Okay, so i've never breastfed, I wanna but, the more post i see the more I think im not going to be able to do it. I like honesty, so this I think will help me and others...


Share your experience of the first couple of weeks, how did you handle it, when did you find it got easier for you?

I need as much mental support, as physcial support as i can find. Saddly we do not have any BF consulatant here that I can speak too, closest one is 2 hours away. So, the only person who can help me with my latch is a nurse..... and maybe the 1/2 friends i have that have breastfed.

So I need emotional,physical, and well Just all the facts I can gather. I want to know what I can, might not expect, but what might happen. The good, the bad, the ugly.

Youre going to be tired, no doubt about that. Just keep in mind it will get easier! The first month or so is a little painful when the baby latches on, dont be afraid though - its temporary. Just think about how good your milk is for your baby, that youre doing the best possible thing.

I myself cried a few times. I didnt know the concept of a 'let down' so i thought the baby was hurting me. I didnt know the pinching feeling was the milk coming, and it does go away after a couple minutes. I didnt properly latch with my daughter so my nipples were bleeding and had a milk spot- this made me afraid to breast feed so i took a month off.... worst mistake ever! My milk supply dropped radically, i was exclusively pumping and didnt go skin to skin with my baby at all.

Just believe in yourself and keep going. If you have lots of pain or any troubles, get a nipple shield to aid your feeding. Invest in a breast feeding pillow like 'my brest friend.' Get a pump to help with those times your titties are soooo full of milk you need it out! Check out breastflow bottles to feed your expressed milk, they help train your baby to latch on. Also you can use the pump when your nipples are too sore to feed. Also think about adjusting your diet or get some supplements to help your milk come in more soon and strong. (Oatmeal, granola, fresh carrot juice, probiotic yogurt, pills: fenugreek, blessed thistle, or motherlove more milk plus.) You can also make mothers milk tea. The first few days after birth your breasts will be rock hard, this means you must empty them. Dont be intimidated, just be patient, relax, and keep on trucking.

You have lots of support here if you need it. Dont fret! It WILL get easier. If you get sleep deprive you can sleep on your side while baby feeds, its quite cozy! Breast conpression helps feeding/pumping too.

You can do it. This is all optional, but anything will help lessen the burden. Youll do great just dont give up!

I agree somewhat with the above poster. However I do not agree that taking galactalogues (milk increasers) is of any benefit unless you have a diagnosed supply problem-as if taken without a supply problem they can cause a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance, plugged ducts, mastitis and various other problems caused by oversupply. Lactation consultants urge not using them unless there is a diagnosed low supply problem either. They certainly do not help your milk to come in more quickly anyway, when your milk comes in is due to various hormonal factors and not really something that can be controlled. xx

Although I had problems I still feel that we were pretty lucky with BF as some have a really tough time. I used to have dreams when I was pregnant that I would be unable to BF! It was really important to me.
The first 2-3 weeks were quite tough, I had bleeding nipples, so bad that Indigo would puke up blood :s I would sit crying in the night sometimes with frustration trying to get her to latch on.
But I would say by the time she was 5-6 weeks old we had it down perfectly!

In the early days my friend said to me (who previously BF) 'are you loving BF'? and I thought 'not really' how can you! It's inconvenient and stressful, and not too comfortable! But soon after I totally got what she meant and I really do love it! It's the best bonding time, I can just let her latch on herself - no effort, completely comfortable, it's great!

Also in the early days, like the 1st poster said, it does hurt to begin with, so I would count to 10 and then the pain should ease off. It made it easier to get through!

Good luck.

You can do it! Just have to trust your body and believe you can pull through Its hard at first. Your tired and just gave birth, your nipples need to get use to it, and they will. Some women have some troubles along the way, but you can get help. Some women have it easier. The first week or two was rough with the nipples for me, but they got use to it pretty fast and it doesnt even phase me anymore putting him on. His latch was always good. The best piece of advice I got for latching is to make sure babys mouth is wide open, and if you need to pull with your finger their bottom lip down to make them open it wider Lanolin cream will be your best friend in the first week or two. Really helps with nipple pains. Some things I wished I was warned about so I knew it was normal was the first couple of days its normal to get really intense period typepains while feeding, its just your uterus shrinking back down faster. I would also bleed ALOT during feeding which was also from the uterus going back down.

thanks ladies, any more the more the marrier lol! I appericate you all taking the time . I expect it to be hard, some times down right tiring, but lately i see soooo many posts about how it hurts soooo much and the MW's told me to give them a bottle and stuff (within the first week). So theses things scare me, i dont even have formula in my house for this reason. Thanks, again.

I don't want this to scare you but I am gonna be brutally honest. My little guy did great at the hospital...but when we got home I couldn't keep him at the breast more than 10 mins or so. I went back to the LC and he did just fine for them....not when we got home. My mom even tried to help me the first week we were home. She kept telling me to keep trying but I kept getting frustrated. I had decided to just strictly express and bottle feed him. About the same time my pediatrician convinced me to start nursing and giving him formula because he wasn't gaining weight very fast. I took her advice. I tried to nurse and he would do pretty well for about 10 mins at each breast and he would start pushing away and then I'd cave and give him formula. I decided this week was the week to quit the formula. Unfortunately we are now battling thrush. My breast hurt so bad yesterday that I could only express and give him that. We are both getting treated and today has been much better. I have learned that when he starts to pull away I just have to hold him tighter and keep him there. Sounds kinda harsh but it works for us. I am determined to kick the formula this week and not reintroduce the bottle for at least a couple weeks til he gets better at nursing.

BFing is the best decision for your baby. Good luck! and just remember stay calm. They won't starve themselves.

You will pull through, and when you do its the most amazing feeling in the world! I love knowing im growing my sweet boy with the milk from my body, and giving him the best start I can for him. If a nurse tries to get you to top up with formula, do not do it. Its a slippery sloop that you don't want to go down.

it's honestly been very hard so far for me, but quitting has never been an option for me, even still, it's worth it. i'm exclusively pumping so i kind of get the best (and the worst) of both worlds. i highly recommend you get your hands on every piece of material you can with information on breastfeeding. check out pro-breastfeeding websites. if you're in the states and have wic, they help with breastfeeding support a lot, and give you lots of cool stuff if you breastfeed. you will feel incredibly proud when your lo hits certain weights though and that accomplished feeling, giving them the best, really makes it worth it.

Oh yeah and Lansinoh is great! Iused so much of it.