How long to tough it out?

SumnerBride

DD2 is going to be 4 weeks old tomorrow.  I've been bfing since birth. 

I found out last Friday that I had mastitis, which I got with my first DD.  My boobs are still tender, as are my nipples.  In a lot of ways, bfing is easy, but in a lot of ways, it's much much harder.

I'm wondering at what point it gets easier?  I'm 4 weeks pp now, and it's still a challenge.  Should I tough it out another few weeks?  Or should I be pain free by now?  I'm so torn.  I know it's good for her, but at the same time, I'm not sure how much more I can take. 

FWIW, DH says that I made it a month, and he thinks that's long enough.  He's not been super supportive of me bfing this time around because of all the issues I had with DD1.

Jodi&Joe

My one and only question --- would you feel guilty if you stopped?  If you can answer that as a no --- then stop.

If it's a yes, then please continue.

I still kick myself for not giving me and Cam the chance to have a successful BF'ing relationship.  I know it would NOT have happened with Joey however I think Cam and I would have been fine --- and well, she's 2.5 and I STILL hate that I didn't try to continue.

Also, it doesn't have to be all or nothing.  Give yourself a break when necessary -- and try to feed using a bottle.

One good thing about stopping --- knowing Cam's personality now, she would STILL be BF'ing now at 2.5 years old!!

Brewster

Easy for me to say, but I would try to stick it out.  Most people say at 6 weeks it gets so much easier.  I didn't make it that far with Noah, but I hope to bf #2. 

AZ_Erica

Well I think it's great that you have made it a month.  If you don't really want to give it up I think I would give yourself another week and see how you feel.  Has the mastitis cleared up?  I would think you will feel a lot better once it has been gone.  Good luck.  It's hard but it's worth it too.

MelissaPete

It got easier for me with #2 when she was 2.5-3 months old. I was happy I stuck with it and if you really want to keep bfing tell your dh to bone up and give you a little more encouragement. I had mastitis when dd was about 5 weeks and it was terrible (was home with both alone for 2 days with a 103 fever, because dh didnt see why he should stay home and help me out).

shouldbeworkin

I would hang in there a little longer, if you can.  I know it's tough, but in a lot of ways I thought it was easier too.  The biggest reason I kept BFing was b/c it was so much cheaper and b/c my DD really got sick less (or if she got it, the duration was shorter).  It didn't get totally easier until she was probably 4 mos old - after all of the big growth spurts and after my supply evened out.  We still had bumps in the road, but I just took it one day at a time.  It was going well, so I kept doing it.  Have you tried lecithin (sp?)?  And, ibuprofen before BFing?  GL and big hugs, BFing when it hurts sucks big time!

monchichi

I was in severe pain while BFing with DD until 6-8 weeks. ?Tears came to my eyes *every single time* she latched on until one day it just disappeared! ?I also had mastitis (never have I been so ill in my entire life) when she was 12 weeks old, but we pushed through. ? I ended up nursing her for 12.5 months. ?

If you really feel like you want to BF, I think you should try to tough it out because I really truly believe it will get better soon. ?I think the pain is normal for right now....I know many people that experience the same thing.?? However, there is no point in torturing yourself if it's making you miserable! I know that I, personally, was very glad that I pushed through the first 3 months of BFing. ?It got soooooooo much easier after that point! ?Kudos to you for making it this far, no matter what you decide

hikerbeth

I would try to tough it out at least 4 more weeks and then re-evaluate.  But it depends on how you're feeling, how you will feel once you've stopped, etc. etc.  Everyone is different.

SumnerBride

MelissaPete:

It got easier for me with #2 when she was 2.5-3 months old. I was happy I stuck with it and if you really want to keep bfing tell your dh to bone up and give you a little more encouragement. I had mastitis when dd was about 5 weeks and it was terrible (was home with both alone for 2 days with a 103 fever, because dh didnt see why he should stay home and help me out).

Are we married to the same man?!  My H did the same thing!!!

gracendantho26

Also, it doesn't have to be all or nothing.  Give yourself a break when necessary -- and try to feed using a bottle.

Huge Ditto! I wish I had this sense of perspective with Owen..Natalie was so easy to BF and Owen was not at all and I eventually gave up. I wish I would have not been all or nothing about it.

Jodi&Joe

gracendantho26:

Also, it doesn't have to be all or nothing.  Give yourself a break when necessary -- and try to feed using a bottle.

Huge Ditto! I wish I had this sense of perspective with Owen..Natalie was so easy to BF and Owen was not at all and I eventually gave up. I wish I would have not been all or nothing about it.

 If only I had that perspective 2.5 years ago!!! 

KoriBrett

The answer is different for everyone. ?But if I were in your shoes I agree - pump and give yourself relief (in more ways than one) and maybe try to get through the mastitis first, then see how you feel about the whole thing. ?DH was afraid of me nursing again because it was so awful the first time. ?

Nursing never hurt at all with DS and he's 9m old now. ?Nursing hurt daily, every time, for the first 3months with DD and I cried every single day. ?DD was tongue-tied and the pede kept saying it was minor, and I didn't know any better. ?I NOW know that is why nursing sucked - is #2 tongue tied maybe? ?Sometimes it's missed by everyone. ?Just a thought as something to check. ?Also, have you tried nipple shields ?

If you really feel done, be done. ?You made it a month and are miserable. ?If you feel you want to keep doing this if/when it gets better, then keep going. ?Smack your DH with a breastpump and make sure he knows you need support. ?