when did breastfeeding click for you and become enjoyable?

[wishingonastar]

i'm really struggling... my beautiful daughter is 2 weeks old on saturday and although she was desperately wanted and i adore her, i feel the struggle i'm having with breastfeeding is affecting my closeness to her

i really want to keep BFing her but i have to do whats right for our bond

i'm struggling massively with getting the correct latch, despite watching lots of vids, reading lots, going to BF group and getting lots of support from mervs mum

i have lots of engorgement (which also can't help with her latching even when i express some first) and its sore, uncomfortable at sides of breasts and the constant leaking day and night is getting me depressed and soaking clothes, bedsheets and isabel!!!

my nipples remain so so sore though i think lansinoh is helping but i dread her latching on each time

i need to know it will get better and when

 

[Panda_Ally]

Its still early days hun, it usually takes about 6 weeks for feeding to become established, i remember crying when holly needed feeding cos it was just so so painful, my only advise is to feed thru it and its will get less painful and more enjoyable. it will get better!!

What helped me aswell is looking at the breastfeeding photo sticky at the top of this forum, it made me realise how beautiful breastfeeding is and that i didnt want to stop....sounds crazy i no!!

 

[FierceAngel]

massive hugs hun xxx

despite trying everything and being visited by numerous mw/hv ect luisa didnt latch on.. i gave her eb,m for 4 weeks then formula at 17 weeks she is latching on for 10 mins but i think its more of a comfort thing....

keep trying hun xxx

 

[asacia]

My LO didn't manage to latch on until 8.5 weeks, so I exclusively expressed for those weeks. When he did latch, we had a few days of a lot of pain (clampdown bite reflex) and a few weeks of difficulty latching. We still aren't that great at it! But now, I feel the pain and struggle (and the 6 hours a day expressing while caring for my newborn totally alone) completely worth it. I'm so glad I stuck with it, it feels so amazing now.

Have you spoken to La Leche League? In my opinion, they have the best training out there, and can give amazing advice and support. They were the only ones who managed to help solve some of our problems. I'd definitely give them a call, or get to one of thier groups:
https://www.laleche.org.uk/

 

[Serene123]

Most of the first 3 months for me were horrible. I'm not even going to lie. I dreaded feeding her. I'm glad I perservered though and for many people the first 6 weeks are the hardest x

 

[Babyshambelle]

If I'm honest, its only really been the past few weeks that things have really fallen into place. For ages I was getting flattnened nipples where she wasn't sucking properly and we had thrush and that was just like the pain at the start.

In the early days we really really struggled, but a few things really helped. Going back to some good old skin to skin helped loads. We both relaxed more and it really helped with the latch. Maybe trying having a bath together might help? Also, have you tried getting her latched on when shes not really really hungry? She could get frustrated more easily and give up quicker if she is super hungry. I used a v shaped pillow round my waist at first to lie her on so I could have my other hand free to position her correctly.

I also found that having her weighed quite often really helped - it assured me that I was doing *something* right. Also, seeing her change every day (looking back over those first pictures) and growing well and thriving on my milk alone helped get through the pain. I never needed it in the end, but having the number of a local bf advisor really really helped because I knew if I got to the point where I was ready to give up, I could call her first and just get it all off my chest. Also...not having any formula in the house!!

It WILL get better, and you are so nearly there and doing so well already to get this far!!

 

[Blah11]

2-3 months for me. Before that she just took so long and was quite fussy at the breast some days.

Its early days hun, stick in there, it'll only get better and better, you're over the worse

 

[spacecadet]

hang in there, i found the first 2/3 weeks the hardest, then one day i suddenly looked down and realised it didnt hurt anymore!!
in face it was actually a lovely pleasurable feeling..
it will happen! i found breastfeeding classes brilliant to help my latch and positioning, have you tried diff positions like lying down (still my favourite)?

 

[Twist]

Hang in there hun, I found it really difficult during the first few weeks, I had to supplement with formula as well as pump. I also went to a BF clinic once a week to get help with the latch and used a nipple shield on one side for a while. It was very overwhelming, lots of equipment, lots of pain, lots of instructions about how much to feed and when and having to record it all. I remember dreading hearing her cry b/c I knew that meant that I would have to feed her again. All I can say is that IT Does get Better! I think it was around 6 weeks when I suddenly realized, "Hey,... this doesn't hurt!" I was so happy and it has been great ever since. There were times that I wanted to give up, but I am glad I stuck with it. Now I love to BF, it is so easy and convenient, no bottles to wash and prepare with formula, no pump to deal with, just whip the boob out and I have a happy little girl. You'll get there too

 

[wishingonastar]

thank you so much everyone for your replies and honesty...i'm glad to have an idea of how long we'll have ups and downs cos quite a few peeps who had babies at same time as me have already clicked so i wondered why i was still virtually at step 1 and still regularly in tears and dreading feeding times i knew some people took longer and wanted to get their experiences to give me an informed idea...

by some miracle after an initial latch hiccup we have just managed our first painfree session so i need to try and work out what i did differently!

thank you also for your advice...i find it easier with pillow to support her but keep forgetting so need to remember! i have heard of laleche but not contacted them so thanks i will do

i also have a breastflow bottle so OH is gonna use it to give her one feed of EBM a day to give me a break which i think will help

thanks so much girls x

 

[Mervs Mum]

Oh darling

You are right on the cusp of the big BFing breakthrough....I promise you. All of a sudden you are going to stop feeling sore and start enjoying it. I found for me after that sore time you are experiencing, things came right very soon after. By about 3 weeks max. Most mum's give up at exactly this point and you can see why. Take it one feed at a time. You are probably tired too so this clouds things a little also.

Hang in there sweetie. You have done so well to get to this point. I am going to send you another little present in the post tomorrow. xxx

 

[Lucy&Pard]

8 weeks I remember it exactly! I remember going to feed Leo and thinking OMG I just did it subconsciously without going thru my drill before hand and it worked! I had loads of probs tho xxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Twinkles]

Yip me too between 8 and 9 weeks i knew i had cracked it completely. There were tiny tiny signs of improvement from about 4 weeks onwards. I remember thinking and feeling exactly the same as you, dont worry you can get this! just put your head down and before you know it you will see the light!

Good luck xx

 

[wishingonastar]

thanks so much girls...my little girl has just gone rigid and screamed herself to sleep because she got so upset at being latched and unlatched when it kept going wrong and it broke my heart...i'm going to try again when she wakes up and pray it goes better

mervs mum - as ever you are so supportive its unreal x

 

[Logiebear]

It still a constant battle for us but I love doing it. Even though I have a blister on my right nipple atm and a blocked duct it hurts like hell, I dred her latching on but after a coiuple of mins the pain goes and I just love the intense closeness and love I feel for her when she feeds.

 

[Plumfairy]

for me i'd say by 3 months we were totally comfortable with it. definately persevere though. you're doing amazingly well and it really does get better, i know its hard to even imagine at this moment in time when hormones are playing havoc and sleep deprivation is driving you crazy. but once you're settled you'll find it the most amazing thing. well done x x x x

 

[jms895]

After about 5 or 6 weeks I started to enjoy more as Caine was sleeping better, latching great, full more and latching on himself. Its now so easy xx

 

[codegirl]

I finally had my yeast infection diagnosed at 5.5 weeks, took about 1 week for the meds to start to work and the pain to subside and then breastfeeding "clicked" and we've been loving it ever since.

 

[hellohefalump]

It took me about 12 weeks with my daughter. I kept getting mastitis and blocked ducts, because I don't think I was latching on very well.

I ended up feeding for 21 months though, so I did alright in the end

With my next baby, I hope it'll take less time and be less painful, because I know what I'm doing now! *fingers crossed*

 

[mrsholmes]

im still having problems cos of mastsis, but i would be guttted if i had to stop now, i started feeling more positive at 4-5 weeks, i found getting scott weighed each week at seeing the weight gain a huge help