The new parent advice thread!

[hockeyrobot]

Thanks all. Right now just taking it all in and trying to survive. It's pretty overwhelming especially when even the hospital nurses and lactation consultants all have different ways of feeding.

[Pengwin7]

^Yeah - and don't feel bad if you or your wife decides that breastfeeding isn't for you (guys).
There's a bunch of stuff out there that intonates the breastfeeding is best for the baby. (I believe studies suggest it slightly is... and it's way cheaper... but there's stress for the mother).
My wife has small breasts and was very self-conscious when neither baby latched and fed well.
(We were told that size of breast isn't a determining factor for production.. but I can/could empathize with a small-breasted woman struggling to feel that she has adequate body for mothering...)
So we made decision to do formula early on for both.
[This, of course, after spending $150 or so on a breast-pump that wasn't comfortable/didn't work for my wife.]

Formula DOES get expensive... so if you go that route - get a buddy that is part of Costco or Sam's Club or something to be ready to order cases and cases for you.
(By the end of formula... you will have spent in the thousands on that stuff... likely.)
At first, the bottles are small and the hospitals are given tons of free samples from the major formula companies to get you comfortable/hooked on a certain brand of formula.
Then it becomes your drug - you are too afraid to switch and stay with the expensive stuff because your baby seems healthy on what the hospital sent you home with.

Other advantage of formula is that either parent can prep and feed, whenever.
Man... I forgot all that stress... that was my wife's first, real, parent-let-down/failure feeling... led to some massive "baby blues" for her... tough road...
It was a lot easier when we got to kid#2 and headed straight to formula without the guilt of "we aren't doing the natural thing".

[lucafen4]

if there's a 'latching' issue - don't be afraid to use a nipple guard.
Nurses, consultants will push you away from it, but if it helps w/ breastfeeding - then who cares?
It's a temporary aid until the child can better latch without.

my parenting philosophy is do what works - regardless of what any book or anyone else says.

#itsallaboutsurvival

[Eskimo Brother]

My wife works in medicine, and they're really preaching the "fed is best" now. Breast is best was a successful marketing campaign, but it can be harmful because of the guilt and unease it puts on using formula.
Do what you need to to keep the baby healthy, everything else is secondary. At least that's what I keep getting told

[GinFizz]

My wife works in medicine, and they're really preaching the "fed is best" now. Breast is best was a successful marketing campaign, but it can be harmful because of the guilt and unease it puts on using formula.
Do what you need to to keep the baby healthy, everything else is secondary. At least that's what I keep getting told

Agreed. My wife couldnt produce enough milk to satisfy our daughters wants. As P7 mentions upthread, it was a stressful time to say the least.

Its the same with a pacifier. Some say dont use it, it may confuse the baby. I say bull#$%

[Feenom]

Agreed. My wife couldnt produce enough milk to satisfy our daughters wants. As P7 mentions upthread, it was a stressful time to say the least.

Its the same with a pacifier. Some say dont use it, it may confuse the baby. I say bull#$%

Nothing wrong with formula. There's a huge push by nurses, docs and consultants to go breast but same here, wife could not produce enough milk. Such a stressful couple of weeks of pumping nothing and feeling guilty. We had enough and went to formula and it was the best thing for us. Then we didn't hesitate for #2. Block out the noise and go with what works along with what is best for the baby. Formula was great since anyone can feed, you can go anywhere and it's easier plus you can leave the baby with the grandparents and not worry. But its whatever works.

[Eskimo Brother]

Baby was born really early this morning and weighing in at just under 8 pounds.

Her and mom are both healthy, and for the first time since the birth they're sleeping at the same time.

It is stressful, wonderful, and life-changing already

[horrorfan]

Baby was born really early this morning and weighing in at just under 8 pounds.

Her and mom are both healthy, and for the first time since the birth they're sleeping at the same time.

It is stressful, wonderful, and life-changing already

Congrats!

[Axeman33]

Baby was born really early this morning and weighing in at just under 8 pounds.

Her and mom are both healthy, and for the first time since the birth they're sleeping at the same time.

It is stressful, wonderful, and life-changing already

Congratulations ole buddy.

[senryu]

Baby was born really early this morning and weighing in at just under 8 pounds.

Her and mom are both healthy, and for the first time since the birth they're sleeping at the same time.

It is stressful, wonderful, and life-changing already

Awesome, man. The best and toughest ride of your life is ahead.

[Dr.Brad]

Congratulations!!

[Invictus]

My wife has small breasts and was very self-conscious when neither baby latched and fed well.
(We were told that size of breast isn't a determining factor for production.. but I can/could empathize with a small-breasted woman struggling to feel that she has adequate body for mothering...)

Breast size isn't a factor in production. It's the breasts glandular tissue that produces the milk, not the fatty tissue. As long as the small breast size is not related to hypoplastic breasts, there shouldn't be an issue. May need to feed more often due to reduced storage, but production is the same.
For latching type of nipple plays a factor.

But yes... like others have said do what works. The best way is the way the baby is the healthiest In my opinion anyway.
Oh and congrats EB!!! Very exciting time for you!

[chuckcouples]

Congratulations EB!!!

[Eskimo Brother]

Thanks all!

[Feenom]

Congrats and enjoy! Take it all in.