anyone had an easy time breastfeeding?

[romoca]

Currently pregnant and would like to try breastfeeding, but all I hear is horror stories of pain and bleeding nipples and infections!!!!! Never hear of anyone who has had an easy time!!! I've always bottle fed my children as I get myself so scared!!! X

[honeymom]

I loved breast feeding. And if you can make it past the first 6/8 weeks then it is way easier than bottles. But it takes that initial time effort and patience. I didn't have any major problems so I guess I had an easy ride. But it was still fairly hard nipples need time to toughen up. It only takes one bad latch to undo lots of good latches.

[grumpmitchell]

I really know that people will hate me for this but I had an easy time. I recognise that this isn't a popular thing to say on here but it's true. I had good midwife support initially (EMCS so in hospital 5 dats with DS1) and DS2 just seemed to happen effortlessly. There is hope!

[ANiceSliceOfCake]

I had it easy. Too easy. No pain, all textbook perfect.

But ....... As it was so easy I never thought to introduce a bottle too. So now I'm 9 months in EBF with a bottle refuser! I'm knackered. So maybe consider offering a bottle too. Just to get them used to it.

[LadyMonicaBaddingham]

Took me a couple of days to get comfy with it, but I fed both of mine until they were 2 with no problems. No bleeding nipples or whatever you've heard about. If you want to PM me, I'm a qualified breastfeeding supporter with the BfN and would be happy to answer any questions you have. Google a BfN group in your area if you can, they will be so supportive, believe me

[Thingywhatsit]

Ds gave me thrush and I was young (21) and I gave up after 3 weeks as the pain from the thrush on my poor nips was just too bad. He was a natural at latching - which was good as I didn't really know what I was doing!!!!!

Dd also took to it like water - she did the crawling up my belly looking for it when she was born. Never had a problem. Always had loads of milk😄😄 cluster feeding lasted a good few weeks and emotionally I found that bit very hard. never had problem with latching etc. The only pain I had was when feeding her in the week after her birth as I had horrendous after pains....,, no one tells you this with your 2nd!!!

[WorriedOrStressed]

Trying not to overthink things and being well supported (by midwives/through those at home) is key, plus perserevance if you run into difficulties.

[Jitterybug]

I had an easy time, first couple of days I had very sore nipples, but they were fine once the latch was sorted out. I had to stay in hospital for 5 days after a section, which I think really helped, as I had lots of advice and time to just sit and feed.

Had a bit of pain at the beginning of each feed, but by the time I had counted to 30 the pain had gone, this only happened for the first two weeks anyway.

So in summary, 2 weeks getting to grips with it, then really easy after that.

[Ughnotagain]

Yes. Sort of.

We had a tricky start, the first 2/3 days were tough as she wouldn't/couldn't latch properly. But once we cracked that we were totally fine. She's one next week and we're still going strong

I had the same mindset as you really, that often you only hear the horror stories. It made me nervous. But once I started I found that I really didn't want to stop.

Don't get me wrong, it is tough at times. Cluster feeding in the early days can be really hard; growth spurts are difficult. I remember a really hot sticky day last year where I was just crying because she wouldn't stop feeding and I didn't feel like I had any more milk to give. But it passed.

My tips would be:

Explore your potential support networks before you have the baby. Look for local breastfeeding groups, check out La Leche League, etc. That way if you do have problems you know where you can go. The La Leche League book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is good too.

Stock up on some Lansinoh nipple cream and breast pads. Even if your baby latches well right from the off, it can be a little uncomfortable for a few days while you get used to the sensation.

Get a good strong water bottle and plenty of shelf stable snacks that you can eat with one hand.

Co-sleep.

Surround yourself with other mothers who breastfeed. I have found that's where my biggest source of support is. Knowing other mothers who breastfeed not just newborns but older babies and toddlers has been really beneficial.

[walkingtheplank]

Easy with both of mine. They both started feeding in the operating theatre whilst I was being sewn up after C-Sections and finished just short of their first birthdays. An unhelpful health visitor told me I was doing it wrong but given that both my babies were fat (now a couple of skinnies), I reckon they were getting enough and neither of us were in pain.

I went to a breastfeeding workshop beforehand. I learnt a few tips which I'm sure made all the difference. Definitely go to a class.

You won't generally hear people sat that they had an easy time because they are called smug (or much worse) for doing so.

Good luck.

[freshstart4us]

I've had two full term, healthy weight babies (75th+ percentile at birth and always kept at or above that line) who latched well and got the hang of things fairly quickly. Fed DD to 22mo, including expressing when I went back to work. DS currently 11mo and going strong. EBFing is much more demanding on mums as you don't get any respite and I would say if you have kids already that you will need support to meet the higher frequency feeding but I DEFINITELY recommend it. I love feeding them.

[SewSlapdash]

Have a look at this OP. Helped another mum's better in your shoes

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/breast_and_bottle_feeding/1847607-Can-I-have-your-stories-of-perfectly-ordinary-BF-experiences

[SewSlapdash]

Mum's better? Mumsnetter!

[WordGetsAround]

Really easy for both of them. No pain and worked brilliantly from the first attempt. Remember that you never hear the great stories!

[TheyreBreakingThrough]

First child was so easy. Didn't have any guidance, he latched on perfectly and I never experienced any pain at all.
The next couple were just as easy, with no pain at all.
With my last one I did experience pain, but he has tongue tie so it was my choice to put up with that rather than have him snipped.

I did suffer from after pains with my last child. They were pretty bad, but only lasted for a minute or two just after he latched on.

[NickMarlow]

It was painful for about the first ten days, but once we got established it was fine. Dd was ebf for 6months with one bottle of expressed milk each day, then after 6months I stopped expressing and she had formula for that feed. I had expected to switch to formula entirely, but breastfeeding was going so well I just kept going until her birthday with her gradually dropping feeds as she got older.

[freshstart4us]

Oh and as a prev poster said - number one tip is to cosleep!

Would also recommend taking a class and hanging out with other bfeeding mums. We seem to have completely lost the intergenerational wisdom of women helping each other with this most natural and essential of skills. I was very lucky with terrific support from lovely midwives in our one night hospital stays with both, but know this isn't everyone's experience. Best wishes OP, I hope it's amazing for you!

[wonkylegs]

I think it can be hard going (not necessarily painful but tiring) at the beginning but it's much easier once you get a few weeks in. I'm typing this whilst breastfeeding my 4wk old and having a snugly cuddle.
I try to express so that DH can do 1 bottle feed in the evening and give me a break from permanently being attached to a baby.
It's not all been plain sailing - I have a flat nipple on one side which makes latching more tricky - sometimes use a shield or pump a short while to draw it out enough for latch & my let down on one side was so forceful at first thAt poor DS2 choked everytime he tried to feed (worked out I needed to hand express a tiny bit to reduce pressure)
However I found with DS1 that it paid off to persevere - so much easier just to have to take boobs when going out! I've never had cracked bleeding nipples.

[Tamsynburton1]

I bf my DD, I didn't plan to but DD took to it really easily so I just carried on. If hurt for the first week, but then it was completely fine, no problems at all. I stopped when she was 1 cause she decided to stop.

[Iwantawhippet]

Yes, no problems here. The midwife said "would you like to try lying down or sitting up?" Lazy me went for lying down. Soon realised baby wanted to cosleep and nights were fine. We hit problems at 7 weeks when DC refused a bottle. So we exclusively breastfed until formula in a sippee cup at 6 months.

[Jojay]

I bfed my twins until they were past 2. We had everything against us ( emcs under GA, I didn't see them until the next day, special care, tube feeding followed by bottle feeding to begin with, low birthweight, not to mention there being two of them!) But they latched on like little pro's, I had no soreness and it was genuinely the easy option. I was very glad of it when their milk allergy became apparent at weaning and I think that bottle feeding would have been a nightmare.

Best of luck and I hope it goes well for you

[weaselwords]

I found it really straight forwards with both of mine. I only fed to 6 months as was worried about teeth and stopped feeding during the day from 4 months with the first as went back to work. Just fed in the evenings. Loads of milk and no mastitis or soreness.

[Coconut0il]

I breast fed DS1 and I'm currently breast feeding DS2. I've had no problems with either. They both took to it really quickly and I fed DS1 till 18 months and DS2 is 9 months and still going strong.
I've never had painful nipples and DS2 was permanently attached for the first few months!
Good luck!

[LBOCS2]

Yep, just thought I'd give it a go and it was fine. Fed DD1 to 20 months, DD2 is now 5 weeks old and she's feeding like a pro too. So easy!

[GipsyDanger]

Give it a go. I suppose I've had an 'easy time' of it. The first 2 weeks are the toughest, your nips harden. I never had cracked bleeding nipples. My ds happily takes a dummy (from 2 weeks) and bottles of breastmilk. He also sleeps 6/7 hours a night from about 3 weeks as well so don't believe that BF babies means no sleep either

[Mouthfulofquiz]

Yep, it's been plain sailing here too. I'm feeding my third, and fed the previous two until 15 months. No sore nipples really, and plenty of milk. I always keep my babies close - lots of cuddles and feed on demand (no dummies used) so no doubt a lot of comfort sucking goes on. All helps with a good supply though.