August 2012 Moms
Jillwithani
member
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I hate breastfeeding.
Jillwithani
member
I literally cringe every time I lift up my shirt to latch LO on. Some days it's easier than the rest but I'm struggling here. I found this
https://hellogiggles.com/dear-breastfeeding-moms-who-feel-like-giving-up that helped lift me up a little. Any advice from STMs or other EBFers?
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Re: I hate breastfeeding.
Mom of 2 monkeys and 1 on the way!
Christian12/06, Liam 08/12, Monkey #3 10/10
I know what you mean.
But I cringe because it hurts so badly. It hurt with number one as well. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. It's almost impossible to get little one to open her mouth wide enough and the second she munches down I want to scream out in pain.
And then the horrible cramping begins. blehg. I hope it gets easier soon.
Proud Mama to cleft cutie
Le Leche League meetings! The support I got from other BFing moms was incredible.
https://www.llli.org/webus.html
In terms of painful latch, getting pointers from them can help. Also, using a nipple shield for a few days so your nipples can heal (like if they are cracked and bleeding) can make it much more bearable. Using lanolin in between feeds to promote healing and provide a light barrier can help, too. With DS1, it was really hard for about 10 weeks but then made life so easy over the long-term. This time, it is flowing much more easily (though I just healed from my own cracked nipples because of DS2's pinchy latch).
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Yesterday I almost quit. I had a horrible appt with a LC on Fri. She was rude, so unhelpful and I was more discouraged after I left than I was going in. My nips hurt so bad, so Sat morning after I was sobbing, my DH told me to pump for the day to give me a break and let me heal a little. I ended up in the ER for other reasons (a really intersting story I need to post), and was so enorged when I got out, I just BF DD2 right when we got home. Even though I only took a 6 hour break, it was like a whole new experience. It didn't really hurt, Cam latched on great, and I was ready to give it another try.
I know people say not to give babies a bottle until 3 or 4 weeks, but it really saved me. If I get to the point where I want to give up, I can pump and give myself a little break, and she is still getting my breast milk.
Is there a way you can see a LC (not all are awful like the one I saw). You're not in this alone!
I had the same problem with DD1, it hurt so bad that lots of times, I would cry when nursing her because of the pain. I was prescribed a cream that also had ibuprofen in it (Jack Newman nipple cream) and even with that it was still painful.
I would say by 2months, it finally stopped hurting and I really enjoyed breastfeeding. I am really looking forward to doing it again with baby#2 although I hope it wont hurt as much this time, I know that if it does, the pain will pass and it'll be all worth it = )
Hang in there! You can do it = )
It was SO hard with DS1. Between the pain and the cluster feeding, it felt like unending torture. We hit a turning point at 8 weeks, after that, the latch was better, he was more efficient, it was a completely different experience.
This time, since the boys were premature and there's 2 of them, I do more pumping than nursing and we started with nipple shields. I don't know if it's knowing what to expect, but I find this time a lot easier, even though there's two, but still wonder how long I'll make it.
Then I feel guilty since DS1 didn't wean until 15 months. Good luck!
Became a Mrs. on 4/29/06 and a Mommy on 12/5/08
Became a Mrs. on 4/29/06 and a Mommy on 12/5/08
My best advice is to set goals...
My first goal was to EBF for 6 weeks & after that I would reassess. After that was 2 months... then 6 months, etc.
We made it 13 months when she was completely weaned.
It is extremely difficult & it does get better. I think right around 6 weeks was when it was all the sudden NOT painful.
HUGS!
This is kind of what I did too. Setting the goals was really helpful for me. The first few months are so demanding but then once they get more efficient, the feedings are fast and very easy! Good luck!
I don't really have a whole lot of pain (even though I'm pretty sure she never latches right,) but for me it's more that I feel so tied down. Like I can't leave the house because she could want to be fed at any time.
I can't drink milk, eat broccoli, have a drink, or what seems like a million other things because she's colicky.
I've been tempted to switch to formula exclusively because it isn't digested so quickly and I can get longer breaks between feedings to actually do something.
I feel really, really, really awful and selfish about this
Sticks you can stand it, stick with it because it will get a lot easier...good luck and if you have any specific questions let me know...also maybe contact your local la leche league or breatsfeeding moms group.
Eta: if you can stand it I meant to say!
You've gotten some GREAT advice/input from PPs! I'll add on to all of that by saying...
1) Take it one nursing session at a time. It WILL gradually get better/easier.
2) If the latch-on hurts, then use your pinky to break the suction and try again. Do this until it the pain decreases/goes away. Make sure your LO's tummy is pressed against your body just under your cleavage. Baby's position can make a HUGE difference in nipple pain relief!
3) If you can get your hands on either the La Leche League "Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" or attend a local meeting (ideally both), then I highly recommend you do so. Social support is crucial during those first days/weeks/months.
Hang in there
~Sweet Girl *8/18/08* c-section ~ Sweet Boy *12/2/10* VBAC ~ Sweet Boy *8/14/12* VBAC~
VBAC Birth Story 2VBAC Birth Story
An LLL group or another organization? Maybe I am just spoiled by my LLL group and friends, but their training is pretty intensely about accepting moms as they are, so the idea that someone would gloss over your struggle is really surprising to me if it actually is an LLL group. I found several of the nurse-LC I saw to do the same sort of thing (minimize my struggle or offer a generic answer), but the LC who was also a LLL leader had such a different approach--warm, supportive, sympathetic, and very much about helping baby and I as unique people rather than some generic BFing pair.
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