[...] Do I Need to Take a Breastfeeding Class? [...]

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Yes! I would highly recommend it! I took one with Evie and it was so worth it, even after reading so many books an articles. There was just so much that we got (my husband came too) from taking the class that you just can’t get from reading. It helped so that I was ready as soon as my daughter was born. That said, I had a very difficult time nursing–it took about 7 weeks (and additional meetings with lactation consultants) to really get the hang of it. Things were so bad that I was actually ordered to stop nursing for about 2 weeks (I could pump only if it wasn’t excruciating), and my lactation consultant had to persuade me to (*gasp*) use formula and a bottle in the meantime (I was determined to be a purist and put a lot of pressure on myself that I could nurse and pump enough not to have to supplement with formula). But once the lactation consultant had me convinced that my own body needed to heal, I felt so much better (and my husband shared more of the load too–he was so thrilled to get to feed her and bond with her that way). The thing is, had we not taken that class beforehand, I don’t think I would have been so willing to seek out additional help, nor would I have known (from talking with our instructor or other moms) that what I was experiencing was really pretty normal (which is why so many moms throw in the towel with nursing–you’re exhausted, hormonal, emotional, and putting a lot of pressure on yourself that it gets to be too much for some women). It’s like the dirty little secret about breastfeeding–it doesn’t just happen for most women, and a lot of women say nothing about it feels natural until they’ve been at it a while (I have met very few moms that said it was a piece of cake, at least with their first child). Trust me, 7 weeks is a long time to keep at it, but I think being armed with the knowledge we gained in the class really helped me to stick it out and be willing to seek additional support. Thanks to the in-depth and graphic information picked up in the class, I also knew what to expect as far as changes in my breasts after the baby was born (while things were changing from colostrum to milk). Plus, you can’t beat having a live person and the community of other moms to talk to. For as prepared as I thought we were, I realized after my daughter was born that there wasn’t really any way to be too prepared. Good luck!

I did not take a breastfeeding class. I can see the merit in taking one, but honestly, every baby is different, and you have to kind of plunge in and adapt according to your baby and your body. You may enjoy reading The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding – it has a lot of info about what to expect. That and a good lactation consultant after the baby is here will help a lot.

As prepared as you like to be about everything, I would highly recommend the class. It’s probably 2 hours. They’ll likely show a movie etc. Was it the most worthwhile thing I took? No. But I’d do it again. Like Stephanie said above, the first few weeks can be TOUGH. They basically wouldn’t let me leave the hospital without giving Eva formula because she was tongue tied and lost almost a pound. The lactation consultants were great – we actually ended up seeing a lactation doctor at Children’s who fixed her tongue tie a second time. I used nipple shields for the longest time. I don’t know how many breastfeeding moms you know or are friends with for those first few weeks but you’ll need a lot of encouragement. I would also advise you to buy a few things ahead of time. Get a nursing tank at Target. I like the Johnson & Johnson breast pads – I realized some of my pain at the beginning was due to crappy breast pads. Lansinoh breast cream is great. Also be prepared to pump right away – I pumped colostrum in the hospital. I guess I also think that the more support and knowledge you can have with breastfeeding, the better. A lot of people throw in the towel really early because of how tough it is. I was determined and even rented a .1 ounce scale to weigh Eva on to see how much she was nursing so I could then supplement with formula. For 6 weeks. It was a lot of commitment. I wish you the best!

I think it really depends on what type of person you are. I need to learn by doing. A class wouldn’t be for me, unless it happened right after the baby was born. However, lots of people learn by research and feel better and more confident if they are uber-prepared before hand.
Do what’s best for you.

I too have considered taking a class but my due date is quickly approaching and I’m running out of time. My doctor didn’t recommend it, she said it is tough to prepare for without actually do it, kind of like learning how to drive without ever sitting in a car. My hospital has lactation consultants and an award winning lactation outpatient clinic that I plan to take advantage of. Plus I have lots of women in my family who have nursed or pumped that I can call on for help. You should do what makes sense for you. If you feel like you learn by doing, than look into lactation consultants that can meet you in the hospital or at your home right after birth.

I took a two-hour seminar on breastfeeding and found it really useful. The lactation consultant who led the class was terrific and demonstrated different holds with a doll, talked about how to know if your baby is correctly latched, etc. The hospital where I delivered my first baby also offered a breastfeeding class for moms and babies after delivery, which I also found helpful. Good luck!

WOW-
I delivered my first at Wake Medical University in NC and -altho’ I didn’t think I’d EVER be the type to have kids, let alone BREASTFEED (!)- as soon as they put the baby in my arms, that’s just what I knew I had to do! We did take to it pretty easily, but the 2 big things that turned me off were: The lactation nurses/staff were all like members of a cult! Very Pushy!! And, when the 2nd baby came along 20m later, the whole policy/procedure of how and when etc had changed! I mean to almost polar opposite!

I ended up breast feeding all 3 babies, but they all had different times that they stopped. I also pumped when I could so that when I went back to work, the sitter could continue to give breast milk.
Breastfeeding is AWESOME, BUT, if you can’t do it, or don’t want to do it ‘for the first ___ yr(s), IT’S OK!!! Formula is NOT a bad thing and you WILL NOT be a failure as parents if you end up or decide to formula feed the baby.

The important thing to remember: FEED THE BABY. LOVE THE BABY. Everything else will take care of itself!

My kids have survived and thrived to 15y,14y, and 10!!

I didn’t take a class. In fact, what little advice I got beforehand, I wish I had never gotten. I nursed my son for 13 months, and am still nursing my 7 month old daughter. My son latched on as soon as he was born. My daughter and I had to get to know each other – she latched on and ate well, WHEN SHE WANTED, but for the first few weeks she liked a moment with her binky before breast. I don’t know why, but it would end in tears for the both of us when we tried to avert that step. Then one day, she no longer wanted her binky. The bottom line, there are no two children alike. Your child is your child, and you alone are going to have the experience of nursing him. Take a class if that makes you happy (I’m all for whatever helps a mama out =-) But no book or class will have ALL of the answers. Only you and C will find those. There ARE going to be times when breastfeeding STINKS (when you’re googling “is my baby broken?” because he’s cluster feeding during a growth spurt). And time when it’s awesome ( you don’t have to warm up your boob in the middle of the night!). I went in to breastfeeding with an open mind and no expectations, which is good because I have since learned that the words “never” and “always” don’t account for babies. Whether you take a class or not, whether breastfeeding works for you or not, whatever decisions you make will be the right one because you made it. I wasted too much time in the beginning on self doubt. You and C will figure each other out. In the meantime, enjoy him, enjoy what you will learn to do one handed (or with your feet) and welcome to Mommydom- (Be sure to wear your galoshes. It gets messy here! )
Cheers – Bridget
Oh, and for the record, the advice I wish I never took was not to pump or give a bottle before 6 weeks so as not to affect my milk supply. The result was that, once the six weeks were over, I could pump until the cows came home and I never got more than a few drops. Even if my breasts were FULL. Maybe it wouldn’t have worked even if I started from the get go. Who knows. But the other bad thing is I also had two babies that never would take a bottle either. I console myself by thinking that my boobs are JUST that comfy (lol) but I’d REALLY have liked them to be able to take a bottle so I could enjoy a night out. I’m working now on getting the girl to take a sippy cup. She’s nosy enough that I’m hopeful (maybe if she realizes she can still look around while she’s eating, she’ll like it? fingers crossed!) Anyhow. Good luck! =-)

KAS—”Feed the baby, love the baby”–was my LC’s number one rule, told to me as I sat there in her office crying hot, hysterical tears while she handed my husband a bottle of formula to give our baby. My supply never did establish, but I know that I did my very best, and my little guy is fine and thriving.

Emily, You’ve gotten a lot of feedback, but to add to the “yes” category, I would definitely encourage a class. You’ve done your research, with books etc. it sounds like you’ve been told what items are good to buy, but seeing the techniques used for latching and hearing the facts first hand with pictures and question and answer time is just another helpful resource. Once our baby was born, I personally had a hard time in getting my milk to come in. I had done all the “right” things and had a lot of help. I desperately wanted to nurse my baby and with a lot of work (a consultant at the house a few days after birth, a pump, etc) I was able to nurse 50% and formula feed 50% for the first year. You just don’t know what hand you’ll be dealt and being as prepared as possible is a great way to be introduced to all the newness you’re about to embark upon. All of it is a joy.

I don’t think that you can ever be too prepared, but with that being said, I didn’t take a breastfeeding class and I had no problems. My baby (first and only, for now) was a breastfeeding champ from the beginning, and I nursed until she was 20 months old. Whether or not you take a class, you should be prepared that it might be difficult and that sometimes–often–if takes a lot of work, so I would have the number of a lactation consultant on hand in case things aren’t going perfectly.