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It takes more than nipples to feed an infant!Oct 16 '03 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line You must have confidence in yourself and your baby! If you are going to breastfeed your baby there are several things you need. I know, I know, everyone says "all you need are your God-given breasts," but sometimes those "God-given breasts" cause some trouble. So here goes. You must have someone to help you. A husband or the baby's father, or whatever is nice, but if you're a first-timer, and they're not 100% commited to breastfeeding, you might run into trouble. So try to find a peer, someone who is an EXPERIENCED breastfeeder, but who isn't too bossy. This is an exciting but tumultuos time for you, and you don't want someone breathing down your neck (or chest!) criticizing every move you make. Lactation consultants can be VERY helpful. Second, you need nursing pads. I always used Curity disposable pads. I thought they absorbed the milk well, without falling apart. I tried three different types of washable pads, but they were all too thin, and didn't work for me at all! Next you need Lanisoh. Nipples get very tender in those first weeks (even if the baby is latching on "the right way", and it provides instant relief. A good diet, a good multivitamin, and LOTS and LOTS of water is crucial. I always felt so hungry and thirsty when I was breastfeeding that I would eat and drink whatever was in my fridge. So make sure there is healthy stuff in yours. You need a health care provider that believes in breastfeeding, and will back up all your efforts to nurse your baby. You need encouragement and a pat on the back for all your hard work. It's nice to have (but not essential) these items: a nursing pillow (I used the Boppy) because it helps you adjust the baby at the right angle and frees your hands up for other things (like pinching yourself so you don't fall asleep!) A breast pump (I love the Avent pump) so you can get a little relief when you get engorged, also so you can leave the house for a few minutes without freaking out! And it's nice to have some good nursing bras (although I will say with my third baby, my bras were so worn out, and I just never got around to getting new ones, so I just wore my regular bras!) I like the Playtex bras, but Target has some good, inexpensive bras as well. Buy several different styles, see which works best for you, and then buy four or five. (You'll need to wash these frequently, trust me!) And last of all you need confidence. Confidence that you know what's right for your baby, and if that means nursing her until she's two years old, or quitting when she's six months old, then you go ahead and do it, and ignore all the negative comments. Have fun with your precious baby.  |
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