Official Breast Feeding Support Thread for WDW Parks

[kdfogliano]

As far as carriers.... I have one, but it is a cheapy for quick grocery trips and whatnot. It isn't greatly comfy and I wouldn't want to wear it more tahn an hour or so. What is REALLY the best? My son will be about 5 mo old when we go. He is already 15+ # at 3 mo!

I LOVE my ergo! Dosent hurt my back at all, I cant nurse in it b/c i am not good at it, but a lot of peopl can! even has a little hood to cover up

 

[DisneyLindsay]

I would just like to make a comment to all the moms that are breastfeeding. Please remember that when you see an infant being bottle fed there may be a reason for it. My daughter (9 now) was born with a cleft palate. I was not able to breastfeed her as she couldn't suck. I pumped for 8 months and she got breastmilk in a bottle. I cannot express how many looks or comments I had on how wrong it was that I was not breastfeeding my child. i wanted to wear a sign saying: "there is breastmilk in the bottle!" Please remember that when you see a baby getting a bottle..don't judge or make assumptions please. I luckily was able to breastfeed my second daughter for a year.... wish I could have with both my children.

I also want to commend you for pumping and feeding, it really is hard work!! I had to pump and feed with all of mine at the beginning as they were unable to latch and I too got terrible looks, although I knew it was breast milk. good for you!! It took me 7 1/2 weeks to be able to fully nurse my first, 4 1/2 weeks with my second and my third was the quickest, just under 4 weeks!!

Breastfeeding is a wonderful gift and I wish all women were able to, I am sorry you were not able to with your first!

 

[aksunshine]

I really like the Ring Slings, you can buy them online, if you google maya ring sling!! They also give you a pattern if you are handy and can sew one yourself!! I have 4 in different colours, for ease of use and washing!! I have used a ring sling for 2 of my 3 babies, my first I was a newbie and had no idea they were available. I used a snugglie and a baby bjorn, unfortunately being large chested neither were comfortable, and bother were really hard on my neck and back!! The Ring sling was a god send!! I have no pressure on my back at all!!

Last year a disney I carried my 8 month old almost all the time in the sling and I nursed where ever needed and I used a receiving blanket. THis year, I have a 10 week old and we leave next week I have ordered the nursing hats as the blanket is too hot and not fair to her. I am going to buy a couple of nursing tanks as I do not want my belly exposed after 3 babies in 3 years NO ONE want to see that! lol.

LOL! My tummy is ugly too! How much did your 8 mo old weigh? I looked at the slings, I just don't know... Have you sewn any? Do you have tips?

I LOVE my ergo! Dosent hurt my back at all, I cant nurse in it b/c i am not good at it, but a lot of peopl can! even has a little hood to cover up

I have heard good things about Ergo. I think Gabriel is my last baby. I stress about spending $$$!

 

[crazy4cloth]

I had a Beco and LOVED it. Couldn't have lived without it. So sad my babies are all grown up now. I just sold it this summer.

 

[CandleontheWater]

I love my becco too! You can see DS happily nestled in the Becco in my siggy picture. I carried DS around WDW at both 4 and 6 months, and I'm going to carry him next month at 10 months. Its very comfortable.

 

[kdfogliano]

the becco looks similar to the ergo!

i know its a bit pricey, but you can use it for sooo long! I stop wearing once they are walkers but I used the ergo up to 13 months with my older one, it really supports you!

have you checked ebay or craigslist?

 

[DisneyLindsay]

I am going to try to post pics of me using the ring sling for you. My 8 month old baby was pretty big, she has been a solid little girl from about 6 months of age on, lol.
I'm not sure how to post pics, so I need to go and find out! lol

 

[WendyLovesPeter]

I really like the Ring Slings, you can buy them online, if you google maya ring sling!! They also give you a pattern if you are handy and can sew one yourself!! I have 4 in different colours, for ease of use and washing!! I have used a ring sling for 2 of my 3 babies, my first I was a newbie and had no idea they were available. I used a snugglie and a baby bjorn, unfortunately being large chested neither were comfortable, and bother were really hard on my neck and back!! The Ring sling was a god send!! I have no pressure on my back at all!!

Last year a disney I carried my 8 month old almost all the time in the sling and I nursed where ever needed and I used a receiving blanket. THis year, I have a 10 week old and we leave next week I have ordered the nursing hats as the blanket is too hot and not fair to her. I am going to buy a couple of nursing tanks as I do not want my belly exposed after 3 babies in 3 years NO ONE want to see that! lol.

I got some of those belly band things that some preg women wear. They come in many many colors, and I wear them under my shirts, so when I lift the shirt up, my belly is still covered by the band.

When its too hot for that I drape a receiving blanket over my arm, so it hangs in front of me. Then when I lift the shirt the blanket shields my lovely abdomen . The blanket also puts a thin layer between her head and my arm so no sweaty head when its hot.

 

[cseca]

WOW! I just found this thread and I wished this was started when I had DD...
I was freaking out trying to figure out where to nurse DD when we went to WDW/DCL for the first time. But everything turned out great, no problems at all. I am not a very public person tho, so I tend to find a place to hide when I NIP.

Just want to share my experience as a new mom. Before DD was born I knew I wanted to bf. That was never a question. I read everything in books, online, asked my experienced friends. But nothing really prepared me for the pain... (ok, not to scare the new mommies-to-be out there).

When DD was born the nurses and LC at the hospital offered to help. I of course said yes. About 45min after DD was born I started trying. We just couldn't figure it out... She kept losing weight and we figured out my milk hasn't come down yet
We had to supplement and as a new mommy I freaked... I heard all the stories about how babies once they had a bottle wouldn't want the real thing anymore. I cried and sobbed and drove DH crazy... (it's funny now...).

We kept at it though, sore bleeding nips and all... I think it was about 1.5-2months later when we REALLY figured it out. Everytime I thought I was ready to quit from the pain and frustration I think about all the good stuffs that come with bfing. Thank goodness for my stubborn hard head.

I also pumped with this amazing contraption:
http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/breast-pumps/223/symphony-breastpump

I bought the cheapie pump before my sister gave me this one (she finished bfing years ago but still has this sweet wonderful device), and the difference is unbelieveable.
With the cheapie one there just wasn't enough suction and it took a long long while for me to pump. This one is amazing...

I actually ended up renting it from the hospital before I got the one from my sister.

I think aside from all the health benefits of bf-ing I really prefer it vs. formula feeding. There's no bottle washing/sterilizing, formula making in the middle of the night, conveniently packaged, baby is eating from me which means I can snack a bit more... hehe... Honestly I thought I would not enjoy bf-ing, but I was so wrong.
I was heartbroken when DD weaned herself off by 13mo. I was hoping to bf a little longer, but she was done with me. Although it's funny because if I change my clothes in front of her and she still would say or sign "milk"...

So my advice for new mommies to be:
1. Don't give up! Keep trying... BUT if you can't do it, then don't feel bad.
2. If your milk hasn't come down yet, it's ok to supplement for a little while. Don't let you and your baby miserable. When you milk finally comes it'll be a lot different experience.
3. If you plan to pump only for a little bit, I suggest renting the hospital grade pump. It'll make your life SO much easier.
4. If you have so much pumped milk that you don't know what to do with, I believe there's a place where you can donate your milk. You might have to do some research on the place closest to you.
From what I read somewhere, your milk changes as you go along so the milk that you pumped and freeze when your baby is 1mo old vs. when your baby is 12mo is completely different. So it might not be such a great idea to keep pumped milk for too long. Again, this is from what I read.
5. Nursing at WDW is not as hard as you think. There are lots of places to duck into if your a "hider" like me. Counterservice places during off times, benches at secluded places (EPCOT rose garden, EPCOT benches facing the lake, MK behind the christmas store, EPCOT behind character spot and it's air con too), and of course all the child care locations are nice and cool.


Oh and from all the stuff that I bought during the new mommy stage here are my favorites:
1. Cami: http://www.target.com/Liz-Lange-Target-Maternity-Cami/dp/B0030M6MD4/ref=sc_qi_detaillink - Sooo comfy and stretchy, no shelf bra that I hate. I still wear it now even tho I'm done bfing.
2. Boppy pillow - I use it for feeding and when DD is starting to sit up I use it to support her sitting as well.
3. Receiving blanket: http://www.target.com/s?ie=UTF8&nod...availability:-2|subjectbin:1038590&releaseID= - These blankets are big enough for swaddling and made with breatheable cotton muslin cloth. That's why they are also great for bf coverups when you NIP.
Now we still use this blanket for traveling and stuff.

We are praying that the next one will come and I could bf again...

Here's to all bf-ing MOMS and all their supporting spouses!!!

 

[aksunshine]

DLindsay-That would be great! Do you have a photobucket account? Upload there, copy the IMG code, and paste it into your post!

 

[Karlzmom]

Great Thread! My nursing days are behind me, but DS and I "nursed around the world" when he was just turning 1 back in 2006. If there were dirty looks, I didn't notice, but then I was fairly well practiced and comfortable with the whole process by then. DS was is a large child, so no doubt someone thought I was nursing a pre-schooler, but oh well!

I loved my Glamourmom tanks with a button-down, camp style shirt over. only had to undo the top few buttons, but was covered under. DS would easily sit on my lap and it looked more like he was just having a hug/cuddle. I loved the baby care centers, but it wasn't always convenient to trek there when he wanted a bit to eat, so we nursed darn near everywhere....

On a slightly unrelated, but hopefully helpful to someone else, I was able to sucessfully BF until DS was 17months old while working fulltime as an attorney. Simply be asking, I was able to get a room set aside for pumping at the courthouse I work out of [please note that I am not court personnel, I'm a prosecutor who has an office offsite -the sheriffs gave me access to their women's locker room...very nice space, book case perfect for a pump set up, floor lamp for comfy lighting, a nice chair and a lock on the door.) My usual judge coordinated the morning calendar break to fit my schedule and we all got everything done. I understand that after we were done nursing, the courthouse set up a full lactaction room onsite for court personnel. My point is, you never know what kinds of accommodation you might be able to get unless you ask! I am still overwhelmed by how kind people around me were and how willing people with no real stake in making my life easy were to help a mom out.

Best of luck to all you BFing mommies out there!

 

[DisneyLindsay]

DLindsay-That would be great! Do you have a photobucket account? Upload there, copy the IMG code, and paste it into your post!

Thanks I am working on the photobucket thing now! lol

 

[crazy4cloth]

Totally forgot about the Glamourmom tanks. LOVED THEM!!!

 

[DisneyLindsay]

Okay let give this a try. Here are some pics of nursing in the world and using the ring sling.

IMG]http://i833.photobucket.com/albums/zz253/DisneyLindsay/P1010426.jpg[/IMG]

I hope this works

 

[DisneyLindsay]

Wow these are big pics, sorry to everyone as I do not know how to make them smaller.

Here is one more of us in the sling at the Flying Fish Cafe.

I have many more just not Disney ones.
As Far as breastfeeding in WDW, I think you find a place you are comfortable with and sit and feed.
I will have more pics when we come back at the end of Sept, and maybe by that time I will have figured out how to make them smaller! lol

 

[DisneyLindsay]

Totally forgot about the Glamourmom tanks. LOVED THEM!!!

where can you buy them?

 

[crazy4cloth]

Here is the site http://www.glamourmom.com/

But you can buy them at almost any maternity store.

 

[crazy4cloth]

BTW DisneyLindsay love your pictures! I miss having babies.

 

[aksunshine]

Wow these are big pics, sorry to everyone as I do not know how to make them smaller.

Here is one more of us in the sling at the Flying Fish Cafe.

I have many more just not Disney ones.
As Far as breastfeeding in WDW, I think you find a place you are comfortable with and sit and feed.
I will have more pics when we come back at the end of Sept, and maybe by that time I will have figured out how to make them smaller! lol

Awww she is cute! How old is she here? They look so complicated to get on.... How is your back after wearing it awhile? What is the longest you wore it at WDW?

And ouch! That bruise looks painful!

 

[cseca]

beautiful kids disneylindsay!