Does breastfeeding hurt?

[Friedseasalt]

For info I formula fed my little one 5 years ago. Due in a few months and really keen to try and BF. Trying to educate myself as much as possible. However, a lot of stories I read online are about how painful/sore it is and it’s scaring me. What essentials do I have to buy to help? I am absolutely clueless tbh.

I wonder if this could have been dysphoric milk ejection reflex.
It's something that hasn't had enough research and isn't widely known about but the letdown of milk can induce intense negative emotions in the mother in those that have this.

@BernardButlersBra from looking at peers who do breastfeed it basically means the mother not sleeping through for the first year which doesn't work for me either

Yeah, this. Except I didn't know it and here I am still breastfeeding and it's a pain to try and stop now. Practically ruining my marriage. I wish I had never tried. If you formula fed a baby already, be careful with going for BF this time. It really isn't as wonderful and magical as midwives say it is.

It was sore for a couple of weeks for me but then painless after that. I remember reading online things saying if it hurts then you’re doing it wrong. When I repeated that to my midwife during a visit she laughed and said it was rubbish. Of course it hurts to have something sucking on your nipples constantly. Once they toughen up it’s absolutely fine.

Sorry but that is complete BS. It’s absolutely normal for it to hurt at first.

Don’t worry if you can’t !! I’ve never been able to produce milk - not my fault! I used to beat myself up about it but the kids are happy and healthy! if that’s what you prefer give it a try but don’t fret if not. all love Xx

@DiamondEyes976 no. It’s not normal for breastfeeding to hurt, and I have 20 years of breastfeeding support training behind me.

How can it not be normal? Of course it’s going to be sore. You are so wrong here. Unless you’ve actually had a baby sucking on your nipple for the last 20 years and can still say it doesn’t hurt then I am still calling BS on your nonsense.

@MarvellousMonsters i wonder how many women you’ve put off breastfeeding in that time, telling them they must be doing it wrong when they really aren’t.

It hurt (A LOT) for the first couple of weeks but two things I noticed was it was different on each nipple and the angle on each nipple was important - for one breast I had DS lying under my arm and for the other across my body. Also lansinoh is amazing!

Once it was established though (and I very nearly gave up so so many times), it was worth it for the convenience.

@MarvellousMonsters @DiamondEyes976 i guess the truth is somewhere in the middle. Some discomfort and soreness can be normal. But actual toe curling pain isn't normal.

A previous poster nailed it i think when she said that what may happen is if you mess up even once or twice in the beginning with a bad latch, it then takes weeks and weeks to heal as baby keeps feeding on an injured breast. That's what happened to me.

Yes it can hurt. And then there’s the chance of mastitis - excruciating