Do you find breastfeeding a chore?

[AP]

At the start I did feel like this a bit, so many emotions! As time has gone on I don't even think about it. Couldnt even tell DH how many times T fed last night. Once/twice/three times? No idea.

 

[ashley2pink]

I breast feed for myself. When I tried to stop I felt I had failed as a mum and was incredibly embarrassed about FF. I wanted the elusive BF bond I'd heard about. Health benefits were only a small part of it.

That said atm I find it a massive chore as I'm still struggling to get it right and it hurts and LO gets distressed. I don't think I'll see it that way in a few months though.

I would also be too embarrassed to ff. Sad, but its the truth! I got free formula from the hospital and friends came over and I hid it so they wouldnt think I would ever give it to my baby. I am dying to get it out of my house, but dont want to throw it away cuz I'm sure someone else can use it. If I did ff for whatever reason(I would never stop bf, but if my boobs ever got cut off or whatever) then I would probably hide and ff feed so nobody would see me feeding my baby that. I dont know why I find formula so gross. I think it would just make me feel like a failure

 

[emyandpotato]

I breast feed for myself. When I tried to stop I felt I had failed as a mum and was incredibly embarrassed about FF. I wanted the elusive BF bond I'd heard about. Health benefits were only a small part of it.

That said atm I find it a massive chore as I'm still struggling to get it right and it hurts and LO gets distressed. I don't think I'll see it that way in a few months though.

I would also be too embarrassed to ff. Sad, but its the truth! I got free formula from the hospital and friends came over and I hid it so they wouldnt think I would ever give it to my baby. I am dying to get it out of my house, but dont want to throw it away cuz I'm sure someone else can use it. If I did ff for whatever reason(I would never stop bf, but if my boobs ever got cut off or whatever) then I would probably hide and ff feed so nobody would see me feeding my baby that. I dont know why I find formula so gross. I think it would just make me feel like a failure

It's silly isn't it My supply dropped when I was EE so atm I have to supplement with formula while I get BF established and I won't buy the formula myself as I'm too ashamed. Even when I give LO EBM in public I feel like screaming at everyone that it's not formula.

 

[Mirrie]

The first six weeks were hard... you're learning about each other, both learning how to BF and baby doesnt stop feeding- after that I found I started to enjoy it more but then I got milk blisters... BFing got hard again!! They lasted for over a month and I'll admit it did seem like a chore because my nips hurt so bad but now it feels like all the hard work paid off... my LO is 4 1/2 months and feeding him is soooo easy- I can sleep while I feed him and its a great excuse for consentrating totally on him for those few minutes.

Not to say I longingly watch him feed and bond every time he feeds- normaly I'll watch tv or read a book but every so often I'll catch him watching me or he'll punch me in the boob and I just "take him in" and savour that moment.

I do still leak, though not as much as when I started but wearing a bra is a small price to pay when I dont have to get up at night (unless LO poo's!!) lol!!!

Also when your baby is first born you look at them in wonder thinking "my body made that!" Now as he grows (hes a big boy) I can proudly say its my body that is still making him grow and thrive and that makes me happy!

 

[lucy_x]

I LOVE breastfeeding, I love the bond me and A have, I love the simplicity of it ect ect, But now im starting to feel like its a chore, She uses it ALOT for comfort and its starting to grate on me , Which is horrible because i love it such alot, i dont want bad associations....But because i love it i continue.

 

[ErinRae]

I have to wear breast pads as my boobs leak all day and night as well as a bra! did with my older son too... I find it rewarding althought while in public is a bit much, everyone stares... I can't get comfortable bc I'm a big girl and idk it just weird.. I was recently feeding at a baby shower, went to switch to the next boob and realized my boob was hanging out the side of my cover up LOL anyways. I love breast feeding esp. at night, I don't even get out of bed, baby cries I grab him from the bassinet next to my bed, feed him change his diaper and right back to bed... OK it takes about an hour but sometimes I get to sleep while he is feeding!

 

[Braven05]

I think right now I'm a little bit of both. I love feeding her and giving her something that is good for her made by my body. I still look at the milk coming out of her mouth or out of the pump and am amazed that my body is making it and she's thriving on it - at 4 weeks she's gone from 8 lbs 12 oz to 11 lbs 2 oz. I love the concept but we've had sooo many issues already that I am grinning and bearing and waiting til it gets easier. I had a crack in my nipple that was bleeding, incredibly sore, then I developed mastitis in the same breast, then had a blocked duct, now I suspect I have two on that side as well as possible Raynaud's (radiating/aching pain in between feeds) all on one side. Its made it a bit of a chore, plus she eats often during the day. Luckily she's only up 2-3 times a night which isn't so bad (I say that now because I'm not back at work). Still, with all that, I still love feeding my baby and I am just looking forward to it getting easier!

Edited to add: we're also BROKE and I'd LOVE to avoid the expense of formula...but I've also drilled it into my head that I WILL be sucessful and I'd feel like a bit of a failure for giving up something that is so easy (in essence) to provide for my baby

 

[mrs_park]

For me, I really had to fight hard to be able to bf, for the first 6 weeks it was a real struggle but determination saw us through. I persevered mainly for the health benefits and I felt that bf was so drilled into us during pregnancy and ante natal class etc, that giving LO ff was like giving him poison ( I now understand this is simply not true)

Now that we are past all that, it feels like the easiest, most natural thing in the world and I really honestly enjoy it. I won't lie, it would be nice to be able to have a break from feeds every now and again, but since weaning and as he gets bigger, he's bf are more spread out so dh can take him for a couple of hours

 

[kerrie24]

Thanks everyone

 

[lau86]

This thread has really helped me! I'm only 2 weeks in but I thought I was the only one who wasn't finding it this amazing bonding experience. We've had trouble establishing bf as lo was quite poorly in hospital and needed bottle top ups as I wasn't able to express. Then he made my nipples raw as his latch wasn't great, I used nipple shields for a few days. Were back on track now but he seems to be having a growth spurt or something and feeds constantly during the day... And I don't know, it just seems like there's always something to deal with...but i'm stubborn as a mule and know if I stop there's no going back so i'm not giving up yet, everyone says it gets easier after all. Dh says when lo is waiting for the breast he looks up at me with this adorable look on his face as if to say 'i'm ready now mummy!' but I don't notice cos I'm too busy trying to get him on! I think I just need more of these moments to boost me I guess. But in the meantime it's good to know I'm not alone.

 

[Lauki]

The thing i love most about breastfeeding now is that Soph smiles.
She sometimes falls asleep with my nipple in her mouth but the in her sleep does this massive smile and lets me go because she's fallen asleep in such a lovely way!

 

[angel_annie07]

Yes I found bf a chore for many reasons. Now LO is 6 wks old we have switched to ff. I don't feel guilty and I do miss bf sometimes but ff isn't poison and when people say it's disgusting etc it really annoys me as there are some people who don't have the choice and have to ff. If your baby is growing, is healthy and happy then that's great however they get fed. I bf my eldest for 4 weeks and she is 5 now and hasn't really been poorly at all.

 

[firsttimer80]

I have only been BFing 2 weeks and i already feel like its a chore.
I always wanted to because i thought it would be amazing, bonding and all that.
Now i am only sticking with it because of the benefits and i couldnt live with the guilt if i stopped as its best for him.
But i am so sore all the time and its hard work, i cant get comfortable and my milk comes out really fast and has made him sick a few times.
I dread the next feed and it shouldnt be like that... just hoping it gets better as its only been 2 weeks!!! the baby blues make everything worse

I am feeling much better about bf'ing than I did the first 3 weeks. I had baby blues and I was really overwhelmed and almost jealous of women who so easily ff. I know I can never ff. No matter how hard bf'ing gets. So it does get better once the baby blues haze disappears and will just get better and better as baby starts to sleep better and nursing isnt painful anymore.

Im holding onto everything you have just said to get me through!!!
Baby blues are major so everything is worse, hoping they will go soon

 

[sarah1980]

I have only been BFing 2 weeks and i already feel like its a chore.
I always wanted to because i thought it would be amazing, bonding and all that.
Now i am only sticking with it because of the benefits and i couldnt live with the guilt if i stopped as its best for him.
But i am so sore all the time and its hard work, i cant get comfortable and my milk comes out really fast and has made him sick a few times.
I dread the next feed and it shouldnt be like that... just hoping it gets better as its only been 2 weeks!!! the baby blues make everything worse

Everyone will tell you it gets easier and it really is true It just seems like ages before it gets easier though because you are feeding so often.

Hang in there, it really is worth it.

Sarah xxx

 

[amygwen]

I found it a chore in the beginning but as time went on, it got easier and I started to enjoy it. Thankfully now during the day he's on cow's milk and we only BF at night, but it's gotten to the point of being a chore again. I enjoy BFing him, but I would prefer he didn't in a way, I've tried to stop but figured I will wait until he self weans.

 

[Kiddo]

With Harvey it became a chore around the 6 week mark when every time he latched on was agony. Some good advice from the health visitor soon had us back on track and after that it was fine. This time round we've had no issues at all. I do find it a bit of a chore during the night but if we were using bottles I'd still have to get up to feed him and it would probably take longer by the time the feed was prepared. I'd find all the washing, sterilising, etc of bottles way more of a chore than just popping a boob near his face and letting him get on with it. I do find pumping a chore though. I only wore breast pads for the 1st 5 weeks or so then i found i stopped leaking so much. I've never worn a bra in bed, i just used to lie on a towel to soak up any leakage.

 

[minties]

I didn't research breastfeeding at all before Thomas was born. I knew it was good for babies and preferable over formula, but I mainly breastfed at the beggining because formula feeding is very frowned apon.

I planned to use my pump and only actually breastfeed for the first week or two to get things started.

However I started reading about the benefits, and once those first two difficult weeks were over I started to love breastfeeding. I physically and mentally enjoy it very much. It's soothing for the both of us. And now that I know how good breastmilk is, I really want him to be having it for as long as possible.

It is certainly not a chore for me. Formula feeding would be a horrible chore.

 

[Blah11]

I did sometimes in the beginning but not anymore. Im kinda glad amelie hasnt ever had formula or a bottle, not cos i think its poison, just cos MY milk that ive made helped her grow into the amazing little girl she is

 

[Freya]

I find it a chore sometimes, more so this time round because I've always for my eye on my toddler & don't have the luxury of feeding constantly and leisurely like last time. My sanity dictates I need dd2 to settle longer between feeds as I have so much to do for my family.... but then I have guilt for thinking about a full swap (I have had to supplement ff). The nights are the worst because of the frequency my bf babies need feeding. It's depressing being so exhausted, coupled with a toddler who has taken to waking in tbd night & needing my reassurance..... Plus not being able to sleep AT ALL in the day. Ph and not sleeping in the same bed as my oh due to because of bf frequency!

Ahhhhh actually I'm not sure why I'm still doing it! I'm going mad and not enjoying it.... It'll be the guilt that drives me on! Damn it

 

[kerrie24]

I found it a chore in the beginning but as time went on, it got easier and I started to enjoy it. Thankfully now during the day he's on cow's milk and we only BF at night, but it's gotten to the point of being a chore again. I enjoy BFing him, but I would prefer he didn't in a way, I've tried to stop but figured I will wait until he self weans.

Im still trying to get to where youre at,no bf during the day.He will happily take other drinks but when he decided he wants booby,nothing else will do

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