Did you find breast feeding a doddle?

[Willow2]

Just thinking aloud here really, but how many of us honestly had that "baby immediately latched on" experience? For those who didn't, were you surprised by how hard it was to establish b/f. Did you manage it?

Several friends have just become mums - they are all having a really hard time with b/f, not helped, IMO, by the fact that they were given the impression that problems are more abnormal than normal.

Your thoughts, ladies?

First time, milk took a while to come in - about five days - which was emotionally difficult, esp as midwives told me I was starving my baby and to give formula. A hospital breastfeeding counsellor was fantastic and told me it was OK, he wasn't starving and that I had plenty of colostrum. I mixed fed him very successfully and never had any pain except transient latching on pain during first few seconds in the first couple of weeks.
With DD, had painful right boob because it hurt so much to feed that it got engorged - so much so I got some stretch marks [anger]
Was v v determined to keep going so found out about breastfeeding workshop at Kings and got some help with positioning (amazing how small changes make a big difference) and got some antibiotics from the dr and hand expressed in the bath for over an hour (which was fantastic - and weirdly fascinating, watching the milk spiral into the water). Since then, plain sailing and am really, really enjoying it. I knew it was fine one night a couple of weeks in, when (in front of the telly, befuddled by hormones and broken sleep) I suddenly panicked, thinking 'aargh! where's my baby?" and realised I was actually feeding her at the time .
For me, so, so worth continuing, am truly loving doing it, but I did need help. I think all women should have access to this kind of support. It makes all the difference.

I had absolutely no problem with bfing, but almost everyone I knew had had terrible troubles so I worried myself into a frenzy during my pregnancy and collected lots of advice. Ironic thing was that I was so worried about the bfing that I forgot to be worried about the labor and I had an awful awful labor. Both of mine latched on within minutes of coming out (ds was emergency cs) and I never had any problems.

none of mine latch on straight away.

After the first month I finally got DS1 latch on - after that it was a doddle.

With my twins they never latched on and I expressed for 9 months for them.

Most of my friends found it a doddle, but a couple struggled.

B-feeding was one of the most difficult things I've ever done. None of my babies had a problem latching on but omg, the pain and soreness. My milk was very slow to come in and the babes lost weight blah-de-blah and then there was the mastitis... I have a stubborn nature and I think that's why I kept going, through gritted teeth.

Both mine were c-sections and both latched on in recovery. Got completely exhausted with 2nd babe though as she fed almost constantly through the night in hospital and slept almost constantly in the day time. No help whatsoever from midwives who assumed because I was not a new Mum I knew what I was doing (New Year plus major cash crisis in hospital so maybe lack of staff). Found it excrutiating for a couple of weeks cos I think she wasn't latched properly and was feeding all night. Savoy cabbages helped massively -though dh still can't look at them in supermarkets without laughing.

Glad I persevered as dd has been exclusively bf for last 4 months but now we're having MAJOR distraction problems. Going to La Leche League meeting tomorrow for advice.

I think some midwives/health visitors are so keen to promote bf (which I agree with) that they lose sight of the fact that it's not always easy for every woman and a bit of 'it might hurt but it's worth it' is worth the risk of putting women off as it would encourage those who struggle.

I was not expecting to breastfeed, thought I would give it a go but most of the people I spoke to prior to giving birth had a terrible time so I thought I would too. Both my dd's latched on as soon as they were born and apart from a nasty bout of mastitis with my 1st I found it really easy.

First time was very hard. ds wouldn't latch on. Had supply problems and the whole thing took over 6 weeks to resolve itself. 2nd time dd latched on straight away and yes was very easy. She's never had a bottle in her life.

Trouble is you don't really know what to expect till baby is born and you try which is why I think everyone should at least try as it can be incredibly easy and if so is bound to be better than faffing around with bottles.

I think awareness of problems is of course important but one shouldn't expect it to be either one thing or the other.