend a class. It also provided us with contact info for a lactation consultant who does home visits, which was immensely helpful for me and having a home visit saved a few friends from stopping when they were struggling. It's a different game after the milk comes in.... which usually is after you leave the hospital, unless you have a c-section.

[Deleted]

I've been reading up on it, but still signed up for a class next month because I think it will be beneficial, especially for my husband. The newest edition of What To Expect the First Year has been pretty informative, and I've liked it better than the small Kindle books I've read that were exclusively about breastfeeding.

There is a lactation consultant available at the hospital after I deliver, and our ped has one on staff. I plan to take advantage of both...whatever I can do to help myself stick with it!

[gretchenindisguise]

I really really liked the book "So that's what they're for" when I had L. It's an older book, but very helpful.

[luv2rn4fun]

We are taking a class in 3 weeks. I think it will be helpful for both myself and DH. Plus, it's free so why not. I've heard both sides of breastfeeding stories (totally natural/no issues vs friends that really struggled early on). I want to be prepared with as much information as possible just in case we fall in the "have issues" group.

[pooh8402]

dirty lurker popping in.

as a nursery nurse, breastfeeding assistance is like 40% of my job (although I am not a LC, I work with 2 IBCLCs so they are awesome resources). among my FTMs, I can definitely tell a difference between those who have taken a class vs those who haven't. the ones who have taken a class seem to be more comfortable holding a baby and more willing to try different positions to find something that works. their anxiety and frustration seems to be lower too.

so I highly recommend it.

[imimahoney]

Bfing can be the easiest or the absolute hardest thing you will do with your baby. If a class is available to you I highly recommend taking it. While my class wasn't overly helpful, I did feel a lot more at ease about bfing after it was over.

I also read the bfing board on the bump incessantly and read a lot of kellymom articles with helpful pictures.

[Brie]

I took it before I had C.

While I found most of it a review of what I'd already researched and read, it was helpful for my H because he had no clue what to expect going into it. Also, it was taught by our hospital LC, so it was nice to meet her in advance. It was worth it, IMO (but it was also free, so it's not like we had anything to lose beyond a few hours).

[Brie]

Oct 30, 2014 17:01:52 GMT -5 Poppy said:

Some of my friends really took to breastfeeding and seemed to have it just click, and some of my friends REALLY struggled, especially in the very beginning when hormones were going nuts, sleep just wasn't happening, and they were worried about the baby getting enough to eat. That second group of women really has me scared, to be honest. So I am taking a class. It's just too much of a risk to me for such a vulnerable time, I want to do everything I can to prevent problems.

That said, I'm a FTM and I haven't taken the class yet, so this decision is being driven purely by fear at this point! I can't really say whether it's the right one.

I was also really worried and wound up having a very easy time BFing. Keep in mind that you don't really hear the "yep, it was no big deal" stories as much because, well, they're not interesting and it can be insensitive to people who had a harder time with it. But there's lots of happy success stories, too, I promise!

[sillygoosegirl]

I meant to, but missed the date. My midwife says it's not really necessary because she and the other midwives (many of whom are also lactation consultants) and going to be there to teach me all that stuff during my 2-day postpartum stay at the birthing center. And with like a 99% 6-week postpartum BFing rate at the center, I'm sure they will!

That said, I did read a book, and the next class at the birthing center is the day after my due date, and I intend to attend it if I'm still pregnant. I think I will have plenty of other things going on during my 2-day postpartum stay at the birthing center to keep me busy.

[jorja]

I'm taking a class next week.

My hospital also offers breastfeeding support groups for free after the baby is born.

[rachelgreen]

I'm taking a class soon. I also joined a local breastfeeding moms fb group and that seems to have a wealth of knowledge on it.

[christy082]

I'm taking a class next week. It's offered through the hospital I'm delivering at. It's not free, but I figured it'd be worth it.

[azurely]

We took a 6 week childbirth/newborn class and one of the nights was all about breastfeeding. It was helpful, but I'm sure a dedicated class would be even more helpful. I'm planning to meet with an LC in the hospital, and the hospital I'm delivering at also offers a breastfeeding support group weekly and a class about pumping for moms going back to work. Both are free, so I'm planning to take advantage of those.

[MrsAggie]

If you're clueless (aka pretty much every FTM), take a class. It will absolutely help.

I've worked in the nursery and while nurses know a ton and can be super helpful, 3am after you were just in labor for 24 hours and pushed for 2 is the absolute worst time for learning. A lot of FTMs wish they had taken a class. That way we can just add to your knowledge base and help tweak the plan to what works best for you.

[emb9907]

I took a class at the hospital and read the Art of Breastfeeding.

I will say that some of the book scared me, but overall I got a lot from it.  I hated all the discussion over how horrible hospital births were.  Then when my daughter was placed in NICU at one hour old I seriously freaked out that our BFing goal was already going to be put out the window.  I was visited by a LC in the hospital who equally scared me that it wasn't easy to have a good nursing relationship with NICU baby but after her accompanying me to a nursing session in the NICU I was satisfied that she was wrong and we would be fine. 

I don't know how much I actually got from the class but it's most helpful part was that my husband attended and he learned a lot of what to expect and how to help me when discouraging times happened.  

This time I am just going to go off our previous luck and hope it all works out.  I nursed my daughter until weaning at 18 months when I got pregnant again.  I think I might break out the book to refresh myself but I feel like I know what I am doing this time around.  

[Deleted]

Oct 30, 2014 19:46:16 GMT -5 Brie said:

Oct 30, 2014 17:01:52 GMT -5 Poppy said:

Some of my friends really took to breastfeeding and seemed to have it just click, and some of my friends REALLY struggled, especially in the very beginning when hormones were going nuts, sleep just wasn't happening, and they were worried about the baby getting enough to eat. That second group of women really has me scared, to be honest. So I am taking a class. It's just too much of a risk to me for such a vulnerable time, I want to do everything I can to prevent problems.

That said, I'm a FTM and I haven't taken the class yet, so this decision is being driven purely by fear at this point! I can't really say whether it's the right one.

I was also really worried and wound up having a very easy time BFing. Keep in mind that you don't really hear the "yep, it was no big deal" stories as much because, well, they're not interesting and it can be insensitive to people who had a harder time with it. But there's lots of happy success stories, too, I promise!

Agree with all of this.

I had a few bumps starting out BFing with DS1 but overall it was pretty easy nursing him. DS2 was even easier to nurse.

I think I have told almost no one that  because a lot of women I know struggled with BFing or `EFF from the start so it either hasn't come up in conversation or I haven't wanted to say I had an easy time to a woman that really struggled.

We took a class before DS1 and it was helpful for me and very helpful for DH to understand how he could support me and how much work it would be in the beginning.

Already have my Kindle loaded with some books I'm excited to read - gotta have something to do for the first weeks of nursing when it seems like that's all you do!

[pennylane]

I took a class a month or so ago. I made my H go with me, which I highly recommend doing if yours has no clue about breastfeeding stuff. I think the class helped cover the basics for me, and gave him a good idea of what to expect. Prior to the class, he totally thought breastfeeding from day 1 was going to be like a 15 minute thing at most every couple hours. The LC who taught the class is the one who I'll see at the hospital, so it was good to meet her and know what to expect at that point too.

[perkyderky]

As someone that is struggling with breast feeding tgat DIDNT take any of the classes our hospital offered i would recommend it. Granted, i have no idea if my personal issues would be less had i taken any class....but i would havr been more prepared up front and less scared in the beginning. Definitely a regret of mine.

[llamamama]

I took one and found it helpful. I am going to try to nurse again and will see how it goes. I did it for 4 months with my dd but didn't reach out for help when I started having issues. This time I plan on utilizing my resources more.