Please tell me this gets easier and it will all be worth it

[GColdtimer]

DD is nearly 3 weeks and is feeding like an absolute demon. She was in SCBU (readmitted at 5 days with severe jaundice and strep infection) for 8 days and I managed to keep up expressing and feeding during that time so I really, really want to carry on. It is just exhausting and I feel like I haven't moved off the sofa. Am also a bit sore on one side (going to babycafe tomorrow for help).

Please would someone tell me this all gets easier? I didn't manage to bf DD1 for very long and really want to succeed this time.

It gets easier and will all be worth it

It did for me, I found that short term goals helped, like wanting to get to 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks etc helped. (even to the end of the day if it's a particularly bad one!)

I only bf DS1 for 3 weeks so I was determined this time to pass that, and then carry on. I'm at 6 months now with DS2, and from this side it seems to have gone by in the blink of an eye. First 6 weeks definitely the hardest for me.

Well done, and good luck (congratulations on dd2)

It does get easier, although it can take a while. And yes, it is worth it.

Also, my babies both had a feeding frenzy for a couple of days at around 3 weeks, so it may settle down a bit soon.

A feeding demon sounds like a growth spurt to me!

Sounds like you've done really well to get to where you are esp. after a stay in hospital.

It really does get better though- you just need to bear with it.

Can you get some sleep in the day or do you have dd1 around as well? Anyone else around that can give you some help so you can just sit and feed?

hope the cafe can give you some advice re. the pain...how's your latch?

hth

It definitely gets easier, although it took me till about 3 months till I could really say it was "easy" and it is totally worth it, I BF till 16 months.
Good luck x

DS had a hard start with neonatal jaundice, too, and I was under strong pressure to "top him up" with formula rather than trying to get him to get everything by breastmilk (the thinking was to have him under the lights for the maximum time, whereas trying to get him to feed was taking ages - away from the lights).

When we finally established breastfeeding, though, I found it much easier than having to remember to sterilise bottles and buy formula, not to mention doing all the washing and sterilising and buying and putting in the bag. Breastmilk supply is much easier to manage. But do remember to drink loads of water - probably a pint before and after feeds is a good rule of thumb.

twofalls it does get easier - if you're in the Vale Royal area I'll see you tomorrow.

MyFirst6WeeksWerePrettyAwfulButBabyCafeReallyHelpedTiggaxx

It will get better! I had a hard time in the early weeks but it gets better. It will stop hurting, but that's the least of what you have to look forward to. You and your baby will develop great BF skills. It's like sex -- it's natural but you still need practice to learn to do it properly.

I love to look down and see my daughter focusing on her job -- concentrated, competent. She'll be four months this week and I'm starting to feel a little sad as I look ahead to starting solid food at 6 months.

Am a tiny bit ahead of you- DD is 5 and a bit weeks but with similar story see here

and in last couple of days it has started to get a bit easier- she still feeds for hours but I have more milk and she is gaining weight so we are easing off on the formula top ups- in fact yesterday she went a whole 24 hours with no formula top up (when boobs are empty and no ebm and she is still screaming and its not nappy, cuddles, comfort she wants then we have to resort to formula which I hate).
My boobs are defo much better at milk production now and she is much better at latching on - just hope we get to stage where each feed doesnt take an hour!

Anyhow we still aren't out of woods yet and its not quite plain sailing but it is so much better than two weeks ago so i wanted to give you hope!

I had a really hard time for the first 12 weeks, then it was easy. Stick at it, you're doing really well.

Stick with it, honestly. You're doing brilliantly. And it gets much easier. Not over days I admit, but over weeks. Make the sitting on the sofa as comfortable as possible with everything you need to hand and/or a willing servant.

Kellymom is a great website too if you need facts and straightforward info. Good at dispelling all those myths. You know the sleep/frequent feeding/empty boobs/saggy boobs ones that get trotted out ad nauseum.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone.

Thandeka, I take my hat of to you - you have done so well.

Dawntigga, not in your neck of the woods I am afraid!

I think my latch is OK but DD isn't very good at opening her mouth really wide. She also tries to get herself on so bobs her head forward and doesn't get her chin on my breast first. Hopefully the babycafe will be able to help. Had the best feed from the sore breast ever today so hopefully things are on the up. And i managed to bf DD in the doctors surgery waiting room without 100 cushions so we must be getting better!

TLC waves from her sofa where 17 day old DS is feeding... again! I totally know what you're saying - I'm in the same boat!

Good to read messages of encouragement from people who've experienced this all before.

DS is my 1st child, so I'm still a newbie! Getting very good at typing with 1 hand though

hi there tlc, hope its going OK.

Just managed to feed DD2 and get DD1 to bed all on my own so am feeling quite proud!

It does get much easier and actually enjoyable/calming/cuddly etc etc....
Unless something very important prevents you, stay on that sofa with a cup of tea, box of chocs, your feet up, and go with it. You've been through more than most the last few weeks and you need to focus on yourself and LO and regroup.
You will be fine.

1. You are a hero already and should feel very proud of yourself.

1. With time, concentration and persistence you will both love it so much you wont want to stop. So many people have shockers at the beginning, without the hoohaa of hospital stays. Get all the advice you can from someone who makes sense to you and you will get there.

I found it got a lot easier at around 8 weeks, dd4 is now 19 weeks.

dd4 was admitted into NICU at 4 hours old with what I now think was a strep infection (although not confirmed) She was in for 8 days, and we came home when she was 9 days old, and fed pretty much constantly until 8 weeks when she would go a few hours in between feeds.

During the early weeks I never thought I would still be bf at 19 weeks.

Well done and good luck

thank you, need all the encouragement I can get after a night of feeding pretty much constantly from 7pm last night until 3am this morning! I am glad i haven't got any formula in the house because last night i would have been tempted.

And she is ramping up for another go now - what a demon.

At least DD is at pre-school 5 mornings a week, that helps a bit!

It's constant those first few weeks then it should settle down a bit. Think of how thin it's making you

You are doing really well, it's so easy to give up and use formula but you're doing everything you can to keep your dd healthy despite it being really tough. You should be proud of yourself.

can I ask, howlong does it take for nipple/breast tenderness to go? nippes no longer sore as such and latch on pain alot less severe but boobs and nippes still pretty tender. Does that change or am I still doing something wrong? Also, her suck is really powerful and whilst feeding isn/t painful its not really comfortable as she is like a vice! Is this normal?

I think I found about the first 6 weeks were quite painful, but after then the cracked bits healed and it all got a lot less sensitive to the discomfort and we both settled into it much better - you might find a big improvement in the next couple of weeks.

thanks, we are at 3 and half weeks now and hopefully been through the worst of it. just need reassurance the discomfort will settle!

If you have broken skin, I found lansinoh really helpful.

thamks, I have some. not broken anymore though thankfully so it is getting better!