Breastfeeding Facts!

what an interesting topic.

I am also a new mom to be. now 15 weeks pregnant with my first.
(and very clueless)

so after reading your facts i have 2 questions:
1. how would you know if baby does not latch properly?
2. how would you fix it so that baby latches properly?

Good afternoon moomies

The next few points :

7. A mother should wash her nipples each time before feeding the baby. Not true! Formula feeding requires careful attention to cleanliness because formula not only does not protect the baby against infection, but also is actually a good breeding ground for bacteria and can also be easily contaminated. On the other hand, breast milk protects the baby against infection. Washing nipples before each feeding makes breastfeeding unnecessarily complicated and washes away protective oils from the nipple.

8. Pumping is a good way of knowing how much milk the mother has. Not true! How much milk can be pumped depends on many factors, including the mother's stress level. The baby who nurses well can get much more milk than his mother can pump.

9. Breast milk does not contain enough iron for the baby's needs. Not true! Breast milk contains just enough iron for the baby's needs. If the baby is full term he will get enough iron from breast milk to last him at least the first 6 months. Formulas contain too much iron, but this quantity may be necessary to ensure the baby absorbs enough to prevent iron deficiency. The iron in formula is poorly absorbed, and most of it, the baby poops out. Generally, there is no need to add other foods to breast milk before about 6 months of age.

10. It is easier to bottle feed than to breastfeed. Not true! Or, this should not be true. However, breastfeeding is made difficult because women often do not receive the help they should to get started properly. A poor start can indeed make breastfeeding difficult. But a poor start can also be overcome. Breastfeeding is often more difficult at first, due to a poor start, but usually becomes easier later.

11. Breastfeeding ties the mother down. Not true! But it depends how you look at it. A baby can be nursed anywhere, anytime, and thus breastfeeding is liberating for the mother. No need to drag around bottles or formula. No need to worry about where to warm up the milk. No need to worry about sterility. No need to worry about how your baby is, because he is with you.

Hi there Huggles

Firstly, so sorry about the loss of your 1st born son How soon after that, did you fall pregnant with your 2nd son???

Do you know if your son latched properly? Sometimes it might feel like a proper latch but isn't and that can cause milk not to come in properly as the breast doesn't get drained as it should. Did your son have a lip-tie or tongue-tie? Sometimes mothers only find that out after their child is over a year or so & they've LUCKILY breastfed so far but have always felt some discomfort etc.

This is what I've gathered from previous questions asked and what the leaders had to say:

Factors that may delay milk increase after birth are: 1.Overweight and obesity, 2. other health conditions such as Type 1 diabetes, polycystic ovary symdrome (PCOS), thyroid and pituitary issues,3. drugs such as pseudoephedrine, 4. Underdeveloped breasts, 5. history of breast surgery or injury, 6, unusual nipple anatomy and nipple piercing, 7. long and traumatic birth, 8. ceasarean birth, 9 preterm birth,10. retained placenta or placental issues, 11. Blood loss of more than 500ml

Was baby latched properly so as to stimulate breast. If latched too shallow on nipple, breasts would not be stimulated. Its possible that psychological anxiety from past experience (which I think might have played a roll) and the prem birth delayed milk even further

And what happens when the milk just doesn't come in at all?

My first son was born at 24 weeks (sadly he didn't survive). 4 days after his birth, even with no baby at home, no crying, no suckling, no stimulation at all, my milk still came in. My boobs got full and I knew that my milk was now properly in. Thankfully it dried up really qiuckly too due to no stimulation.

But when my second son was born (36 weeks) my milk never came in. Not at all. By day 8 he had lost 15% of his body weight and was severely jaundiced and dehydrated. I had to start him on formula urgently.
I had demand fed, I'd had a natural drug free birth. I'd done everything "right" so to speak, but my body had decided otherwise.
I then went on to continue to bf him the 1 teaspoonful of milk i made at a time, together with the formula, but he definitely got all his nutrition from the formula. I was able to continue with that for 2 months. During that time i tried fenugreek, Schlehen black berry elixir, brewers yeast, I even went against my will completely and tried eglonyl. They didn't help at all. I was pumping, feeding, pumping, feeding, the works. Anythign and everything i could do i tried. Nothing helped. I literally just had no milk. What tiny bit did come out was thin and watery, not rich and creamy.

So what do you do then?

I know what it feels like when the milk comes in and i definitely didn't have that at all.

I sent you a private msg Hopeful.
Just check when you have time

Hopeful, I'm sure you will push to atleast 36 weeks, which is still a good stage for twins to be delivered.

One of my friend's had twins but not identical was lucky enough to carry all the way to the end BUT each pregnancy is different and we trust the Lord above that those precious miracles will come at the right time but yes, seeing that you are in Namibia, you'll probably get the support via internet. I will check if there are leaders out there

I will keep on posting info daily cause there is ALOT to cover!