is it hard to breast feed for your first time?

Kayla - posted on 04/30/2009

For some it comes easy and some it doesn't for me it was very hard my daughter was tongue tied so couldn't stick her tongue out for enough to latch. that made it very hard because when my milk did come in she wasn't feeding properly (didn't have a breast pump never bottle feed) so my milk ducts got blocked and i have a double breast infection when she was 7 days old but i took antibiotics while still feeding her and she feed exclusively for 7 months so it is possible but its not for everyone :) like alot of mothers hav esaid get as much information about how to relive pain and position to hold the child and i got a half moon breast feeding pillow i loved it:)

Kristin - posted on 04/30/2009

It is the best thing that you can do for your child. In my case it was easy both times around. The Lactation consultant and Nurses were very helpful. I was however, worried that they were not getting enough milk. The nurses cup fed them for me. I never bottle fed. In my Sister's case she never could breast feed. It hurt to bad. I guess everyone is different. If you can do it, do it! It is not only great for the baby and your bonding but great helping get off those extra pounds faster.

Angela - posted on 04/30/2009

i also had a c-section but because my litle one had to go into the ICU, i wasn't allowed to breastfeed her till the next day so on that day i had to physically squeeze the colostrum (is that what its called? - the initial breastmilk) into a container and then my husband had to feed it to her through a syringe. I was soooooooooo devestated that i couldn't breastfeed her myself and i honestly thought i was going to have issues when i started but after a day of stressful moments yet lots of patience, she finally latched properly....11 months later, she still is breastfed and i'm still loving it!!! Have patience and keep persisting...it's definetely worth it!!! Good luck!

Elizabeth - posted on 04/30/2009

The first time was easy, I mean the very first time, but after that it was a little tough. I am a week and 5 days into it though, and it is very much becoming a comfortable routine as opposed to a challenge. Don't give up! Be diligent and the rewards for the both of you are fascinating. There's a special bond that nothing compares to. Now that we're more comfortable with the whole idea, I can rest assured that this is what my baby boy wants and needs the most. For me, it has been a huge confidence booster knowing that I have the power to nourish my baby and watch him grow. Good luck with the boob!

Tara - posted on 04/30/2009

Quoting Amber:

I had a c-section so I didn't see my son for about two hours, but then they gave him to me to feed right away and he latched on immediately and nursed well that first day, but then he began having trouble latching on and would get so upset and cry very hard so then I would cry too. He had trouble latching as he was very small and me as a first time mom had no clue what I was doing. I got no help from nurses and there was no lactation consultant as it was the weekend. I had such a hard time and most the people around me were critical as if nursing was just something you naturally know how to do maybe some people do, but I did not. I wanted it more than anything but after a day of my son refusing to nurse the entire day I gave up. I wish now that I hadn't I had read a ton of books and tried to seek out help of a lactation consultant, but I had already given him a bottle and he just got upset when I would try to breast feed. I bought a really good pump the day my milk came in and have pumped ever since so my son gets breast milk just from a bottle. For my next child though I plan to read everything right before their birth and make sure that I have plenty of help the minute the baby is born. A book I read after was the LeLeche Breastfeeding guide it is an expensive book I borrowed it from someone but I wish I would have had it before. I personally found it difficult and would like to let other pregnant women who haven't nursed to learn from my mistakes andd be able to avoid my problems. Either way my son gets plenty of breast milk and is very healthy he was 4 pounds 11 ounces when we left the hospital and he is 3 months and is 15 pounds now. So my advice is read everything you can about positions and latching and difficulties and different babies styles of nursing everything you can get your hands on and don't give up it is normal to cry and become frustrated and don't let anyone bully you into stopping the nurses at the hospital constantly threatened to give my baby a bottle.

I'm really sorry for your terrible experience with the nurses. A good maternity nurse supports breastfeeding all they can. They should have been helping you with latch etc., not threatening you with formula. If you have a c-section again find out the hospitals policy on feeding after birth. At our hospital here it is standard procedure to get new mother breastfeeding within the first half-hour of birth. That first half hour window can make a huge difference in success as baby becomes sleepy with little interest in food several hours after birth. Good Luck.

Amber - posted on 04/30/2009

I had a c-section so I didn't see my son for about two hours, but then they gave him to me to feed right away and he latched on immediately and nursed well that first day, but then he began having trouble latching on and would get so upset and cry very hard so then I would cry too. He had trouble latching as he was very small and me as a first time mom had no clue what I was doing. I got no help from nurses and there was no lactation consultant as it was the weekend. I had such a hard time and most the people around me were critical as if nursing was just something you naturally know how to do maybe some people do, but I did not. I wanted it more than anything but after a day of my son refusing to nurse the entire day I gave up. I wish now that I hadn't I had read a ton of books and tried to seek out help of a lactation consultant, but I had already given him a bottle and he just got upset when I would try to breast feed. I bought a really good pump the day my milk came in and have pumped ever since so my son gets breast milk just from a bottle. For my next child though I plan to read everything right before their birth and make sure that I have plenty of help the minute the baby is born. A book I read after was the LeLeche Breastfeeding guide it is an expensive book I borrowed it from someone but I wish I would have had it before. I personally found it difficult and would like to let other pregnant women who haven't nursed to learn from my mistakes andd be able to avoid my problems. Either way my son gets plenty of breast milk and is very healthy he was 4 pounds 11 ounces when we left the hospital and he is 3 months and is 15 pounds now. So my advice is read everything you can about positions and latching and difficulties and different babies styles of nursing everything you can get your hands on and don't give up it is normal to cry and become frustrated and don't let anyone bully you into stopping the nurses at the hospital constantly threatened to give my baby a bottle.

Amber - posted on 04/30/2009

My first time was good. I had my son in December and knew I would bf. I didn't think about it. I held him with one arm, positioned my boob with the other hand and relaxed. The nurse was even impressed. It just comes natural. The engorgment hurt when the milk was coming in. Other than that I haven't had any ohter trouble. Stock up on nursing pads. buy a few nursing bras and tops or tops that are nuring friendly. And always have a big glass of water or juice by you when you nurse. Good luck and enjoy! :)

Tara - posted on 04/30/2009

Don't expect it to be easy, but stick with it and you'll find it rewarding. Breastfeeding has it's ups and downs, seek out support. When latching learn what is a good latch and don't let baby suckle until a good latch is formed. The main cause of pain is from a poor latch. Remember it gets easier...both you and baby are learning so give it a couple months. Expect it to get tough again around 3 weeks and again at 6 weeks as your baby will cluster feed to bring in more milk to help with growth spurts. It will only last a day or two each time but you may question if it's working. Good luck.

Mary - posted on 04/30/2009

The most important things to successful breastfeeding are determination and support. Everyone (most everyone anyway) can physically breastfeed - Its how we've fed our babies for the history of humanity. So just knowing that you CAN do it is important! Many moms and babies get the hang of it quickly, There may be some challenges, especially at first, but keeping a positive attitude and lots of determination will make it possible. Arming yourself with information really helps to avoid problems. Seek out resources on techniques to hold the baby and for helping him/her to latch properly. Before your baby is born, learn things to avoid - such as improper latch - that will cause you pain.. I liked book, The Nursing Mother's Companion. When your baby is born, hopefully you'll have great, supportive nurses or hospital staff to help you. We have lactation consultants - volunteer and paid - in our town that are available for phone or in person consultations. As others have alluded to, your body adjusts to the breast feeding. Nipple soreness is common in the beginning. My baby had trouble latching on at first and I learned a lot from that experience. (Our nurse suggested a nipple shield which I would not reccomend! It became a problem later on) However, good advice from your health professionals or a lactation consultsnt can help you overcome most any breast feeding issue. Best wishes!

Brittney - posted on 04/30/2009

it was hard for me the first time. while in the hospital with the lactation consultant bekah was too tired to wake up and nurse. She would take a few swings and then pass out! so while i had the good help, it was too bad and bekah didnt want to cooperate. when i got home and my milk came in she became the most aggressive little thing and would hardly relax long enough to let the milk come down. it was hard but i stuck with it and when i had to give it up even though it was so much easier and it made me so much more sane, i sill missed it.

Anastasia - posted on 04/30/2009

Yeah. I found it difficult at first. The first month was the worst, I was SO SO SO tired and my nipples hurt like hell. But there's a considerable improvement every week as you and your new baby learn more about your breastfeeding roles. But now 6 months has passed and I am so pleased I stuck with it. You'll doubt your ability to produce enough milk, you'll probably experience some pain and you may get a back ache for a while from your posture, so make sure you're comfortable. If you get bored easily you may want to think about something to entertain yourself like TV. You may even have very negative people around you who want you to fail, please don't listen to them. It will be such a wonderful experience for you and bub. Just make sure that your well informed and that if bub doesn't latch on correctly, then make sure he does because it will just cause you pain, it it's to bad your nipples can crack and bleed, so i recommend Lansinoh, it helps to keep your nipples moist(?) and you don't have to wash it off b4 breastfeeding.
Good luck. its really really worth it.

Kirsten - posted on 04/30/2009

The very first time was pretty easy. It was after he'd gone away and slept for awhile that it was harder. It's just awkward trying to figure out how to old them correctly and it took my son a little while to figure out how to latch properly. But that only lasted about a day or two and since then it's been really easy for us. I agree with Leslie though, give the boob as much as possible and try to avoid supplementing. Good luck!

Leslie - posted on 04/30/2009

What do you mean "poorly"?



My first time was amazing. Baby LB just latched on naturally right after birth. They actually took her off to clean her up .. it was amazing. After that I had a few latching on problems but the lactation consultant and nurses were very helpful.. I would give her the boob as much as she wants and try avoid supplementation if at all possible because then the baby expects the milk to come out faster and this may hurt you. GOOD LUCK! You CAN do it!