I, im still preg. so yea i am and am not a mom. but does it really hurt to breast feed

Patricia - posted on 01/12/2010

it hurts at first but your nipples will get hard and then they won't hurt any more.

Eva - posted on 01/10/2010

I BREASTFEED BOTH OF MY KIDS, IN FACT MY 9 MONTH OLD STILL IS. IT HURTS AT FIRST, THE FIRST DAYS OR WEEK BUT THEN THE PAIN GOES AWAY.TO BE HONEST WITH YOU I THINK IT'S VERY REWARDING, I FEEL A SPECIAL BOND WITH THEM AFTER BREASTFEEDING. YOU GET TO LOOK AT THEIR LITTLE FACES WHEN THEY ARE EATING AND IT'S SO CUTE ;) BESIDES IT'S SO GOOD FOR THEM. HOPE YOU CHOOSE TO BREASTDEED YOUR LITTLE ONE.

Karen - posted on 01/10/2010

I have to say that it's different for everyone. For me it was quite painful but I don't regret it at all. It hurt quite a lot when my milk let down each feed for the first 2 or 3 months, but it did eventually get better. I think you just become a little desensitized and it becomes less of a problem. I found myself in the position of wanting to breastfeed my son and having plenty of milk, but not being able to due to complications from an operation he underwent. I only got to breastfeed him up until 3 months and while it wasn't always easy, it was very precious to me. I'd say give it a try, but don't stress because whatever you decide will be fine. Try not to fret too much about it before time, as a good friend of mine always says: "There's no point in borrowing trouble". Best of luck :)

Sian - posted on 01/09/2010

Yes alcohol can get into your breastmilk, and I used to find with my daughter that if I had a curry she would be a bit spewy from the chili which must get into the milk. Am not sure how long it takes for the alcohol to get out of your milk, now my daughter is sleeping through the night I will occasionally have a glass of wine with dinner and it doesn't seem to affect her in the morning, I could be wrong tho..... No idea about cigarettes and breastmilk but am guessing it could have an effect. They also warn about smoking around babies increasing the risk of SIDS......
I think milk can dry up for many reasons, but if you don't breastfeed then it will dry up, also going on the pill can cause your milk to dry up which is why they prescribe the mini pill if you're breastfeeding.
I was very lucky when it came to breastfeeding, it was painful to start will but I used marcalan (lanolin based nursing cream) after each feed and that really helped. They do sell some nursing creams which need to be washed off before the baby feeds but the lanolin based ones don't need to be washed off and are safe for the baby. When my daughter started getting teeth I was really worried about continuing breastfeeding, especially after she bit me (geez did that hurt!!) but she hasn't done it since-think my yell in pain put her off biting!
Breastfeeding is great, always on hand , at the right temperature, no need for sterilising bottles, the expense of formula etc, but it doesn't work for everyone and a bottle fed baby will turn out just as well as a breastfed one, try not to put pressure on yourself if it doesn't work. Good luck!

Holly - posted on 01/09/2010

why does the milk stop or dry out... and if you are breastfeeding does all of the things that you do to your body pretty much go to the breast milk... like for example when ethan comes and i decide to celebrate with my girlfriends and we go out and have some drinks will that alcohol mix with my breast milk.. and i do have a cig ever now and then.. not since ive been preg. but once he gets here i may.. would that play a factor in the milk... like would it be a good idea... because i do have this bad habit but i would never want him around 2nd hand... or anything of that matter....

Mercedes - posted on 01/02/2010

for me it didnt hurt at all. i mean the first time my daughter got sick it sucked but unless that happened i was fine. they have medication you can put on your nipples to numb it and that helps a lot. even with the pain it is so worth it. its better for your body and losing the weight. and it also helps with baby blues. there are so many benefits to you and your child that it has been worth it to me

Molissa - posted on 01/02/2010

There is no way to "toughen" your nipples. Just relax and let your baby do what it knows how to do. I had no trouble breast feeding, but was ill and had to go on meds that would pass to him so I had to stop. It feels so good to have them suckling. The only time it may hurt is if you didn't switch breasts and they sucked too long. They need to in order to get more milk later, but not till it bleeds. Or when they have teeth. They can bite. But just break the suction and start over. They'll get the hint. Good luck. Keep trying and when you're in the hospital, ask as many times you can to get help. We had a lactation specialist. Don't give up, it's so much more expensive to buy formula. Trust me. I so wish I hadn't been sick after birth.

Victoria - posted on 01/02/2010

I would not say that it hurt, but there is a pins and needles sensation for about 30 to 45 seconds as your milk lets down. But this only lasts for a few weeks. My best advice is to take a breastfeeding class at your hospital, as knowledge is power and set a goal for how long you want to breastfeed. When you meet your goal, then evaluate and decide if you want to go longer. I am bfing my 2nd child and it has been the best decision I made.

Jacquelyn - posted on 01/01/2010

In my situation i got very chapped nipples but I would do it all over again for the mere fact that it is so good for the baby. I didnt get the chance to nurse my son for as long as I wanted to because I didnt pump in between feedings when I started. Its a wonderful feeling to know that you can provide this for your little one. Good luck with the choice and if you do decide to nurse than my helpful hint is when the baby isnt nursing then pump it will keep your milk supply up and a full stocked freezer for the times you need it.

Christelle - posted on 01/01/2010

My daughter was a preemie so I had to teach her how to nurse. I have not had any pain while breastfeeding. She is almost 10 months old. I was never a big advocate on breastfeeding ( I was always the one that said, "Formula is just fine".) However, the more I've read and the fact that she was a preemie, I decided to try. My daughter is nursed in the morning before I go to work and before we go to bed. She drinks Goodstart formula during the day. I say give it a try. Even for a few weeks. I did however had a difficult time pumping. I didn't produce as much milk when I did that.

Tracy - posted on 01/01/2010

If your stressed about breast feeding the alternative is to pump and give -- it's good in the fridge for 7 days and frozen for several months.
I tried to feed for 2 weeks and it would not come fast enough for my son, so I started to pump and did so for 6 months. The advantage is that it is always there and you don't have to worry about breastfeeding in public.

Victoria - posted on 12/31/2009

I think that alot of times we tend to focus on the wrong things when it comes to breastfeeding, and then scare ourselves :) Just think of it like this: by nursing your child, you are going to be giving him/her the BEST nutrition possible, as well as nourishing your child the way we were INTENDED. That was something that stood out really strong for me: this was the way we were MADE - to care and feed for our children, literally, we have this MILK that they will survive on. That being said: everyone has different experiences: my daughter didn't latch on immediately, it took us both some practice, but, no, it did not hurt. NOW, at nine months, when she is alert, and aware of noises and stuff, it CAN hurt if she's rough, but for the most part, nursing itself isn't painful! :) At the beginning, especially because the baby nurses so often, I won't lie, your breasts do get sore. Its not every day all day, its just like an irritation *at times* just think, of someone constantly AT YOUR BREAST lol, so what I did is supplement with Similac, this way, if I needed a break, I could have one, at least for a few hours. Also, make sure when you are in the hospital, you ask to speak with a lactation consultant, they are there for you 24/7 and will help you, ask them as many questions as you can, and don't be afraid. Read up on nursing now, while your pregnant, you can even get a little brochure from your doctor....I knew I wanted to nurse, and had to CRAM read what to do after the baby was born within her first week...very nervewrecking while your emotions etc are in a mess....your doing the best thing now by researching and trying to figure it out! :) These are just a few suggestions. Congratulations, and remember to go in it with a good attitude (that way no little things will turn you away from continually trying: its new for YOU and the BABY so give it a chance...) and then, using a supplement you trust will really help you be able to relax more too....

Cindy - posted on 12/31/2009

There is no pain in the world that would stop me from breastfeeding my now 10 month old daughter. She is still exclusively breastfed (no bottles, pacifiers or even solids) and I wouldn't change it for anything. Just don't give up if it is painful at first, it is the best gift that you can give your child and yourself. The hormones that are released even to this day everytime my daughter latches on give me a renewed love and appreciation for her. I read many books and was helped by my midwife on how to breastfeed properly and honestly it was painful for the first 4 weeks, but my body adapted and now it is easy. Make sure you get help from La Leche Legue or a lactation consultant and one trick is to make sure you feed your baby from your breast as soon as possible. In our case, our baby was born at home and was nursing within 20 minutes of birth. I was so amazed at how she knew what to do without any help.

Patricia - posted on 12/31/2009

you will want to be a mom when you see your baby when they do an ultrasound and you see them. When I saw my baby for the first time I fell in love with him right away! Besides I am pro- life and I think after I made the decison to lay with my husband my decision making was over. My son is a blessing from God, I am so happy I had him.



Breast feeding can be painful. My son never latched on, until he was 3 months old. I had to pump it out for him by using a breast pump. when I did try to let him, It hurt. I gave up.

Shelley - posted on 12/31/2009

Yes it can hurt, but i liked b/feeding my son, I would have loved to have been able to breast feed my 1st but couldnt because she wasnt able to suck properly, and the nurses at the hospital told me to forget it and give up on trying to b/feed or express milk, wich eventually i did, as the nurses were not supporting and helping me, but with my son it was such a great feeling, u just feel ur doing the best thing for him, and it creates a closer bond between u and baby, thats my personal opinion, i would love to have breast fed him longer if i could have,, but with baby number 3 my husband and i are planning and im definitely going to b/feed and il keep at it and hopefully be able to b/feed right up to 1 yrs old, b/feeding bubs is such a great feeling... goodluck and choose to do whatever is comfortable for you,.
PS: breast feeding doesnt hurt unless baby isnt attaching properly or baby gets teeth, according to the lactation consultant attachment is the main reason it will hurt while feeding.. also try it out a few times just to get the feel of it, just dont completely rule it out.. b/feeding is so rewarding.. im sure so many other mums will say the same

Helen - posted on 12/31/2009

tiffany, the shower thing works when in the first few days the milk starts coming in and the breast is hot and hard/engorged. Take a warm/hot shower and massage the breast, it's easier todraw the excess milk out

Tamara - posted on 12/30/2009

for me it hurt the first few times but after awhile i dident notice it anymore, it really depends on the person though its different for everyone

Cindy - posted on 12/30/2009

YES it can IF the baby is NOT latched on right, but IF the baby is on right NO it will not hurt

Tiffany - posted on 12/30/2009

for the first few days it would hurt when the baby first latched on. My mom kept telling me to scrub my nipples when i was in the shower, she says it toughens them up for breast feeding. i didnt listen,. i may try that next time. but after the first few dyas it was very natural at didnt hurt. i relaly enjoyed the sensation of breast feeding. also breast feeding helps shrink your uterus back to its normal size so you slim down a LOT quicker.

Jenny - posted on 12/29/2009

It can be painful the first week or so as both mom and baby are trying to figure out what they're doing, but for most people the pain goes away within a week or two. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Having good support during the first few weeks can make it or break it for you.

Renae - posted on 12/29/2009

I recommend seeing a lactation consultant while you are in hospital so that you understand about proper attachment, flow, foremilk, hindmilk etc. If the baby is always attached properly then it doesn't really hurt, but its hard to get them to attach properly every time when they are very little. I used Marcalan cream (its yucky gooey stuff and warning it stains your clothes) religiously and didn't get sore at all, that stuff is fantastic! The only times I felt sore was when I forgot to put it on straight after feeding. I used Marcalan for 3 weeks and after that didn't need it any more and have never been sore since. Def try it. My experience was that it didn't hurt much at all. I didn't get engorged or have any pain or symptoms when my milk came in either. I didn't even know I had milk yet until I squeezed it and it squirted across the room.

Beck - posted on 12/28/2009

The first few weeks are hard to adjust, I found the lanolin and breast pads caused more pain, for me letting my breasts gets lots of 'air' was the best. Walking around the house with no bras or shirt on was quite common in my house for a while. The first few weeks feel like 'ahhh I am always feeding...' but it soon settles down and I NOW LOVE IT. I am still doing 4 feeds a day with my little man who is 10months old. He has thrived and been so healthy. It is so conveintent, easy and FREE!!! Dont let anyone tell you bottle feeding is easier cos it isn't, however if thats the decision you make thats cool too. Id say aim for 8 weeks if all goes well and then decide from there. My sister in law gave up after 4 weeks cos it seemed all too hard and like the baby was soley relyant on you but she regreted it after and is aiming to feed longer with her bub due in June cos she realises that breast is easier in the long run. I would express and my hubby or mum feed Bub with the bottle if I had an app or had to go into the office when a feed was due occasionally and this was great. I would look into lots of info re feeding for example how milk is produced, how to build supply etc I find that knowledge helps. Also lookl for help if need be. In australia we have a breast feeding helpline that has been helpful for me on a few occasions when I had questions. Sorry to waffle on, I just LOVE breast feeding for the bonding and the ease. Good luck

Jodi - posted on 12/27/2009

It really depends. It's seriously not as bad as other people make it out to be! If it hurts, your child is probably not latched on correctly, just remove baby from nipple and try to relatch correctly. I would highly reccomend finding a lactation consultant (your hospital should have one in the maternity ward) to help you out first thing in the delivery room if you do decide to breastfeed. A great way to prevent chapped nipples is to express a little of your own milk unto them, rub it in just a little and let it airdry. Your milk has healing properties that can really help out! There are also great creams out there like lanolin to help with chapped nipples! Best of luck and I hope you decide to breastfeed!

Chelsea - posted on 12/27/2009

um i would say the first week hurts. after that your body adjusts, if you can make throught the first week it is really worth it.

Brianne - posted on 12/27/2009

I found it painful at first but I think it hurt worse when I was engorged and then latching doesn't seem so bad. It really was incredible and a great bonding moment. I wasn't able to nurse my first and I dried up with both after only a 6- 7 weeks. Try it and cherish it. Everyone is different.

Daniela - posted on 12/27/2009

My advice is to give it a try and see how you go. I had a particularly difficult time b/feeding as I had a very hungry baby who fed constantly for the first 4 weeks - I am talking about every hour!. But I got through it. I would recommend taking the following to maternity: lanolin cream, a decent breastfeeding pillow (google 'mybreastfriend'), thin breast pads (not the self-adhesive ones, you want to let the air circulate if you get sore), nursing tops and nursing bras. Use the lanolin cream before and after each breastfeed. I am sure that I would have had an easier time of it if I had been better prepared.

I b/fed my baby for 18 weeks - it would have been longer but I had to go back to work.

I would also recommend getting the baby used to the bottle/formula too. It is possible to do mixed feeding successfully. My husband started to give our baby one of the overnight feeds when our baby was 3 weeks old. It meant that I could get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. Our son never suffered from 'nipple confusion'. Also, don't let anyone tell you that formula is worse for colic. Our son actually winded better after a bottle feed! People do go on about breast being best, and in an ideal world, it is. But in the real world, you have to do what works for you. I don't regret my decision to mix feed. Giving the baby one or two formula feeds a day has done him no harm. Actually, there was one occasion when I had a stomach upset where I was really glad that he would take formula. I would say that your body adjusts to the number of breast feeds - otherwise, how would it cope with the baby's growth spurts.

I would say that try to get someone else to give the baby a bottle. Otherwise the baby will smell your milk and may not want to take the bottle. I am lucky, I had an easy (if hungry) baby. He liked breast and bottle.

Tiffany - posted on 12/27/2009

My son is 9 mont old and still gets breastfed to go to sleep. It is hard at first, but it is so rewarding and it is a very very special thing to be able to bond with your baby in that way. It hurts some moms, but it is only temporary and just depends on your body. once my son learned to latch on everything went smoothly from there. good luck!

Helen - posted on 12/27/2009

truthfully it can be, it really depends on your body. If you do decide to breastfeed i'd reccomend either calendula or lanolin cream to protect your nipples. I also was given breast pads soaked in cold tea at the maternity unit to ease the hot feeling i had during the first few days as the milk came in. It is a really special feeling breastfeeding your child and although i wasn't able to continue as long as i would have liked to, i don't regret trying and will be giving it a go again with the next one this summer. Good luck with whatever you choose and enjoy being a mum