When did it get easier for you?

[OMGbabyno3]

I've read quite a few threads and people say bf gets easier. I'd just like to know when?!

With DD1 I exclusively bf til 6 weeks as I thought I wasn't producing enough milk, but from what I read here there might be a turning point after this?

I'm at week 6 now and while I dont think it's too bad, there's still a lot of cluster feeding in eves.

Thanks xx

 

[Maud]

I suppose it depends on what you mean by easier? My daughter did a lot of damage in the first week and it took 3 months for that to heal, after which her latch was a lot less painful. It took us another month to fully sort out her latching issues. By then she was also feeding less frequently and sleeping better so that made a real difference. I think if she hadn't had such a dreadful latch things would've gotten easier a lot sooner.

 

[GF91]

I'm at 6 weeks now & I'm undecided on how long to carry on for. While the last couple of weeks have got easier, I still have days where she does nothing but cluster feed or use me as a dummy so I get nothing done. The more she clusters/comforts on me- the more sore I get and then I feel back at square one! X

 

[Sprout]

It sort of depends what you mean by easier haha. I was really lucky - lovely latch from day 1, very little pain...but then at 6 weeks my LO started to get really fussy at the breast and I had no idea why. Turns out it was a growth spurt and she was just trying to get me to supply more. I think after that things did settle though and I started to appreciate how much more convenient BFing is that bottle feeding, rather than wondering if a bottle might make things easier.

Now, at nearly 5 months, our current "issue" is that she feeds 5-7 times a night and screams at me if I try to feed her during the day! She used to sleep through

So I'm not sure it gets easier, the problems just change haha.

In terms of supply and cluster feeding - don't worry. Even if it seems like LO isn't getting enough one day, your supply will be increasing so they get plenty the following day As long as there are plenty of wet and dirty nappies, it should be fine.

 

[sorpresa_bea]

For me things started to improve at week 6 and it all felt much easier from week 8 (week 10 now and things are going really well in the breastfeeding department). We did have a horrendous first 4 weeks with every possible bf hurdle you can imagine: poor latching, extremely sore nipples, milk blisters, blocked ducts, early mastitis, low milk supply and thrush.

Through the pain and tears, I persevered and took each day at a time. I was ready to pack it all in many times, but a mixture of stubbornness and help from lactation consultants (I saw 3 different ones to be sure to get various viewpoints) got us to happy and successful breastfeeding days.

We did combi feeding at one point with both expressed and formula bottles and I'm relieved now that I don't need to worry about bottles anymore.

Hang in there. Seeing a consultant may help. The rewards are worth it. And as you can see from the answers, for some mums it gets easier sooner. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Clairabelle]

Unfortuately I think cluster feeding is just part and parcel of ebf really. Breast milk is very easily digested and so baby gets hungrier faster than a bottle fed baby. Also cluster feeding is common at certain times due to growth spurts and it's all to do with telling your milk supply it needs to produce more milk and richer milk for your baby's needs at that time. The more baby feeds, the more milk you make and the milk changes for your baby's needs. Cluster feeding can be a pain, but I always used to just think of it as an excuse to put my feet up and have DH wait on me x

 

[MrsMeaney]

for me, I found my groove at about 8 weeks x

 

[JJ Mum]

Yeah cluster feeding early eve was my normal but did help at night as he started sleeping througth at 8 weeks!! Hard to cook dinner , eat dinner or do okder kid activities drop off etc tho

My last Roman didn 't cluster feed which was easier but fed 2 hrly ( round the clock!!) till 13 mths old which near finished me off!!