Not enjoying breastfeeding

Rosemary - posted on 11/24/2009

Quoting KC:

Not enjoying breastfeeding

I am really wanting to give my baby only breastmilk, but I really hate breastfeeding. It's such a struggle for me to let her latch, and I've been using a shield every time. We pump at night so that daddy can help and I've been thinking of just pumping all the time, any thoughts? Has anyone done this? What do you think?

Hello! Isn't it awful to start. My baby is 8 1/2 months old now and I was exactly the same - luckily I had tons of support but I think I might have given up if I hadn't, even though I was so keen to breastfeed.

I used the nipple shield for ages, it's a pain but I never felt I had to rush off it as it really helped with the chafing. Also my little girl never had any trouble going from boob to shield to bottle (expressed milk).

I felt it got easier about 3 months, and by 4 months we were well established. Now I really enjoy it and it's easy as. But I still think back to those early months with dread - I used to kick the chair and say naughty words when she latched, it hurt so much, I'm not sure if that's your problem but it was definitely mine! Everyone kept saying my technique was right, but I"m not sure - isn't it supposed to not hurt if that's the case? Anyway nothing really to suggest, just to wish you good luck and it truly does get easier. I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel at all, but it does come.

Ilona - posted on 11/24/2009

Hang on in there, it gets easier, and apart from breast being the best, if u r tight on money, then it will save you a fortune ;) if you breastfeed, as its free, unlike formula, well i hope that is also encouraging for you to keep BFing...personally i think we all owe it to our children and it is not an option to quit.

Fallon - posted on 11/23/2009

Breast pumps are awsome but unfortunately don't get all the milk out that a baby can..so I would suspect that your supply would most likely slowly go down...it takes some serious getting used to..but if you can tough it out your baby will reep a lifetime of benefits..if not look at all the perfectly healthy kids who weren't breast fed..and the honest truth is you need to be enjoying your baby.

Lorie - posted on 11/23/2009

I don't know how old your baby is but the first 6-8 weeks of nursing can be difficult. It gets better after that you just have to hang in there. I wanted to quite many times during the first 2 months will all 3 babies. It gets better promise.

Rebecca - posted on 11/22/2009

KC, I'm going through the same thing and have seen a lactation specialist tonnes of times (I have the nipple shield and all). Personally, I like pumping. It's easier and less stressful on both me and my baby and he gets to bond with his daddy a lot more than he would've if I were breastfeeding. It's a tiny bit more time consuming, but if you invest in a good sanitizer all you have to do is give your pump/bottles a quick wash and throw them in a microwave sanitizer for two minutes and you're done. I still like to breastfeed him in the evenings because I find it's the only time he's calm enough to latch but don't stress yourself out about it! My biggest problem has just been well meaning women passing judgement and assuming they know everything about the situation, but you and you alone know what's best for your baby. Good luck!

Laura - posted on 11/22/2009

How old is your baby? If she's only a couple of months old, please give it time. She will learn how to do it so easily. I commend you on pumping, and not just jumping into the formula routine. That is awesome and amazing! I pumped at work until my daughter was 1, and I'm so glad I did. Pumping all the time is better than giving formula, but eventually it will get old. And you might dry up faster, because you might not pump as much as she would eat. Just be patient, keep at it, and also go to your local WIC office, and they have lactation consultants, who have helped me out so much! Good luck.

Kayliecia - posted on 11/22/2009

I have just pumped..and i pumped for about 3 months..and eventually it got old for me and just seemed like it took all my time up...My supply was fine and i had such a hard time getting him to latch, and he would want to feed after i was done feeding him with the breast. however i just went to formula and i feel bad for it.

Chris - posted on 11/22/2009

People do that all the time! It's the same nutritional benefit! If the latch part is so hard and you've seen a lactation specialist and you want to pump only, then do it. Don't beat yourself up over it!

Dawn - posted on 11/22/2009

Try this site, it saved my breastfeeding and Dr Newman will answer your questions if you email him.

http://www.drjacknewman.com/

Try the video clips.

I found that my baby knew exactly what to do and I just got in the way.

Are you based in the USA?

dxx

Tobey - posted on 11/22/2009

Getting to the "comfy" part takes a while and you're doing so good to hang in there. If you want to stick it out you can get help from your hospitals lactation consultants FOR FREE. There was probably some tiny little piece of paper somewhere in the paperwork you went home from the hospital with that had a number for you to call (if you can't find it just call the maternity ward and tell them you need to speak with a lactation consultant). They will listen to your problems and most likely have you come in so they can observe you nursing your baby to help figure out what's going wrong and how it can be fixed. I had to do this with my baby (and I already have a baby I breastfed exclusively) because she was doing something with her mouth that was making nursing very painful for me. HANG IN THERE, THOUGH! You are giving your baby the very best of yourself!

Kerryn - posted on 11/22/2009

Yes, i expressed and fed by bottle for both my children, but only managed to last 4 months. It's extremely time consuming, and very hard to do unless you are home, so it limits your ability to get out of the house. On top of the time it takes to express then feed it to your baby, you are constantly washing and sterilising bottles and pumping equipment. It's a huge commitment, but better than giving up breastmilk completely i guess.

Martha - posted on 11/21/2009

Reading through all the comments, the recurring theme is consult a La Leche League person if you can find one to help you personally. They are priceless, yet a free service. Hopefully you have a league in your area. We were also involved with play groups from infancy on and the fellowship was encouraging, enlightening and a great escape for baby and me and toddler.

Vanessa - posted on 11/21/2009

im having a problem with it too... my nipples are so sore and i cant get him to open his mouth wide enough to get him latched on right... and i dont think that my milk is producing enough for him right now... so last night after crying and biting my lip and curling my toes i went down to the kitchen and made him a bottle.. let me tell ya he was eatting on that like he has never ate before... so on monday im calling my lactose consultant and going to talk to her... with my daughter i couldnt breast feed her even with the shield... so i had to supplement feed her and it became very hard for me after my husband left for iraq when she was 6 weeks old and milk was not producing enough so i gave her straight formula... and no she is not a fat baby from being formula feed... she was actually on the small side... she is now 16 months old takin whole milk and is very healthy! so after saying all that i think u need to do what is best for u and ur baby... im gonna try and breast feed for a lil while longer then i might go to supplementing. but thats up in the air!

Maddy - posted on 11/21/2009

hi there

it can be hard at first when your breastfeeding,but thrust me when i say it does get better and once you have the latch sorted it will be more relaxed and a lovely experience for you and the baby. can i ask why you are using the shields? and well done with the expressing for dad to get involved. i help to run a breastfeeding group which helps mums in my area, if you ask your healthvisitor there may be a group you could join to offer weekly support and advice from other mums who are the same as you and in your area. hope this helps please feel free to get in touch....keep up the good work !

Magaly - posted on 11/21/2009

when i first started breastfeeding, my son latched on, so that was good, but then the soreness and the sucking and then the actual breast feeding itself got old real fast. i would always say 2 months of breast and im done, then 4, then 7 and now breastfeeding is enjoyable. thats good you want to keep breastfeeding, cause you help keep your baby healthy, plus you bond more :) my son never got sick until just recently cause of cold season, but he got over it and is doing well! you should try breastfeeding at night with her in your bed, if you dont mind sleeping with her. and sometimes some babies prefer the bottle, but i encourage you to breastfeed and when you pump, pump on a regular basis, cause sometime if you dont pump enough your milk goes dry. good luck!

Amber - posted on 11/20/2009

i never had an trouble breastfeeding but never really enjoyed it it was just something that had to be done. i always kinda felt like i was a bad mom for not enjoying it but i know its not being a bad mom but a good one because im doing the very best for my daughter. she is almost 8 months old and im counting the days until she can be weaned. i think pumping would be an excellent alternative if it works for you it never has for me.

Jennifer - posted on 11/20/2009

Quoting KC:

She is six weeks. I don't like my nipples being touch. I never have. I NEVER let anyone touch them, so to have a baby nurse 8-10 time a day... it's REALLY hard for me.

I think that breastmilk is the best thing for my baby, but being distant from my baby while she's feeding so that I can make it through the feeding... might not be best for us.

I too have sensitive nipples.  I can't stand them to be touched either, but when it comes to feeding my child I can endure it.  It is uncomfortable at first, but it gets better.  

With my first child I pumped all the time, because he couldn't latch and had to be fed with a special nipple.  I had to quit pumping after awhile because I became exhausted.  It seemed like all I was doing was pumping and feeding.

Tiera - posted on 11/20/2009

How old is your baby? Trust me, it will get much easier as time goes on. I didn't like it for the first several months, but I'm sure glad I stuck with it.

Nikki - posted on 11/20/2009

I had trouble too. After the first week, my daughter kept losing weight and wasn't getting sufficient milk from me. I pumped until she was 10 months old....and I only stopped then because I lost my supply because I'm pregnant with our second child. I felt it was very important for her to get the nutrients she needed from me. I wanted her to have the best and breast milk is the best. She did perfectly fine after I started pumping and feeding her through a bottle. It worked well for us because then my husband could take turns feeding her. It was a little tedious to pump all the time, but it was what was best for us. There is something very important though: make sure that you keep a schedule and stay pumping on it. It's easy to lose your milk if you aren't consistent. I pumped every 3 hours (and at night when she woke up) until she was about 4 months old. I kept up the every 3 hours until I was ready to "wean" her at 10 months and transitioned her to formula because I lost my supply with my pregnancy. After she was 4 months old, I only pumped once at night for about a month and then stopped pumping at night. But you've got to be consistent. It's really important to make enough milk for your child. I had to freeze the extra and circulate it from me to freezer to fridge to her. It was a little time consuming, but it made it easier for my husband to help and for her to be babysat (I'd still pump when I was away from her-even if it was for a day or two). Good luck, it worked well for us and I hope that it works out well for you!!! (don't feel bad-I didn't enjoy breastfeeding at all-I thought it was uncomfortable and painful)



Good Luck!!

Katherine - posted on 11/20/2009

I CAN TOTALLY RELATE!!! When I nurse I am in excruciating pain, even worse than contractions in labor! It's so bad I actually cracked a tooth gritting my teeth and didn't even realize it. I think I have an over-active letdown, and no consultants have been able to help.

With my first I ended up pumping for 5 1/2 months and then feeding him from the bottle. It was a pain in the you know what, but to me it was worth it because of the benefits for my baby. With my second who is 3 months now I have been able to breastfeed but only with a nipple shield and even then it still hurts for the first 5 mins or so. The nipple shield is less of a hassle than the pump (I still pump at night) but either way I say do what you have to do to get your baby that precious milk.

Hang in there, it will be over before you know it and you'll be glad you stuck it out!

Natalie - posted on 11/20/2009

I had this same problem at first. It became really upsetting for me. I hated it. My baby would cry and push away and i wanted to continue to try but it seemed she just would get frustrated. So i pumped mostly and continued to try breastfeeding. If she would latch i let her, if she fussed i would give her the bottle and pump instead. Keep in mind i bought the bottles with the nipples that promoted breastfeeding (breast like nipples - playtex and flow vent i believe its called - the bigger nipples). At one point i said i give up nursing because it wasnt like i had assumed "bonding and all" because it just seemed that she would get so upset because she was not getting the food she wanted because she wouldn't latch. it became tramatic for me so i just said to myself im not gonna make her. I will just wait til she gets the hang of it. but i kept trying and if she fussed i gave her the bottle and pumped (sometimes at the same time - ha). if she didnt fuss, she nursed. It took the pressure off me and i stopped being so emotional about it. it took a little while but but she finally got the hang of it. Good luck - and just relax it will come if you keep trying.

Danielle - posted on 11/20/2009

My son wouldn't latch on and at two weeks old I started exclusively pumping. Personally, that was the best decision I ever made. I was able to pump and let someone else feed him while i slept, showered, cleaned, etc. When it was time for him to eat, I'd warm him up a bottle that I had previously pumped and fed him. After he was done, I'd sit him in his boppy pillow or vibrating chair and talk to him while I'd pump. For about two months I pumped every time he ate (middle of the night included). When he started sleeping through the night (9weeks) that is when I started gradually cutting back the amounts I pumped. I went from 8 pumps a day (every time he ate) to 6 (no night time) to 3 (morning, afternoon, before bed) and then to just 2 (morning and bed). I'm so glad I did that because please believe at 2weeks I was ready to say "enough of this, where's the formula?". If BFing isn't right for you, try pumping. And good luck! :]

Jamie - posted on 11/20/2009

the beginning is so hard! hang in there. i used the shield in the beginning also. it was a huge help, though an extra thing to worry about. after 3 weeks, i worked very hard with her to get her to latch without the shield. it took about a week, but with persistance and patience, she did it! it's ok to use the shield, but as your baby becomes stronger she will be able to latch easier. remember, she is learning too! Trust me, if you stick to it, it gets so much easier.



also, check with you pediatrician, they may have a lactation consultant on hand that can be covered by your insurance or free to patients.

Leanne - posted on 11/20/2009

i had a bunch of issues when i was early on breastfeeding. i went to free lactating classes at my hospital. i am sure there is something near you that u can go to. they will watch what is going on and tell u why u r having issues and fix it. honestly one of ur main problems is using the shield. they dont suggest using it, if u can get a comfortable latch which i know u can... trust me there were some times when i hated it but i just stuck with it and know i can just lift my shirt up and she pretty much finds it on her own and i dont even feel it much. good luck!

Rae - posted on 11/19/2009

KC I see it says your location is WA - if thats Western Australia (as opposed to some USA state, I don't know if they have a WA) then contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association. They have a 24hr hotline you can call free of charge 1800 686 2 686. Their website is www.breastfeeding.asn.au and as a midwife and a mum I highly reccommend them!

Sam - posted on 11/19/2009

if u have the time to pump go for it!! I think its fantastic that ur sticking to your guns with breastfeeding

Kimberly - posted on 11/19/2009

twice the work...it pays off to nurse now and having the option later to start pumping

Shannon - posted on 11/19/2009

Take a deep breath and realize this thing that is supposed to be natural and amazing does take work and it isn't quite so natural getting started. I had to formula feed one of my four babies (she was in the NICU and the beginning of her life was crazy and hectic for both of us). It IS ok no matter what people tell u. Our little girl is a smart little thing. Anyways, seek a lactation counselor before giving up. I know people are talking about LLL, however, they can be a little pushy. My advice would be too seek a postpartum doula in your area who can give you some referrals. Check your local hospitals because often they have lactation clinics which are very helpful. PM me if u have need anything else.

Courtney - posted on 11/19/2009

If you are stressed about nursing, your baby will be too. Deep breathe, relax, go to a calm comfortable spot with the knowledge that you and your baby will figure this out. Take your time and make sure your baby is hungry before you start. I also reccoomend the LLL, but remeber that you know yourself and your baby and if you feel pumping or formula will make a happier baby and mom then you need to make that choice for you and your family.

Amanda - posted on 11/19/2009

I ended up exclusively pumping due to latching problems. I don't have the issue with my nipples like you do (well, I DIDN'T before bf-ing lol) but I'm a bit on the high-strung side and just don't think nursing would have worked out for us. I LOVE IT! I can still give my baby my milk, but I'm not tied to her at all times. That sounds horrible when I reread it, but I think it's been the best thing for our relationship (both mine and my daughter's and mine and my husband's). Happy mommy equals happy everyone :) We've been going strong for 7 months and no signs of stopping any time soon! At one point I was pumping 80+ ounces per day. I have enough milk frozen to feed her for a while (I'm talking literally at least 1000oz!) so we're definitely going to make it to a year. Just take things one day at a time and know that your decision, whatever it may be, is the right one. Pumping isn't all that bad. It's just something you have to get used to. Email me if you have any questions regarding pumping: amandatrtl@gmail.com
Good luck!

Heidi - posted on 11/19/2009

I remember feeling the same way at my 6 weeks too! I wanted to give up because it was really hard...I was sore, tired, cranky and I felt like the only time I held my baby was when he was crying and we were struggling with each other. The best advice I can give is to give yourself short term goals to see if you can go a little longer. I gave myself the goal of one more week at my baby's six week mark and now he's 12 weeks and I'm still breastfeeding. Just go one day or week at a time. Whatever you can handle. But know that whatever you choose you have done your best and your baby will be happy as long as you are happy. :)

Holly - posted on 11/19/2009

I have breastfed 3 kids and am expecting my fourth. I can tell you breastfeeding is hard. People think that women breastfeed because it is easier than a bottle yeah right. Before I had my first son a friend said your nipples with feel like you scraped them repeatedly on a brick wall for about two weeks and I'd say that's pretty accurate. I had a really hard time with my second child getting him to latch on right. For about two weeks it would take me about 30 min. to get it right. By then we were both pretty frustrated but it did get better. The best advice I can give is stick with it. It's worth it for your baby and for you. You can also contact a lactation consultant if needed. Good luck.

Deleted - posted on 11/19/2009

I have been breastfeeding for 8 and a half months now and I am so glad I persevered through the adjustments we have had. I really regret not trying harder with my son. I can say my daughter is so much healthier and has never gotten sick, while my son who was formula fed was always sick, and still is. Just be persistent and hang in there. Also, you should not bottle feed until the baby is well established with breast feeding, as someone else said, because of nipple confusion.

Krysta - posted on 11/19/2009

Quoting KC:

Have you seen a LLL Leader or an IBCLC about working on your daughter's latch and weaning her off of the shield?

I haven't yet. I don't know what IBCLC is, or how to contact them. We are very tight on money, so I can't pay to see someone. I don't know how much something like that costs.

If you're tight on money then I would do all that you can to avoid ending up formula feeding. Sometimes if you exclusively use a pump your breasts can start to slow production. Formula is VERY expensive. I say try to teach him how to latch on correctly to make the experience more enjoyable. Make sure you're in a comfortable position. Hope everything works out!

Elanor - posted on 11/19/2009

Heather Did you get his tongue tied snipped?

Elanor - posted on 11/19/2009

when did you introduce the bottle, as it can cause nipple confusion. Have you got your baby checked for tongue tied, it's worth checking, some women get awful pain with a tongue tied baby, my son couldn't keep a latch, he kept slipping off, and in order for him to get milk I was constantly feeding.
It is definately worth getting it checked, mine was snipped at 4 weeks, and he now feeds wonderfully.
Breastfeeding isn't painful, if the latch is right, don't be afraid to ask for help, from a local breastfeeding group. It does get easier, but support is worthit's weight in gold!!!!
Where are you based? I work in a breastfeeding group in England, if you are in UK I could post you some info. If in US, I may know someone in US who could help.

Shawna - posted on 11/18/2009

ok so i wanted to breastfeed to. my daughter just wasnt latching so i had to use the nipple shields everytime. if u give it time you get use to it, i swear. but i am happy to tell you that at 3 months my daughter started latching on everytime with ease and we no longer use the shields!

Hannah - posted on 11/18/2009

I exclusively pump! I think it is WONDERFUL!!! I did not want my baby on formula, and he latched on really well at first, but daddy was feeling left out and it just wasn't that comfortable for me. I put myself on a 3 hour schedule at first (to build up production), and it was really hard...very tiring. Baby Maddux is now 7 weeks old and I've moved to a 4 hour schedule...MUCH BETTER! 2, 6 and 10...I pump every day like clock work. Regardless of what is going on in my schedule I know when I have to take a break. What's really nice is that my production stays the same despite his growth spurts and leaking is to a minimum (TMI?). You will need to have a really good electric (double) pump (I have the Platex Embrace). If you have any questions please feel free to ask! I'm very open and will answer honestly! Good luck!!!!

Brittany - posted on 11/18/2009

We don't qualify for WIC but a friend of mind did and she got a lactation consultant at no charge through the WIC program. Also if you delivered at the hospital check to see if there is a lactation consultant there and seek their help. I understand money being an issue. I wanted to quit everyday but at the same time I didn't. Painful latching, lack of latching, my daughter would fight me often, I used the shield against advice, everything. We have now been exclusively breastfeeding for 5 weeks and 3 days. I can tell you it has gotten a lot better. We had pumped we I started to get mastitis and a fever and my husband bottle fed her and noticed from that she got stronger and latched better however if she gets the bottle too frequently she would get more lazy nursing and it would make things worse. At first the nipple shield helped but once she started to get the hang of it I stopped using it because she wouldn't latch on correctly with it. It helped with getting her to want to nurse and helping me heal some from poor latching. The list and situation goes on but each day get better. I agree with you have to do what is best for your family. I hope you can keep BF'ing but if it causes you to get mad at your daughter it may not be worth it. I hope you can find somegood help soon so you can make the make decision for you guys. There was a time that I wouldn't to quit trying b/c I feared the way I felt towards my daughter b/c of all the pain she was causing me along with being exhausted and all. I am so glad I never gave up and my husband pushed me to keep going. Having a supportive spouse is everything. He wants us to BF as much as I do and didn't mind paying for help and what not. In the end it is still a lot cheaper than formula. If you are worried about cost think about this, check out the price of formula and estimate how much it will cost for 1 month, then 2 months and so on. As your baby grows they need to eat more. Plus a formula fed baby needs baby food at 4 months for nutrition and a BF baby doesn't need to eat foods until 6 months which is better for them too. The cost of a lactation consultant and even a rental pump never adds up to the cost of formula in the long run. Hope this helps. It gets better but in the end a healthy and happy baby and mom is the best result no matter how you have to go.

April - posted on 11/18/2009

Personal experience: my production decreased *dramatically* when my daughter developed a nipple preference and stopped breastfeeding. Without her stimulation, my breasts just aren't producing like they should.

Heather - posted on 11/18/2009

KC, my son is 3 weeks and also has latch problems. I went to see a Lactation Consultant and we found out that he is tongue tied and that is why he can't latch properly. She had me start using a shield, which has led to him gaining weight, but it can be a pain, especially during those late night feedings! She wants me to start weaning him off the shield, but so far it has been pretty hard. We only work on it during his day time feedings. For the first 10 minutes I try to get him to latch, if after 10 minutes he still hasn't latched I put the shield on and feed him. He does get upset about it sometimes (thats why we don't do it at night) but we are making progress. I hope breastfeeding gets easier for you! I know how frustrating it can be.

Nicole - posted on 11/18/2009

I have personally done both. With my first who was 2 months premature I needed to pump and she never really latched on. I pumped for 13 months and it was very time consuming, pumping at least 6 times a day.
Now with my second who is almost 3 months I am BFing and I think it is much easier. Sometimes I feel frustrated still because she doesn't latch right everytime but it is still easier than pumping.
Keep up with Bfing a bit longer but if you want to pump you can do it, for however long you want as long as you have a great pump.

Minnie - posted on 11/18/2009

KC, I think if you can seek out a LLL leader she can help you a lot with your baby's latch. And once you get that sorted out things will probably be much better. As she gets older you'll find that you don't need to help her to latch, that she'll know what to do.



Would a soft baby carrier help with support and your worries about nursing on the go? An ergo, while a bit pricey ($105) gets rave reviews with mothers (though you could probably find cheaper used ones on craigslist or maybe ebay). You can find a lot of work at home moms who make quality mei tais which are similar to an ergo but have long shoulder and waist straps that you wrap and tie. Maybe popping your baby in that and adjusting the carrier so your baby's mouth is right at your nipple will help you- and you'll be covered to nurse in public.

Kristi - posted on 11/17/2009

I breast fed my son even though the first 3 months were absolutely agonizing. But my sister decided to stop breastfeeding her son after a week and only pump. She was able to only pump and give Jack only breastmilk for almost 9 months. So I know it's pretty rare, but it can be done. I think one key to it is that you have to be on top of your pumpings-keep on a schedule and don't skip any sessions

KC - posted on 11/17/2009

Geralyn, thank you so much for your encouragement. I am thinking more and more that I need to get some help figuring out how to do feed more effectively. I prefer pumping, but I think it's because my pump doesn't cry when it can't latch right away, and I feel confident in my ability to help guide it to my nipple. It doesn't hurt as much, and it's always in the privacy of my own home so I'm not worried about flashing a boob in public or having to tote around my boppy, BFing tent, and nipple shield while trying to find a place to sit for twenty to forty minutes while we try to feed.

It is nice to hear that it gets easier, and hopefully with some help and support by this time next year I will be the one writing an encouraging response to another mother looking for advice.

Geralyn - posted on 11/17/2009

KC, I totally hear what you are saying about wanting to pump and feed via bottle. I had a very hard time starting up (especially on one side). I have BF for 19 months, and in hindsight, 1) if I had judged BF'ing based on the first 6-8 weeks, I would probably have given up; and 2) if I had to pump throughout the day and never had that physical contact of direct BF'ing with my baby, I would NOT have enjoyed it or continued. After those initial weeks, it became the easiest, most convenient, most bonded form of feeding no doubt. I did not have to have my hubby feed my son with a bottle. I was able to work and do all the feedings, even while working about 25-30 hours per week, and feeding around the clock.



It is an adjustment, and I know that you are still in that recovering from birthing, exhaustion, and adjusting to BF'ing time period. I am not sure that many moms enjoy it at first for the first child - mom and baby are still learning. It becomes so second nature, something that you don't even have to focus on the latch or the position. I laugh now that in those early weeks, I would "get in the position" and my hubby would position the baby, and I was obsessed with latching and hitting the different BF'ing positions and all that. After those several months, my son could BF standing on his head (and sometimes he'd try! Lol...).



You may decide to stop BF'ing, which I understand. I just think that its hard to see how easy it gets when, with me, I had an infected nipple, mastitis (2x), latches that were painful (until I realized that I was actually interfering with my son's natural abilities to latch - go figure..) talk about toe curling, tears in my eyes...



I hope that, for as long as you keep doing it, BF'ing gets easier for you and that you are able to better enjoy it with your little one. Good luck!

Amanda - posted on 11/17/2009

I have had a similar feeling for the past 3.5 months I have been breastfeeding my son. He doesn't care for it, and it is very tiring and disheartening for me. I have pumped nearly 70% of the time and have been giving him bottles of EBM. However, my supply is no longer enough for him so I have started to give some formula very reluctantly. I've had to give it to him before because he had breastmilk jaundice and had to have 24 hours of formula straight to get rid of it (which did cure it, surprisingly). Just keep trying and maybe it will become easier for you both. I keep forcing myself to keep going because I know it's best for him, but I'm getting tired of it as well. I will make it to at least 6 months and hopefully longer. Don't give up! If I can do it working two 24-hour shifts as a paramedic, you should be able too : ) Good luck!

KC - posted on 11/17/2009

Thanks for the encouragement ladies.

Minnie - posted on 11/17/2009

I agree...just make it through one day at a time. Don't overwhelm yourself.

April - posted on 11/17/2009

but you've been doing it for 6 weeks even though you have a sensitivity about your nipples! that is a pretty big deal...you have given your daughter such a gift already. if you made it this far, why not see if you can make it a little bit more? just take it one day at a time. there may be other bfing issues in the months ahead, but they are all hurdles that can be overcome. It gets easier. you can keep pumping if you want, but that could get old. you might get tired of pumping...but maybe not. in my own experience, i thought i was going to pump all the time but it got boring for me. i'd rather just nurse my baby. it is easier and i don't have to clean up after it.