Breastfeeding is HARD (only for exclusively breastfeeding mommies)

[meli1981]

^^ that's actually pretty good if you're not used to pumping. 5oz is a very decent amount. Pumping is something that is different for everyone and it takes time ad practice to figure out a groove.

like i said it really is an art form! i used a manuel hand pump and still pumped 5 oz or more! not at first of course, but once i got the hang of it

 

[Jaylynne]

I'm thinking I need a manual pump now...

 

[meli1981]

were you using an electric?

 

[Jaylynne]

Yup since day 1. But if I can get more out I'll do a little physical labor.

 

[pinklightbulb]

^^ that's actually pretty good if you're not used to pumping. 5oz is a very decent amount. Pumping is something that is different for everyone and it takes time ad practice to figure out a groove.

Really? Mum told me it was pitiful and so did OH, and then they both convinced me I didn't make enough milk (keep in mind this was the first and only EBM bottle I'd attempted, E was EBF) and to give "the poor little sod" a FF to "fill him up"

They said I should have made a lot more out of an hour and that my milk must be drying up (E was 12 weeks old). I let OH give him an FF while I sobbed on the outside steps as I couldn't watch and felt like such a failure... but E refused it

Next thing OH was coming out screaming about what a little you-know-what he was for rejecting "real food" HAHAHA that taught him. I went on to EBF till 12 months. That stuck it to the pair of them!

 

[meli1981]

^^ that's actually pretty good if you're not used to pumping. 5oz is a very decent amount. Pumping is something that is different for everyone and it takes time ad practice to figure out a groove.

Really? Mum told me it was pitiful and so did OH, and then they both convinced me I didn't make enough milk (keep in mind this was the first and only EBM bottle I'd attempted, E was EBF) and to give "the poor little sod" a FF to "fill him up"

They said I should have made a lot more out of an hour and that my milk must be drying up (E was 12 weeks old). I let OH give him an FF while I sobbed on the outside steps as I couldn't watch and felt like such a failure... but E refused it

Next thing OH was coming out screaming about what a little you-know-what he was for rejecting "real food" HAHAHA that taught him. I went on to EBF till 12 months. That stuck it to the pair of them!

dont listen to them! anything you can pump out is gold! just freeze it and add it to whatever you can pump next time!

 

[pinklightbulb]

I threw my pump away as thought it was useless

 

[Lynzeigh]

I don't want to offend, so if you supplement with formula or pump, you've been warned - this is for exclusively breastfeeding mommies who don't pump or give bottles.

I just feel the need to vent! This is my 4th baby, and the 4th one I'm breastfeeding without any formula or pumping. I've breastfed all my others for 1+ year, so I absolutely know that things will get better and soon. And that you can't compare breastfeeding at 1 month with 3 months, as it gets sooooo easy and wonderful. And that it's not an issue at all after 6 months, because it's so easy. Even easier after 1 year!

But, at this moment, it's HARD. My baby is 5 weeks old, and I'm having a really hard recovery from my c-section (infection in the wound, wound opening up, UTI, etc.) So I'm really struggling to cope with my own pain and healing, dealing with 3 older children and what comes with them (homework, carting them around to school and activities, etc.).

So ontop of all of that, I struggle with all the normal things of breastfeeding. Bad latches, excrutiating pain in the nipples (getting better at last, thank goodness!!), thrush causing shooting pains and itchiness, shoulder aches from hunching forward, lower backaches from sitting so much, headaches from not rehydrating myself enough (because I'm constantly busy or feeding or holding baby!), blocked ducts causing fever and pain, engorgement, etc.

Sometimes, I see the humour in the situation when I hold baby with 1 arm, useing my other hand to lift my top, while pressing with my arm against the unused breast to stop the flow, all the while trying to stop baby from rooting everywhere except latching, her head moving from side to side and she getting upset because she smells the milk. And her cries causing the milk to flow, spilling down my stomach onto my pants. But other times I just want to cry when she wakes up for a feed, and I'm not ready yet to deal with the sore nipples, the shooting pains, the struggle, etc. etc. etc.

I love breastfeeding my baby, and nothing will make me stop, or make me supplement with formula or mess with my supply by pumping. But gosh, it's HARD. And when other mommies complain that they couldn't breastfeed and list those reasons, I just want to scream and cry and say yes, it's HARD. For us TOO. Even though we exclusively breastfeed, it's not any easier for us!! We too have cracked bleeding nipples where we have to bite on our teeth not to scream out in pain when baby latches. We too wish that our partner can take a turn at night. We too want a "break". We too need support and understanding and sympathy with the pain and hassle that comes with breastfeeding a newborn. Just because we breastfeed exclusively, doesn't mean it's painless and straightforward and easy for us!!! We're just darn stubborn in our wish to give our baby the absolute best. Just like when we were pregnant.

Sorry, vent over!

I 100% agree with this,,,people tell me aww you are so lucky that you can breastfeed, so many people they knew gave up. But I'm not lucky, I just persevered because my stubborn determination to "Make it work" drove me to keep on going and I am so glad I did.

Now it seems so easy, it was hell in the beginning, I used to get frustrated with my son when he couldn't latch, frustrated with myself for not being able to do this so called "natural thing" we would both be in tears together but we got through it. It felt like glass coming out from my nipples and at the time it was a bitterly cold winter, the cold weather made my nipples even more sore and that along with recovering from an episiotomy stitches made it almost unbearable

One thing I learned about myself is that I am more determined, stubborn and stronger than I thought I was and I am darn proud of myself, we all should be

 

[meli1981]

i think pumping is just part of breastfeeding. you never know when or if youll be seperated from lo, by illness etc, so its good to know how to pump. i think it goes hand in hand

 

[jenniferttc1]

I do have to agree on something though, I absoulutly HATE it when someone tells me that I'm lucky to breastfeed as if I didn't have to work at it, go through pain, sleepless nights of feeding sessions etc. I think alot of women assume the ladies that continue to breastfeed didn't have any pain or problems. But honestly we all go through the same....just depends how much you are determined to breastfeed. I usually say oh no honey, I went through the same thing you did. It didn't come pain and cluster feeding free. I was determined to prove every single family memeber and friend that I would not give up. All my family and friends formula feed, and were behind my back betting how long I would last. Nobody expected me to last more than 3 days. Proved them wrong

 

[Jaylynne]

Pumping is just a subset of breastfeeding

Pink, 5 oz seriously is great work for your first time pumping. How long did you have from the last feed before you pumped?

 

[Jaylynne]

I do have to agree on something though, I absoulutly HATE it when someone tells me that I'm lucky to breastfeed as if I didn't have to work at it, go through pain, sleepless nights of feeding sessions etc. I think alot of women assume the ladies that continue to breastfeed didn't have any pain or problems. But honestly we all go through the same....just depends how much you are determined to breastfeed. I usually say oh no honey, I went through the same thing you did. It didn't come pain and cluster feeding free. I was determined to prove every single family memeber and friend that I would not give up. All my family and friends formula feed, and were behind my back betting how long I would last. Nobody expected me to last more than 3 days. Proved them wrong

I think you did fabulous considering no one you knew made it to the first month

 

[pinklightbulb]

Pumping is just a subset of breastfeeding

Pink, 5 oz seriously is great work for your first time pumping. How long did you have from the last feed before you pumped?

Ummmmm thinking back.... 1.5-2 hours maybe?

 

[deafgal]

yes, it was hard for me too. latching was painful, my uterus was in a lot of pain ehen breastfeeding was shrinking it. i had an ODS with ADHD to care for (and believe me, he can be difficult)

and i keep getring yeast infextion

 

[ChesMik4eva]

I do have to agree on something though, I absoulutly HATE it when someone tells me that I'm lucky to breastfeed as if I didn't have to work at it, go through pain, sleepless nights of feeding sessions etc. I think alot of women assume the ladies that continue to breastfeed didn't have any pain or problems. But honestly we all go through the same....just depends how much you are determined to breastfeed. I usually say oh no honey, I went through the same thing you did. It didn't come pain and cluster feeding free. I was determined to prove every single family memeber and friend that I would not give up. All my family and friends formula feed, and were behind my back betting how long I would last. Nobody expected me to last more than 3 days. Proved them wrong

This makes me feel empowered to keep breastfeeding! Proving people wrong is so satisfying. My friend who's pregnant is horrified that I want to bf for 2 years and didn't like that I breastfed my son in front of her boyfriend when they were over MY house. I was venting about a particularly difficult night of feeding to her and she smugly asked if I still want to do it for 2 years. She thinks there's no benefits to bf after 6 months and that I'm some weirdo for wanting to breastfeed a toddler. Oh well!

 

[EarthMama]

I can't even imagine exclusive pumping. That takes some serious commitment. At least with a breast you can just whip it out, even if it hurts like torture in the beginning.

Each path has its up and downs, for sure.

 

[BlueHadeda]

Thanx everyone. The turn this thread took is very civilised and I appreciate that. I did pm a moderator yesterday (in my time zone) to close it, but I'm not sure if I pm'ed the right person. But for now, I'll leave it be because it has turned into a thread supporting people, and that's just lovely.

 

[future_numan]

When this many girls get hurt or offended, perhaps it's not because we're overly sensitive, but that the content may be genuinely offensive?

We're only "too sensitive" because we're not spitting in YOUR face. I suspect if it was the other way around, you'd feel the right to be hurt.

I wasn't spitting in ANYONE's face. As a mother of 5 children over 22 yrs. I have exclusivly formula feed, exclusively breast feed, I have also pumped and supplimented so I feel justified to say that no matter how we feed our babies is hard. Weither it be for guilt for our choices or unheeded advice. All I was stating was that instead of getting offencive, lets support a person (who too me) was frustrated with HER choice. She has said sorry several times for her choice of words. That was my point.
If you felt as though I was spitting in your face, I am sorry you took it in that matter

Thanx everyone. The turn this thread took is very civilised and I appreciate that. I did pm a moderator yesterday (in my time zone) to close it, but I'm not sure if I pm'ed the right person. But for now, I'll leave it be because it has turned into a thread supporting people, and that's just lovely.

 

[Bevziibubble]

Yes, breastfeeding is hard. It took my milk six days to come in due to a huge blood loss in labour. I then developed mastitis in one day! I've had blocked ducts, cracked and bleeding nipples. I've had engorged and painful breasts, woken up in a puddle of milk. And we're now coming out the other side of a three month nursing strike where LO screamed constantly and had to be fed either fast asleep or when starving. It's been hell at times but still worth it and I want to continue over a year. I'm a glutton for punishment! Haha.

But no matter how hard and painful breastfeeding is, that doesn't mean that bottle feeding isn't just as hard or maybe even harder. I mean women who exclusively pump must be super mums!! It must be so hard! And I'm sure formula feeding has many difficulties too. I think all methods of feeding have their good points and difficulties!

 

[jenniferttc1]

I do have to agree on something though, I absoulutly HATE it when someone tells me that I'm lucky to breastfeed as if I didn't have to work at it, go through pain, sleepless nights of feeding sessions etc. I think alot of women assume the ladies that continue to breastfeed didn't have any pain or problems. But honestly we all go through the same....just depends how much you are determined to breastfeed. I usually say oh no honey, I went through the same thing you did. It didn't come pain and cluster feeding free. I was determined to prove every single family memeber and friend that I would not give up. All my family and friends formula feed, and were behind my back betting how long I would last. Nobody expected me to last more than 3 days. Proved them wrong

This makes me feel empowered to keep breastfeeding! Proving people wrong is so satisfying. My friend who's pregnant is horrified that I want to bf for 2 years and didn't like that I breastfed my son in front of her boyfriend when they were over MY house. I was venting about a particularly difficult night of feeding to her and she smugly asked if I still want to do it for 2 years. She thinks there's no benefits to bf after 6 months and that I'm some weirdo for wanting to breastfeed a toddler. Oh well!

Honestly I almost quit the second day, but I was not gonna let them be right! But glad I was so determined. i remember the first 3 months I was couting down the days till my 6 month mark. Now its so easy and more of a hassel on me to quit. Your friend is just immature. I bet she would feel much different if she breastfeeds after her baby is here. I felt after 6 months was weird until I gave birth. But I did not know anyone that breastfeed except the first 2 days of babies life when I was pregnant. I have 1 friend that made it to 7 weeks, so nobody really understands why I am still going. I'm so proud of my accomplishment, I wonder if other ladies will happily tell strangers that they are still happily nursing like I would