- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
For me, 7 weeks was the worst. DS used to get so fussy while nursing, like I was doing something really mean to him instead of trying to freaking feed him. I did push through it, and I SO glad I did. It got a bazillion times better and now I really like being able to feed him. One thing that helped was having other friends with small children reassure me that it was normal to have a miserable time around that 6-7 week mark, and that it would only get better. I liked having goals of small increments- "let's just try to get through three more days" "ok we got through three days, can we make it another week", etc. rather than "I want to BF for 6 months" or something like that. I also pumped religiously and had someone give DS a bottle of pumped milk once or twice a day to give me a break (often in the evening when he was at his fussiest). Pumping was also good for me in that it made me feel successful about something BFing-related.
Between 6 and 7 weeks. I pushed through and my attitude totally changed during week 8. During that 6-7 week mark I was totally stressed about pumping enough for when I went back to work and not having enough milk, and all the pressures we each put on ourselves. DH listened and tried to help me accept what will be, will be but it didn't help. My mom actually helped reassure me that my body would do its thing and be just fine. Other than that, only time helped. Take it one day at a time, one hour at a time if necessary.
Here's a thread on something similar from awhile back taht might be helpful.
http://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/giving-up-on-breastfeeding
For us around 6 weeks was a fussy point. And I had mastitis at 2 weeks but luckily got on antibiotics quick. So those 2 times were a bit rougher breastfeeding wise than other times but my husband was always willing to give her a bottle of pumped milk and let me have some time to myself, which was really helpful for me.
I think most breastfeeding moms have had to push through at one stage or another- especially with the first baby.
Try to keep at it. Take one day at a time. It does get easier.
Always remember that breastfeeding is the very best thing for your baby.
I was in tears when my first was just 10 days old, and was crying on the phone to my one friend that was also BF as she tried to talk me into continuing. I had no emotional support other than her, as even the nurses in the hospital weren't very encouraging, nor was my Mom or Aunts.They were BF, but when we were born, Moms had gone the way of sterilized bottles and couldn't imagine why anyone would want to go back to the old ways.
Once I understood about growth spurts and on demand feeding (which I did, but books didn't really prepare me), I continued on even when it was taking over my life. I got lots of pep talks from my friend and I have to credit her with keeping me on the right track.
I went back to work FT when she was 6 weeks old, and managed to BF until she was 8 months, so in the end, it really did work out. Sometimes it feels like you just want to quit, but if you can get over this hump, it will be so worth it.
I definitely contemplated giving up around 4 weeks or so. It wasn't always bad I just had some concerns. It really helped by contacting la leche league and speaking to someone there. They really provided great support, and now we are doing wonderfully. She put on 2 1/2 lbs in her first month, so I know she is eating enough! I think it helps to have someone to talk to. You have to know you're not alone, and breastfeeding is hard. But once your LO gets the hang of it it's truly rewarding knowing that you are providing great nourishment for your LO.
And to be completely honest the thought of the money that is spent on formula was a great motivator for me to keep pushing through some of the difficulties. I have also started pumping, and allow my husband to give our daughter a bottle each night. That way he can have some bonding time as well, and I get a slight break.
Good luck! And congrats on making it this far already. Keep pushing, and use support! It really is great.
@julies1949: Seriously? "breast feeding is the best for your baby"? No, it's not. Having a happy mom, a happy baby AND a healthy baby is best no matter which way you go. Nothing about being a parent is a one shoe fits all. She asked for stories of success, not opinions.
Good luck OP!
The first three months I just kept telling myself "I'm going to do this until she's AT LEAST three months old." There were a bunch of times I just wanted to quit. But once I made it to three months, it was pretty smooth sailing from then out. We went through a brief biting phase around eight months, but I breastfed her up through 15 months, and at that point it was hard to stop because I loved bonding with her that way.
My advice is always "don't give up!" because it gets so much better. But if you really can't take it, stop and don't feel bad about it. But really try your best because it's such a special thing. Those crappy times in the beginning are easily forgotten when it's easier as they get older.
My LO is 19 days old, and I've thought about it every. single. day. She's a nipple chomper too, and despite working with 2 lactation consultants, we're still having a hard time getting a good latch. I've had to resort to using a nipple shield (under the direction of a lactation consultant and our pediatrician), which I don't love, but makes it possible for her to eat directly from the source. We're also feeding her bottles of pumped milk 3-4 times a day, which helps tremendously - it gives my nipples a break, gives DH a chance to bond with her, and helps me relax and know that she's getting enough milk. I also remind myself that it will be okay if we have to switch to formula, which takes some of the pressure off :) I hope it works out for you!
@Miss Sapphire: Thats a really harsh reply. She didn't say breastfeed at all cost because it's the best. Obviously if the OP is breastfeeding, then she thinks it's best. If she didn't, she'd be doing something else. Knowing the health benefits (that breastfeeding is best) is part of what helped/helps me to keep going. Of course being a happy mom and having a happy baby is important too and she wasn't saying otherwise. Feeding your child (regardless if it's breastmilk or formula) is the most important thing.
I had a rough patch early on as I'd get really sore and have a lot of pain when DS first latched at each feeding. It passed (with a ton of lanolin) and we continued. Recently we had issues with biting at DS had two bottom teeth come in, and I was ready to give up. But again, we pushed through and are doing much better. The early pain was for 1-3 days at a time for about 2-3 weeks. The biting lasted about 2 weeks on and off. It was a frustrating time, but I would say "ouch" loudly and take him off the breast. If it didn't seem like an accident trying to latch, we'd take a 3-5 minute break from breastfeeding and then try again. After a day or two I could tell when he was playing/bored and when he was just trying to latch and didn't realize he was biting me.
My supply has tanked since I had a coldover a week ago, so despite pumping 6 times a day, taking fenugreek and mother's milk tea, and nursing DS as often as possible, we are about to have to start supplementing with formula in the next week or two once my freezer stash runs out.
Knowing that I can use formula is helpful. I don't have any on hand (yet) because I didn't want to give in after a rough day or two, but just knowing it was just a quick run to the store away, helped me keep going. Also taking it a day or a week at a time helped too. The cost of formula as well as the uncertainty of where it's coming from really helps me to stay focused on trying to breastfeed. Despite all the safety precautions and standards set, recalls for different reasons do happen and that scares me. So I've avoided it as long as possible, but now we have to supplement and that's okay too.
Breastfeeding isn't always easy, but it is the healthiest option out there. So if you can continue, then I would. But I know as well as anyone that being frustrated can easily move to resentment and not being as good a mom. So you have to decide for yourself if you want to continue trying to breastfeed.
@Miss Sapphire: "She asked for stories of success, not opinions."
You didnt give a success story either so I really dont see the point of the harshness of your post.
The OP came on here looking for stories and support. If you don't agree with points in your the thread and aren't offering any support to the OP then why even post?
OP- I definately wanted to give up at the 5-6th week. That was when the sorenes really peaked, sorry TMI, but my nipples really cracked and I felt like I was going through Lanolin like crazy. It was definately hard, but we pushed through and I breast fed (BF and using pumped milk) exclusively until nine months and then suplemented with formula and using pumped breast milk until 1 year. I stopped BF when she started to bite and had teeth, ouch!
Thank you ladies for all of your responses. Another question, though... if you blister, crack, bleed, and heal initially could it still happen again later on in nursing? Or is it only an initial thing and once your nipples "toughen up" you're good to go? I only ask because where she's gumming / chomping is really red and swollen and I'm not looking forward to maybe having to go through the whole process again.
For me I used lanolin at first and then occassionally until maybe 6-8 weeks. My little girl is 5 months and a bit and I haven't felt the need for it since but I never got to the blister state.
I breastfed my son for almost a year & what kept me going was "breast is best" being chanted over & over in the back of my head. I also liked the closeness I felt during mealtime. He did go through that biting phase but when he did it I didn't give him a reaction I just took away the nipple & he quickly learned that when u bite mommy mealtime is over.. lol
I was thinking about this yesterday. Most of my friends gave up breastfeeding and I was wondering why I stuck with it. Then I realized that my grandmother was my strongest supporter. She told me my whole life how women in our family have great milk supplies and where fanatastic nursers. That the soreness was temporary and all the benefits of nursing. I went on house calls with her as a kid and watched her encourage other nursing moms (she was the area herbalist/lactation consultant). She prepared me long before I ever gave birth and by the time I had a baby it was inconceivable not to breastfeed. What choice did I have? I couldn't be the one woman in 15 generations to fail at breastfeeding!
I really think that being completely convinced that you will be absolutely successful is the key. Most of my friends gave up because they were afraid. Afraid the pain would last forever, afraid they couldn't do it, afraid the baby wasn't getting enough milk, afraid they would run into a problem, afraid of saggy boobs, etc. I had none of those fears. I knew I would succeed so I did. And my granny had perky boobs for a woman in her 70's and she nursed four babies! LOL
You can do this. You can teach her not to bite momma. You can meet her increased demands. Your breasts were uniquely created for the task! Just believe in yourself.
I HATED HATED HATED breastfeeding the first month. And my daughter had a great latch, milk was flying out everywhere, so in my case even though it was easy it ws still so so hard. It isn't a "natural" process and you and your baby have to learn together and teach each other. It's so painful but it eventually goes away.
Every day I would say to myself "this is my last day" and then I would wake up (or something!) the next day and do it again. Take it one day at at time. By month three I loved nursing! We also supplemented with formula since day one-one feeding a day just to give me a break and so DH could be involved and that did a lot to help my mental stress.
@troubled: I've heard many moms suggest lanolin for nipples. Do you get this from the hospital, or is it something you can just buy at the pharmacy and is it in a liquid form or more of gel?
@bells: It is a pretty thick gel that you can get in almost any chain store or pharmacy.
@firsttimemom: For me, my nipples definitely toughened up over time so I didn't get sore, scabby, and painful later on in the process. There were a few times I would get sore again, but it was usually due to the baby teething (and therefore nursing differently) and it was never as bad as it was in the beginning. Definitley get Lanolin! I only used it maybe five times, but it was totally worth it. And I still have a ton left for any future babies!
@firsttimemom: From my experience you can have it happen again but you'll tend to get past it faster. Between feedings, as PPs said, use a balm like lanolin or Motherlove's Nipple Cream, or Earth Mama Angel Baby's Natural Nipple Butter. I prefer the second two options because lanolin makes me itch and the other two are less thick so much easier to put on.
@firsttimemom: I suggest Lanolin. I've had pain come back from DS biting, and that's helped the pain go away and keep my nipple from cracking or bleeding. The key is to use it often (after every feeding, before every shower). The Lanolin is expensive (about $8-$10 a tube) but a little goes a long way.
@bells: I use lansinoh lanolin and you can get it just about anywhere (Walmart, grocery store in the baby aisle, any baby store in the nursing section, most pharmacies, etc). I've tried samples of two other brands (medela was one) but I liked the Lansinoh the best. It's a thick cream but once you start massaging it in it warms up and rubs in well. It's awesome before showers to protect you from the water/soap which can dry your skin out and make the pain worse. The medela lanolin was thinner and easier to get on, but seemed to rub off quicker on clothing, which when you can't walk around half naked, all day is a pain. Literally and figuratively.
I wanted to give up around 6-8 weeks when Liv hit a growth spurt and was on my every hour to eat. I read Camries post (someone linked to it above) and she got me through it. It seems like since then, its been totally smooth sailing. Ive never had any cracks/blisters/bleeding, but for soreness early on Id use Earth Mama Angel Baby Natural Nipple Butter. You dont have to wipe it off before you BF your LO like you do Lanolin, and its a lot less harsh. Now we use it for face lotion and I put it on her lips so they dont get chapped. Also on her hands because shes starting to chomp on them all day long =o) Keep at it. I promise the rough patches go away
@bells: My hospital gave out a couple small tubes but I brought some to the hospital too, I'm not sure that all hospitals give it out. The lanolish lanolin ultra pure stuff also doesn't haven't to be wiped off before you nurse so I used it before nursing, after nursing, after showering, before bed....basically all the time. I even used it a bit in my last month of pregnancy, not sure if it helped at all but I don't think it hurt. And I cocoa buttered up the nips too during pregnancy.
Thanks this is all so useful, I'm still in my 2nd trimester but aready feel like I have days when my nipples are really dry so I'll give this a try
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| ellisrobertson | 24 |
| fishbone | 22 |
| ndreighton | 18 |
| Brielle | 17 |
| Samantha7 | 16 |
| ladyartichoke | 15 |
 rdownie1 |
15 |
| MsPanda | 14 |
| mypinkshoes | 14 |
| takemyhand | 14 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| JewishBride | 1 |
| SouthernGirl | 1 |
| Beebug | 1 |
At what point did you feel like giving up (# of weeks / days)? Why? Did you push through it or stop? If you did push through and continue what helped you do so (support group, pumping, etc)?
Annaliese is reverting back to being a nipple chomper after a solid week and a half of correctly feeding. I need success stories to motivate me!