Breastfeeding - Saint Paul, MN

Blooma is great for pregnant moms and moms and babies. It is off 44th and France in Edina in Mpls. If that is too far, call Sara at Blooma and she may know someone in St Paul.

C.-
Good for you for planning on breastfeeding your new little baby when it arrives. I breast fed both my children, but had to stop with my daughter due to some medical issues. My advice is this--if you can breast feed (both you and baby) wonderful. It is a little rough at first, but you both will get the hang of it--just be patient, relax, and know that it is natural! Additionally, the more you nurse in the first days after your baby is born, the greater your milk supply will be. And if you can't breast feed, or don't want to, or have issues and want to switch to formula, then go for it, and don't let ANYONE make you feel bad about your decision, whether it is to breast feed or formula feed. I had so many people say things to me about having to formula feed my daughter--they were simply insensitive and arrogant, and assumed that it was my laziness or intolerance of breastfeeding that caused her to have formula. You do what is right for you and your baby, and everything else will fall into place. Good luck and congrats on your new little one!

1. Don't quit breastfeeding on your worst day. Chances are, the next day will go better and you'll stick with it.

2. If you are having pain or difficulty, seek help ASAP! A little soreness is typical as you get used to having a small person sucking on you, but cracked and bleeding nipples that won't heal or pain that makes your toes curl isn't.

3. Remember that there are two people learning something new here - neither one of you has done this before and there will be an adjustment period. Give yourself at least those first six weeks to get the hang of it. The first few weeks are usually the toughest.

4. Have your breastfeeding supplies (nursing pads, lanolin, breast pump, nursing pillow, etc) ready before the little one arrives. No need to buy a year's worth of stuff, but you also don't want to find out that you could really use a tube of Lanolin at 3:00 am on a Sunday.

5. Keep in mind that not all moms will have the same kind of breastfeeding experiences/problems, so take all of our advice with a grain of salt. :)

Best wishes for an easy labor and delivery and good luck!

Congrats! Wise decision to breastfeed! It can be so great for both of you! I agree with the person who said to breastfeed right away. My daughter nursed 20 minutes after she was born! My biggest advice for you however, is to use your resources! You've got pleanty of them around here and you can also use the La Leche league http://www.llli.org they were a great resource for me! Know that though some of us are pro-breastfeeding (at any cost), it's ok if it doesn't work for you after you've tried. For some it can be hard and as long as you give it a good shot, nobody can call you a failure!

I breastfeed my first for 10 1/2 months and am now feeding my 2 1/2 month daughter. It is a natural thing, so you would think it would come naturally to the both of you. But it doesn't always! It can take time for both of you to learn. The first couple weeks might be very hard, or very easy. It just depends on the baby. Force yourself to at least make it to the 3 week mark, and by then you should have all the kinks worked out. My biggest problem with my second daughter is that the first few days she wanted to nurse all the time. She would get upset because my milk hadn't come in yet and was hungry. I finally had the nurses give her formula. I felt like a failure at first, but then realized there wasn't much I could do about it. Once my milk came in we have been doing good. Don't give up and seak out advice or comfort when you need it!

I'm sorry, but I have to respectfully disagree with anyone who says that "if breastfeeding hurts, you're doing it incorrectly." That is not always the only reason and I had a very difficult time emotionally trying to figure out what I was doing wrong when breastfeeding became painful. That said...If it hurts during the first few times your baby nurses-do all the things people have suggested about checking your latch, etc. Get help from the nurses and lactation consultants. In the first week or so, the problem is likely to be an incorrect latch-I won't disagree with that. Also, the best thing I was told by a lactation consultant was that it wasn't my fault. Incorrect latch is about the baby. As a mother, you have to teach the baby to latch on correctly-it's new for both of you. It may get frustrating-but be patient with yourself. Next, use the pure lanolin and ask for the soothing gel pads when you are in the hospital-they are wonderful! I didn't really develop any breast pain until a few weeks into breastfeeding and I REALLY wanted to give it up! I did have to supplement with formula to give my nipples a break! But I actually would pump and feed him the expressed milk or would feed on one side and rotate. That was a lifesaver to give my nipples a break. It is possible to do! Now, he is in the feeding phase of wanting to look at everything around him and so he will turn his head and I swear my nipples are made of rubber! You wouldn't believe how far a baby can stretch them! ;0) It's doesn't hurt a bit anymore. You will get through by doing what is right for you. Just make sure you ask for help from those who are supporting you and don't be afraid to call the lactation people if you are having difficulty or just have questions. Also, if you have already taken a breastfeeding class-go to the one in the hospital anyway (if offered). This class was actually more helpful than the one I paid an arm for.

One of the best healing creams you can put on your nipples is your own breastmilk. Sounds strange because they will push lanolin on you, but if you express just a little milk and rub it on your nipples after feeding and let it air dry for a bit that is the best thing. One reason nipples get sore is that people tuck them back in right away while wet and it honestly isn't good for you. I learned this when as a first time Mom in Ireland and that is how they teach everyone.

Don't allow your baby to use you as a nuk. You are not a pacifer and all it will do is cause you to get blisters.

The first 2 weeks is the hardest and once you get past that, it goes so much better. I wont say you'll have no more issues, because they will crop up. But the first 2 weeks is the biggest HURTle.

I've had 3 and each one had it's own issues, but it is a great way to bond.

Oh yeah, the glass of water is a great idea. I would also have a little snack, because I would get dreadfully hungry as well.

Good Luck.

C.,

I have to agree with most posters. You have some great advice here. The only thing I would say is NOT to have formula on hand. If you have it, you might cave and start using it and those first few weeks are critical for establishing your milk supply. Know that your body will provide for your baby. Becky posted that you may be told to give the baby formula before your milk comes in, she is right, you shouldn't. Just keep nursing and it will all be fine.

Good luck, and know you are making a great choice for your baby. Also, does your hospital have a class you can take? I see you are pretty close to your due date, but I took a breastfeeding class, and it was very helpful. Make your husband come if he can, it will help him support you if it gets stressful.

Most of all, relax. It is hard and stressful to be a new mom. Try not to do too much. Limit your visitors to those people you feel comfortable nursing in front of for the first week.

Best to you and your coming baby!
J.

Check out Le Leche League-they have classes to attend and offer phone and personal support. Breastfeeding can be very difficult or it can come natural-either way with the stresses of life-it's always nice to have someone to talk to about it. Methodist Hospital also has a Breastfeeding Center that offers similar help.

I'd suggest Lanolin for cracked or irritated nipples. And have baby nurse as much as possible when the milk comes in the first few days. Engorgment is no fun and can make you second guess your ability-don't give in-you can do it!

Much love,
A.

Stick with it. Yes, it is painful at first, but in the scheme of childbirth it is really more annoying. Be aware if you are having any issues beyond the regular pain though. For both my kids, I ends up with a yeast infection on one of my breasts that I tried to treat with cream, but ended up having to treat with pills. And I am the odd mother who nursed my first son to 3 1/2 years. (I went with the theory that he would quit on his own, but now that I know that he has sensory issues, that wasn't going to happen. Or it's good that he went that long. Either way, you do as a parent what you feel is best for your children, despite what other people say.)

Good luck. It's the best thing for your baby and most kids will stop on their own.

I took a BF class through my hospital before my baby was born. It was useful but not 100% necessary as it's hard to learn about something without being able to do it, you know?
The biggest thing I can tell you: Get as much help in the hospital as you can. Ask to have a lactation consultant visit and don't let her leave until you're comfortable. I even took my pump with me so that they could teach me how to use it.
Other tips -
1 - get a couple of nursing tank tops from Target. They're cheap and go under anything.
2 - buy some lanolin to use the first few weeks when you're likely to be a bit sore
3 - get some "soothies" and have them in the fridge and ready to go. They're reusable gel pads that can really help with soreness. I sent my husband out to Walgreens at 10pm to get them.
Finally, know that the soreness doesn't last. Once you get past the first couple of weeks it'll feel like the most natural thing. Good Luck!

Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt. If it does, there's something wrong going on. With my first, I breastfed, and had no problems. With No. 2, a day or two after he was born, breast feeding started to be extremely painful. If it had been my first child, I would have panicked. Being able to compare experiences, I realized something was wrong. Spoke to the lactation consultant, and discovered that the big bite on Day 1 bruised the nipple, and nursing was making it hurt more. Easy to fix.

If you have problems, talk to a lactation consultant. My pediatrician has one on staff; the hospitals where both my boys were born both had lactation consultant on staff available to me after I went home, not just during the stay.

Relax. That's the biggest recommendation. Relax.

I spent so much time nursing. Nurse, nap, nurse, nap, repeat every 2 hours. For the first few weeks, you won't be doing much else.

Pump as much as possible. Don't get hung upon this, but try. Having a little stash in the freezer is really helpful, so that papa can help feed him, and give you a break occasionally. Men like to feel like they're part of this, too. I had to stop breastfeeding for a month (and then started again)... the extra milk let me keep feeding him real breastmilk for a couple weeks.

I hope all goes well.

Hi,

I am now a grandma. Congratulations on your upcoming arrival. The best advice I have for you is to just relax and enjoy the special time with your baby. Yes there will be times that it is painful, but continue to nurse anyway. It will get better. Breastfeeding gives your baby a very healthy start and a special bond with the two of you. Be sure to let Dad help with everything he can too. Encluding changing diapers.

Enjoy your little one.

B. K

I did not read through all of your advice, but thought I would write a little something anyway. I have a 1 month old and she is my 3rd. It still was a bit painful, but once you make it through it is great! Us e the Laniolin and try different postions. With my first, I always set mini goals, like 1 week, 1 month and so on. It is the best thing for you and your baby! (not to mention the extra 500 calories you burn!)

Good luck!

The baby will latch on and feed more in the early days if he is not drowsy with pain medication from your birth- so if you can, do it naturally. There is an organization called La Leche League that helps with lactation questions. Moms that are nursing give you support. They also have a book on nursing that is useful. I nursed 3 children. It was a wonderful experience. The hormones from nursing relax the mother too. I especially liked it at night-I could nurse lying in bed and it is so convenient. May you and your baby enjoy this experience as much as my children and I did!

The best thing that got me through the pain of breast feeding was a silicone breast shield that I put over my nipple and my baby could get milk through. I only needed it on one side, but it helped me get over the hump until the soreness healed. It was a life saver! My baby never took a bottle until she was 9 months old. She is now 6. I lived in Austin Texas when I was nursing and I got them from a maternity store. I am sure they will be easy to find. The lactation specialist will know exactly what you are talking about.

Congratulations!! How exciting! I nursed my three children and had a lot of success and some that well, it didn't work so well. I think one of the biggest mistakes I made was not nursing right away. In all the excitement and everyone wanting to see our new little one, I didn't try to nurse until a couple hours later I think. I strongly suggest explaining to everyone that you know they are excited, but you will need a little time with the baby right after he/she is born. What you can do is include in your birth plan that you want to nurse your child as soon as possible. If you stress it, then they will do what they can to help you.

They will probably provide you with a lactation consultant. I will warn you if you are a first time mom, one that I had was pretty intense, but they really know what they are doing and really get in there to help you ensure that your baby is latching on properly.

With my first, I got sore, but I bared it, and then I was fine... it did take a week and half or so. It didn't hurt at first.. honestly it felt kinda weird.. but then I got sore because she wasn't latching on properly. How was I to know.. neither of us had done this before. It just is you and your baby figuring out what to do.

Any other questions, please ask.
J.

Someone told me to massage Lansinoh (a lanolin salve) onto my nipples BEFORE the baby is born to help with cracking and soreness. I didn't do it in time, but I know someone who had success with that. The biggest issue at first is getting the baby to latch on properly, so take advantage of the lactation consultants at the hospital to help you with your technique. For me (and I know it's different for everyone) breastfeeding is ALWAYS mildly painful, even when there is no cracking. You get used to it, though, and it's really worth it.

I'm not going to lie, but for me it wasn't easy or pain-free for about the first month. I did visit a lactation consultant to ease my mind and she said I was doing everything right.

My advice is:
- Know that it is stressful and you're not the only one to have difficulty breastfeeding if you do. For some people it was a breeze, for me it wasn't and I sort of felt like the only one.
- Keep a little bit of formula on hand, just in case you do need a break or if you're out and about. A bottle here and there doesn't hurt....even at first.
- Make sure you invest in/rent a good pump. I know there expensive but sometimes it hurt so bad when my milk came down that the pumping for a feeding or two here or there helped to relieve the soreness just a little rather than it getting worse.

Good luck!

Hi C.! Good for you for planning on breastfeeding your baby. My biggest piece of advice is, surround yourself with support. You will be pressured to give your baby formula almost immediatly. The hospital nurses will tell you taht your baby needs formula before your milk comes in (NOT TRUE!) or your mom or mother in law might tell you taht your baby is hungry, give him a bottle (NOT TRUE!).

Your baby DOES NOT NEED A BOTTLE OF FORMULA! Your colostrum is literally 'liquid gold'. It is thick, almost like honey, and it contains the most valuable antibodies and 'ingredients' that your baby needs to grow and thrive. When babies are born, they basically have an 'open gut', anything they eat leaches out into thier entire body, that is how they thrive in the womb, and it takes a few weeks for it to close. Colostrum helps line the stomach.

It may be uncomfortable to nurse the first week or so, but pain is something that signals you are doing something wrong. IF you arei n pain while nursing, your baby probably has a bad latch, and it needs to be corrected. When you latch your baby on, hold your breast with a 'C' hold (make your thumb and fingers look like a 'c', like you are holding a sandwich). Hold your breast in the 'C' hold with your thumb on top, use your nipple or pinkie to tickle the babies chin or bottom lip, wait for him to turn towards you with a wide mouth, and bring him to the breast. Make sure your nipple is pointed up towards the roof of his mouth and get as much of hte areola and breast tissue in his mouth as possible.

Getting a good latch from the start is what you want to do, it will ensure that your nipples do not get sore, adn that your baby is efficiently sucking, signaling your body to produce milk. your milk will come in 2-5 days after delivery, but your baby does not need a bottle until then. He will wnat to nurse all the time, this is NORMAL and in no way a signal that he needs a bottle. (see a trend here.... he will not need to supplement!)

If you have any questions, you can feel free to message me. Also make sure you utilize the lactation consultants at your hospital. Call ahead and make sure they have one on staff. If they do NOT, contact La Leche League INC and see if they have one in your area that can come to your hospital. You WANT someone to show you how to latch on, you WANT to nurse almost immedatly after birth. Make sure you wishes of breastfeeding are well known, and make it clear that you do not want your child to have a bottle AT ALL.

Realize that it does take work, its new to both you and your baby. That it will be a struggle at times, the first week is hard, but its so worth it. Don't give up, don't allow others to make you feel like the baby needs a bottle, be firm adn keep at it.

And keep in touch with your local lactation consultant, there are issues after the first week that are just as difficult, such as forceful letdown, which I had majorly, and did up until my boys were 9 months old!
GOOD LUCK!

C.,
If you haven't already, I'd check out a La Leche League meeting. There are several in the twin cities. I have found the women there to be very friendly and helpful. I wish I would have gone before I had my son as I think it would have shortened the time we had problems. Also, if you can't get to a meeting before you have your child, contact info for the leaders is online and they are available to help you by phone 24 hours a day. I know that they will occasionally come see someone at home too if there are big issues.
My husband forced me to call when I was at the end of my wits and bawling because things hurt and I didn't know what to do. Every contact I've had with ladies at LLL have been positive and supportive. Let me know if you want more info.
S.

Breastfeeding is one of my favorite subjects. I was almost going to become a lactation specialist.

Use soothing creams from the very first time you nurse. The pain is usually associated with nursing is chapped nipples and to avoid this, use mothers milk breast cream on your nipples after every feeding. (No need to whipe off prior to the next feeding, since it's non-toxic and safe for consumption by your baby.)

If you're planning on using a pump at all, try introducing your baby to a bottle around 2 wks after birth. This usually gets the baby used to both the bottle and the breast. Any later than 2 weeks and sometimes the baby will end up rejecting the bottle. Then you'll have more of a struggle being away from the baby for any length of time, because the baby will require your breasts to feed, instead of falling back on the bottle as a back-up.

I'd also start increasing your milk supply right away when you get home. Drink lots of water, and pump after every feeding to fully empty your breasts. You won't get maybe more than a few extra drops at first, but you can just keep adding what you get to the same bottle and store it in the fridge until you have enough saved up for later storage. Emptying your breasts will increase your supply. This is almost ALWAYS an issue with breastfeeding moms so starting early will keep you ahead of the game. (almost all moms find that there is a point in their baby's life where their boobs were not making enough to feed the baby and the baby would go hungry, crying the entire time until your breasts can make more...so painful as a mom.) If you start pumping after every feeding will demand an increase right off the bat and hopefully, you won't ever be short. Think of your breasts sort of like a supply and demand process. If you demand more...your breasts will think the baby is emptying them fully...and will supply more to fill the demand.

Good luck, and congrats!

It DOES NOT HURT! I am now nursing my second baby and went the full year with my first. The best thing I did was to have a lactation consultant come out to my home shortly after getting out of the hospital. Your hospital will likely call you about 48 hours after being released to ask if all is okay. That's when you ask them to send someone out. By then, you milk will be in and you may be engorged and uncomfortable. The lactation consultant will be sure you and the baby are feeding properly and is also a wealth of knowledge for new moms. Think about it, all they do is help new moms and babies, they are experts and it was the best thing I did as a new mom. Insurance typically covers too and if not, they will work with you because it is that important.

The best advice I got was from my kids' Ped. I know it sounds crazy but here it is. Take a head of cabbage, cut it into 1-2" square pieces or triangles and put them over your nipples after feeding. Keep them in the fridge in a baggie. Not only do they cool and sooth but they have a waxiness to them that will moisturize like crazy. It worked wonders for me. When you go to feed the next time and take them out they are all shriveled up because all of their moisture is in you.
Try it, you'll be shocked at how much it helps with the dryness and soreness.
Best Wishes with you new little one,
J.
Mom to 4 and soon one more through another adoption.

I purchased the white warm/cold packs from Target that go on the breast. When warm it helps with sore spots. I delivered at St. John's and had to visit the lactation lady twice to get the latch thing down. Persistence is key and determination to bf is critical. I bf her for 9 months before she went on a one month strike and I just quit. She was used to the fast flow of a bottle anyway. I'd suggest introducing the bottle at 4-6 weeks if bf is going well and you plan to have daycare or an occational bottle. My second born was nipple confused when it came to the end of my 3 month leave and the bottle. Not fun. If the baby is having trouble nursing keep trying, stay calm, stop, and try again. Sometimes the baby latches on right away. I had a horrible experience and a great experience with the child latching and getting the hang of bf. I ended up beating myself up because it took my first born at least three weeks before she latched on and got the hang of things. Massage your breast while nursing and pumping. I haven't had any issues with mastitis. They say to switch positions but I didn't. If you get a sore spot do switch positions so your childs upper lip is pointed in the direction of the sore spot to help drain the clog. I have lots to say so if you need more info. message me. I'm still bf my 16 month old.

I have been nursing my daughter for 8 1/2 months now. Here are a few tips that I would recommend:

Use the lactation consultants at the hospital. I delivered at United and they were absolutely wonderful! I would not have been able to successfully nurse my daughter w/o them (she had severe latching problems and refused to nurse until my milk came in - I had to pump & give her a combination of my colostrum and formula for the first few days). I would use the gel pads they can give you at the hospital. Just pop them in the fridge and wear them after your baby is done nursing.

For the first several weeks, I would rub the breastmilk into my nipples, let them air dry, and then apply lanolin. I did this after every feeding and never had a problem with cracked or bloody nipples. Once my body got used to the breastfeeding, I no longer had to use the lanolin.

If you get a plugged duct, aim the baby's chin towards the plugged duct as the suction is the strongest there. I thought this sounded really weird when I first heard about it, but it really worked!

The first couple weeks are usually tough, but you definitely won't regret it if you stick it out. Good luck to you!

As a new breastfeeding mom, here would be my words of recently learned wisdom. I had two cases of mastitis EXTREMELY painful and sick - actually lost a piece of my nipple from cracking, blistering and bleeding so badly (sorry if that is TMI) and still would never choose to do anything but breastfeed. I'm not the worlds' biggest breastfeeding advocate or anything. I just think support and information are critical to success.
1. Use your lactation nurses. Both in the hospital and afterwards - call them for anything. They are the nicest, most supportive and knowledgeable people! 2. Go to bed with a glass of water each night. You'll be amazed at how thirsty you get while feeding. Drink a lot of water in general 3. Get the jelly healing pads from your at home visit nurse or clinic pharmacy. It is kind of like moleskin if you've ever used that on a blister. It can take a while for your nipples to basically callous and this is a huge relief in between feedings. The lanolin doesn't have any healing properties to it, whereas these jelly pads do. The pharmacy/nurse sold are far better than the johnson & johnson sold at say target. If I had known about these from the start my cracking/bleeding wouldn't have gotten so out of hand. 4. If ever it is too hard and you are thinking about quitting - give it one more day. Every time I got to that next day it went great and once you get on track it really is easy and such a joy. 5. Find out where there is a local le leche league meeting in advance. If you do have troubles and want to talk it through it's a great security blanket to feel like you'd know where to go. 6. If you aren't comfortable with going to a meeting by yourself make a breastfeeding friend - this website is great for that. I never thought I'd want to talk about breastfeeding and yet - here I am. Feel free to e-mail if you ever want to talk. 7. Don't be too idealistic. Lactation nurses can help you through a lot, but if there are reasons that you have to supplement or switch to formula you are still a successful parent because you are doing what is best for a healthy baby.

The pain is short lived and well worth the discomfort. Your breasts will toughen up quickly as it's nature's way. You have several responses with great advice.
Make sure you are in a comfortable chair or couch and you can put a pillow under your baby to help raise the child to the breast, too. The nurses at the hospital will also help with tips and you will be a pro in no time. Congratulations, relax and enjoy the beauty of feeding you gorgeous new one.

I have heard if you rub your breasts hard with a wash cloth when you are in the shower it will toughen up your nipples for breast feeding. That way it won't be so painful. Sorry I have no other advice. I tried to breast feed, but I had too low of a milk supply and it only lasted about 2 weeks. Because of that I would gear yourself up for the fact that it just might not work for you. Good Luck and congrats!

I have been breastfeeding my first child now for almost 8 weeks and things have been going well. I can suggest to you to have a pair of nipple shields on hand (you can buy them at Target) in the event that you get sore. They were a lifesaver to me for about a week and then after healing up, I was able to return to normal feedings. Good luck to you!

C.,

Cabbage leaves are great for breasts that are sore and swollen from overproducing milk. Just take out of the fridge and stick them on when you are at home.

There is an udder cream (used to be available only at a farm supply place, but now they sell it for breastfeeding mothers at the store.) It works well for chapped, cracked and bleeding nipples.

The best advice I can give you is to keep trying. The first month could be really hard, but it will get better. I had a horrible time the first month with my first baby. Neither of us could figure out what we were doing. Then we caught on and I have almost a total of 4 years of nursing babies (1 yr per baby) and love the experience.

There are lactation consultants at the hospital and in the community that can be very helpful as well.

Congrats on your baby,
S.

Gosh, you've gotten so much great advice that I can't really add much to it, except to say it's a wonderful thing you are choosing and be persistent, but also recognize that it doesn't always work for everyone and you need to do whatever is best for you and your baby. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received is that every experience can be different even with the same mom, but different babies. I breastfed my first one until he was 11 weeks and finally had a nurse tell me to give up because of a multitude of problems we were both having and had been having the whole time. He also pretty much quit taking the breast despite my best efforts. He was also born a month prematurely, which can have an effect on breastfeeding. The nurse told me to try again though with the next baby, which I did. I breastfed the second baby for 14 months and he never had any formula or even a bottle. It wasn't without its issues, but it was one of the best experiences of my life and I still miss it even though the "baby" is now 8! This may just be a coincidence, but my older son suffered from ear infections and allergies and my younger son (the completely breastfed one) did not. Congratulations on the new baby and I hope the breastfeeding works well for you. It is well worth any discomfort and in the greater scheme of things it is such a short time period in your life.

When I had my daughter the pain of breestfeeding for the first couple of weeks was awful, not going to lie, but I used the lanolin and it helped tremendously, for soothing purposes. I put it on after every feeding. It is not harmful to the baby at all. In the hospital you can ask your nurse for a trial tube (which will last quite a while), but then I started to ask few different nurses on rotations for a tube and said that I hadn't gotten any yet. They came in handy to leave in diaper bags when your out and about or next to your rocking chair... I never had to buy any while I was nursing!!! I did receive a larger tube as a gift that I used once a day in the morning so a little goes a long way!
Your hospital may offer a breastfeeding class. My husband and I went to one and found it to be informational, but it was a lot of information that I had read on or had been told as well. Helpful if you have questions or aren't sure of something.
I pumped after every feeding as well. My daughter was a one-sided feeder so I always pumped both breasts after a feeding and I had a freezer full (no lie). We had to put an extra freezer/fridge in our gargage for it! Start right away and build it up!!!
Good luck! Hang in there it only gets better!

Keep in mind---if it's painful, you're doing it wrong! Not enough people know that! Try to reposition if it is! The easiest way for me to learn was to hold the baby (for instance)completely facing me, on the left breast, my right hand on the base of his head, left hand cupping breast/ making a "sandwich" out of it to match his mouth. Good luck, and do not be afraid to ask a lactation consultant as soon as you need to! It helped me alot!!!