A question about after the birth...

It's really a bit early to be asking this, but it's been playing on mind and I'm just wondering if anyone knows anything about it...

Are you able, right from birth...like STRAIGHT afterwards, to get a meeting (either spontaneous or arranged) with a breast-feeding expert ? If that's the right term, not sure what to call them, lol.

Last time, I had a bunch of nurses and midwives give me varying advice on breast-feeding, and a lot of it was very conflicting advice. Plus none of them managed to get my baby to latch on, and I ended up pretty confused.
One midwife did manage to get him on there, but she kinda came in...shoved him on, and went away and didn't come back. It was great that he was feeding and all, but I would rather she had shown ME what to do, rather than doing it for me. Didn't help that it was my first, and I was clueless and didn't even really know what questions to ask-was a bit overwhelmed really.
I didn't end up breast-feeding long, I never got the hang of it and after numerous infections and a few weeks of using a pump (which was easier than trying to feed a baby that wouldn't latch), I changed to formula.
I never knew that it can take up to 8 weeks for things to settle, or that you need time to 'learn' how to breast-feed.
I thought it was something that would take a week or two, at the most.

Anyway this time I would really like to give breast-feeding the best go that I can. I have already started reading books and articles about it, and I understand that it really is a skill that needs to be learned for many women.
This time, if possible, I would like to see/talk to ONE person about it, not numerous nurses who were impatient and varying in their advice.
I don't mind paying someone for this, so that is no concern...I just don't know how available this kind of thing is? I will ask my midwife next time I see her, and I'm looking up the La Leche League for info too...but maybe someone has experience here?

By the way, this isn't about formula/breast-feeding, or whichever is better. If there is a good reason for me to go the formula route again this time, then I will do so and not feel bad for it. But giving breast-feeding the best chance I can is something I've realised is quite important to me this time.

Anyway, thanks...will appreciate any comments on this!

I see you are in Palmy. Barb is one of the lactation consultants up at the hospital and she is BRILLIANT! As soon as you get into the post natal ward ask your MW to go arrange with the hospital MW's a meeting with the lactation consults. They usually can't come immediately because they do have appts they have to attend to. But they will come as soon as they can.

You may be able to ring the hospital and ask directly for her and see if they can oganise something more specific for you but I'm not sure if they would do that or not.

Thanks nzpiper. Even first time around, I did understand the 'method' of breast-feeding, it was putting it into practise that was difficult.

Thanks for your reply.

FYi you can see a lactation consultant PRE birth if you want to and go over what happened last time and set in motion a plan.

fattartsrock wrote: FYi you can see a lactation consultant PRE birth if you want to and go over what happened last time and set in motion a plan.

I didn't know that, so thanks.

I feel silly asking what probably seems a pretty basic question, but if you don't ask...you don't find out.
I'm planning on investing in a good breast pump this time round (I used a hospital one last time, since it was quite a last minute decision), I've heard Avent Isis is one of the best/easiest to use?

I have an avent isis and it was brilliant. Getting one that can do both manual and electric is really handy too.

At Palmy hospital the breastfeeding talks are run daily at 10:30am I think. They are handy and its a good place to catch the lactation consult.

And like Teresa said don't leave until you have it sorted. I was being "pushed" to get out of the hospital on day 2 but I said no, I was staying because Daniel wasn't feeding.

Who is your MW this time around???

You can ask to see the LC before you have the baby. I had issues with my first and after talking with my MW we went over a few things and I was able to feed my second till he was 7 months - he self weaned.

i had problems with latching and got huge gashes on my nipples. they only really came to head after leaving hospital. Having a really sucky baby didn't help as well as flat nipples. I had a couple of mw's in birthcare help me but once they got worse my mw rang thru referal to teh lc at birthcare who was greta! saw her once, and she called me a couple of times to check up on how things were.

i really do recommend talking to your mw and letting her know your concerns at least. she may suggest having a session with lc anyways.