Hi I am just wondering about breast feeding... I want to breast feed when my baby is born, but I have heard that it's too painful? I know that it's said that formula is still good for babies, but I believe that natural is best in EVERY circumstance, no matter the age... I would love your imput. Thanks!

Rory - posted on 06/23/2009

Hi. I have two older son. The first was bottle feed and the second breastfeed. It was painful the first week or so but totally bareable and worth it. I love my sons equally but I feel the bonding durning breastfeed was special. Here at 37 I am pregnant and plan to breastfeed ...So the best advice is to do your best which everway you chose. I did want to breastfeed my oldest but he didn't / wouldn't or couldn't latch on so I bottlefeed.

Also as far as the pain there is products out there that are all natural that helps ease and soothe. Look at Earth Mama products not sure of the website but I know from family and friends that this helps alot. Have a great pregnancy!

Rory

Rory - posted on 06/23/2009

Hi. I have two older son. The first was bottle feed and the second breastfeed. It was painful the first week or so but totally bareable and worth it. I love my sons equally but I feel the bonding durning breastfeed was special. Here at 37 I am pregnant and plan to breastfeed ...So the best advice is to do your best which everway you chose. I did want to breastfeed my oldest but he didn't / wouldn't or couldn't latch on so I bottlefeed.

Also as far as the pain there is products out there that are all natural that helps ease and soothe. Look at Earth Mama products not sure of the website but I know from family and friends that this helps alot. Have a great pregnancy!

Rory

Demi - posted on 06/23/2009

It only hurts if the bby isnt positioned right and it doesnt hurt as much as child birth. Plus I really feel it is worth it. Just remember the first three weeks are the hardest......make it three weeks and its all down hill. Its much more comfortable at home than in the hospital also. I had to pump cause I had a NICU bby and I had to deal with nipple confusion, eating problems, and apoor milk supply and finally it got so much easier!!!! Try it and stick with it.

Jaclyn - posted on 06/23/2009

I am nursing my 8 month old still, and would not do it any other way! It was never once painful for me. It calms him down when hes upset or hurt, helps him get ready for sleep. And best of all, its very healthy! Go for it!

Jaclyn - posted on 06/23/2009

I am nursing my 8 month old still, and would not do it any other way! It was never once painful for me. It calms him down when hes upset or hurt, helps him get ready for sleep. And best of all, its very healthy! Go for it!

Roxann - posted on 06/23/2009

honestly it was very painful the first couple of days, i even got a fever cuz i has a clogged duct but i hear that its painful the first few days no matter if you breastfeed or not cuz your breast still get filled with milk. but ive been breast feeding for about 8 months now and my daughter and i love it, its the best thing for her. and my husband loves it cuz its saved us hundreds of dollars that we would have spent on the cans of formula that cost about $25 each

Roxann - posted on 06/23/2009

honestly it was very painful the first couple of days, i even got a fever cuz i has a clogged duct but i hear that its painful the first few days no matter if you breastfeed or not cuz your breast still get filled with milk. but ive been breast feeding for about 8 months now and my daughter and i love it, its the best thing for her. and my husband loves it cuz its saved us hundreds of dollars that we would have spent on the cans of formula that cost about $25 each

Sula - posted on 06/23/2009

Oh, look how cute you are!!



I breast fed both my kids for more than 2 years and it was great! You will develop an incredible bond with your children. We are all different, so try it and see how it goes!!

Angela - posted on 06/23/2009

I breastfed my son for 14 months. It is very painful at for the first few days until both you and your baby get use to it. I went back to work when my son was 3 months old and decided to introduce formula to his diet. I should had never done that i should just taken the time pump my milk. I had a lot of problems with formula it made my baby really gassy, he refused the bottle cause he prefered the breast. He barely ever drank formula he was drinking 5 ounces at 12 months. Natural is the best. Good Luck.

Alicia - posted on 06/23/2009

To risk sounding blunt: It hurts when your boobs get too full, and in the begining when your nipples are getting used to it. But other than that It doesnt hurt. Takes about 1-2 weeks for mom and baby to get the hang of things...I nursed my daughter until she was 7 months old, then she weaner herself.

Liane - posted on 06/23/2009

My experience breast feeding was only painful when I did not know what I was doing. Once I got some help from a lactation consultant and made sure my baby was latching on correctly it was a wonderful, enjoyable experience. I agree with Sandra's post below... get as much information as you can from varied sources (especially non-mainstream ones). And, make sure you opt in for any breastfeeding classes your hospital/doctors office provides. I found a breastfeeding support group that met once a month and it helped me tremendously to have other mothers and lactation specialists available to help! Most importantly, understand that it does take a few weeks after birth to really get the hang of it, so don't give up if it gets a little difficult. The end result is definitely worth it knowing you are giving your baby the very best! Good luck to you.

Beneal - posted on 06/23/2009

I loved breast feeding! We went to a class at the hospital. It is a little different at first, but isnt any new experience? I totally encourage every mom to breast feed!

Good luck!

Beneal

Sandra - posted on 06/23/2009

I breastfed four babies without a minute of pain or discomfort. You need to visit more natural parenting boards like Mothering.com to get real insight into things like this. "Mainstream" birth boards and chat rooms are full of too many horror stories. You can do it, it will be great.

Diema - posted on 06/23/2009

Hey Mattee,

I can understand your concern. With my first child I must say it was pretty painful at first. But as time went by the pain went away. The benifits to breastfeeding out weighed the pain and really came in handy for those late night feedings. No need to go to the kitchen and mix anything up at 2 in the morning you have everything you need right there no heating required. Good luck to you!

Sarah - posted on 06/23/2009

After giving birth you can handle any pain, trust me. If it is painful just remember, it will only last a couple of day...if that. Just keep telling yourself it will go away. Was the soreness is gone, no more pain! It's really quite simple.

Tonya - posted on 06/23/2009

Breast feeding is still best way above formula. I know you want only the best for your baby and your milk is definately it!!! Besides, it is an incredible bonding time for you and your baby. There is nothing like it. Yes, it can be painful at times, but it is all worth it and it wont last the whole time you are breastfeeding. If you will use Lansinoh which is lanolin for breast feeding moms and it helps alot!!! Get it at Wal-Mart. You can begin using it before your baby is born to prepare your breasts for breastfeeding. I incourage you to try it and work thru any pain and it will be rewarding for you. Good Luck!!

Missy - posted on 06/23/2009

Breastfeeding is the best thing you can do for your child. My daughter is 10 months and I don't mind breastfeeding her until she is 2. I think I'll be the one having a hard time when it's time to ween. It was painful for me at first b/c my daughter didn't latch on properly. I had help from a lactation consultant. Stock up on breast pads, Lanolin cream and invest in a good breast pump.

Kristian - posted on 06/23/2009

Hi Mattee, My son is 2 1/2 months now and I had a rought time starting him out with breastfeeding. But my friends and sister in law told me to give it 2-3 weeks and the pain will be gone. I didn't think I could do it, I was having problems with him latching which led to one boob feeling like it had rugburn and cracked nipples and bleeding but I am happy to say the pain is all gone and it was worth it. I do give him a bottle of formula every once in awhile when I feel too tired and to give myself a break. And I dont feel guilty because when I am ready to wean he's used to the bottle and the formula! Hope this helps good luck!

Annie - posted on 06/22/2009

Hi Mattee: I'm expecting right now too and although I can't speak from experience yet, according to a lot of research breastfed babies have lower rates of all kinds of illnesses and disorders. It's so much healthier than formula, easier on their tummies, and really important for immunity - plus I think it's a great bonding experience. I've heard that if you get the latch and the positioning right, you can avoid a lot of the pain. I'd look into a lactation consultant to help you with that, right from the beginning, whether you're having trouble or not, just to make sure you and your baby have a good thing going. :) Check out this website: http://www.ilca.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?... . . . and click on the blue tab on the right that says "Find a lactation consultant" . . . they're often free too. Good luck! :)

Haley - posted on 06/22/2009

Im not going to lie....I wanted to breast feed my first son, but it was too painful and i gave up. He is healthy as can be. Now with my 2nd son I wanted to try again, so I did and he is easy. He latched like a pro. So I just think that it is the kid. But good luck.

Sarah - posted on 06/22/2009

Breastfeeding should not hurt if you are doing it right. It can be painful at first while you are learning to get the latch right, but after that there should not be any pain during the feed. I have found it to be a fulfilling and rewarding experience, and I would not have done it any other way. It really is the best nutrition you can offer your baby, it's free, natural, and beautiful. I would highly recommend breastfeeding to any new mom. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

Laura - posted on 06/22/2009

i breastfed my twins for 18 months and it was not painful for me but I know everyone is different. I had a very forceful letdown that hurt but nursing itself was fine. I like the bonding time with my children. I am currently nursing a 3month old and the only thing painful with this one was the after pains when your uterus contracts after having the baby while nursing. Both my boys have reflux my oldest is 2 1/2 and still dealing with it but I wonder how much worse it would have been if I didn't breastfeed not that this should make you want to breastfeed. I've been told that breastfeeding reflux babies is easier on their tummies. Breastfeeding is best but it is totally your decision because for everyone their experience is different.

Sherry - posted on 06/22/2009

Hello, it does really hurt at first (no matter what they say at pre natal classes). It only hurts until the 2 of you get the hang of things. After about 2 weeks you just don't hurt anymore. If you become engorged it kills, but it is temporary, just feed the baby or pump! The pain is so worth it. It's hard at first but don't give up.

Melisha - posted on 06/22/2009

that is the best thing that i've ever done for my son. i'm a mother of two and i only breastfed my second son. it only hurts for a little while, if you are doing it right. it is all worth it. good luck.

Kathleen - posted on 06/22/2009

Don't worry.... it's the most wonderfull experience... not painfull at all :)

April - posted on 06/22/2009

hello, it depends on how you breast are. you can always use the breast pump its less painful.

Megan - posted on 06/22/2009

Quoting Christina:

The only reason b'feeding hurts is because the baby has not attached properly....i had problems feeding my first child but i perservered and fed her till she was two...i am still b'feeding my second child and he is just over two...yes breast is best and i really feel for women who can't b'feed ( because no milk etc) and have to bottle feed, as b'feeding is the most wonderful, relaxing and bonding feeling between mother and child...you'll find b'fed babies have no reflux or tummy pains(wind) and you don't have to burp them...i find a b'fed baby sleeps longer and is more content....so go for it...breast-feed...but if for any reason you can't please, please do not feel any guilt, as love really is the best thing you can give your child.

I wanted to commnt on this... not to be rude but to clarify.

Some moms experience discomfort with early BF due to improper latch, dry or sore nipples, and engorgement. This doesnt nessacarily mean you are doing it wrong... but go to a lactation consultant if you are concerned! Breast fed babies have less reflux and tummy problems... but can still have them. I found with my baby that she needed a good burp during her daytime meals or she would often spit up until about 3-4 months old. And babies can get gassy if they react to "problem foods" in your diet. However breastfed babies tend to have less colic and such! In the beginning babies need to nurse often and may not sleep as long at night as formula fed babies because the formula takes longer to digest and some parents are more likely to urge baby to "finish the bottle". So, you arent doing anything wrong if your baby has to feed every 2 hours or you have to burp them all the time, or if they get gassy! Each baby is an individual and Breasfeeding rocks... but I dont want you to expect one thing and end up with another.

Christina... I just want to clarify and I am not arguing against you post! ( ;

Lissi - posted on 06/22/2009

I am still nursing my almost 14 month old and it has been worth it every step of the way. There is this thing called a "nipple shield" that you can get at the store or my hospital had it when I delivered. I had some problems getting started breastfeeding and they gave me the shield because it can help. I ended up using it for a few months and it really cut down on soreness and by the time we stopped using it my nipples were used to what was going on and no soreness.

Gabby - posted on 06/22/2009

hey my boys 6 months and im still breast feeding. i love it and so does he. its not panful at all as long as they latch on correctly. breast is best

Rebekah - posted on 06/22/2009

i had the same concerns. i was so worried that i wouldn't do it if it hurt. i read and read and read about it. it all said it wasn;t supposed to hurt if you are doing it right, but everyone who had done it said the opposite. i thought well the experts should know, so i did everything i read and bugged the heck out of my nurses and lactation cons when i was in the hospital, used the lanisoh cream faithfully, and anytime i thought he was even kind of latched on wrong i took him off and tried again. i was determined not to hurt. i did all this and it never hurt. just a little tender in the very first days. my boy is 7 mos. now and we are still going with it. it has been great! the hardest part wasn't the pain it was the feeling the breastfeeding was taking over your life. i almost quit because of that. i stuck it out and now it is easy and just a part of our life. good luck and i hope it works out for you.

Ashley - posted on 06/22/2009

It may hurt for the first few days, but your nipples get used to it pretty fast if your baby is latching properly. I've been breastfeeding for a little over 20 months now, and I am VERY happy that I gave my son what was/is best for him.

Deborah - posted on 06/22/2009

I have two little ones (still breastfeeding my 1 month old) and I have to tell you it was painful for me both times, although this time it didn't hurt as bad. With my first I quit after one month because the pain never went away and my nipples were cracked and bleeding. I was determined to do better with the second but it was somewhat painful again. I soldiered through it and it did get better. No one tells you how hard breastfeeding can be. I thought, "Latch them on, let them eat, take them off, repeat as needed.... no problem!" NOT! I think I would've gone longer with my first if someone had told me that IT CAN BE HARD, but it gets better with time! That's the truth!

Here's my advice.... They say it won't hurt if you latch them on correctly, so when you are in the hospital ask for the lactation consultant or a nurse who knows about breasfeeding to help you as soon as you have the baby. If you breastfeed for a couple days the wrong way then it will hurt and the damage will be done. You want to do it correctly from the very beginning!

Good Luck!! :)

Joanne - posted on 06/22/2009

I think most people find it painful, but that isn't a reason not to do it! You can achieve anything you want to, and besides, it's certainly not painful for ever - at worse its the first few weeks, up to six in my experience. But think about this, Colic is a massive problem in bottle fed babies, especially boys. It does happen in breast fed babies too, but it is massively better than from synthetic milk. Those poor babies with colic can be in almost constant pain, even agony, so think about this, the worse case scenario is that for 10 times a day (if your baby feeds a lot) for a maximum of 30 seconds (because the pain eases after then) you could be in a lot of pain - but you can take paracetamol and ibuprofen (ask your GP), that is going to be a lot easier for you to handle than what your baby might suffer if you give them formula. Attachment is vital, poor attachment means pain, don't be afraid to get help in on DAY 1! even if you think you are doing fine. My experience is that ladies with smaller boobs suffer less, you don't have massive boobs so my gut instinct is that you won't suffer too badly at all! Make sure you have the number to the breast feeding helpline - phone day or night. Ensure that you have support - a partner is ideal, they can rub your back as they attach in order to distract you from the pain. Ensure you buy and electric breast pump, because if you desperately need to rest your nipples - you can, but you MUST EXPRESS TWICE for every feed you miss in order to keep the milk supply up and do not leave a nipple to rest for more than 24 hours at a time and do only 1 at a time, you then feed your baby with the milk you express so try to express some extra milk as soon as your milk comes in (about day 3) because you'll have tonnes! and will probably need to do it before your baby can latch on anyway because for the first few days (up to a week) after your milk comes in your boobs become very hard and the baby finds it hard to attach. Just remember though, that it gets easier! I promise! I promise! and Get help!! xxx lots of love and luck!

Julie - posted on 06/22/2009

It only hurts if the baby is not attaching properly. Start by ruffing up you nipples now with a facecoth in the shower. I am still nursing my baby at 11 months and I love it! Definintly get some advice from a lactation consultant the more relaxed you are the easier it is. If you want to breastfeed you will no matter what, don't give up within the first 3 weeks which is the hardest.

Good luck!

Alicia - posted on 06/22/2009

Do it!!!! i thoroughly recommend breastfeeding, its so much better and more natural, it also helps you shift your baby weight quicker. i never experienced any pain whatsoever. but if it doesnt come naturally at first then stick with it, my 1st son took 2 days to latch on properly but until then i expressed and gave it to him on a spoon and in a cup, he didnt starve

Do you really want to be washing and sterilising bottles all day everyday and getting up in the night to make up a feed before you give it to her? all you do is sit down, unclip your bra and let her suck! Good luck x

Megan - posted on 06/22/2009

For me, It didn't hurt the entire time my son nursed, only when he first latched on.

Leanisha - posted on 06/22/2009

Oh yeah one more thing get a really good pump. After you get the hang of breastfeeding and the baby is ready to drink breastmilk from a bottle ( 2 months or so) get a great pump. Nurse the baby on one breast and then pump the other. You will get more milk that way. And then when you need a break you have milk ready for her!!

Leanisha - posted on 06/22/2009

Hi breastfeeding is the best thing you could do for you children. Right after brining them into the world. I always tell my friends this. After the morning sickness, the ever changing emtions, the streching belly, the kicking you all hours of the night and then finally making their enterance you COULD breastfeed. Thats the easy part.... Well to me at least. It will hurt for the frist couple of days or even weeks BUT you can get thru it.Don't be hard on yourself either it takes time to master!!! And trust me when you do, it will be the best feeling you will ever have. Knowing that the connection between you and your child still continues after they left your body! Knowing that you are their life source makes you feel so important and so needed. It is demanding and it takes lots of work and patience but you might as well starts all of those things now because you are a mother now start it early!!!! I hope I helped!!! Good LUCK!!!

Angie - posted on 06/22/2009

In my experience, it was quite painful in the beginning. I stuck it out with support from my family and friends until my daughter was 15 months and it was THE most rewarding experience!! Just know that everyone experiene is different, but with the help and support of family and a lactation consultant it is well worth it. Best of luck!

Tristine - posted on 06/22/2009

Quoting Rebekah:

It hurt a lot at first when I started breastfeeding my daughter. The best advice I received from a mom was to give it at least 2 weeks and seek help from a lactation consultant (many hospitals now have this option). When we started she would not open her mouth big enough and caused bleeding and cracked nipples. I was ready to quit!!! That is when I went to the lactation consultant which really helped, just having the support was a big deal. My daughter is 2 months old, I nurse her full time and it doesn't hurt at all!

This is such great advice!! And the pain is individual. I didn't have pain at all when I first started. And any pain you have will be outweighed by the beautiful bond you and you're baby will have! Trust me! I still get some pain when I breastfeed, but I wouldn't have it any other way!!

Belinda - posted on 06/22/2009

Breastfeeding is rarely painful if you're taught how to do it correctly. I've breastfed two babies without pain but I had some really good midwives teach me how to latch on the babies correctly. The best thing to do is learn as much about how to breastfeed as you can, get the midwives to come and watch you feed while at the hospital so they can make sure you are doing it correctly and get the number of your local breastfeeding support network so you can get help or ask questions when you need to. Breastfeeding is definitely worth it, and makes the night time wake ups tolerable (no need to wander out to the kitchen and make up a bottle!). Good luck.

Christina - posted on 06/22/2009

The only reason b'feeding hurts is because the baby has not attached properly....i had problems feeding my first child but i perservered and fed her till she was two...i am still b'feeding my second child and he is just over two...yes breast is best and i really feel for women who can't b'feed ( because no milk etc) and have to bottle feed, as b'feeding is the most wonderful, relaxing and bonding feeling between mother and child...you'll find b'fed babies have no reflux or tummy pains(wind) and you don't have to burp them...i find a b'fed baby sleeps longer and is more content....so go for it...breast-feed...but if for any reason you can't please, please do not feel any guilt, as love really is the best thing you can give your child.

Jennifer - posted on 06/21/2009

Quoting Miriam:

Quoting Deidre:

Please don’t breasted your baby until there are 2 and 3. That is taking it too far. Lol Of course that is my opinion.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association recommends continuing to breastfeed for the first 2 years and beyond if possible as the immunological and cognitive benefits are significant.  There is nothing wrong with breastfeeding a toddler and the toddler will benefit from being breastfed.  Just because our culture says that a woman's breasts are sexual and that it's ok to feed little babies but not toddlers- doesn't mean our culture is right or has the best interests of the children at heart.

 

If you want to read about the benefits of extended breastfeeding here is a link to a lit review.

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/s...

UNICEF and the World Health Organization also recomend this!

Kelly - posted on 06/21/2009

I think that you should try breastfeeding you're baby for at least the first 2 to 6 weeks of their live. I couldn't breastfeed so I had to pump and I pumped for almost 6 months before I dried up. It sucks now that I can't breastfeed anymore because I spend about $150 a month in formula and it sucks having to give her a bottle in the middle of the night because you have to have a light on so you can see what you are doing and most of the time it will wake them up and it takes forever to get them back to sleep. So I hope that you just try to breastfeed. Good Luck with your pregnancy.

Jennifer - posted on 06/21/2009

Quoting Cheyenne:

BTW if you can go through labor to have a baby, any pain nursing will be very minimal!

So true! I had a c-section after 3 hours of pushing. If you experience any part of labor and childbirth BF'ing does not hurt! You think," it feels a little uncomfortable but compared to what I just went through it's like butterfly kisses!" then your milk comes in or the pain meds wear off and you think OH maybe it does hurt a little! ;o)

Jennifer - posted on 06/21/2009

Hi Mattee! I'm not going to even try and read all the responses you've already gotten! Yes, it can be painful but with a proper latch it shouldn't be. The only time it really hurt for me was when my milk came in and my boobs were huge and baby couldn't latch right. What I did was manual pump just to draw the nipple out and then attach baby. That helped alot and only lasted a few days. It's probably already been said but find a lactation consultant in your area and I would also HIGHLY recomend La Leche meetings at least finding a leader in your area! I started going when I was 30 weeks and learned so much! All leaders have breastfed at least one child and their help is free. Mine would help ove the phone, come to the hospital, your house, email, whatever you needed! And definatley take a breastfeeding class. There are many problems you "could" face but with help, encouragement, support you can get through just about any of them. Here's a link to find a La Leche group on your area....



http://www.llli.org/WebUS.html



Good luck! And nice baby bump!!

Crystina - posted on 06/21/2009

Hey love, I'm a breastfeeding mommy and I'm not sure what you already know so I'm just going to tell you what I tell any mom who asks me (I'm a breastfeeding peer counselor). The first couple weeks you will probably be a little sore as your nipples are, hopefully, not used to being constantly sucked on, however, on a scale of one to ten, a pain level of about 3 should be the most amount of pain you're going through. If you're experiencing anything more than that or it's painful longer than a couple seconds into nursing get help because 9 out of 10 times there's an easy fix and it could get really bad really quickly. If you have even the tiniest concern always ask. I'm here if you need anything. Formula is nutritional enough for babies but it is not normal breast milk is. :-) Also, it's going to be tough the first few weeks no matter what you do, however, breastfeeding is the next natural step in your job as a mom as far as protecting and comforting you little one and it's going to give a comfort no one else can and nothing else will.

Aislinn - posted on 06/21/2009

As far as I've heard.. Breastfeeding isn't 'painful' as such..the only main reasons you would experience pain is if the baby isn't attached to the nipple properly (and midwifes are excellent with support in this department), or if you were to experience cracked nipples or Mastitis.. Speak to your midwife about breastfeeding before & after and don't be scared to ask for help. ALSO, I've been given the advice by my family to de-sensitise my nipples from day 1 of pregnancy.. get some Lanolin cream from the pharmasist and everyday just rub, pinch & massage your nipples so they become a bit more robust. You can also just try to expose them to sunlight as much as possible to get a leather affect. These are helpful tips from my mother who NEVER had any issues breastfeeding.. Hope it helps! :)

Stephanie - posted on 06/21/2009

Breastfeeding is so beautiful. It is the best thing I have done for my daughters. It can feel a bit painful in the beginning but you also don;t have milk the first few days after birth. You have the thick stuff, and so your baby sucks hard to get that out. If it is REALLY painful, then the baby is not properly latching on correctly. After the first week or so you should hardly notice your baby feeding, it becomes such a natural feeling. Then if you have continued breastfeeding, you can decide when it is right for you and your baby to stop nursing. My first daughter was 18 months (she stopped on her own bc I was pregnant with my second daughter & my milk changed and she didn't like it!) & my second daughter is 12 months and still nurses but she likes to nurse mainly at naptime and bedtime! I wish you good luck with decision!

Jennifer - posted on 06/21/2009

Quoting Joelle:

There are the option of a nipple shield i know alot of people don't agree with using them but i have found it to work wonderfully. I wasn't able to get my son to latch on when he was first born so i had to resort to using a nipple shield which the dr at the hospital wasn't to happy about but i wasn't gonna resort to formula..... And now although my son will latch i has been painful so i still go back to the shield every now and then just to get a break from the pain and so he can eat until he is full and not until i can't take it anymore... so its just an option for you :-)

I also used a shield, although I would try without it first. I only used it because I couldn't get him to latch on and the lactation specialists reccomended it. YES it was very very helpful, BUT it was hard to get rid of it my son was USED to the shield and not the Breast. But everyone is different and I found with B/F I had alot of challanges I worked through and nursed a healthy happy baby until he was 19 months old! I had to supplement formula in the begininning in a device that let him feed at the breast and get both B. Milk and Formula. So whatever your struggle lactation specialists, books, and many other resources are available to help you!!! GOOD LUCK DON'T GIVE UP!!!