I want to quit

laxin31 · November 2014

My lo was born oct 22nd. It has not been going well. It hurts to feed him. I have gone to a lactation specialist and maybe for a day or two after that I felt better and felt that it will work. But it gets very painful again. So I try pumping and I can't keep up with his schedule and not hurting myself more by trying to pump and breast feed. Let alone I am getting stressed on the fact of how long he takes to feed on one boob. I know I shouldn't look at the time but it's hard not to when it's taking anywhere from an hour to hour and half total.

I am very hard on myself in general so this is where I am now just wanting to give up cause I feel neither are working for me.

Unknown · November 2014

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surpriseaddition · November 2014

Great advice @casey78. It is really hard in the beginning, but you'll me amazed at just how much easier it will get around 6 weeks. Personally, I think FF is easiest in the beginning, but nursing is easier in the long haul. However, if sticking with the BF is causing you extreme stress, you don't need anyone's blessing to stop. You need to do what you feel is best for you and your baby. I'd go back to the LC since it seems like you got some relief last time, and maybe things will click after the visit. The nipple shield mentioned above is also another option. GL!

laxin31 · November 2014

Casey thank you for the kind words and support. I attended a support group through the hospital last wen and was planning on going again. I have started working on pumping and feeding that way cause it hurts to feed him my boob and allow my nipples to heal a bit.

kassidybl · November 2014

My boy had such a bad latch habit when I had him. His mouth had a good latch, but he was biting the tip of my nipple with his gums each time he sucked. Ripped up my nipples and made me start crying each time he latched.

It wasn't until my husband sat me down and told me something needed to change that I even thought about using a nipple shield. It kept milk on the nipple after feeding to help heal it, and even fixed his latching issues. It was awkward feeding in public with them, but worth it in the long run. We haven't had to use them in about 3 months.

Honestly, try getting some, or if you are interested, I can sterilize the two I have and send them your way. They helped me keep breastfeeding.

As well, the first weeks, just get through each day, don't worry how long LO is nursing. They stop when full, and even sometimes, they aren't even getting much milk out and are using you as a pacifier.

Breastfeeding Inc. Videos

^try looking at those. They will show you the difference between babe nursing and drinking...and just suckling while not getting anything.

My boy used to take forever to nurse but now, I'm lucky if he stays on 5 minutes on one side before he's full. Rarely he'll want the other side. Just hang in there mama. Once you're out of these weeds, you'll wonder why you wanted to stop.

kendy20 · November 2014

So much great advice! I just wanted to let you know I was in a similar situation early on as well. DD would take an hour to 1.5 hours to nurse and it would hurt really bad. She sometimes wanted to eat 45 min after that long nursing session. Used to make me cry thinking of having to feed her again. So I would, I would just let it all out and just told myself it would get better. Kept at it and after she was about 8 weeks the pain started to go away and after the initial latch it was alright. She still nursed from anywhere to 30-60 min. But now(23 weeks) she's a champ! Nurses for about 10 min total every 2-2.5 hours. So I guess what I'm trying to say is hang in there :-) From personal expirance, it does gets better.

laxin31 · November 2014

Thank you all for the support. It's great to hear this cause my mom never nursed and I don't have friends really where I live to talk about this.

TheAnalyticalMommy · November 2014

Hi Laxin31 - I know exactly how you feel! The best advice I got on here in the beginning was to never quit on a bad day and I am so glad that I didn't. I quit with my first and regretted it. I'm so thankful that I got the support I needed on here and from my MIL with my second and that I'm still BF'ing at 8.5 months!

Also, I pumped for a few days in the very beginning to give my nipples a chance to heal. It hurt much less than nursing and it worked wonders for me! I pumped for about 18 hours and then went back to nursing with no problems

TheAnalyticalMommy · November 2014

good luck!

eggmankate · November 2014

I am not an expert, but if you're nursing that long I would think that is why it hurts so much. Are you sure that LO isn't just comfort nursing for some of that time? I say this only because I had a hard time telling in the beginning if DD was nursing or comfort nursing. I eventually figured it out that she was comfort nursing. It gave my nipples a break and that helped the pain diminish. My DD was still a long nurser--45 minutes in the beginning, but she would start comfort nursing at some point after about 40 minutes. Every baby is different, but just a thought?

jenn43 · November 2014

I think PP have already given a lot of great advice. I just wanted to let you know you're doing a great job, and any choice you make will be the right one for you and your baby. Hang in there!

honeybee434 · November 2014

Just wanted to chime in to let you know you aren't alone! I hated nursing for about the first 7 weeks. Every week it got a little better during those weeks, but it definitely is normal to feel the way you so right now. It's hard to get the routine started! Now that LO is 4 months I'm very happy I stuck it out during those hard times.

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