Things that helped me:

*being determined
*having husband bringing me lots of food (lots!)
*having access to a lactation consultant (HV are good I think but overstretched and deal with kids 0-5 whereas a LC her sole job is with bf mums encouraging them, helping them)
*knowing that there is a back up plan if you need it (formula!)
*remembering that it is MY choice and if I feel my baby needs/ doesn't need formula I will decide to give it, not my MIL or some other do-gooder, ME.

ps- preggy girls it wasn't ever sore for me, not even a little bit, so don't let that put you off cos not everybody gets the pain!

For me:

After the birth getting immediate transfer to a birth centre where I spent 5 days learning how to bf from super midwives (whilst i had all my meals, snacks and drinks made for me!!!)

Support from HV and DR, plus local network support

OH willing to take on cooking and house tasks during the early days

Setting small achievable goals.... such as bf for one week.... one month, two months.

XXX

The special pillow for bfing. Don't need it anymore--but it sure helped in the beginning.

For me it was definitely determination and still is (along with the fantastic support from my DP and numerous bf specialists including a fantastic bf mw who has helped me since Elliot was two weeks through the numerous problems we've had). Elliot was admitted to hospital with jaundice and dehydration when he was 6 days old - they hadn't been picked up by his dr / mw and it was only because he'd had a lot of nappies with urates (look like brick dust should only be in one / two nappies) in and because he'd been crying alot and I'd insisted something was wrong to the out of hours dr that we got referred to the hospital and it was picked up. The first thing they brought out when he'd been diagnosed was a pump and bottle (!!!??), I had to point out he was being breastfed so the bottle wasn't a very good idea .

What would have helped me even more though is staying in hospital longer and receiving the proper support with feeding while I was there and knowing how heavy nappies should be (for any new mums who don't know like I didn't they should feel as heavy as a nappy you've poured 45ml of water on, it's worth doing if you're not sure see this link for more info on nappies - http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/enough-milk.html ).

I also wish I'd known to look out for tongue-tie as this wasn't picked up by the drs and it was only when a bf specialist came after he'd been in hospital for three days who pointed it out and arranged treatment (the tongue-tie was contributing to his difficulty feeding, he'd been getting tired before he'd got all the milk he needed and I assumed he was falling asleep because he was full).

I hope I haven't gone on too much there and it helps someone

xxx

I was in a real rush to get home after Hebe was born. I had her 9pm and left the Birth Centre 9am the next morning. The MWs did ask me if I was ok feeding and I said yeah fine and off I went. I think if she was my first I would have definately stayed longer and taken advantage of their help with latching etc. Fortunately I'd BF my first and was feeling confident but I'd definately recommend first time Mum's take their time getting home and use that time working on BFing while you have them at your beck and call

I can't honestly say we've cracked it yet, Jack is only 9 days old! But we turned a big corner last night and I feel so amazing and confident this morning.

I too had a planned home birth resulting in emergency c-section. I am still very torn up about it and in lots of pain with an infection. It was so hard while Jack wouldn't latch on, we had to use nipple shields as I was told in hospital that my nipples were flat. He lost 14% of his birth weight by his six day check and so the MW said she would come back the next day to re-weigh him. We were so determined to make sure he didn't lose any more weight that I went crazy with the pump and we gave him expressed milk in a bottle as well as getting him on the breast as often as we could. We figured that nipple confusion was already an issue from the shields and the most important thing was to get the breast milk into him!

I was beginning to feel like I had failed at giving birth to him and that I was failing to feed him too. I had always been very determined to breastfeed and knew it would be hard but it was compounded by the birth experience.

Well our tactic worked and Jack regained everything he had lost since day 4 and a bit more! We were just hoping for him to maintain his weight in that 24 hours, not gain so much. The MW was really pleased and we are too, obviously.

What has got me through the first week and a bit is primarily the amazing support from my DH, Andy and all mine and Andy's families.

Encouragement from the MWs in hospital and community. Despite the weight loss the MW who visited over the weekend just said to keep doing what we were doing only more!

Being totally committed and determined to succeed, formula isn't an option as far as I'm concerned!

I'm sure there may be more problems ahead, but I am confident of overcoming them with all the support around me.

Thank you so much for this thread. I am having problems feeding my baby girl who's 4 days old but I am now more determined than ever to keep going. Thankfully I have a wonderful husband who supports me a 110% and a lovely little 4 year old boy who keeps my spirits up.

Great thread girls you are all inspirational

I cant wait till my bubba is born as BF'ing my other 2 was amazing and i just know it will be with this one too.

Support off my friends and family and determination. I didnt want to be doing bottles it sounds like to much hard work. I used the internet for support as well. It came really naturally to me i couldnt imagine feeding my baby any other way. I love breastfeeding i find it so rewarding. I just thought of another it pisses my mil off lol shes always on about me giving up the breastfeeding malarky and telling me to feed her properly sometimes id love to knock her out when she says things to me. So it really keeps me going lol.

like alot of others, determination played a big part for me xx i really, really, really wanted to breastfeed my baby! and i was damned if i was going to let a cracked nipple get in my way

when it was hard the first couple of weeks i just kept thinking it MUST get better, everyone told me it did and thats what i held on to xx and guess what? IT DID GET BETTER!!! i kept thinking of women in africa walking miles with their babies in slings feeding, i don't know why but that really helped me?!!!! must have been hormones!

and definately when i got Fred weighed a couple of weeks after his birth and he had gained loads, i felt fantastic, its the best feeling ever xxx

and Lanisoh cream i used loads at the start xxx