How to Try Breastfeeding Again After Feeling Unsuccessful With Your First Child

There are many reasons why breastfeeding is stopped prematurely. Since not all new Moms wish to stop, they can feel unsuccessful at breastfeeding. Hopefully being optimistic with your next child will lead to at least an attempt to breastfeed, if not full success. Remember every child is different and you are a more experienced Mom with each child. What you felt was difficult with your first can sometimes feel so easy with your second.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Breastfeeding bra
• Breastfeeding pads
• Pillows, high arm on sofa or doughnut shaped pillow

1. Statistics show that a majority of moms stop breastfeeding in the first 2 weeks. If this was you, try to come to terms with how you feel about that first experience. It's helpful to realize how many factors are involved in breastfeeding and even though you and your first child were willing, it just didn't work for you both. Keep to the facts instead of the emotions and hopefully you can gather enough optimism to try with your next child.

2. If you've been wearing a sports bra, or a bra that is too tight, your milk may not come in when it normally does. The tightness will push the milk ducts to the back of your chest. Breastfeeding and tight support do not go hand in hand. Your breasts react to any pressure, even pressing your hand against your breast will stop your flow. This is why breastfeeding bras are all about access and not about tight support. However, don't take this to mean that your bra shouldn't offer any support, just pay close attention to how your breasts feel in the bra. If it's too confining or it's pushing your breasts toward your chest, then it's doing the same to your milk ducts. This want to allow your milk to come in just when your baby needs it. So if you had difficulty with producing milk for your hungry newborn the first time, this could make all the difference with your next.

3. Wearing an underwire bra. This bra can cause many of the problems listed above but adds the fact that you may feel uncomfortable. Your milk ducts reach up into the underarm area which can be affected by pressure from an underwire bra. Removing this, or any, uncomfortable bra that may cause issues with your milk production is highly recommended.

4. Breastfeeding can feel painful in the beginning. Your breasts are likely tender from all the changes occurring to enable you to produce milk. With all the hormonal aspects of breastfeeding that accompany these changes, there is a lot going on in your body. Like anything that is new, your body needs to adjust to its new role as meal provider. The hormones that help you breastfeed, making your nipples softer and easier for your child to manipulate, can also make them extra sensitive. Unfortunately many Moms stop breastfeeding, because it's too painful, just when the pain is about to subside. Usually, after the first 2 weeks, your body has adjusted to breastfeeding and it's no longer painful when your child latches on. If, when your child latches on it's your other breast that feels painful, this is due to milk letting down in that breast in preparation for your child. It can cause some pain since it's not being released. If you press your arm against the nipple it usually will stop the discomfort right away.

5. If you experience broken skin or bleeding of your nipples, this is usually due to difficulties with your child latching on. Nipple creams that do not need to be washed off prior to breastfeeding can be helpful but usually letting your nipple completely dry before being tucked back into your bra can stop the dryness. The wonderful thing about breastfeeding today is there are so many resources available to new Moms. Most hospitals can supply contacts for breastfeeding consultants and many Baby stores have breastfeeding classes or offer one-on-one consultations with specialists/nurses. If you are having difficulty, don't let it get to the point that your nipples are bleeding. Call your doctor or a breastfeeding specialist and get the assistance that's available to you.

6. If your nipples are getting chapped or chaffed, it is usually a sign of improper latch on and can be alleviated. The best recommendation is to have a consultation with a breastfeeding specialist (call your local Baby store or your baby's doctor). You just might need a slight tweaking in how you are putting your child to your breast and how your child is reacting with their tongue to your nipple. Other signs of latch on issues are that the child's lip(s) get blistered or that the tongue makes a clicking noise while nursing. Remember it takes both of you to make this a successful endeavor.

7. One of the hardest things to do if you are having difficulties is to relax, and yet relaxing is necessary. A relaxed Mom usually means having a relaxed baby. If the baby can't stay latched on, don't keep trying. A frustrated Mom and a crying baby isn't a good combination. Take a break. Usually when a baby is crying but won't stay latched on, it's because they have gas that may take a long time to release.

8. Ask for help. Try emailing other Moms; just receiving their ideas and experiences can be encouraging enough to see you through whatever you are experiencing. Check out online resources if you aren't able to meet with a breastfeeding consultant. Remember that, if you stop breastfeeding before you planned, you are making the choice that is best for you and your child.

Tips & Warnings

• As long as your child likes the position you put them in, you can find many different places to breastfeed, such as lying down on the sofa. Nursing with your child positioned on the arm of a sofa with a high arm lets you breastfeed hands free. Some positions that are highly recommended may not suit your child. For example, the clutch position, in which the child is under one arm facing the breast, is not comfortable for a tall baby.
• Hands free can be really helpful when you also have an older child.
• Don't purchase the disposable nursing pads to wear to bed at night. If you are breastfeeding frequently at night, your pads can become over-saturated, causing them to fall apart.
• Wearing a bra to bed with nursing pads may be the only way to sleep if you are expressing milk during the night (thus wetting the bed). Make sure you are really comfortable in the nursing bras you purchase.

Resources

• Pediatric Assistance
• Online Breastfeeding Assistance

[derbyka]

on 11/26/2008 very detailed article