breastfeeding workshop - beneficial or not 2nd time around?

[underhillroad]

Hello... just wondering what you think - I am having (not our first) a baby in a few weeks time and was wondering whether any 2nd or 3rd time mums had been to a breastfeeding workshop or whether you felt it was pretty irrelevant since you'd done it before. I breastfed my last child, albeit with many problems to begin with, I found that I managed fine in the end once we'd both got the hang of what we were meant to be doing - though i have to say the first few weeks were pretty traumatic for both of us (probably for baby due to her birth which left her a bit traumatised according to the doc and for me as we had to feed her with expressed milk through a pippet for first week before all calmed down and the breastfeeding started to work). On the advice of the midwife I filled in the form to attend the breastfeeding workshop run by Kings, held at Dulwich Hospital, but this was months ago. Now a few weeks away from giving birth I don't know if I can find the time to attend the 4 hour session next week but am wavering since it might be worthwhile having a refresher on the subject. What I'm wondering is - for those of you who have breastfed more than one child - did you find it all came back to you easily or not? Would you have benefited from a 'workshop' or am I going to waste my morning when I have childcare arranged for a few hours already and I could do with using that time to do other admin that is crying out to be done before next baby arrives. Advice please, thanks X

[Smiler]

I am going to give it a miss this time, only done b-feeding the once, and like you had problems at first but picked it up.

The course was helpful, but very long (it ran over the allotted time) and there were no proper breaks, so not ideal for heavily pregnant ladies, though they may have corrected this. Couldn't face it again!

The key thing for us was getting practical help from the Kings community midwife in the early days. No-one got in touch at first, so we had to chase them up when our daughter was screaming for 8 hours straight and getting skinny, but when the midwife finally did come she was brilliant, gave us hands-on help and great practical tips, and we were soon well away. If we had any problems with feeding again, I would try to get someone round at an earlier stage.

[gwod]

I found antenatal breastfeeding clinics to be not very helpful. Learning to breastfeed without a baby is a bit like learning to swim without getting into a pool! You already know the theory - its just the "putting it into practice" that you may (or may not) need help with - and the coping with any specific problems that you and your baby may (or may not) have, as they come up. I would advise using the b/feeding clinic and consultants at the hospital as much as possible in the first few hours/days of your baby's life - go every feed if you can to check your progress.

Incidentally I really struggled with breastfeeding with my first - never tried with my second and found it easy peasy with my 3rd and 4th, I think I just was more relaxed as I knew that everything would be OK if it didnt work out, wheras first time I branded myself a bad mother for even considering giving up.

Best of luck!!

[Moos]

I personally found the breastfeeding workshop at King's pretty poor. It took about 4 hours to convey what could have been said in 2: there was an awful lot of repetition and far too much time on anecdotes about grannies breastfeeding their grandchildren, and so on. The video was quite useful, but that was all. Plus there was a lot of very definite advice about topics that actually are not that cut and dried. A trivial example - "Don't use expensive creams - if you've bought any, throw them away immediately. Breast milk is much better for sore breasts". That may be true for some women, but definitely not for all.

To be fair, I agree with Smiler and gwod that it's a really hard topic to learn in theory. We all held dolls to our breasts and felt rather silly.

What was incredibly helpful were breastfeeding cafes/clinics, with very supportive and experienced counsellors running them, and the mutual help and sympathy of other mothers also learning their trade. I don't think I would have managed to keep going if it wasn't for them, bless them.

[Smiler]

Yes, there is no substitute for an actual baby! Dolls do not scream in frustration, bob about etc. The latching on thing took a while for us to latch onto!

Our daughter looked like gizmo from "Gremlins" when she was born, with the big eyes and cheeks, but soon turned into a gremlin when we had probs with feeding, with reptilian-style screaming / shaking / skin-tones. Terrifying!

Was it the video with the skiing scandinavians?!

I found cold tea-bags good for soreness. The expensive creams are, however, v.good for general beauty needs, e.g. cracked feet, rough elbows etc!

Maybe we should start a tips thread if there isn't one already.

[Moos]

Hee hee, yes it was the skiing breastfeeding Norwegians - amazing ladies. I have just remembered there was another bit that really made me giggle, showing a closeup of a breast in profile against a black background; a solemn voice-over intones 'a nipple is as delicate as a rose' and lo and behold a rose wobbles into shot.

I really should grow up.

I think there is a tips thread - probably needs revitalising. I found Lansinoh (sp?) cream quite good (yes, also for heels, dry hands etc.), but milk was no use at all. Except to feed the baby, and Lansinoh was no good for that.

[woofmarkthedog]

Well...

My first was premature by 5 weeks poor boy, just the sheer mechanics was against him. Small mouth/big ni**le thing made it impossible.

Son 2 arrives & boy he's got some gob on him, so the workshop/help was fantastic for mrs w**f, though I felt for her, it was like being launched at by a small bear, snarling & the whole 9 yards

He's 5 now & still charges at life flat out

So, yes IMHO take all the help that's there

Oh & good luck

W**F

[dutchestatefamily]

Hi Underhillroad,

I'm in a similar situation to you. Our second baby is due in a few weeks and I'm also down to go to the breast feeding workshop next week. I decided to go along this time round as I didn't last time (we moved to the area weeks before our son was born so I didn't get to attend any local classes/ groups). I'm not expecting loads from it but thought I'd give it a go as I've got some childcare in place for that time anyway.

So maybe see you there and we can exchange 2nd time round experiences!

Good luck for the birth!

[hanstands]

I did the Kings B feeding course which was ok but I felt angered by it after baby was born as they kept emphasizing that the only reason why breastfeeding can hurt is if the latch is wrong - boy were they wrong and I was mad that I believed them. I took them to their word and would try to re-latch about 50 times through tears and pain every feed day and night in the early days so as to 'get it right' so the pain would go away. Three months later the pain went away when it was discovered that I'd had some infection that needed antibiotics and oversupply of milk both of which caused the pain -- not a bad latch, grrrr. So go but don't believe everything they say. There were some good bits to the course though. What I would suggest would be to have the La Leche League helpline number ready for post birth and call them if any problems and put the dates of the local breasfeeding cafes down in your post birth diary and get yourself down to those for the first few weeks at least -- amazingly helpful and kind. One in Peckham Library and one in the church on Barry Road [though I personally found the Peckham one better].

[lorraineliyanage]

I didn't do the breastfeeding workshop because the thought of sitting still for 4 hours and not being able to scoff my face was enough to put me off. Pregnant ladies need snacks!

The Peckham Library breastfeeding cafe is great if you need help.

[sillywoman]

This might be helpful?

[underhillroad]

Thanks to all of you who posted on this thread. It was really useful to hear your feedback on the Kings course as well as on breastfeeding 2nd time around in general and recommendations of places to go if we need some help. I really appreciate all your thoughts. Thanks X

[Pickle]

I had a tough time getting breastfeeding established first time round, but decided not to go to the workshop 2nd time - like others I really didn't find it very helpful, and figured that I'd succeeded in getting bfing established first time round so would be fine 2nd time. I found it much easier second time round, and the workshop wouldn't have been useful at all so I'm glad I didn't go.

[The Nappy Lady]

I didn't bother going either, did briefly consider it, but decided there was plenty of help around afterwards if I needed it, and remembered it being a long old session.

Molly

[millsa]

I know what you mean Lorraine, but fortunately our nct teacher advised us to take lots of snacks with us for the 4 hr session at Dulwich Hospital! LIke most above I have also found it quite unhelpful and hilarious in places (I reckon they have been playing that Scandinavian video since early 70-ties!).

My no 2 is due in Sept but I already know I will not bother this time.

x

[underhillroad]

Hello All, it seems like I would find it a bit of a waste of time according to your comments so i'm going to give it a miss (dutchestate family - looks like I won't see you there but perhaps at one of the breastfeeding support thingys post birth - hope it all goes well for you!) and I really really appreciate everyone's comments. Thanks all.