Is there any way to tell if ill be able to breast feed before my baby is actually born?

Question

i am 20 weeks pregnant. and i just want to know if there is anyway to tell if ill be able to breast feed (mum & grandmum both couldnt breast feed) before the obvious breast leaking towards the end of the pregnancy...

Answer 1

Anyone CAN breastfeed. You just need to educate yourself, be patient and relax. If you think you CANT, you will probably prove yourself right. Your baby will pick up on your nervousness & might refuse to latch on. Just take a breastfeeding class @ the hospital OR meet with the Lactation Consultant. Absolutely everyone CAN breastfeed, it may just take a little more patience or education. It's the best thing for your baby, so I really hope you stick with it & enjoy :)  

Answer 2

no...

Answer 3

i thought all women could breast feed. I guess I was wrong.

Answer 4

Most women that you've heard say that can't breastfeed actually can.

They either convinced themselves otherwise because of difficulties, use it as a defense as to not be attacking by breastfeeding advocates, or, in the case of your grandmother, could be a doctors stupidity.

In the day of our grandparents and a little before that, formula feeding became the "thing to do." It was a symbol of being of a higher class, that you could afford to not have to feed your body from your breast, like lower class people who couldn't afford formula.

Doctors started convincing more and more women to use formula, thinking that formula was a wonderful invention, healtheir than breastmilk. They would even "test" some women's breastmilk, and if it wasn't thick enough, they'd tell them that breastfeeding would harm their baby, that they needed to formula feed.

I've heard only about 3-4% of all women can't breastfeed. And part of that percentage are women who have had breast augmentation.

I can't think of any medical reason that would inhibit a generation of women from breastfeeding.

Discuss your concerns with the hospital lactation consultant.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I don't think you can tell but the vast majority of women can if they try hard enough.  I never leaked while pregnant, but I was able to express colostrum (yellow droplets) from my nipples when I was around 6 months pregnant.  If you are curious, try squeezing your areola from the outside toward the nipple in a month or two.  Of course, I don't think the ability to express colostrum means you will have an easy time breastfeeding.

Make sure to try breastfeeding your baby often the first couple hours and days after he/she is born.  If they are too sleepy (as is often the case), request that the hospital let you use a breast pump so you get some stimulation to insure your milk comes in.

Answer 6

It's rather unlikely that you wouldn't be able to breastfeed.  The vast majority of women can.  Those that say they couldn't usually could have, if they had the proper support or education.

The best thing to do is to stop thinking that you won't be able to.  You're setting yourself up for failure, and the first time you hit a rough patch, you'll think to yourself, I just can't do it...it runs in my family.

You also should attend a breastfeeding education class.  Most hospitals offer these (just like childbirth classes), and they are usually low-cost or free.  (All mine were free except the infant CPR class I took, which was $20).  

If this isn't possible, see if you can talk to the hospital's lactation consultant before the birth, and make sure she can come to see you soon after the birth to help you if you need it.

Read.  Read.  Read.  There are many books on nursing...the best I found was called The Joy of Breastfeeding.  I know it sounds a little "hug a tree", but it's a really informative book.  

Once you have the baby, put the baby to the breast as soon as possible to encourage the milk to come in.  Don't worry if the baby seems hungry all the time the first few days, your body is only producing colostrum for the first few days.  But keep breastfeeding on demand, your milk will come in within several days.

Once your milk comes in, continue to feed on demand.  Feed the baby when he or she is hungry, let him or her decide when she's done or wants to feed again.  That's the best way to keep your supply up.  

There's only a VERY SLIM chance that you are physically unable to breastfeed, I think I read somewhere that the percentage that are actually unable is around 1-3%, and many of them are unable because of previous breast surgery.  

And no, there's really no way to tell if you'd be unable until several days after the birth (when the milk comes in).  Not all women leak before birth, not all women are able to express colostrum before birth, but neither of those things mean they don't/won't have milk.

Answer 7

If you have good midwife care after the birth who will sit with you until you master latching on, I don't see why you wouldnt be able to breastfeed.

While pregnant I would start toughening up your nipples.  I just rubbed moistursing cream into them twice a day (but not once baby is here).

I exclusively fed my first daughter for 9 months, I have a 12 week old daughter whom I breastfed for the first 5 weeks, but after a bad bout of thrush in her mouth and on my nipple (and a latching on problem on the bad side) I had to reluctantly give up.  It was a big decision for me but after a weekend of tears (baby and me) I gave her a bottle, which she just loved.  Happy baby = happier mummy!!  Although I do sometimes wish I was still breastfeeding, but I did all I could and persevered as long as I could.

At the first signs of any problems ask for advice, towards the end of my breastfeeding I contacted a local breastfeeding network group, who were brilliant!!  I cant help wondering if I'd contacted them sooner if I'd still be breastfeeding today!  The health visitor missed the thrush in my babies mouth - it was them who spotted it 5 days later!

Good luck - and no matter what feeding route you take enjoy your baby!

Answer 8

Almost all women can breastfeed. With the right amount of determination and education, you WILL be able to do it. go to la leche league's website and go to some meetings while you are still pregnant.

Answer 9

You are most likely to be able to breastfeed. Did your mom and grandma tell you WHY they couldn't?) Right now, you're only half way through. If you go into this thinking that you will breastfeed, you have a greater chance of doing it. Also, your b*****s might not leak, ever. This doesn't mean that there's no milk, some women's breast just don't leak. Mine didn't, but I've been able to breastfeed just fine!

If this is a major concern for you, you should talk to your doctors, lactation consultants and maybe take a breastfeeding class.

Answer 10

I don't think so, but most women who say they couldn't breast feed haven't been taught to do it properly.  Breast feeding is a lost art sort of speak because it is not so common anymore...it used to be that every woman breast fed and the techniques were seen by the daughters and taught to them from young age...they grew up around it.  Id never seen anyone breast feed up close so when I had my son it was difficult to learn, but with teaching and practice it became like second nature quickly.

I just wanted to add that I hope you are able to put the energy towards learning how to breast feed because it is one of the most amazing expereinces of a womans life....and the bonding that grows between you and your baby is utterly amazing.  Congratulations on your first baby!

Answer 11

if its a hereditary reason they could not breast feed, get more info from them.its hard work at first, and easier to give up and bottle feed.but if you persevere it is a rewarding and bonding experience.i just loved it, and fed my last till he was 10 months old.it is the most covenient way, and you just have to find ways to make it suit you.not enough help is given in hospital, they simply dont have the time.most important thing is getting baby latched on properly, best way to learn is the watch someone doing it, maybe at birthing classes.my midwife used to love visiting me, feet up, with a magazine, or watching a film, and feeding away.it gives you special one to one time, which you miss out on, usually rushing around whilst someone else gives a bottle.i wish everyone gave it a go, after all, thats what theyre for!you must eat good food, regularly, and drink plenty, and its amazing for post baby weight loss too.the very best of luck to you.

Answer 12

The chances of *not* being able to breastfeed, are very small.

1-3% of women can't breastfeed at all - because of breast reduction, PCOS, undergoing chemo, or a problem on the baby's end.

Another 3-5% can't create a FULL supply, but are able to breastfeed some, again ,because of things like breast reduction, IGT (which I have, and which you'd probably know if you had), PCOS, etc.

So, that means 97-99% of women can at least partially breastfeed, and 92-96% will be able to breastfeed exclusively.

Tips to get started (I am assuming you're giving birth at a hospital, just because most women do...if you're homebirthing, you won't run into most of these problems)

If possible, give birth at a baby-friendly hospital, although these are few and far between.  They are well-equipped to help you breastfeed.  http://www.babyfriendlyusa.org/eng/03.ht...

:

Nurse baby immediately after birth.  Tell the doctors and L&D nurses to BACK OFF.  If baby doesn't have complications, all the other stuff they want to do can wait (the weight, eye drops, etc.).  They can do apgars WHILE you breastfeed.  Unless baby isn't breathing or is in severe distress, breastfeeding is ABSOLUTELY the first thing that should be done.

REFUSE to let baby go to the nursery.  If they say they need to take baby somewhere to do something (the heel prick, etc.) have your husband/partner/support person go with the baby if you are unable to.

Baby should ROOM IN with you.  They will give you a lot of bull about needing your rest, and baby will be fine in the nursery.  Don't let them take Baby away.  You need to feed on demand, and you can't tell when that demand is if Baby is away from you.  Never mind that nurses are known to give sugar water and formula if the baby is crying instead of walking Baby all the way back down the hall to nurse.  This can sabotage the nursing relationship.

No pacifiers this early.  No artificial nipples of any sort.  Don't intro a bottle unti breastfeeding is well established, generally around 6-8 weeks.  Baby will nurse for comfort, and that's great - prevents nipple confusion, and helps to bring in your supply.

If a doctor tells you you need to supplement because Baby has jaundice, baby has lost too much weight, baby is obviously still hungry, blah blah blah, get a second opinion, preferably from a lactation consultant NOT affiliated with the hospital.

Get the numbers of a couple of IBCLC (certified lactation consultants).  Make sure to call if you have any questions.

Answer 13

breast feeding is actually hormone based, so when there is a feeling of motherhood, hormone named oxytocin will be released from pituitary gland, causing the mammillary  glands to produce milk. well, there is a peak of  oxytocin in the end of pregnancy, helping the smooth muscles of uterus contract, and ends pregnancy by delivering the baby.