I know breast feeding is the best -blar de blar - but I HATE it.

[edgarcat]

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I never felt I had to ask for permission to breastfeed anywhere. And I never did, and I did feed all over. National trust gardens, restaurants, Tate, The Bluebird Cafe on the Kings Road, in my car (loads, very comfy, esp with radio on and flapjack in hand) and more times than I care to think of in John Lewis (lovely chairs). Never got so much as a funny look.
Another thing, I'm not denying that breastfeeding clearly hurts quite a few people, but it surely can't be sucking itself that hurts - my ds sucked and sucked and sucked and had the blood blister on his lip to prove it but b/f didn't hurt me - and I don't have concrete nipples. I think 'getting it right' depends on your baby's skills as much as yours.

I agree with your messages, tiktok - and you should know. You've helped countless women to breastfeed while I can only speak from my own experience.

However, for me, breastfeeding WAS painful (but not excruciatingly painful) for the first week or two. HVs and midwives told me that ds and I were correctly positioned, but pain was still there. Once my nipples got less sore things were OK with just the odd hiccup.

I agree with willow and others here as well. I think it's totally possible that some women might find breastfeeding much more painful for much longer than me, even if they and their baby are positioned correctly.

Everyone has a different skin type and sensitivity. My skin blisters easily, for instance and scratches on my legs take ages to heal - my husband can't believe how long in fact. His skin heals much quicker than mine.

If skin sensitivity to friction and abrasion varies and healing time varies, won't this affect nipple skin too? So if you happen to have extra senstivie nipple skin that is slower than average to heal, isn't there more chance you will be in pain for longer through no fault of your own or your child's?

I am not a medical person, so no doubt there is a simple answer to this and all will become clear. I just thought I'd ask the question.

I have only just read this thread - really nice to see the transformation from fed-up-with- breastfeeding edgarcat into happy-with-breastfeeding codswallop.

thanks tigermoth. You would .nt imagine it was my third child would you?!!

(I wonder if those of us with dry skin find it more painful?)

Bloss- I would be really interested if you could say what it is you don't like about BF or why???? I am genuienly interested....
Thanks

Willow2 and tigermoth, I don't disagree that for some women, bf is painful and there's nothing to do except sit it out, once positioning and attachment has been looked at by someone who knows what they are looking for.....I think it's perfectly possible that individual responses will vary.

I ask women who feel they are in this situation if the pain is getting worse, or better. If it's getting better, then I reckon the baby and the mother are getting their act together and things are sorting themselves out. If it is getting worse, then Something Needs to Be Done

Went to the gp who ruled out thrush and said it's early days and it's normal to go through this at the beginning.

Hi Kaz33, I have realized that bf really hurts for me when there is no much milk in my breasts.
I think I eat a lot, but my baby is very hungry all the time and the milk I have is not enough.
I know that is a catch 22 situation, I give him the bottle because he's hungry, so he doesn't suck for long. Since he doesn't suck for long enough I don't produce enough milk for him as his sucking would stimulate the production of more milk.

On the other hand I find the bottle very useful for when I want to do other things and my dh can take over.

I wonder if mixed feeding (bottle and breast) still gives the baby the best of both worlds or if my baby is missing out on something?

Happyspider - you would boost your milk supply over 2 days if you went on a 'feeding fest', ie. did nothing but rest and feed for 2 days. Feed 2-3 hourly and you will see an increase in 24-48 hours. If you really feel you cannot do that, then express milk when your dh gives a bottle. That way you are stimulating milk production and will have expressed milk to replace the formula. Another thing to try to boost your milk is Domperidone (Motilium). You can buy it over the counter. It is for bloatedness but a side effect is increase in prolactin levels and therefore greater milk production. We recommend it at our hospital and I have a friend who felt a difference in her milk production after taking it. You take it as prescribed on the packet - one 10mg tablet 3 times a day for 10 days. This is really only used where frequent feeding with a correct latch does not increase milk production.
Mixed feeding so early on can result in lack of milk production due to lack of stimulation. The next thing you know, you may be totally bottle feeding when that is not what you had planned. Definately contact a counsellor. If the baby is not latched properly you will experience pain and your baby will not be getting enough milk or stimulating production effectively. You have no idea what a difference a correct latch means. If fixing is OK, definately give the domperidone a go. Best of luck.

Another point, happyspider. Even though you don't think it, the breast is never empty. The GP is not the best person to give advice - their knowledge is very limited unless they are very supportive of breastfeeding. The knowledge of some midwives is sadly lacking too. The nipple discomfort should be getting less as the baby gets more proficient. Make sure baby is lying 'tummy to mummy' to ensure good fixing. Did you have a look at the link I posted for you a few posts back? Lots of useful info there.

My goodness, domperidone. I'd forgotten all about that. I recommend it highly. I was convinced I did not have enought milk and it really helped.
Best of luck

Bloss,
I've just found this and would like to tell you that I didn't breastfeed my son (now nearlly 2). I never even tried. When I went to my antinatal check-ups and was asked it I had any questions I said, 'Yes, don't try to tell me to breastfeed cause I'm not going to'. I told both of my midwifes the same thing and when my son was born (at home) they didn't even tell me to try and I was so gratefull for that. I just couldn't stand the thought of having a baby attached to me for hours on end. I love my son to bits, but I love my space and don't like anyone close to me for ages. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. We're trying for another one and I am going to bottle feed again. I was bottle fed and there's nothing wrong with me, my son is very intelligent and forward so it hasn't done him any harm either.
I don't think it's unmaternal or horrible, it's a matter of choice. If you don't want to do it, don't.
I came on here too, expecting to hear people say they didn't like it and so don't do it. I don't see why you should be in pain doing something if you don't have to.
The only good thing I can think of for breastfeeding, and this is just my oppinion, is that it's free and available when-ever you want it. And that's it. Most people have said it hurts and they'd rather not do it.
Sorry to go on abit but I don't think you should think bad of yourself for not wanting to do it.

How I wish that I had known about Mumsnet when I was breast feeding (and giving up at six weeks) my DS ...
I gave up because I, my DH and my mum (who is a midwife) genuinely thought I didn't have enough milk and that he would be happier and less hungry if he had formula. I had started off with loads of milk but no one said anything about growth spurts at 6 weeks etc ... My HV didn't argue with me ... just acted very disappointed. NO ONE told me that I could very easily increase my suppy (in a feeding fest as Mears called it or with something like Domperidone) ... If I could turn the clock back I would!
I am soooooo looking forward to having another baby and having another go at it ... if it hadn't been for mumsnet I might not be thinking that and would be planning to bottle feed from the start!!
As for pain ... for me it hurt for about 6 days ... I think because my nipples were just so tender and the sucking action of a new born baby is so strong. My mum did give me a few tips at the start that worked to avoid pain ...
One was that she taught me how to express when my milk came in so that I didn't get engorged ... the baby can't latch on properly onto an engorged nipple and that would cause pain.
And the other tip (which makes people wince!) is to dab some Distilled Witch Hazel with a cotton wool pad on your nipples after a feed in the early days to help your nipples to harden.
It worked for me and after 5 or 6 days there was no more pain.
Anyway ... thanks again Mumsnet (and people like Mears and Tiktok) for the never ending information and help ....
xxxx

The person who started this thread is now breastfeeding much more happily than when first posting. Yes there are women out there who hate the thought of it and hate doing it. I wholeheatedly agree that if that is the case, don't do it. However, what is coming across more strongly is that there are far more women who wanted to do it but found it painful and therefore not enjoyable. Women also who did not have enough milk for their babies gave up long before they had planned to. For those women advice and support could have made the difference. They need the reassurance that at some point the pain will go - pain is not normal for successful feeding. Milk production can be increased to meet the demands of a baby. It is possible with the right support. If you want to succeed breastfeeding, you can. The trick is to become confident in your ability - that might be gained from mumsnet or by a local B/Fcounsellor who is there to help. I don't apologise for giving advice on how to continue B/F - the answer is not always as simple as switching to bottle feeding.

Mears, I sincerely hope you aren't planning to be on holiday for the first couple of weeks of Sept - I'm planning on breastfeeding my third and had disasters with the first two (posted long and boring reasons why on other threads some time ago) and expect to be on here regularly moaning about excruciatingly painful nipples and complete inability to manage!
But I'll still try again

No holidays for me I am afraid - still paying for last years one to Florida
Feel free to pick my brain and eveyone else here on mumsnet who can help. There is a wealth of information on this site from mumsnetters who have been there. You CAN do it

mears - "the person" is VERY pleased with herself and baby and you all.

i am going on a fiekd trip to HRHs in a while so i will suss out her weaknesses for when she bfs number 3!!

coddy, there will be NO latching on demonstrations on your field trip I'm afraid!

just want to make that quite clear

codswallop - didn't want to draw attention to you since your name change

Mears....its ok - I am hardly discreet - when you out c wallop in a search engine It comes up with me ranting about my knockers!!

Hrh I will be like on eof those awful bf counsellors who man handle you!1 (Dont worry!)

aurghghghgh, I'm going to be attacked by coddy

actually, I'm not sure if I can make that day after all, I have to... ummm... wash my hair....

tee hee - remember the feeling of having time to wash your hair in a leisurely manner...(sniggers)

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I got all of that bloss. I know what you mean about wanting your body on demand. Not my idea of fun. I didn't have any problems making up bottles either, going out was OK cause we had a bottle warmer that didn't need electric or just took a flask of hot water and a jug. Dead easy.
However, I do have to say that mumsnet is brilliant for people who do actually want to give it a go. There is lots of support and honesty in the threads about breast feeding. Even though I still won't do it.

Chiggles, your choice is your choice and you certainly sound happy with it and your son sounds thriving, which is great. But it's not true to say the only advantages of breastmilk is that it's free and constantly available. That's the least of its advantages. And it didn't hurt me, so it doesn't hurt everyone. However, I do understand disliking having your body on call 24 hours, I honestly do.

Hi Happyspider - mixed feeding like you and am started to get worried that DS2 isn't getting enough milk from my breast. I do enjoy it but when I'm knackered DS1 wants attention and DS2 is fidgeting at my breast the temptation to reach for the bottle is overwhelming. Certainly without mumsnet I would be bottle feeding exclusively by now !!

I am finding it difficult to get into a routine with 1 month old DS2, I know I should but I find it hard to wake up a sleeping baby to feed him !!