What not to do?

[rachdent]

Hi everyone

Just wondering if anyone has any tips for new mums on what not to do while feeding (it's for my book). One mum suggested this topic for me - saying that she wished somebody had told her not to let her baby fall asleep at the breast. I'd love anyone that has any other tips to add them below!

Cheers,
RACH!

[wattle]

Dont keep feeding if you think bub isn't attached properly. STOP and reattach, then start again.

[Chickadee]

Do not try to diet. You need all those calories and yummy healthy food.

Do not listen if someone tells you you're feeding bub too often, that it should only be every 2, 3, 4... hours.

[Foxymoron]

Don't listen to people who say "there's nothing in your milk, you should feed that baby (insert cereal/formula/etc)"


I'd be lost if my babes couldn't fall asleep at the breast! :eek: It's a wonderful way to get to sleep!

[JanetF]

Hmmm it's a shame your informant was given such shoddy advice. Babies are supposed to fall asleep at the breast.

How about info on how breastfeeding is about su much more than only nutrition?

[TinyStar]

Hows about "dont wait too long to try and express and introduce bubs to drinking from a bottle"

as lovely as bfing is, and as much as you miss the closeness of a feed when you have to skip one for whatever reason. Sometimes it can be really frustrating when you have no option but to breastfeed.

Maybe a chapter about how much of a committment bfing is, and of course the advantages of this committment. So that it can be seen as a positive.

[Supermum]

The fact that my son fell asleep at the breast was my saving grace. It was the only time he slept peacefully and I fed him when he asked for it.

Don't wait until you've started breastfeeding to get yourself a glass of water! My son would start feeding and could literally feel my mouth getting drier.

[Nickster]

My tip is to ignore people who tell you to not let your baby fall asleep at the breast. What a lot of codswallop - everyone knows that breastmilk contains a chemical that makes babies sleepy - babies are supposed to fall asleep at the breast!! And mummy is supposed to have a little nap too!! It's what our bodies were designed to do - and for a good reason.

I would suggest the importance of gettting a really comfy chair or similar positon (eg. lying down) for feeds, when it seems like that's all you are doing in the early months, and recovering from birth allows you to discover all sorts of aches and pains you never knew were possible. Also, to have a "feeding station" of sorts set up - glass of water/juice, book, remote controls, tissues, etc all within reach.

[Foxymoron]

Nickster, I think that's a great point.. getting your little feeding area set up! Especially during the day or those night feds when you can't stay in bed because the baby needs some awake time and a change...

Boobies rock as a snooze inducer, my DD still feds to sleep every night, I lay with her and read a book or go to sleep too :)

[Jaileth]

Nickster - what a great idea! I'm getting ready for my first bub - will have to put this one on my 'to do' list.

I've never been told about babies falling asleep when they feed. I guess all that sucking wears them out. :p

[Nickster]

Just as a little aside (sorry rachdent), I had 3 feeding stations set up - one beside the bed for lying down feeds (mainly book, tissues and a bunny rug that could be put under her for messy times, or over her if the aircon was a little chilly), one beside her cradle (just an old cane occasional table with tissues, nipple cream, book, and another bunny rug - oh, and feeding pillow) near the rocking chair, and one downstairs in the living room (another feeding pillow, tissues, book/mags, bunny rug and remote controls) so I felt a little freer to choose where the feed would happen and not have to drag everything around to each station each feed. Oh, and spare breast pads at each station were a plus! :)
Hope this helps the new mummies *hugs* to you!

[aardvark]

I'd say don't ignore any sore spots or lumps in the breast. They can develop into mastitis at a frightening rate - and mine did so in the wee hours of the morning, when there is little help available.

If you think you have a blocked milk duct, see if you can express by hand to dislodge it, otherwise get some attention.

[indian mom]

Hai
I m a mom of 19 month old cheeky n was b/feeding till 1 month back.The best part was when I used to feed her i used to lie down n sleep along with her especially during night.We both slept together in the same bed n never in those 18 months my night sleep was disturbed.whenever she wanted feed i'll do that lying besides her in my sleep.
I m so pleased with this habit that i'm gonna do the same thing again with my second bubba. ;)

Good luck to u for ur motherhood

Take care

[Tea Lady]

I was not warned about the possibility of thrush, even though I was on antibiotics, and my fairly severe case was only diagnosed on the 3rd visit to a lactation nurse :eek: I used to nearly black out from the pain of feeding and since the books said to expect some pain I thought it was normal! In hindsight I think I would not have let my baby suck for as long (1hr 20 was not unusual) not because I have any problem with that conceptually but because my nipples were SO sore - I don't think she was actually getting much milk for alot of that time. I think she just wanted to suck, so a dummy and a cuddle probably would have done the job.

Totally agree with others about having a feeding station set up and having a comfy chair, and not worrying about bub falling asleep, especially in the early weeks.

L

[kimmy]

Don't worry about how much you eat when bf because it burns a lot of energy so it makes you hungry & i agree don't worry if bub goes to sleep when feeding let them go. Chloe still falls asleep on the boob.