Breastfeeding makes me feel...

[Jemima]

I know it's hard, we have all struggled for the first couple of months and I think it makes you feel a little isolated as all the pressure is on you to feed your LO but it does get easier and, after a couple of months, you won't even remember what it was like in the early days, you will just enjoy the closeness with your LO.

Having said all that though, if you are finding it way too difficult and it is getting you down, don't feel you HAVE to carry on. Just make your decision and move forward.

Good luck and if you need any advice, we are all here to offer it the best we can. x

 

[Serene123]

Actually, I still feel very much like a human dummy. That's my fault though.

It does get easier. The feeding times get shorter. You will be able to establish a routine when your milk comes in properly. Perhaps you could start pumping at 6 weeks so OH can feed too? Maybe he could give her, her bedtime bottle? Might be nice for them.

 

[milkmachine]

i felt the same, i really truly hated breastfeeding in the first month i couldnt understand why everyone said it was easy. it hurt so much i wanted to throw my baby off of me and no matter how tired/sick/fed up i was i still HAD to feed her. i resented the fact that it was only me feeding her (but was desperate for her not to have formula) then one day it just suddenly was ok... it didnt hurt anymore, she wasnt on me all the time stick with it its awesome, so much easier. we have no time limits when we go out so long as we have nappys.

the baby will suck pretty constantly for the first few weeks, its encouraging your boobies to make enough milk. if you need an ear just pm me.

its really worth it in the end

 

[sparkswillfly]

Thanks for the support ladies. Its nice to hear that it does get easier. Im sure it will be worth it in the end. xx

 

[Samantha675]

Just wanted to add my encouragement as well. Please don't judge bfing by the first few weeks, they are hard and frustrating and not how it really is when you get past that stage. It will get much easier. One thing I learned was that as soon as your baby is done eating, hand her to her daddy and go take a shower, or just sit in another room by your self for a bit and eat. Let daddy bath her or take her for a walk to give you a break. It will really help. You are doing a fantastic job love!!!

 

[Bearsbaby]

Ladies, you are fabulous I've just logged on to get some words of encouragement coz I'm feeling the same as Sparkswillfly. I feel a lot better already... Thanks, x

 

[shampain]

I felt totally the same, I gave up breastfeeding at two weeks as it was cracking me up! I switched to formula and never looked back. Dont mean to influence you at all, but they do say it gets a lot easier, but like Alio, i wasnt prepared to struggle through.
I hope things get easier for you, im sure they will! But if they dont then remember its not the end of the world, its not the only way to feed your baby and dont feel like a failure if it doesnt work out.

 

[Blob]

Its really hard to begin with but it gets better I love it and wouldnt change it ever

 

[caggimedicine]

I know how you feel... it is sometimes hard because it's only you that can feed baby. We had 2 really bad nights in a row and i'd had a total of 4 hours sleep and actually felt ill when we decided to let my husband give Harry 1 bottle of formula at night (I had trouble expressing). I would feed him at 10pm, go to bed and hubby would give bottle at midnight and then I would get up at 2/3am and feed from then on. Just gave me a break and 4/5 hours straight sleep. However, we only did that for 2 nights because Harry seemed to start struggling and suffering with wind/poos which settled down again once we had stopped, but he now latches on in a completely different way and has never done it right since which is something to bare in mind.

Whilst it can be a pain to be the only person to be able to feed baby, at the same time it's definitely easier and more convenient when going out etc. No need to steralise bottles, make them up etc etc... one less thing to have to plan and pack when going anywhere - try to think of it that way.

 

[Chellebelle]

I was exactly the same... I was very tearful as I felt like a machine, I felt like I was doing everything and I thought my OH couldn't see how hard it was. I even wished I could be the one cleaning the house or making tea etc. as OH took that over to give me a break... but I wanted a break from feeding, I didn't believe it would get easier as I couldn't see how it could - but it really did

At about 6 weeks I started noticing I was doing more and getting out more without breastfeeding being a constant thought. I must have gradually got like that... but I didn't really think about it so I am not sure exactly when it got easier. One thing I did which was great was when he was 3 weeks old, I went out into town and spend a full day having 'me' time... whenever he wanted feeding, I went to a mother & baby room, fed him changed him and put him back in the pram and carried on with my 'me' time - it is different for different people though.

It does get much better and now it's just part of a routine - you're doing a fantastic job, I remeber feeling exactly like that and it's not easy.

 

[hypnorm]

Robyn has a cold at the moment and is very congested, i was up most of last night with her, feeding her and just being a comforter. today she is feeding about every hour and a half. it is hard but i remind my self it does get better.
i could quite easily have shoved a bottle in her mouth last night i was knackered! so was Oh who has to drive 4 hours today!

 

[ryder]

I felt the same too... but like Alio and Shampain I wasn't prepared to struggle through, it was too difficult and the thought of all the growth spurts etc put me off it. I was too unhappy.

It is very admirable that there are people who can deal with the stress!! I hope it gets easier for you soon. Your doing a great job!