What helped you when starting out

[Shwhattam+1]

Realising that my 10 day old son was being completely nourished and thriving from my breast milk...something I produced was keeping my little boy alive and healthy. Heck, I can't even keep a house plant alive.

This thought alone makes me so proud and keeps me positive!

 

[Nimbus]

My husband supporting me - love him!

 

[Kalah]

Those first couple week really are hard. You're still sore from the birth, you have a new baby to take care of, sleep doesn't happen as often as you'd like, and to top it all off feeding your LO hurts! I can definitely see why so many people give up.
There are a few things I did to get through it:
1. I knew it would get better and I just had to stick it out.
2. When LO was having a nap I'd use a pump and give her the expressed milk when she woke up, the pump doesn't hurt my nipples and it gave them a chance to heal.
3. I didn't buy any formula! Not having any means it isn't an option. I knew I was perfectly capable of breastfeeding and I wasn't going to let my baby go hungry just because it hurts.
4. Remember it makes it so much easier once the initial weeks have passed. No bottles to wash and you can feed your baby as soon as (s)he is hungry!

If you're having a hard time and you want to give up, don't! Don't let giving up be an option. Unless there is a medical reason you cannot breastfeed you owe it to your baby to give him/her the best start possible!

 

[Tulip]

This thread, along with my DH and amazing bnb friends, has got me through the first week. My nipples feel like they're finally toughening up, we're latching better at night and I know we can do this.

Might buy a flask today because I'm really not drinking enough at night and am always starving by 4am. Mmmm, tea and biscuits

 

[vaileasmama]

this thread, this site (esp the "gurus" like melanie, madesa, venus, many more that i cant remember - especially the links that were posted to kellymom etc, soooo helpful!!) a million and 1 people telling me it will get easier. an amazing ptnr who luckily had 2 weeks paternity leave to take the babe away from me before my nipples fell off! also, spending 5 days in hospital (4 is the norm here for private, v stayed a day extra due to jaundice) and having lactation consultants on hand day and night - there is no way i would have been able to do this if i had been sicharged after a day - we just didnt have the hang of it by then!
its funny, i suddenly realised yesterday that it just didnt hurt anymore... i cant remember when it stopped hurting, it just did.

 

[trumpetbum]

Revisiting this as I've obviously had a new baby since I last posted. This time around it helped to have dh off work for 4 weeks, he took 2 weeks leave and 2 weeks paid holiday so I didn't have to do anything but sit and feed the baby.
I also didn't even attempt a routine or worry about the little things until breastfeeding was established. I just accepted that the first 6 weeks is hard work and got on with it.

 

[babyfeed]

I was determined to succeed for very similar reasons, my plan for a natural delivery also went out the window and i had an emergency c section (there's alot of them about) so i was damn sure i was going to make the breast feeding work.

 

[Zedfaca]

I've been breast feeding for a week now. I was pretty set on doing it after losing my last baby at 23 weeks and having my milk come through and having to throw it away and watch it dry up. So sad. The only problem I've had so far was one night when he couldn't latch on for hours and we were both in tears of frustration. I had these really full painful boobs and he was starving! Eventually I found out that my boobs were too full and hard for him to latch on to. I expressed some off and he finally managed to get a feed. I was so relieved! I refused to give up even when my husband was begging me to just let him have a bottle because he couldn't bear to see us both so upset

 

[kelly29]

honestly this thread is great really helps me to think what a good job i'm doing and to keep at it thank you all x i'm at 8wks now breastfeeding and find each day tough, questioning myself if i'm doing the right thing for lo, when by the looks of things here reading everyone's stories i most certainly am x

 

[Wewantourmush]

I struggled in the first week and he is now ten days old and I find BF the most amazing thing ever. The bond you feel with baby u just can't describe! The first few days I nearly gave up but I'm so glad I didn't! When your proper milk comes in its so easy and he gets full quicker. Stick at it for anyone really struggling! My oh is a god send too he gets me water, helps me get comfy, passes him to me! Xx

 

[StaceyPreedy]

I had 100% determination, this was my second daughter, i tried with my first but from embarrasment (i couldn't even do it in front of my partner) and finding it just so hard i gave up to easily, i just wasn't prepared for how hard it would be. I spent alot of time after that reading up on it and really getting to know the problems (i thought it was my body that was broken and useless and that the problems that occured weren't normal) and as well as formula being expensive i really wanted to get it right, i felt like the biggest failure ff my first daughter and here iam 8 wks still breast feeding. Robyn fed every 30 mins for 3 wks day and night and i still kept going, i cried my eyes out all day long, i slept for 20 mins, fed for 20 mins then slept again etc, my partner was at home all that time which helped. the first weigh in put it all into place, i thought i was starving her and thats why her feeding was bad but its all settled now and i feel so proud of myself. I can understand people who FF because it really is so hard to bf but i wish they could feel as proud of themselves as i do now and also that amazing close feeling you get with your baby. I feel so different with this baby to how i felt with my first and i just wish i had kept to it first time round.

 

[kes_a]

ive been very stubbon that i do not want to feed my son formula.esp after seeing my sisters baby get thrush in the mouth when she was switched to formula from breast milk when she was only a few days old.

having a very supportive husband when i hit the painful stage at day 4.gave me a cuddle after every painful feed to cheer me up.and would always tell me how well i was doing and to keep my chin up as i was doing the best thing for our baby.

looking forward to the close bonding feeling i get every time i feed my son felt abit lost on the days ive expressed a few times from being sore.

 

[MrsBod]

With my first son (13 years ago), I had a terrible time in the beginning - sore, bleeding nipples due to a really poor latch as it was his tiny little mouth versus my humungous boobs!

I was ready to give up, having only ever wanted to breastfeed my children, but what got me through was a midwife sent from heaven, a husband who would get up with me for night feeds to help me swaddle and position our son. Also my mum, who used to help me see things from my baby's point of view when I was exhausted and struggling with the relentless feeds.

I'm so glad I persisted and I fed him til he was 15 months old. I have since gone one to have two other children and I'm still breastfeeding my third who is now 5 months old

 

[supertabby]

Our daughter is 3 and a half weeks old and we're by no means "there" with bf yet, I'm still finding it hard and there have been so many times when I've felt like giving up. I really want to keep at it though to give her the best start I can. What has helped me get this far without quitting is:

Super supportive husband giving me cuddles, bringing me food, etc. He's even rubbed my feet while I fed baby in bed one night.

Expressing so that hubby can feed her and give me decent periods in bed where possible.

Going to a local breastfeeding support group at sure start centre.

Knowing that switching to formula or combi is NOT the end of the world. Yes bf obviously has greater health benefits but ff is not BAD for baby. So knowing I have that back up option eases the pressure off.

 

[kerrie24]

Knowing what to expect,either because youve done it before or someone has explained to you good and bad.

And sheer determination and having a point to prove that actually I was great at breastfeeding,despite what other people thought!

 

[Lilly12]

Determination.
Really wanting to breastfeed your child, and only that.
Also you have to be ready to give your breasts to your baby, whenever he/she wants them. This can be hard as you'll feel like a human milk machine some times.

I think for a lot of ladies breastfeeding is VERY overwhelming.. you have to be willing to put your childs needs in front of yours.. you have to be willing to give her your boobs whenever she wants them.
This can be very tough mentally, especially when you're already trying to adjust to life as a new mommy, sleep deprivation, maybe sore nipples, healing from the birth etc.

You have to really want it.. then you can do it!
Even if you bump into problems, get a lactation specialist to help you!
YOU CAN DO THIS!




For myself, the first 2 weeks were tough at times. But she's 3 weeks old now and things are looking better. We're both getting the hang of it more now.


What helped me was my determination, and my husband complimenting me, helping around the house, getting me food/drinks while I feed her etc.
Also knowing she's gaining weight, just cause of me, is awesome and such a boost!

 

[sjb7]

I always knew I wanted to breastfeed my baby but I was shocked at how hard and all consuming it was, especially those first few weeks when your nipples are so tender you dread the thought of feeding your baby and you wonder if you'll ever get longer than 1hrs sleep again (don't worry you will). I couldn't have survived without Lansinoh nipple cream and Medela breastshells to stop anything touching/rubbing my sore nipples this allowed some healing before the next feed. But I can honestly say bear with the breastfeeding as it does get so much easier, I'm 8wks in and finding it a breeze. Its now so easy and convienent that I couldn't even imagine getting up through the night steralising and faffing about making up bottles of formula. I also like that I can just go out without having to organise bottles as all my baby needs is me. So my advice is get some Lansinoh nipple cream and breast shells for the first couple of weeks, get a comfy place for daytime feeds, a cosy chair, footstool, breastfeeding pillow, remote control, laptop, drink, snacks etc - you will be spending a lot of time in this one spot so be as comfortable as possible and for night time feeds side lying in bed worked the best for me as I felt more rested and my little one settled better as well. Try and relax and know that with each feed it will get easier and one day you'll realise instead of dreading the feeds you have actually started to enjoy them and the bonding it brings !!

 

[MoonLove]

Thank you girls so much for all of your contributions and advice in this thread. Everyday i feel more and more confident about breastfeeding my first baby (due soon!). For some reason, i started doubting myself and my abilites, mentally and physically, to be able to breastfeed my baby - but he more i read on this breastfeeding section of the forum - the happier i've become.

I'm trying to take everything on board and prepare myself as best i can for when baby is born. I expect it will be tough, but i believe in myself because of all the helpful advice i've read on here.

Thank you

 

[Creamie]

this thread is a life saver, thanks to all those who contributed. Am off to find some breast shields!

 

[booboomagoo]

I am feeling a lot better about the thought of breastfeeding my baby when he/she is born, thanks to this thread!