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2nd Trimester
bonez1219
member
Nervous about breastfeeding..
bonez1219
member
Im just wondering if anyone else is feeling this way too? I bought a barely used Medela breastpump off of craigslist for $50, the lady said she only used it for 2 weeks before switching to formula. (Im def. gonna replace all the suction cups, tubes, etc.) But that got me thinking, I've heard of soooo many women saying that they wanted to breastfeed but the baby wouldnt latch on, or it was just too painful, etc. Also, that that it is just so inconvenient & much easier to just pour some formula in a bottle. I absolutely DO NOT want to formula feed! No offense to those who choose to of course 
But Im worried I wont be able to do it or that I wont be able to handle it. Am I alone here ladies?
But Im worried I wont be able to do it or that I wont be able to handle it. Am I alone here ladies? 
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Nervous about breastfeeding..
It can be a challenge at times, but it also works out great for many women. I nursed both of my kids for over a year each. There was a rough start with DD....I had cracks from a bad latch, got infected, etc BUT if you stick it out the first 6 weeks it gets MUCH easier after that for many women.
I think that worrying about it is very normal. Breastfeeding at first is hard work and 100% commitment from YOU. My DH was super supportive, but he couldn't help me come meal time especially in those first few weeks.
I think that a lot of the problems you mentioned like a bad latch (accounts for the pain too) can be fixed with the help of a good lactation consultant. I'd recommend finding one in your area before you deliver so that you know who to call if you have problems or questions. My LC saved our nursing relationship in week 2. There's also a determination factor to it also.
After the first 6 weeks it gets so much easier, and after the first 3 months things were super easy sailing for us. DD is still nursing 1-2x a day at 16 months.
Definitely sign up for a class. It helps and it will help if your DH or significant other joins you too (he was a major help).
I didn't bf my first born but I was determined to try with my 2nd. I am already big in the chest and when milk came in I was bigger. I'll admit I had issues with the latching on...I pumped to help bring in my milk so I would bf and pump for 15 mins after. By day 4 I was engorged and I thought my milk wasn't coming in...Thanksgiving NIGHT I emailed Medela (via website). I got a response the next morning and was informed to try bigger flanges...after purchasing XXL (yeah, I know) I went from mililitess to ounces!
I also recommend utilizing the lactation cosultant at the hospital...luckily my company offers one.
I pumped (at work, on vacations, at the mall, EVERYWHERE) until my lo was about 9 months old. I became pregnant and pumped thru most of 1st tri but it was too exhausting...I was disappointed I didn't make it to a year but my body just was pooped.
Also, my husband was a big help, at the beginning he made sure I was always drinking water while pumping (ALWAYS even when I didn't want it - you are exhausted) and always eating fruit and oatmeal (oatmeal helps).
PM if you have any questions
Support from friends is a big must! I say if you can do it after 3 months....you got it!
It's a GIRL!
I think the biggest thing is realizing that it DOES take work, and it IS hard at first. After you get past those first few hurdles though BF'ing is SO FREAKING EASY. My thing was never to quit on a bad day, if I was having a HORRIBLE day of BF'ing (and trust me, I had a ROUGH start with Ethan) I wanted to quit so bad. But said I wouldnt do it on a bad day, that it needed to be a decision I made on a sound mind. Then I always gave it 'one more day' then all of a sudden I never wanted to stop. It is so convenient, easy, etc.
I think you are on the right track, just know the first 6 weeks or so arent typically a walk in the park. ;0)
The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.
I think I will use your mantra of "never quit on a bad day" for everything in life! It got me thinking of everything that happens in life, and in my life, my struggles through college, my divorce, etc... preggo hormones in full action here, I totally started tearing up! It's so true, you can't ever quit things on a whim, it has to be a fully thought out process on a sound mind.
I am also nervous about the pain, my commitment to BF, and if my SO will be able to give me the support I am looking for. I think it's pretty natural to be nervous about something when you've never done it before. Thank you ladies for the encouragement!
Married April 1st 2017
DS #1: May 2009
DS #2: Jan 2012
I found breastfeeding to be very rewarding. It did take work. Other posters have addressed the idea that it takes work and can be a challenge, but the majority of those can be addressed with a good lactation consultant.
Things to keep in mind: it is work. Breastfed babies typically eat more often and it takes them a long time to finish eating compared to those who take milk from a bottle. Even if someone else is getting up with the baby in the night, you most likely will need to get up to pump in order to keep your supply up and to be comfortable. It is a big committment and some ladies find that won't work for them. Again, I think it is super rewarding and I can't wait to feed my next baby.
I had a few issues the first few days.. mainly cause DS had some gunk still in his system.. so he wasn't really taking in any milk.. but after that it got easier..
i never found it painful unless his latch wasn't good.. or he bit me.. (maybe a bit when i was in my first trimester with new LO.. and i was more sensitive)
Its just a matter of being patient and not giving up easy
BEST of luck
Breastfeeding actually turned out to be easier than I expected and we made it to 13 months. I don't know how anyone could say that formula is more convenient. When the baby is hungry you just nurse. No formula to buy, bottles to prepare and warm, etc. It's much easier when you're not at home too. You don't need to worry about bringing bottles with you or anything. Take a BF class, read some books, and check out kellymom. If you are prepared and know what to expect you can get off to a better start.
I would never buy a used pump from CL and I really recommend that you don't use the one you bought. That pump is an open system so milk can potentially get in the motor and contaminate the entire system. Buying new accessories won't make it any more sanitary and you are potentially exposing you and your baby to infectious diseases. Here are some links with more info: FDA and LLL.
med-free birth x2, breastfeeding, baby wearing SAHM
My BFP Chart
I wasn't nervous about breastfeeding with DS but I definitely wasn't prepared for how difficult it was going to be. It is different for everyone but it is NOT an ingrained skill for you or your baby. You both have to learn how to properly breastfeed and this can be a challange!!
I was determined to make it to 3mo. That was my first goal. I struggled a lot through out the first month with chapped nipples, thrush, poor latching by DS as well as him being a furious eater. He was NOT gentle.
Was it hard? Yes. Did I want to give up? Sometimes but my resolve was to get him BM for 3 months. I used the hospital Lactation Consultants ALL the time. They were on speed dial on my phone. I even went to see them when DS was a month old for an outpatient consult. It cost me $50 but the knowledge I learned was invaluable! It reinvigorated me and after about 2 more weeks it didn't hurt anymore. I made it to 3mo, then 6mo, then 9mo, then before I knew it DS was self weening at 13mo!! I worked fulltime so I BF in the am/pm and pumped while at work.
Be informed. Use the LCs all the time. Don't let other people's opinions get you down. Tell your support system (DH, Family, etc) that you want their support. DH thought it would help me to say "it's okay to use formula." This just made me more upset. I finally told him to stop saying that and instead to be more encouraging about the BFing. It worked.
Good luck!!
Yes, it can be challenging, but I do think that some people give up easily. Just stick with it and you will get it down.
Most hosptials have breastfeeding support groups - that is a great resource to be able to meet with lactation consultants to discuss any issues you are having.
DS did not want to latch at first, so the nurse gave me a nipple shield and he latched right on. Some people talk negatively about nipple shields, but mine worked wonders. I stopped using it after a couple weeks.
Also, it can be painful at first but don't let that stop you, because that is temporary.
I'm nervous too. Especially since both my sisters had no problem everyone thinks it will come easily to me. What if it doesn't?? I think I can push past the inconvenience and some pain, but I don't want to dread it like some people do.
This has absolutely nothing to do with your post at all, but I love your name. My name is Mackenzie Rae so that baby is destined for greatness
Georgia 3/15/2012 Matilda 6/12/2014 TWINS!! Babies 3&4 EDD 11/22/2016
I nursed for 3 months. We had latching issues & worked through them with a shield, but I couldn't get him weaned from the shield and was doing a TON of pumping. It wasn't for me after that. I was less stressed out using formula which meant that DS was less fussy since he took his emotional cues from me.
That being said, many women make it work every day. Just make sure you have a ton of support and don't stress yourself out about it. The more you stress, the harder it can be.
Also, if it doesn't work, please don't beat yourself up or feel guilty about it. Your baby is being fed either way, and you've done the best you can. Sometimes the best thing for the baby is formula.
Once you get past the first part, it's way easier than formula-feeding, IMO. You just pull up your shirt and the kid goes to town.
Imagine your baby crying at 2 am. Would it be easier to pick him/her up and stick em on the boob, or get formula ready? Ummm... yeah, it's easier to breastfeed.
But again, that's AFTER you get past the first little bit. In the beginning it's hard because you're both still learning how to do it, it hurts, and the baby wants to eat all the friggin time.
The longer you go, the easier it gets. Trust me.
It can be hard at times especially in the beginning trying to latch and getting used to it. It can also be "inconvenient" to do it all the time especially when out in public but its for your child! it is going to do so much for your baby and honestly i loved getting to steal her away from everyone to go breast feed her and get my one on one time with her!
I would find out about a breast feeding consultant from your hospital, and while you are in the hospital make sure to use them and the nurses!! Also use thebump boards to post questions/concerns like this post! the women are supportive and have lots of reccomendations.
I used a nipple shield (i think it was medela) and that helped DD feed from me and helped with the soreness. If you get engorged use a diaper, fill it with warm water and put it around your bare breast-or take a nice warm bath for soreness. Keep up on your water intake and make sure to eat plenty it will help with supply!! also they have these natural pills to take to up your supply called More Mothers Milk (i believe thats the name) and i got mine from Henry's food store. I hope this helps! those are my tricks that helped when breast feeding
dont stress too much youll do great if you stick to it!
THIS! Omg that is sooo funny- what a quink-a-dink!
BF makes me super nervous to I have yet to talk to someone who said it was easy from the beginning. I am so inspired by "But said I wouldnt do it on a bad day"
Thank you Sandy
and good luck to you. If you do go with formula youre still just as good a mom!
I'm a FTM so I don't have any first hand experience but I heard that breastfeeding can be challenging at first. But I think if you have a lot of support from your DH and family it is much easier to keep with it even when it gets difficult. Also, you can find a lactation consultant to help you if you are really struggling. I know many of them will come to your house.
I disagree that formula feeding is more convenient than breastfeeding. With formula feeding you need to go to the store to buy the formula, wash a bunch of bottles, heat up bottles, pack a bunch of stuff when you go out, etc. My cousin breastfed her baby for the first year and she said it was so convenient to just take her baby and go when she had to go out rather than packing a bunch of bottles and formula and stuff.
You are NOT alone, I feel the same way. I've been doing a lot of research about breastfeeding and am also going to take a class before the baby comes. I'm hoping that the more I know, the easier it will be to help the baby (and me) conquer any breastfeeding challenges along the way. We'll see though