I'm pregnant!!! How do I breastfeed?

Call your La Leche league now.  They can give you ideas how to prepare your nipple before hand, so it's toughened up and you don't get that soreness you get at the beginning, especially when trying to feed your dd with only one.  It's possible too, that you might have to supplement b/c of only using one breast, so she/he gets enough to thrive on.  They'll watch that too with her/his development and weight gain.  Good for you for trying, but as Nash says...some women aren't able to for one or another reason.  Please, know that you tried and didn't fail your child.  Some just pick up everything and other not.  Do you get your children immunized?

Marlina, I do not have breast cancer (sister does) I had 2 children, i tried to breastfeed, but my nipples were so sore and bleeding also, I wasn`t producing enough milk to satisfy him, which I didn`t know until I took him to the doctor becasue he just cried and he aid he was just hungry, (talk about guilt). I from then on bottle feed both my children with formula, and they certainly got there share of colds etc, my sister who breast feed all her 4 children had more colds,ear infections etc than mine ever did. don`t be guilty, you do what only you can do.

good luck

Definitely work with LLL or a nursing consultant to ensure the baby is latching on the right way.  Congrats on the pregnancy!

Hi

I actually breast fed both of my kids for quite a long time. I stopped breastfeading my first one at 26 months, just before my 3rd trimester of pregnancy with my second. I then breastfed my 2nd until he was 3 1/2. I actually was still nursing, though barely, when I found out about the cancer. Even though my nipples had plenty of use, I thought it was ironic that with both, the first month was very painful. My opinion is that it is the hormones making them super sensitive - that is why I stopped nursing my oldest - I just couldn't take it anymore.It could also have something to do with the size of the baby's little mouth and coping with the intensity of the let downs. After that first month, there was absolutely no pain. It becomes so easy that there are times you have to look to see if they are even attached. Pumping is a drag but do-able to get the extra milk that you will need. You HAVE to use a decent pump like a Medela, though, because it just takes too long to get anything - if anything from cheaper models. Don't get discouraged. It really is easy to think that your baby isn't getting enough. All moms worry that their babies don't get enough and it does seem that they never want to stop in the beginning. I would feed at least every two hours and I had some fat babies from purely breastfeeding. You will only have colostrum for a short time. You might want to consider that your 2nd baby might really need that colostrum because the older child will most likely bring in lots of germs - mine brought germs and colds home that he never had to deal with as a little baby. I can't remember if I toughened my nipples or not - chemo brain?? - but it sounds like a good idea. Breastfeeding was really the happiest time of my life. I will miss it tremendously and regret that I can't have more kids. At least I got a lot of use out of mine before they have to be removed - December.  If you can stick through the pain for awhile, it really will get better. Don't doubt your body's ability to make what your baby needs. Their little stomach's are so tiny at first so they have to drink often. Good luck!!

I have a three month old and I did try to breastfeed  like you nothing happened I found my lump when he was 6 weeks old.. however when trying my nipples got cracked and bled as well I read to put nipple cream on them months before you have the baby to soften them, but the cracking and bleeding after the fourth day of trying without succeeding was gone so it doesn't last long or at least didn't for me! By the way congrats!!