Good news breast feeding stories

[cairnterrier]

I'm wondering if anyone has any successful breastfeeding stories out there. I'm pregnant for the first time and was fully expecting to breastfeed my baby. However I've just been reading the 'what do you really want to know about breastfeeding thread?' and it has really, really put me off.

So please, are there any people out there who have had good experiences of breastfeeding as first time mum. Not where people have had a rough time but then got better, experiences where breast feeding has gone well from day 1 for both mum and baby. An experience that I was really looking forward to, now seems to only involve pain, disappointment and an awful lot of heartache :-( It would just be nice to know that some people have had really good experiences. Thanks in advance.

[pooka]

A breeze from day one with dd. She latched well and fed and fed and fed (which did mean I was knackered, but then I hadn't realised how time-consuming babies can be full stop ).

DS fed well and no pain. But was less breast-obsessed than dd which was good in one respect - more time for me and dd to chill. BUt on the other hand, meant that I couldn't just give him a quick feed to see us through a long car journey for example - he fed on his terms. And only his terms. And only when really properly hungry.

Was fine and dandy both times though. Fed both til just over a year.

[SarahL2]

DS and I took a few attempts to get the latch right but after a few hours alone together, we had it sorted. Bar a few supply issues over the first week or so, breastfeeding was a breeze. I don't remember ever being sore and bar from occassionally waking up with huge, hard boobs (which were more amusing than uncomfortable - I looked like Pamela Anderson!!) we didn't have any major problems.

Breastfeeding is amazingly rewarding and I enjoyed it so much that I will definietly be doing it again when DC2 arrives at the end of the year but even with experience, I am not going into it expecting to have no problems at all. It can be tiring and endless and messy but it's so, so worth it.

[PuzzleRocks]

OP - I have never had any problems with breastfeedng either of my two. Both latched on perfectly first time and continue(d) to do so. No painful engorgement, no sore nipples and no negative comments. I do consider myself fortunate but I am by no means unusual. It's simply that people tend only to post if they have an issue so you don't hear the positive stories and get a skewed view.
Chances are you will be fine, but if you do need help you are in the right place. Best of luck.

[notcitrus]

Quote from SIL2 to me: "sorry I can't advise you, I just stuck my breast at his mouth and it worked" HVs were most impressed with her for 4 months until ds became skinny - now it's obvious he's just tall and skinny and energetic. He's 1 now and still bf.

I had bad problems with thrush from 3-6 weeks, gave up for a couple days, went back and ds is nearly 9mo and bf has been fantastic from 8 weeks onwards. Especially from 6mo when I could do it less!

SIL2 hasn't felt the need to ask MN for advice ever, although she does lurk. I've posted my share of desperate pleas for advice...

[cairnterrier]

Thanks everyone who took the time to reply. Am feeling much more reassured now.

I fully expecgt that there will be some problems along the way, it's just that some of the other threads seemed to suggest that there was nothing BUT problems. Seems like some people have had some lovely experiences though. I guess like all things we only ever tend to write in about bad things, not good things that happen. Thanks again everyone x

[elkiedee]

Like others here, I think it's better to know you might have problems but that there's a way through most of them.

I can't offer the sort of story you asked for, I failed to breastfeed ds1 and had quite a lot of problems early on with ds2. I can only that from about 6 weeks it's begun to seem so much easier, no washing and sterilising bottles and mixing feeds and worrying about how on earth to prepare a feed correctly when baby's crying, just stick it in his mouth, very simple.

[FairMidden]

Ah don't be scared cairn!

I think what a lot of people will tell you is that they love breastfeeding and it is fantastic but that you have to be realistic and expect the odd hiccup.

Personally, it was totally fine after around 2 weeks IIRC, but until that stage there were times when it was uncomfy when DS initially latched on. 8 seconds, as my MW promised, and the pain was over. Nothing a few swearwords and a bit of toe-curling couldn't fix!

I'm still feeding 22 months later so it really, really wasn't that bad. Think of it like childbirth tales - nobody will tell you it didn't hurt but they aren't all horror stories

[Elpis]

My DD is nearly a month old and things seem to be going well. She latched on within an hour of the caesarean and for a week or so my nipples were cracked and painful and I worried things would get worse. They didn't. Cabbage leaves helped enormously with the engorgement. I did make the mistake of trying to feed her strictly every three hours early on and assuming that because she'd dropped off she wasn't hungry any more. So now I feed on demand (which tends to be 2.5-4h) and change her nappy once she's fallen asleep on one breast. This wakes her up and she usually goes on to suckle from the other.

For what it's worth, etc ...

[MrsHappy]

I was crap at pregnancy and terrible at giving birth. After a 36 hour labour which ended in failed forceps and a CS I asked a nurse in recovery to help me feed my DD and she barked at me "haven't you been to classes?". When I said no she grabbed my boob and DD's head and brought them together like cymbals. DD was unimpressed and spent the afternoon licking my chest.

I didn't know what to do but (naively perhaps) thought that if breastfeeding was complicated the human race would have become extinct long ago. I figured DD might have come pre-programmed with some survival instincts so I put her into my nightie and dozed with her on my chest. In the night she shuffled across my body and, with a couple of false starts (which were funny - I swear she started sucking my collar bone) she latched on by herself, which was great because naturally she seemed to know how to latch properly. God knows I had no idea...

The only issues I had in 7 months of breastfeeding were a blocked duct that cleared by itself within 48 hours and a day's engorgement. Otherwise I had no pain, no cracked nipples, no infections or thrush or need for lanisoh!

I loved breastfeeding and was so dazed after a difficult birth it was just great to be able to do something for my baby. I know I am lucky that things were so straightforward having read some of the stories that come up on MN, but do remember that people are more apt to post the horror stories. There are lots of people who find it straightforward and/or lovely too.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Okay good experiences - I am still feeding DD (2.6 - she's self-weaning slowly) and am also feeding DS (10 months). Both kids have shot off the top of the centile charts with explosive growth (they are very tall as well) and apart from the first two weeks when I was learning to do it and a bit of discomfort which was hormone related when heavily pregnant or in the post partum period, I've had no problems at all.

My only difficulty has been finding nursing bras to fit me. But I got very cheap ones in a sale, nicked the clips off and converted very nice well fitting bras to nursing bras instead.

[greensnail]

I was desperate to bf but while pregnant became convinced that I wouldn't be able to, as none of my friends had done it beyond a few weeks. Spent a lot of time while pregnant reading up on breastfeeding as I was sure I was going to struggle.
DD was born at 36 weeks, latched on easily about half an hour after she was born and we're still going strong 5 months later.

The only problems we've had are one night where she struggled to latch on when my milk came in and slightly sore nipples for about 2 weeks.

My advice would be to read up on what problems you might face, but don't assume that you will have any problems. And enjoy it

[MrsTittleMouse]

I have had two very good breastfeeding experiences, and even though I did have a few problems with DD1, Mumsnet sorted me out. One of the things that I have liked most about my breastfeeding experience is that I haven't had any engorgement, even when my milk came in. I was lucky to have greedy babies, but I also knew the Mumsnet breastfeeding mantra of "latch them on, latch them on, latch them on" and feed a newborn as much as they like (rather than trying to get any kind of routine).

My second breastfeeding experience was so simply I couldn't believe it - I asked the midwife "is that it?" as I literally offered her my nipple and breastfeeding was established there and then in the delivery room.

It is really common to have a bit of a reaction for the first few seconds when you feed a newborn, by the way - it goes after a week or so (but I don't see that as a negative).

[ChocOrange05]

My DS was laid down next to me an hour after he was born and he opened his mouth wide and knew exactly what to do. Since that day BF has been easy and pleasurable for us both with no problems whatsoever (he has bitten a few times but then he smiles at me and I can't help but forgive him!)

I did have some troubles enjoying BF at first as I didn't like being so depended upon and fear leaving the house on my own in case he needed feeding (selfish I know ) and I couldn't express enough so we introduced one formula feed when he was 6 weeks. Since then I enjoy it more and more each day and love the closeness it gives me and DS.

Good luck with your pregnancy and baby.

[dorisbonkers]

I have a positive experience. I had my baby early via c-section (stargazing breech) and had her 5 weeks early as I had raging preeclampsia. I'd not yet got around to reading up on breastfeeding and what to expect! Even though I had a section, even though I didn't have immediate skin to skin, even though she was quite jaundiced and sleepy and even though the Singaporean nurses are more in the fifties and 'dive bomb' latch techniques moaning about my flat nipples I got off to a great start.

No pain whatsoever. None.
No cracking, redness or shooting pains
No leaking
No engorgement
Easy self latch

But because of this (and partly because of first time mother anxiety) I thought something must be wrong.

Kellymom became my main interest post baby, I was obsessed with weight (she's a tiddler) and supply issues.

So although my worries were mental ones, I had no physical problems at all. And I absolutely love breastfeeding and will continue til she self weans. She's now 7 months and just doing BLW.

If everything has gone tits up or I'm stressed then breastfeeding relationship and connecting with my daughter makes it all alright again. I can't imagine not feeding her and comforting her this way. I actually LIKE night feeds (yes, I'm bonkers)

[mrsshackleton]

Agree with others that it's wise to anticipate problems aware that many have had similar difficulties and get through them.

Go into it armed with helplines etc for tricky patches and you should be able to weather anything and if it goes swimmingly from day one - then great! Won't tell you my story since it involves early struggles followed by great success. Maybe someone should turn it into a movie

good luck

[bohemianbint]

DS1 - no probs at all. Didn't even have to crack the Lansinoh. But I was still after info all the time, along the lines of "does he really need to feed every 20 minutes?" But physically, no problems at all, I loved it. So much that when he stopped feeding at one I was gutted and it made me all broody. Consequently now loving feeding DS2 at 9 months, with only a bout of thrush at the beginning to mar it.

[mamakim]

My dd is only 4 weeks old so i'm not exactly an expert but just wanted to tell you my experience so far.

DD was born at 39+1 by ELCS when i was wheeled into recovery the nurse put her on my chest for me and she gradually edged her way to my nipple, she latched on and fed. i was amazed! She then continued to feed around every 5 hours while i was in hospital for 2 days.

For me it felt slightly uncomfortable at first but i was waiting for awful pain everyone had told me about but it just didn't happen.

When my milk came in it was a little painful for about 24 hours, i felf like i was drowning in milk, leaking everywhere but that stopped after a couple of days. She gained 11oz in 6 days so that reassured me because i was still waiting for it to go wrong!

She now is feeding 4 hourly apart from cluster feeding in the evenings. I LOVE feeding her and i have zero discomfort now.

Oh and i fed her in costa coffee 4 days after she was born and have since fed in the car, at the park, a beergarden, the hairdresser's chair. No problems at all.

Last night i expressed 2oz and my DH fed it to her, she took it no problem, wanted boob immediatly afterward!

I wonder if you don't hear many good stories because women fear sounding smug when other women struggle maybe?

[BCLass]

Here's a positive story for you.

DD was born at home. I stuck her head in the general direction of my breast. She fed.

Repeated ad infinitum - now 7 1/2 months later. Never had any problems.

It was that easy, seriously. Some people have problems, but you know what - some do not (but I think they keep quiet about it).

[maygirl]

I think I've had a good experience, but I didn't realise early on I was having one, in that I didn't know what other some other mums were going through and I had lots of doubts. Had c-section and DS was taken away for 2 hrs. When they brought him back they latched him on 'to save time as you're all tired'! Following night he fed frequently and I was quite happy feeding him as much as he wanted when a midwife said 'are you still doing that, let me know when it gets too much for you!' While shaking a bottle of formula at me. Seeds of doubt were sown, so then worried about how often he fed, and even several weeks on I assumed had low milk supply as he was a frequent feeder, even though he was putting on weight well.

I never had sore nipples, felt a bit 'zingy' after hour long feeding sessions. Never had the letdown pain some mums mention. I had a tiny scab, which didn't hurt much, but had heard cracked nipples could be a real problem and felt concerned these were on the way, so went to a feeding drop in at the hospital when DS 6 days old. I was assured that what I had was extremely minor, they checked latch and at my request taught me to feed lying down. That was the last help we required, never had mastitis or blocked ducts, and still feeding 2.9 years on.
I can see now I did have a problem free experience, but it didn't feel 'good' straight away as as others have said, it was so new, learning how to be a new mum and all the uncertainty that goes with this time. Plus poor support on the post-c-section ward didn't help either. Going to the feeding drop in, even though I didn't have any major problems did give me the confidence boost I think I needed. I'd been antenatally, and the counsellor urged us all to come in soon after having baby, however things were going, just for her to have a check, offer advice & make small adjustments to latch etc, before getting too sore. I'm glad I did this.

I think by 3-4 weeks I felt pretty confident and bf life was sweet I even look back at the night feeds with nostalgia, little head bobbing in the dark, just him and me!

[PortAndLemon]

I think expecting the whole thing to be utterly blissful from day 1 is unrealistic, tbh.

I had no physical problems breastfeeding either DC both of them latched well (even though DS didn't like opening his mouth for the first couple of weeks) and put on weight beautifully, I never had sore or cracked nipples (other than the letdown ouch for the first few seconds of each feed for the first few weeks, but that was literally a few seconds each time I had no pain at all for the rest of the feed or between feeds), never had mastitis, never got painfully engorged, had blocked ducts a couple of times when they got to around 7 months but they cleared easily.

But with DS what knocked me for six was the sheer unremitting nature of constantly feeding him, and that had me in tears around 6 weeks or so. I think that was largely an expectation thing I just hadn't appreciated in advance how much a newborn baby can feed because DD fed on much the same sort of pattern, but second time round, with me expecting it, I took it in my stride.

[TheProvincialLady]

I think if you are expecting anything as a new parent to be easy, straightforward and problem free, you are setting yourself up to feel very unhappy. Almost everything feels like a struggle in those first few weeks, even FF. Nothing wrong with facing the fear and doing it anyway

[MrsMotMot]

O yeah I second the recommendation for 'The Food of Love' it is excellent. x

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

I love BFing, but that doesn't mean it's without it's problems.

I wish that I had found Mumsnet before I had DS - I think it would have helped me hugely in terms of adjusting my expectations about BFing and also in terms of practical help.

Please do not be demoralised by hearing the realities. Use it as a way to be prepared - make sure that your DH/DP is clued up and knows what to do to support you and you will be fine

I am still BFing DS at 10 months, and the experience gets more and more lovely and bonding as time goes on.

[MrsMotMot]

There is a balance to be had, I do agree with you and I'm sorry the 'what you'd like to know' thread has worried you.

Bf is a natural, physiological thing and we can definately over-analyze things. My top tips are:

Go to antenatal classes and learn a bit about what is normal for bf a new baby (feeding often, cluster feeds, etc) as well as the basics of positioning and attachment (latching on).

Get things off to a good start- I am a firm believer in skin to skin at birth or as soon after as possible. It is such a lovely way to greet your baby and quite often babies will just bob their way over to your breast and latch on themselves. My DS did this and it was lovely.

Know where to get help if you need it (support lines, bf groups in your area, contact info for a breast feeding counseller, MN )

Have faith. You can do it. Women have fed their babies for many many years. The human race is going pretty strong. I'm not saying women through the ages haven't had difficulties, because you and baby have to learn to bf and like any other skill this can take time and practise. It doesn't always 'work out' and there are alternatives. But many many women find bf easy and lovely right from the start, just as there are women who don't find birth the terrible, horrible ordeal society believes it to be. We just don't talk about positive stories enough I don't think.

Good luck. x