Did the first week of BF suck for you too?

cerad5 · December 2009

I am sleep-deprived and hormonal and want to give up the whole BF deal. My friends keep encouraging me not too because of my sleep deprivation and hormonal issues. I know my DD is only 5 days old and we are learning together. However when it takes her 30 mins to latch in between screaming her head off (and yes I take her off my chest, walk around, ssshhh, comfort, regroup and try again). I want to quit and just give her a bottle of Similac so we will both be happy. Everyone keeps telling me it gets easier? Does it really?

thequeeenbee · December 2009

I'm not going to lie, it was *really* hard for me too. I made it 3 or 4 weeks EBF'ing, and then I pumped until 7 weeks. I enjoyed pumping, but had supply issues with it, so I quit. I loved switching to FF, but only after a hard battle with supply issues. I have started to re-lactate now, but I only plan to make enough to give DS a bottle or two a day. I figure some is better than none.

If BF'ing is important to you, you should stick it out. I wish I would have. But, on the other hand, a happy mommy makes for a happy baby. If BF'ing truely doesn't make you happy, then you don't have to do it. Plus, it doesn't have to be one or the other. You CAN successfully supplement.

lcmeg · December 2009

yes, it will get easier. do you have a lactation consultant you can talk to? i got a lot of help from the nurses when i was in the hospital and then i picked up a copy of "The Nursing Mother's Companion", which i recommend. it definitely takes some coaching and support.

has your milk come in?

mike_bianca · December 2009

first 1-2 wks did suck a bit, especially after a c-section, i did EBF for 1wks then at 2wks my baby was put on formula because she wasnt gaining weight, i secretly love FF, because its faster and seems to fill her up better...but everytime i do breastfeed i feel so connected to her and i love every second of it even if i am tired, do both, i breastfeed in the day time and bottle in the night, seems to work great!! good luck and congratulations!

prettipenny · December 2009

I know hat everyone is different, but I had a hard time at first too and now I can honestly say I am so glad I stuck with it. It is so easy for me now, when DD needs to eat, I can almost do it without even thinking about it. If BF is something you really want to do and feel strongly about, just stick with it and give it some time. Hopefully it will get better for you too.

sheremy · December 2009

The first week was hard for me because my nipples were soooooo sore. I wanted to quit every time I breast fed DD, but now at 2 weeks things have gotten a lot easier and we are in more of a routine and my nipples have toughened up. I say do what feels right to you. If it's going to cause you unnecessary stress that affects your relationship with your little one then I say go for the formula.

cerad5 · December 2009

My milk has come in, and I seem to have a good supply. It's just that darn latching issue. I am meeting with a lactation consultant today to get some more tips. Thanks for the advice ladies.

amos07 · December 2009

I am a little late but just wanted to say if BF is important to you hang in there. I hated it for the first 3 weeks. I literally cried everytime I fed her because I had cracked, bleeding nipples that refused to heal. I can definately say that by the 4th week things were so much better. It can take a little while to get the hang of it all so try not to give up yet (I know it's hard). It's so much easier to breastfeed now than to get a bottle of formula ready (I watched my neice when she was little). If you feel that it is to stressful though and it is making you unhappy then don't feel guilty about using formula.

snickerdoodle27 · December 2009

The first few weeks were awful. And dd had a good latch but it still hurt like hell. Add sore nipples and mastitis and it has not been easy. It's better now, but I have another infection and have decided to start weaning. I go back to work in a few weeks and just can't imagine keeping this up and pumping during the day. I'm happy that I could bf her for the time I've been on materntiy leave.

blushingbrideoct07 · December 2009

I hated it until DD was five weeks old. ?Then all of a sudden my nipples no loner hurt and everything just got so much better.?

arob2009 · December 2009

I think it took a good 2-3 weeks before it got better & those weeks were HELL!! I had cracked, bloody nipples. It hurt like HELL every time he latched on, like I would rather stab myself in the eye! He was on the boob for probably 50% of the day. Then, I got mastitis which caused a fever. It didn't help that my vadge was stitched up and I had to be sitting the whole day to feed & I was on pain meds!

Now, I love breastfeeding. It is so nice & convenient & I really love the special time that only I can share w/ DS. I'd say, give it 3 weeks, if you are still feeling frustrated, move on. ;-)

sea3668rn · December 2009

It got good for me about 3 weeks, then REALLY good around 5 weeks. Now I have no pain and really, really enjoy BF. I can honestly say if my mother (who BF both me and my brother) hadn't been around the first couple of weeks I would have quit. I worked some with a LC, but having somebody close to me to walk me through it was really helpful. If you have a friend or somebody close to you who was successful at BF use them to ask questions and for support. Now that we both have the hang of it, he bonding I can feel with her is wonderful, and it has become such second nature that it is so easy. Good luck!

rissainthesky* · December 2009

it definitely gets better. I had thrush and my nipples were so sore they felt like they would fall off-- but I stuck with it. it still hurts when she latches on the left, but on the right, its SO easy now. Keep with it- its worth it and WILL get better.

That being said, if you need to give a bottle of anything-- pump and give her EBM rather than going for the similac. I do give her about 3 bottles a day, but its all EBM. Its easier to give her a bottle at night rather than dealing with her latching and taking forever to nurse.

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