[blparent] Sensitive breast feeding concern, ladies only

[Angie Matney]

Everyone has given good advice. Get a good pump and become familiar
with it before you go to the hospital, if possible. (If you have
access to a flexible spending account through your employer, you can
purchase the pump with those dollars. I used mine to get a
hospital-grade pump.)

As someone else said, I'm not trying to be argumentative or to start a
debate. And you do have people in your family who were successful with
pumping. But as someone who exclusively pumped for a few weeks, I have
to say, it's incredibly difficult and time-consuming--much more so
than nursing. Also, most people do not pump as much milk as the baby
can extract.

I did have some latch-related issues in the hospital--quite likely for
similar reasons as those you've mentioned, but I received nothing but
encouragement from the labor and delivery nurses. There wasn't a
lactation consultant at the hospital where I delivered, but I did see
several later. But even when we were having issues, no one at the
hospital questioned my competence as a mother or Chuck's and my
ability to care for our baby.

I guess what I'm saying is that I wouldn't rule out nursing just
because you are worried about hospital staff or because you think you
might possibly have problems. Bring your pump with you and let the
nurses know that if you do have problems, you are prepared to pump
and, if necessary, to supplement with formula. Use your pump while you
are in the hospital even if you do decide to try nursing. But if you
are interested in nursing, consider trying it, with the assumption
that you will receive support from hospital staff.

Good luck with everything.