Advice on Breastfeeding please

Guys- I have read several times that some of you Mums use a site that is helpful for breastfeeding issues- could someone let me know of that site - or recommend any others?

My friend in the US is struggling with her newborn and I would like to help her out by sending her some places to look at so she doesn't feel alone or a failure.

Thanks

(who knew how hard it would be, as a non-mum it sounds horrendous

http://www.lalecheleague.org/

I had a few issues when Daniel was an infant and they sent someone out to my home to help. I don't know if they do that everywhere, but they were a great help to me. Good luck to your friend! Breastfeeding turned out to be an AWESOME experience for us and I hope she is successful!

Courtney- thanks so much!

I think she is feeling like she is a "bad mommy" because she it is just not happening for her yet and I want to reassure her as much as I can- it was a very tough pregnancy for her and she needs a break!

Thanks again,
Sheril

Ohhh, this will be great for my SIL!  Katie came 2 weeks early, so she missed her BF class and is having a lot of trouble!!!

http://www.kellymom.com/

www.breastfeeding.com/
www.lalecheleague.org/
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/
http://www.abm.me.uk/
www.breastfeedingbasics.com/
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/breastfeeding/

All the links are great. Just throwing in my experience...When my son was born he was taken from me and put in an incubator, tied up with tubes of all sorts. I couldn't hold him for about three days. He didn't do well, and neither did I. He wasn't taking to the feeding and my milk wasn't coming in. They threw up their hands and decided that maybe taking out the tubes and me holding him would help. It made all the difference. I nursed him for 18 months.

Patience, relaxation, a reassurance that you're not a failure for trying...and a child laying peacefully with mother against her breast.

Has she contacted the hospital where she delivered (assuming it wasn't at-home, of course)?  Many maternity/labor centers have on site lactation consultants who are happy to help, even if the mother is out of the hospital.  Some pediatric nurses have been trained as consultants as well - she could check with her pediatrician's office.

Thank you ALL very much for your advice and the links,I am sending it all to her - very very helpful - I feel for her so much and don't want her to equate difficulty with breastfeeding = being a bad mommy (as she puts it).

Lisa- thank you for sharing your personal experience, I will forward that on to her (with no names of course).

FunGirl: yes, there was talk of a lactation specialist that she was going to contact to see if they would visit at home, but I haven't heard anymore which is why I wanted to send something helpful

You've all been great
thank you so much
Sheril

breastfeeding doesn't happen overnight for everyone (hardly anyone!), it takes time and practice and patience!! i didnt know it would be a skill that needed to be learnt, both me and my son. your friend definitely seems to be giving it a good go and by wanting help, it shows she is determined to make it work. support is crucial, i think, to successful breastfeeding. (i had a friend who had a baby in march and only breastfed for 4 weeks because no one was there to help her with the latching on etc... and i could only offer long distance advice..)

a lot of good links have been posted, she should get a lot out of them. also maybe joining a local mom and baby group would help too (when she's ready)

"skin to skin" contact also helped me when i would struggle to feed my son. (laying the baby naked next to mom's naked chest/skin) (having a towel nearby is good too, but i did this several times and was never peed on! ;o) also maybe she could try feeding the baby while in the bath, holding him. (the warm water is soothing, relaxing for both mom and baby) just make sure there is someone else home to help her and  baby out of the tub so no slipping happens.

i wish her all the best xx