Hi Charmaine,
Agree with you on your reluctance but heartache to see and hear the infant crying. Furthermore, it's newborn with family gathering around, added pressure, give in to FM.
That's why I encourage P1nk1e to try to stimulate her milk glands by borrowing the breast pump from hospital. She can always try to introduce a 2nd let down of b.milk by introducing the infant to her breast. To avoid nipple/teats confusion, they improvise sipper. Therefore, the best person suitable for the job would be the lactation nurse : )
P1nk1e,
By all means, you can read up on various FM and suggestion from family/friends, then both you and hubby must decide which is best and suitable for your child. I'm sharing with you my personal experience and hope it helps. Here's a link that you might consider reading,
http://www.babycenter.com/400_whats-the-normal-color-of-a-breastfed-babys-bowel-movement_505546_1000.bc
Oh yes, babies fed on all FM, their stools tends to be firmer as in form pastry. As for those who are breast fed, it comes in colours from green to mustard colours and soft and seedy. I only gave my children water to gush down after feeding with FM. Yup. Abbott only provides samples from 6mth onwards so does other FM companies as they strongly encourage mum to feed the best milk in the world = Breast milk. Enough said, don't give yourself too much stress on BF, it will comes naturally and do enjoy the special bonding with your child. You can always check out at enquiries.
http://www.breastfeeding.org.sg/help-corner.html
Memory,
If your hubby is gungho, can let gynae know inadvance your birth plan, he's allowed to be with you during delivery, with surgical gown and gloves, he can have the honour to snip the umbilical cord after it stops pulsating and clip at both ends. That will give him lasting memories too. Don'r worry, both you and baby won't feel pain at all during snipping and the blood will not splash in all corners. Infact, your gynae will collect some blood from the umblilical cord for investigation and cord blood banking purposes.
Placenta,
The nurse will ask you if you need the placenta. Please request them to check and confirm placenta is intact and ok and let them discard away. There are ppl with diff request, some took back to offer religious prayers cos we're a multi racial country, mah.