im thinking of breast feeding and i want to know does it hurt?

Juli - posted on 10/26/2011

Ok Breast milk is more healthier than formula!! any sickness you are immune to the immunity passes to the baby, it is also better for you cuts down risks of some cancers and diabeties later in life. The yellow milk is normal,and it is perfect for a news baby. And yes It can hurt but it is worth it Whattoexpect .com or What To Expect When Your Expecting can tell you more.

Julie - posted on 10/26/2011

OK, so "On Becoming Baby Wise" is controversial. I must admit that I haven't had a baby in 6 years. When I did have my babies, that book did help me, and I don't believe it hurt them at all. It is important that the method in the book is not based on strict clock-watching. The most important thing a mom-to-be can do is research what she can and make her own decision about what is best for her baby, herself, and the rest of her family. God gave me my 3 babies, but he gave yours to you. Pray, research, and then go with your gut, and you and your baby will be alright. God bless you!

Haley - posted on 10/25/2011

Breastmilk will ALWAYS be healthier for the baby, no matter what. The yellow milk is called colostrum. It's very rich and nutritious, and contains all of the mother's antibodies (immunities) to help build a strong and healthy immune system. I breastfed both of my children for a year, and neither of them are hardly EVER sick. Not to mention, studies have shown that breastfed babies statistically have higher IQ's. I would say 1000 times over that BREAST IS BEST. There is NO replacing the natural nutrition that we are made to feed our babies.

Heather - posted on 10/25/2011

Breastfeeding is definitely better if you can do it. If you question that just try to read the ingredient label on a formula mix. Colostrum has a yellow color and is the initial breast milk. If you doctor does not have a reason for you to avoid breast milk you should be fine.

Nerissa - posted on 10/25/2011

I'm currently nursing my second child. For both children I was quite sore for 3 weeks. In the hospital after the second was born, the nurses said I was doing everything right, but he just wouldn't latch properly. My Dr. said it is likely b/c I have flatish nipples which makes it harder for the baby (though not impossible!) I stuck it through the first time and nursed my DD for about 14 months. DS is now 5 1/2 months and nursing well. Definitely get some nipple cream, best if it is ingestable by the baby so you don't have to remove it before nursing again.
Also, about the book Becoming Babywise, I've read alot of negative comments about it b/c of babies on it failing to thrive. I used it for my daughter and I think it helped me alot. I think the biggest thing to remember about it is that you aren't supposed to stick to a strict schedule. It is meant as a guideline, and your baby's needs always come before the clock! It is not for everyone of course, and does promote crying it out, though you can do it without.
Good luck!

DeserRai - posted on 10/25/2011

BM IS ALWAYS HEALTHIER THAN FORMULA, not to mention the benefits to you such as losing weight faster and you chance of breast cancer goes down, etc. Yes, it can hurt. The first week is always the toughest I think. Once you get through that, its a great experience. Ice read that the color of BM can range from milky white, yellow and green; it all depends on what you eat and how much or it. Try it out and all I can say is stick with it. I almost wanted to give up that first week but I'm really happy I didn't. It's such a wonderful experience and ive lost 10 pounds from EFB.

Christie - posted on 10/25/2011

Breast feeding is best, nutritionally for children. That being said, if you cannot breast-feed, formula is fine for children. It is normal for your breast-milk to be yellow during the first few days after birth, this is called colostrum and contains a lot of nutrients for your child. It will change to a whitish color in a few days. Breast-feeding does not hurt (unless your baby is teething). If you are attempting to breastfeed and it is painful, your baby is probably latching (attaching to the nipple) wrong. Babies have a natural instinct to latch and suckle, even at birth. It is best if the first time you breastfeed, you are topless, the skin to skin contact is thought to help the baby latch properly. If it hurts, the hospital likely has a lactation consultant or a nurse that will help you and your baby figure it out. There are huge advantages to breastfeeding (like reducing risk of SIDS), so I hope you will give it a shot. YOu should probably talk to your pediatrician about all of this.

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/25/2011

"on becoming baby wise" is a book condemned by the aap.

It goes against baby's natural instincts and patterns and can hinder growth and development in babies.

Bad bad book!

Breast feeding is supposed to put babies to sleep, it has chemicals specifically designed to make baby AND mom tired when nursing.

And making babies wait three hours in between meals is going against how our milk is designed to be eaten, we are 'carry' species meaning our babies are ment to be kept on moms body all day and night and nurse frequently throughout day and night!

Our babies have tiny stomachs and making them stretch out their stomachs to gorge themselves ever three hours is not good.

Breasted babies should feed about every 2 hours but can feed as often as 2 times an hour! Morefeedings the better. Small er frequent feeds might be inconvenient for moms but it's best for our babies.

Julie - posted on 10/25/2011

I have three daughters; I breastfeed all three of them for about a year each. It was good for them and me, and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything! Having someone to ask questions to is critical in the first few weeks, when you are trying it the first time. A breastfeeding consultant, la leche league members, and other breastfeeding moms should be on speed-dial on your cell phone! Another really great reference: "On Becoming Baby Wise", a book on establishing a routine for yourself and your baby. This can be done while breastfeeding, but requires you to train the child to nap regularly and sleep through the night from the time they are 3 months old or older. The napping is possible if the baby nurses efficiently and gets full each time, but you have to know how; again I recommend getting some advice on that. Finally, it is normal to become engorged when your milk changes from colostrum to actual milk, a couple of days or so after the baby is born, and lasting 2-3 days. I had a good, electric breast pump, and pumped enough milk after my baby nursed, so that I could become comfortable during the engorgement stage. After that, you make as much milk as you use, and not much more. That's why introducing formula to supplement the breastmilk usually ends up with you using formula only within a few weeks. My second and third children were easy to train, but it took me about 6 weeks to get in a groove with my firstborn, experimental model! :) Good luck and God bless you! About the healfulness of breastmilk; we have had a total of 5 ear infections among all three girls, who are now aged 12, 9, and 7. I have many formula-feeding friends who have had to have tubes put in their kids' ears because of recurring ear infections. Admittedly, there is also genetics to consider, but I firmly believe I stacked the kids' decks toward health with the breastfeeding!

Angela - posted on 10/25/2011

Breastfeeding is better than formula. It can hurt at times, for me it was when she wasn't latched on correctly. I suggest you find a lactation consultant in your area, mine worked with planned parenthood and was very informational. She can give you tips and can tell you what is normal to expect. My milk was white, my sisters was yellow; the difference: She smoked and I did not. The milk is still fine but what I read was that smokers milk can taste bitter to the baby and the baby may reject the milk. Good for you for making the healthy choice for your baby. I bf'd for 14 months and my daughter has never really been sick, a small cold here and there but that's about it. Her cousins who were exclusively formula fed were constantly sick.

Candice - posted on 10/25/2011

Wait whaaaat!? Breastfeeding is infinitely healthier than formula. Breastmilk comes in all colors and is perfectly fine. My milk had tendencies to be pink and blue, all good. Keep breastfeeding for as long as possible. WHO recommends at least two years. Be patient and relax, it may be a little rocky at first,but keep trying. Your babe's health depends on it. Those early times you nurse will be like giving your baby the best immunizations out there(better actually). There should be a lactation counselor on duty in the hospital(if that's where you are birthing, don't blame you if you are not). Contact your local La Leche League for more info.

Heather - posted on 10/25/2011

honestly even a little bit of pain is totally worth it. :) been breastfeeding my little girl for the last seven weeks and really it is much easier and the bonding is AMAZING. think about it: people who do formula probably have less sleep. I just have to pick her up and let her eat. people who do formula have to mix it, warm it, test it and then feed a now very hungery baby. oh here is an amazing plus!!!! breastfed babies have less smelling diapers then formula fed babies! there are so many good things about breastfeeding! nice plus for mommies: lessens the chances of breast cancer and helps loose weight. You get to feed your baby in a way no one else can. you'll have a bond with your baby no one else will have and you have to best excuse to steal your baby away from your family to get away for a little bit lol. the yellow thing? did it last the whole time she was breastfeeding. You have a yellow/gold at first because that is something you need to feed your baby right when he/she is born because it is an extra boost of neutrition that no formula can reproduce. No matter what happens, do what is comfortable to you! I was honestly terrified and shy about the whole idea of breastfeeding but once you have that baby in your arms you just want what is best for them. Good luck!

Kathleen - posted on 10/24/2011

It's completly untrue. Actually breastmilk is the best...if you don't want to go that route or have a medical issues then sure forumla. I had to do it due to medical issues that we thougth were present. Your breastmilk does NOT have to be white. It is probably fine, it would be something in your diet or so i've been told, but does not hurt the milk nor you in anway to breastfeed. If you want to try it, it will be hard at first, and the only time I had it hurt was when my son wasn't latched on right...other than that not really. It is finding that routine or groove after baby is born to breastfeed. The most nurtriotious is your milk, followed by formula.

Rachel - posted on 10/24/2011

this may be fringe thinking, but I have looked extensively into american soy products (most formula is soy based) and there is a growing body of evidence condemning the introduction of soy and its isoflavone phytoestrogens into the still maturing sexual organs of an infant. Infertility, endometriosis, increased PMS, younger puberty, cancers of the ovaries, breasts and prostate are all on the rise and happening to younger people. Many are pointing the finger at a hormonal imbalance that was triggered when soy formula first became widely used. Hormone expert CW Rudolph says as little as 4-6 weeks of breastmilk (right after birth, while those organs are developing) could help curb this trend. Is there irrefutable evidence against soy formula? Not yet. Are most babies "just fine" on formula? Basically. But why take the risk? Plus, I'd like to add my personal note that I LOVE breastfeeding. It always hurt for a week or two while I taught my babies to latch (I've had 4) but once they got the hang of it, it's great. I love it.

Jacque - posted on 10/24/2011

What you've heard is a complete lie. I've got a Bachelor's Degree in Family Life and Human Development with an Emphasis in Early Childhood Development. Breast milk is by fair more healthier than formula. Breast milk contains colostrum, which formula does not contain. That colostrum helps your baby fight off germs that could potentially make your baby sick. AND, it helps the mother cope much better with Postpartum Depression a WHOLE lot more better than if she did not breast feed. HUGE BENEFITS! Don't listen to those people who have told you otherwise. If you are in doubt, ask a your doctor or your baby's pediatrician. They will tell you the same thing. If you can breast feed do it! You and your baby will benefit greatly from doing it.

Brittany - posted on 10/24/2011

I read all the books and decided to breastfeed my son. I was lucky because he just latched on the first try. He did all the work I just held him. When he was about 2 months old I stopped because he would get so gasy and I thought it was my fault. Two months after that he got RSV and was on breathing treatments. I regret so badly not following through with breastfeeding because I read for every month you breastfeed you are building up there immune system for a month. As for hurting, I used a cream made for breastfeeding women and didn't have any problems. Plus the bond a mom gets with her baby when feeding is priceless. I was 20 when I had my son and wasn't sure about any of this mom stuff, but when I would feed him, even at 3 AM, he would look up at me with his big blue eyes and I would just know that he was worth the rest of my life.

Becky - posted on 10/24/2011

PLEASE talk to your doctor--they will give you the facts about breastfeeding and the differences between breastmilk and formula. Breastmilk (if you're willing and able) is absolutely healthier--even the formula commercials say it! But, formula is a synthetic substitute that tries to come as close as it can to replicating human milk. That being said, I know many healthy children on both sides:)

I really encourage you to consult your hospital's lactation consultant when you're learning to nurse--as it IS a learning process. It hurt for me at the beginning, but stopped hurting over time. I nursed for 9 months the first time, and will go longer with this baby. Your nutrients and antibodies change not only as the baby eats (getting thicker so the baby gets full) but also adjust to their changing needs over time. Well worth a try since your milk is coming in anyway!

Good luck!

Kelly - posted on 10/24/2011

Stephanie, I breast fed my daughter for 6 months. It didn't hurt until the end when she bit down with her gums, but didn't hurt enough to stop. Emily did not get sick for the first two years of her life and I think it is because I breast fed and I worked until two months before I had her. Every person is different though. But I suggest going ahead and nursing if you can for as long as you think you want and can. Best of luck, Kelly

Rachael - posted on 10/24/2011

For some it hurts for a little bit but others never have any pain at all. And as far as nutrition goes...nothing is better than breastmilk! Formula cannot compare and they are still trying to make formula more and more like breastmilk. Breastmilk is the gold standard in nutrition for babies. Unfortunately not everyone can do it but it really is best for the baby. As far as color goes I think it may just depend on your diet, it won't affect how nutritious it is for the baby.

Amanda - posted on 10/24/2011

First off: Who on earth told you breast milk is not as healthy as formula? That's complete and utter nonsense! Your body tailors your breastmilk for the specific needs of your child as they grow, from day to day and even during the day the balance of nutrients, antibodies etc in your breastmilk will be different depending on the requirements of your baby. No formula can do that! Anyone who says formula is healthier has obviosly not read up on the current literature and is sadly miss informed. There is lots of great info out there. May I recommend kellymom.com as well as the book by Dr. Jack Newman (I can't remember the title off the top of my head), and The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (a book put out by the La Leche League)
Secondly, breastfeeding should not hurt, if it does there's something wrong with the latch and you should seek help from a certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). If this happens to you, don't give up. It is so worth it if you'll perservere! Sometimes your nipples might feel tender for a day or two while they get used to it at first but breastfeeding should not cause prolonged pain or discomfort.
Lastly, human milk can be a range of colours and that's completely normal. I've seen anything from a blueish tinge to nearly orange. Don't be concered that it doesn't look like homoginzed cows milk, we are not cows!

Shannon - posted on 10/24/2011

I have a 19 month old and a 4 month old I nursed them both. I would go on, but all I would be doing is telling you exactly what Laurelai has already posted.

Best of luck with your little one once he or she gets here!

Laura Zoey - posted on 10/24/2011

Breastmilk is most definitely healthy!
It is better then formula since it is a living liquid. Everything you have become immune to is passed to your baby through your milk and when your baby picks up germs and nurses they pass the germs to your breast and your body will quickly make the antibodies for your baby to not get sick! Or even if they do get sick your breastmilk will help them fight it off quicker and not get as sick.

The color of milk is completely irrelevant!
When you are home with your baby there's no need to ever pump or look at your milk, whatever color it is, white' tellow, or clear it is healthy and jam packed full of nutrients.

Your milk makes all the water your baby needs too so no extra water is needed. Also your milk is all the food your baby needs for the first 6 months! So for a whole 6 months you need to b no cereal and no baby foods and no juice or anything. It's complete nutrition.

Check out kellymom.com it's very very helpful. You can browse around for hours learning new and wonderful things!

Like Sara said, your milk is how god/nature designed your baby to eat! There's nothing weird about feeding your baby the milk it's supposed to eat but without help it can be hard. Try to find a dr who supports breast feeding and defiantly chck out a la leche league meeting.

Your body is amazing! It conceived a baby, it's growing this tiny baby so safely inside you, your body will labor and birth this baby and then you can trust your body will not forget about your baby after birth, it will still keep your baby healthy and safe and growing through the milk you make. It's a beautiful thing!

And congrats on your new baby!

Toni - posted on 10/24/2011

Breast milk is the most nutritious way to feed your baby, it not only provides a balanced diet but also helps provide antibodies to illnesses you and your child are exposed to. Formula is a good substitute to breast milk but it certainly isn't better.



To start i found bf didn't hurt it was just an odd sensation, but after a few weeks it was really hurting - the reason my breasts were too full and my daughter couldn't latch properly, so I expressed some milk, and the pain completely subsided. If you experience pain (unbearable pain) during bf there is most likely something wrong: bad latch, mastitis, thrush, blocked ducts, over full etc these issues are all easily fixed.



I've found bf far better than ff ( I ff my first after my milk 'dried up' at 3 weeks due to him not latching ever and I now bf my daughter who is 5 months old). IMO bf is far easier, I always have milk at the right temperature, I never have to worry about bottles or all the paraphernalia that goes with bottle feeding and it find bf easier at nights (even though this time I'm doing all the night stuff on my own, it's still easier).



My colostrum (the first milk after babies born) was yellowish, it's perfectly normal and is the most important milk to give baby, even if you choose not to bf try to give the colostrum.

Cynthia - posted on 10/23/2011

i have a 4 month old that i breast feed and it never hurt me. not at all. the yellow milk is normal and actually better then the white but it will only be yellow for about 5 days. i love breast feeding and it helps you lose weight and for me it is easy.

Gladys - posted on 10/23/2011

breast feeding is gud it dont really hurt unless the baby latch on wrong and i was told the yellow milk is gud for the baby it give them antibotics (sorry for misspelled word) and then a few days later ur milk milk will come in it nothing to worry about its normal and safe

Good Day! - posted on 10/23/2011

If you want to breastfeed, find a LLL or support group in your area! Having people that know how to breastfeed and about breastfeeding will help you succeed. http://www.llli.org/

Breast milk is very nutritious! Formula is an acceptable substitute, if you cannot or chose not to breastfeed. But breast milk is the very best thing you can give your baby, for numerous reasons. What God/nature makes (breast milk) will always be better than what man makes in a factory (formula). I won't go into details, because that would be a long post. I'm sure google will give you plenty of information on the goodness of breast milk.

Breastfeeding can hurt, but usually it doesn't. It may hurt at first, because your nipples are getting used to being sucked on all the time. But that kind of hurt goes away quickly. Other reasons for hurting: mastitis, thrush, clogged ducts. Google can give you more information. But all of these problems have pretty simple solutions.

The yellow milk right after your baby is born is colostrum. That is the MOST important breast milk you can give your baby. After a few days you will have more milk and it should turn white. However, breast milk can be all kinds of colors based on what you eat. It won't hurt the baby.

Brianna - posted on 10/23/2011

it only hurts if ur doing it wrong (babyis latched wrong)

Kelina - posted on 10/23/2011

Lol the roughing them up is something new to me but if i'd heard it before my first i definitely would have tried it! Breastfeeding is hard before it gets easy. Anyone who tells you otherwise has never done it. It's hard to adjust to having someone latched onto your boob all the time, it's hard to adjust to having a tiny person scream at you everytime they want to eat(which in the beginning is all the time, after that it's every two hours for the first 6 months :) ) It's hard to adjust to having to sit in one spot everytime the baby wants to feed despite the fact that you have stuff to do. And on top of this, women often deal with sore cracked nipples because while breastfeeding itself is supposed to be comfortable, it's a little like riding a bike-you're going to fall off and get hurt before it becomes something natural! Just stick with it for a bit and if you can't it's not the end of the world. However I do recommend trying it for at least 4-6 weeks as it can take that long for you to become comfortable with it and for your boobs to adjust to having someone with slightly acidic saliva attached to them all day. Remember it gets worse before it gets better and if you can't it's not the end of the world. good luck and congratulations!

Katherine - posted on 10/23/2011

I've also been told to "rough them up" by rubbing a face cloth on them......thats from my mom and grand mother....i didn't and for our next i def will be trying it!!! LOL

Caitlin - posted on 10/23/2011

Oh, and dont forget to buy a small tube of lanolin for your nipples.. helps prevent dryness and cracking at the begining while you're both learning the ropes.. real lifesaver...

Katherine - posted on 10/23/2011

breastmilk is super healthy for your baby as everyone has mentioned.

I nursed for 6-8 weeks until my milk dried up (thank you b/c). It hurt yes, but I miss it terribly now. It was such a bonding experience.

They say that it shouldn't hurt while nursing, but it might take awhile to get the latching properly done and to get baby drinking properly. Stick with it and everything should work out wonderfully!!!

My milk was always a bit yellow as well, I think thats just the natural colour of it.

I would stay away from pumping until baby is a bit older, a pump isn't like a baby sucking and may hinder milk production. I would wait at least 6-8 weeks when your supply is fully established!!!

To prep for nursing, purchase disposible nursing pads (I leaked ALL the time when baby cried, when feeding etc) and lots of receving blankets....Sit back where your comfy and enjoy!!! IT's an amazing bonding experience that i REALLY REALLY miss!!!

Caitlin - posted on 10/23/2011

Breastmilk can actually be a few different shades. The yellow milk you mentioned after the baby wa born was most likely colostrum, which comes before the milk and is what contains a ton of antibodies to help build your childs immune system. When i pumped milk after my second, the milk was yellowish (very faint) or even greenish sometimes, it depends on what you are eating but it's perfectly normal. I foudn that it's a bit uncomfortabel unitl the baby and you learn the best position to feed in, but that if you have a breastfeeding organization in your area, they are a great resource for teaching you the best way to do it. I'm currently breastfeeding my third child, and have loved feeding all of them that way! (Though I did use formula with my first after a bit, due to allergies). If you can breastfeed, it saves a ton of money too!

Teresa - posted on 10/23/2011

Breastmilk is the best food for your baby. It can hurt in the beginning. Different people will tell you different things on that based on their experiences. Working to get a proper latch is extremely important to avoiding pain.

When I was doing it the first time it was a bit difficult (I was also learning how to do it w/ TWINS) to get them latched right and I ended up w/ a couple of blisters to the side of my nipple area. W/in a couple of weeks we had it all worked out and there was no more pain. We weaned at 15 months.

When my son was born he really wasn't interested in trying to nurse. He didn't start til he was about 34 hours old, but once he figured it out.... there was no stopping him. It took me about a week for my nipples to readjust to that feeling. He nursed for 3.25 years!

I think giving it a try is a wonderful idea. Try not to get discouraged if things don't go well at first. It can take about 6 weeks for you both to get adjusted. Talking to a lactation consultant can be very benefical as well.

Good luck!

Brittany - posted on 10/23/2011

My hind milk was always a bit off white or yellowish. I have no idea if it was normal, but I fed it to my daughter.

The only times it hurt for me was when I got a blocked duct and when I was learning how to get my daughter to latch on correctly. It honestly didn't even hurt when she got teeth (which happened at 3 months).

You can also buy a pump and use a bottle. I would do that when we were going to places that I couldn't easily breastfeed.

Kimberly - posted on 10/23/2011

Kelli is right too I dont want to sound like one of those b/f nuts lol!!!! Give it a go if it works for you great but if you cant then you do what you have to do for your baby. Hope people support you with how ever you feed your baby and remember at the end of the day its your baby, your body, your choice

Keli - posted on 10/22/2011

Breastfeeding is healthier than formula, i went with formula because breastfeeding wasnt working out for me at all it was extremely painful for me so i through in the towel early on,but you cant knock it until you try it. and if you end up going with formula its not the worse thing in the world.everyone has to do whats best in the situation.either way baby is still getting nutrition.

Kimberly - posted on 10/22/2011

Ok first of all if you are able to breastfeeding is better then formula because not only are you giving them milk but also anitbodies that they can only get from breastfeeding. Yes breastfeeding can hurt alittle but remember that both you and your baby are learning how to do it so you have to give it time so you can both work out what your doing. I dont know where you live but try to get some info from your local breastfeeding assocation or if your hospital holds breastfeeding classes. I wasnt all that keen on b/f till I went to one of the classes and actually learned alot that I made up my mind to at least try it. B/f should never be super painful usually when that happens it mean that the baby isnt attached right, you might have a blocked duct. I found that being postive about it and have people who will encourage and support you rather then not was a big help. Glad to see your willing to try it and believe in yourself good luck with it all