Breastfeeding

[hello1231]

Hey ladies just had my lb on Friday !

I am hating breastfeeding so much, it's just sore and time consuming ! but I am still sticking at it will give it maybe a few more days so it's been 1 n half weeks n will see how I feel

how have u breastfeedin mummies found this experince? does it get better or did anyone give up n prefer bottles ..

 

[naomi88]

Hey. Think this is posted in the wrong area but thought I'd reply anyway.

I can totally sympathise with the agony of breastfeeding. When I started feeding my little girl she used to pull loads and it got to the point where I was cracked, bleeding and crying in agony each time she fed! I was about ready to give up but then I hit the 5 weeks point and it suddenly got easier literally over night. She had a better technique and I found it wasn't hurting me at all anymore. For me, I'm glad I stuck at it because I ended up enjoying breastfeeding and found it cheap, easy and a great bonding experience. I fed exclusively til 6 months and then weaned her onto formula . Which again, was the right decision for me at the time. This time around I hope to breastfeed again and thinking at least this time I know it gets easier after a few weeks.

Having said that, breastfeeding isn't for everyone and being a new mum is stressful and emotional enough without having the extra pressure of feeling like you should or shouldn't be doing things a certain way. So do what feels right to you. The feeding will get easier though if you choose to persevere with it
Congratulations by the way!
Xxx

 

[Phoenix85]

Please, whatever you do, don't just struggle on thinking it hurts, it's awful, this is what breastfeeding is like until you can't take anymore and quit.


There are support groups and people trained to help and advise you. If you've sought help and it's not improved things, don't feel you can't get a second opinion. Try a different group, or go 'higher' and speak to an IBCLC (international board certified lactation consultant).

With my first baby I wasn't sore, but they didn't gain weight very well, and my HV was no help and just said stuff like my milk was poor quality/not calorific enough etc, and kept pushing formula.
I feel so angry (even 11yrs later) that I trusted her implicitly and didn't bother to seek out breastfeeding help. I just assumed that because I wasn't sore and feeding was OK that the HV must be right and it must have been an issue with my supply or my milk. In hindsight I know that my baby would have benefited from having their positioning or attachment tweaked by someone who knew what they were doing, in order to feed more efficiently.
And, in answer to your question, no I didn't prefer bottles (1st was fully bottlefed from 4 months). I found bottles such a drag. Having to wash them, sterilise them, make up feeds, cool feeds, make sure I always had enough formula and bottles with me when I left the house. It was a drag lol.
My second was exc. breastfed and it is so easy by comparison. The first 5/6 weeks can seem so hard and like all you're doing is feeding, but then they get the hang of it, feeds start taking less time and spacing out more and actually it ends up being a nice excuse to sit down and cuddle your baby (and you've no bottles to deal with before or after lol). Also when out no need to worry about packing formula etc. If baby is suddenly unexpectedly hungry you don't have the stress of trying to prepare a feed with them screaming, you only have to lift your shirt and latch them on.

Anyway, point is, feeling sore and hating BFing is not how breastfeeding should go, and there are trained women who want you to succeed and want you to be able to enjoy breastfeeding. Call them, get their help. If it's still not right and you still really aren't happy then you know you tried and that's what matters. But with the right help it can be comfortable and enjoyable and you can successfully breastfeed.

 

[Kholl]

First things first: check for lip or tongue tie. A Lc or pediatrician can check. My daughter has a lip tie that was undiagnosed and breastfeeding was EXCRUCIATING the first few weeks. It got better and I breast fed her til she was 3.5. But I know that pain- it won't last I promise!

 

[flinty84]

Firstly congratulations on the birth of your little boy. Breastfeeding is really tough at the start. I struggled to get a good latch, and he ended up really hungry. In the beginning I expressed some and gave him that in a bottle, so he wasn't trying to latch while hungry, then got him to latch properly. It took afew attempts, but I finally got the latch right, and breast-fed him until 13 months. I didn't have any real breastfeeding support, even though we were in hospital for a few days with jaundice no one checked he was latching on. He was 3 or 4 weeks old before someone finally checked his latch, and by then I'd figured it out.

 

[lisa1985]

My lg is 4 weeks old and been bf since birth, she will not latch on the left and lost 9.7% weight so had to top up with a formula at night and pump from left. Also my right nipple became so sore and bleeding when she was a week old I had to stop for a few days and just pump, was such a chore! I got there though and am now feeding from the right again. We have also taken her to see a cranial osteopath as she had a forceps delivery and the breastfeeding specialist I saw recommended we see one to help with latching on the left. I would recommend going to a breastfeeding group for some support. I have had days where I am ready to give up and go to formula, last night ended in tears! Have you tried nipple shields? Also lansinoh nipple balm is good. and if they are really sore, then invest in an electric breast pump and express for a while so your nipples can recover. x

 

[flexilexi394]

Can totally relate to this.... I breastfed my DD until she was 1.... And yes the first week or so was very hard work. I put lansinoh cream on before every single feed so not to be sore, and I got into a good routine quite early on but I can't quite remember how I managed it. By 6 weeks Sofia was amazing at breastfeeding and I just loved the convenience and easiness of it. She thrived on it and had a great latch so in turn put on loads of weight but I went to the breastfeeding support cafe things and spoke to my health visitor about it all the time to improve my latch and feeding etc. I hope you can seek the right help and carry it on but if you don't, don't beat yourself up over it formula fed babies thrive also xxxx