contractions when BFing *cry*

[butrfly]

just gave birth (normal) yesterday but am real decided to BF.

thing is, when i BF, i get these strong uterine contractions which hurt like nothing!!!!! (not as bad as labor... but ALMOST).

is there any way around this? i'm still set on BFing but it now makes me a bit tense as i anticipate the pain the contractions bring me. can someone please send some much needed advice my way?)

 

[Mervs Mum]

No honey - no way of avoiding them BUT I found they stopped within 2 days. They took my breath away. My hubby rang the hospital he was so concerned.

Totally normal - in fact take heart that your body is doing it's job so efficiently.

Congrats BTW! Is this your first LO?

x

 

[mommyof3co]

Everything Merv's Mum said...it does go away after a couple days but is a sign that your doing it right and your body is healing right, it's making your uterus contract and shrink back down which is a good thing.

 

[Mervs Mum]

MO3 - did you find they got worse with each baby?? I found them waaaay stonger this time.

 

[mommyof3co]

YES!! My contractions with labor were way worse too, I thought maybe it was my csection with Casen, my middle son, but I don't know if it's just that it was my 3rd. With Landon I was good, I could have gone full natural, didn't get an epi ntil 8cm but I was 16 andterrified of the thought of going through it all with no drugs haha so i got it, but I was BEGGING by 2cm with Hayden it was much worse lol

 

[Sarah88]

Hopefully they'll ease up soon for you. How are u finding bring otherwise?

 

[butrfly]

thanks for your input, ladies. esp the bit where you said it will go away in a few days... it hurts so much now that i want to cry when i BF...

otherwise, i think it's great. i'm a bit worried that my milk hasn't kicked in yet but i read in some sites that it might take a few days. i'm mix feeding right now... with priority on BF, ofcourse. when milk kicks in, then i do it exclusively.

 

[missjacey44]

thanks for your input, ladies. esp the bit where you said it will go away in a few days... it hurts so much now that i want to cry when i BF...

otherwise, i think it's great. i'm a bit worried that my milk hasn't kicked in yet but i read in some sites that it might take a few days. i'm mix feeding right now... with priority on BF, ofcourse. when milk kicks in, then i do it exclusively.

Its totally normal but i only had it the first day so the pain shouldnt be there long. And your right your milk can take a few days to come through but dont worry about it, Mine took 6days!

 

[cupcake]

oh i remember those contractions, its very uncomfortable on top of all the other discomfort you already have after giving birth but as all the ladies said, it goes away very quickly. your milk comes in usually within 3 days. in the mean time the colostrum is fine for the baby who doesnt really get hungry the first two days.

 

[Mervs Mum]

thanks for your input, ladies. esp the bit where you said it will go away in a few days... it hurts so much now that i want to cry when i BF...

otherwise, i think it's great. i'm a bit worried that my milk hasn't kicked in yet but i read in some sites that it might take a few days. i'm mix feeding right now... with priority on BF, ofcourse. when milk kicks in, then i do it exclusively.

Just bear in mind that the mixed feeding will not give your boobs the correct messages so when it does 'kick in' there still wont be enough to feed exclusively. The only way to feed exclusively is to do just that hun - keep putting the baby on...... Sucking = Signals = Supply If it's working for you right now then that's fine but just be aware that every time up suppliment you dont give the acurate signals to your boobs.

The afterpains will go soon honey - hang in there!

 

[Hevz]

MO3 - did you find they got worse with each baby?? I found them waaaay stonger this time.

Mine were virtually unbearable this time. I was actually crying as I didn't think I was gonna be able to breatfeed as I couldn't cope with the pain.....I'm not soft by any means but OMG. Luckily they stopped after about 3/4 days (OMG I'm losing my breath just thinking about it)


It does get better I promise you honey, and won't last more than a few days

Breathe through them as if you would a labour contraction, they're the same thing

 

[Michy]

I had these so bad at the start,(and I was only using a pump, bet it is worse with a baby) the pain was far far far worse than the pain from the c section!

it does get better. x

 

[Blob]

They are good signs, BF helps your tummy get back to normal faster by having these contractions.

 

[Pyrrhic]

It needs to happen unfortunately. Your uterus needs to contract back down into your pelvis after birth. For me it lasted longer, about a week but the strong ones were only for the first 3-4 days.