Hi I'm 4 months pregnant with my first baby and I just wanted to know some general information about feeding my baby when it gets here!
how often and for how long will I breastfeed?
When do I start giving baby gerber food or other foods?
When do I start giving baby juice? water? etc
Any other trips?
thank you!!! ↓
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| Name: firewife | Date: Jul 23rd, 2006 2:06 AM |
First of all I am so happy for you, breastfeeding is one of the best thing you can do for your baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics says you should breastfeed exclusively for six months which means no formula, juice, water or baby food. They also recommend breastfeeding for at least a year. Please note they say at least a year, that doesn't mean to wean at a year. Their views on weaning is whenever it is mutually desirable for you and your baby. Although most people wean around 12-18 months. At 6 months it is fine to start cereal and juice (only 4-6 ounces a day), you should slowly work in veggies and then fruit, never give two new foods at one time, you need a few days in bewteen to make sure baby handles it well. Babies do not need water.
Breastfeeding takes work, in the beginning you should nurse 10-12 times a day for at least 10 minutes on the first side, offer the second breast, baby may or may not want it. You WILL have sore nipples for the first week but it gets better, SEEK HELP to ensure proper latch and get support. Your hospital should have a lacation consultant on hand to help you. If you plan on going back to work, invest in a good electric pump it will be well worth. And if you do need to return to work, make sure you introduce the bottle bewteen 4-6 weeks, (not before because baby get confused or develop a preference for the fast flow of the bottle) I did not introduce the bottle early on and now my son refuses to take it.
Take a brestfeeding class around 34-35 weeks, it will be very beneficial. I hope I helped. ↑ |
| Name: Melissa | Date: Jul 23rd, 2006 4:37 AM |
| your always so helpful firewife. i think that you covered everything!!! ↑ |
| Name: Marcella | Date: Jul 23rd, 2006 5:11 PM |
Thank you so much for your help! I thought babies needed a little bit more of foods or something else but this starts me off prettty well on what they need.
It gives me a sense of relief to learn more things about the baby so now I wont be as stressed out as before.
THank you much, Icant wait to take breastfeeding courses, should be interesting. ↑ |
| Name: Farah | Date: Jul 23rd, 2006 9:29 PM |
| yep breastfeeding will hurt at first, I actually had to remember to breath every time my little on would latch on, lol. Hang in there though cause you'll notice one day that it's just not hurting any more. And when your nipples crack (or feel all dry and hard and hurt) what made mine better was squeezing out a little bit of milk and letting it dry on them. I had lanolin and some cooling patches but the milk thing actually worked best for me. This is my first baby and she's only 4 weeks but breastfeeding has gone really well for me. Be determined and do not give up! It's the best experience ever (plus the best thing for the baby) but the bonding is wonderful! ↑ |
| Name: Melissa | Date: Jul 23rd, 2006 11:33 PM |
| i have heard of all kinds of things that breasmilk cures. it is defiantly the best thing i found for sore nipples. i have also heard of people using it for ear infections, eye infections, and all kinds of stuff like that. of course i don't suggest doing anything like that without talking to your doc. ↑ |
| Name: Marcella | Date: Jul 25th, 2006 3:46 AM |
| Ow, sounds painful :( oh well anything for my baby, it's best for immunity and bonding. Does anyone have problems switching breasts while feeding? Will it make on bigger than the other in the end? lol, its a funny question, but just wondering... :) ↑ |
| Name: Melissa | Date: Jul 25th, 2006 6:15 AM |
| usually you feed on one breast until they let go or fall asleep then burp them, then you can switch. sometimes they will take the second breast and other times they won't. if you only use on breast then yes it will get bigger than the other but that is just because it is fuller. and yes it can be painful but if it is hurting once you have your son/daughter latched on then they aren't latched right. it just takes practice or both of you. when your baby does come just make sure and let your nipples get air after feeding it will help them not get chapped and hurt as bad. ↑ |
| Name: mamaheavener | Date: Jul 25th, 2006 1:49 PM |
| another source that helped me was getting the What To Expect The First Year book...it was kie my Bible with my first child...very helpful and it made me feel as though I had some kind of control over a situation before running to the doctor every time ya know. and it's just good to keep on hand for whatever....just an FYI. Good Luck....breatfeeding can be a challenge as with my second but it is so worth it if you can do it. ↑ |
| Name: mamaheavener | Date: Jul 25th, 2006 4:03 PM |
| and then there is the The Nursing Mother's Problem Solver...I got it at the library whne I was having issue with breastfeeding. What I've read of it so far has helped and good info. ↑ |
| Name: Marcella | Date: Jul 26th, 2006 5:58 AM |
| Thanks for the help everyone, I'll have to make a trip to borders pretty soon, get schooled-up on baby stuff :) ↑ |
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