[Picasso]

That it's hard work, and that you really need to prepare yourself for the fact that it may not come naturally.

That it hurts sometimes, especially when you are in the early days. But if you persevere it will get better. The pain does go eventually.

That it can make you incredibly thirsty!

That it will seem like your baby is feeding a lot in those first few weeks. It's perfectly normal, just try to go with it. Don't look at the clock.

When you are feeling like you want to give up - just try taking it one feed at a time. Baby steps

This post has been edited by scrambled: 27/01/2007, 07:19 PM

[jess42more]

Thanks ladies, personally I am finding this thread fanstasic and really what I feel I need/want for next time.

BUT I must say that you are all frightening me with the pain thing. Surely you are not all in major pain for 8 weeks!! No wonder some mums cannot bear to continue.
What ever happened to the old saying that if your in pain then he/she is not attached correctly? Are you telling me that the pain is there anyway? Wow, thats kinda scarey (to me).

[anna-wa]

I think this is a great idea as even though BF didn't work out for me and bub, I still learnt a fair bit from the threads here and sometimes pass that info on to other mums having probs.

[Rubylicious]

There are 2 different types of pain. The pain because bubs isnt attached properly, and the general discomfort most women feel in the first couple of seconds of each feed for the first few weeks while your nipples adjust.

I wouldnt say the latter is major pain but I guess it depends on the individual's perception of pain IYKWIM. The discomfort is because your nipples are sensitive and not used to being sucked on so often and aggressively. It only lasts a few weeks until the skin toughens up.

I found it was mainly the first few seconds when she attached it stung like crazy until my nipples adjusted. After a few seconds it subsided and felt ok.

To get through it I would just grit my teeth and bare it, make whatever squeels necessary to get me through those few seconds LOL. Just keep reminding yourself that with every feed your nipples are getting more used to it, and one feed closer to when it wont hurt at all...

I guess it depends on your tolerance of pain. I had cracked nipples and all but I still wouldnt call it major pain. I would call child birth major pain.

If the pain is intense, or lasts longer than a few seconds, it is most likely because bubs isnt attached properly.

If attached properly it is more discomfort than pain I think.

This post has been edited by Rubylicious: 27/01/2007, 07:37 PM

[cinnabubble]

What ever happened to the old saying that if your in pain then he/she is not attached correctly? Are you telling me that the pain is there anyway?

FWIW, I had pain of varying intensity for a few weeks, more on the left than on the right, but nothing even remotely painful enough to make me reconsider breastfeeding. Sort of "ow ow ow" for the first 30 seconds and discomfort after that.

I should have mentioned in my original post that some babies are good at it, as well. My baby nursed within 15 minutes of birth, but I don't know if she's a good feeder because of that or if she could do that because she was going to be a good feeder.

Also, it is possible to breastfeed, talk on the mobile phone and surf the net on your laptop, all at the same time.

[dippinsniffer]

jess42more, in my experience, the pain was there only for the first 30 seconds of every feed then it passed for the remaining feed. I believe that is the 'toe-curling' pain most posts are alluding to. For me, bf stopped hurting at around 6wks. I had NO other problems though and it had nothing to do with attachment. I don't know why some people say that correct attachment = no pain

[censura carnero]

Every time your baby cries in the early days offer the breast as they are usually hungry above all else.

Learn to feed laying down so you can sleep at the same time.

Lactation Consultants are amazing.

Cluster feed in the evenings. I would spend from 5-7 in the evening feeding which meant he got the rich fatty hind milk that helped to make him sleep longer. So I also got more sleep which helped the supply.

If you are trying to get your baby to sleep a breast feed is the quickest and best way.

It hurts some and not others. My girlfriends were fine and had minimal soreness. I was not so lucky.

Even when you have fed and fed and fed your baby they might still be hungry so feed again, especially when they are going through growth spurts which can occur at any age.

Oh yeah don't introduce a bottle too early as they might not go back to the breast and if you need to comp use expressed breast milk not formula so that your supply doesn't dwindle.

And finally, just when you think you will never get the hang of it, it all starts to fall into place (for most not all) and it is the most exquisite feeling in the world to breast feed your bub.

[JennyH]

What I have said to mums to be

1. It is a learned skill, so use the midwives experience whilst in hospital and the ABA after... even if it seems conflicting sometimes, perhaps it is because some things work for some people.

2. If you have found a routine, attatchment, anything that works, don't let peoples opinions give you doubts so you change a good thing.

3. Although correct attachement doesn't hurt in theory, our protected boobies have spent their lives cosseted in bras etc, getting them out (sometimes hourly) and having a hungry baby sucking does hurt initially... sometimes very badly, but they do adjust.

4. Take people up on offers to help, a newborn is tiring, regardless of how it is fed. If stuck for things to ask them to do, think of things like folding washing, cooking a meal (or even biscuits etc that you can offer guests), taking baby for a walk so you can rest etc.

5. Every time you offer a bottle of formula, your supply will drop unless you express an entire feed (which is much more tiring to do than breastfeeding). So well intentioned folk who offer you to rest and they will give baby a bottle if they wake are dooming your bf to failure. Suggest they could be more help changing baby after feed and taking it out for a walk.

6. Most importantly your baby will not starve if your milk doesn't come in by day 2 or 3 or even day 4. personally I think this is where many breastfeeding relationships are doomed to failure. Baby is hungry, granted, but putting them to breast more often helps the milk come in. Feeding them formula so they sleep for 6hrs puts your milk "coming in" back another day. Doesn't take long to figure that when baby wakes after that long sleep that finding still no milk in those boobie things will make baby frustrated and mummy exasperated. Another bottle given, another baby no longer breastfed.

JennyH

[Nicky*Nacky*Nock...]

Try hardest to breastfeed, get help from a lactation consultant when your feel like you just can't manage.

If it's just not working for you both - don't beat yourself up - you gave it your best shot and both of you need to be happy.

[Rubylicious]

Forgot to add my tip for new mums... dont wait until your nipples are already dry and cracked to start using nipple cream after each feed. Do it from word go!

Also try expressing a bit of milk onto the finger and rubbing it onto nipple, and let the nipples air dry. Works wonders for irritations in the early days of feeding.