Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

Breastfeeding is so sore at the moment, I dread it, help!

11 replies

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 21/09/2010 21:58

Hi, I'm 21 weeks pregnant and have a 2yr old DS and since the start of this pregnancy feeding him is an ordeal only because it is so sore it feels like hot pokers are being inserted into my nipples every time he latches on. To be fair he only has 1 or 2 feeds a day but I dread the moment and am screwing up my toes for the duration. I really want to continue, packing it in is not an option as I want it to be his choice and also because I think it will help a lot in the early days with jealousy issues and any rivalry if he still has a piece of me that brings comfort and familiarity, not to mention the health benefits.

So has anyone else been through this and survived, or do you have any tips that will make feeds easier? The thought of another 20 weeks.....

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 23/09/2010 13:28

Anyone?

OP posts:

TanteRose · 23/09/2010 13:29

As far as I remember, it got better after a few weeks...it was 12 years ago, so my memory is bit sketchy.

I fed DD until I was 32 weeks pregnant with DS

nomorebooze · 23/09/2010 16:47

Hi [wave] try breastfeeding talk page, you may get some good advice there!!!!!!! good luck

strawberriesncream · 23/09/2010 21:53

Hi Breastmilksonme! I'm only 14 weeks pregnant and still feeding 2 1/2 year old and yeah its absolute agony!!! He only feeds 2 (occasionally 3) times a day. i find that I'm really bracing myself for the pain everytime he latches on. I read somewhere that if you try to relax that can help ease the pain but i've found this totally impossible to do. I feel determined that having come this far he should wean when he's ready and not before but I've noticed that my milk supply is really dropping off too! Thanks for starting the post I kept meaning to post myself but never got round to it. Hopefully there'll be some positive responses and advice from other mums who've managed to feed throughout their pregnancies soon.
In the meantime good luck!

japhrimel · 24/09/2010 08:47

Try the Breastfeeding forum.

Original poster

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 24/09/2010 19:02

Thanks guys I will post this under the BFing topic, I just thought that as it's pregnancy related then I might get a better response here.

Strawberries- I tense up too and I don't think I could relax if I had a shot of Diamorphine! What seemed to help me a little at your stage was giving my nipple a squeeze just before he latched on, sort of squeezing the pain out but it doesn't seem to be helping anymore! I really hoped it would be tailing off by now.

I've noticed my supply reduce too, I don't hear him gulping anymore he just takes little butterfly sucks but at least he's getting something. He doesn't seem bothered at all and I'm very conscious of not doing anything that might put him off as I really want him to still be feeding when I have huge, engorged boobs after the birth! A good toddler suck is what I'll need!

Ah well, it's a labour of love isn't it?

OP posts:

strawberriesncream · 25/09/2010 19:49

Thanks for the tip Breastmilksonme... will give that a go!!

Original poster

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 27/09/2010 11:54

Hi Strawberries, how are you getting on with the nipple tweaking?

OP posts:

MrsLionHeart · 27/09/2010 13:04

Hi, please don't hate me but I'm 11 weeks and breastfeeding my 15 month old, though trying really hard to wean him (it's been an emotional time for both of us!). I haven't had any pain at all, which does make me just a bit worried, and my breasts have also shrunk down to pre-childbirth size, much different than in my last pregnancy. My milk supply also seemed to dwindle significantly starting at about 6 weeks, which is much earlier than I had read that should happen. Haven't had a scan or even booking-in appointment due to NHS delays...anyone else had this experience?

Original poster

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 27/09/2010 19:19

Why would anyone hate you? Everyone is different and some women are just lucky in the fact that they don't get any discomfort at all. Again some women's supply is affected straight away, others hardly at all.

WRT weaning your 15mth old, do you have to/need to/want to wean him right now? It's unusual for a child to wean himself befor the age of 2. The WHO recommend weaning until at least age 2 due to the health benefits to both you and your son. It can also help him emotionally that he's still got a piece of you when things are unsettled after the baby is born.

You are anxious about this pregnancy and it doesn't seem fair that you are having to wait so long to be seen. I would try and not stress about things as whatever will happen will happen, every pregnancy is different and I wish you luck and hope that you have a pain-free pregnancy.

OP posts:

MrsLionHeart · 28/09/2010 18:59

Hi, thanks for your message, and for the advice. I want to wean him. If I wsn't pregnant, I probably wouldn't do so now, and might let him self-wean eventually. However, I no longer have milk, which only makes him frustrated after many feeds, and I don't want to tandem nurse.

Just managed to get my scan appointment moved forward by 9 days - hurrah!

Someone gave me advice that they would time limit nursing, such as only as long as it took to read a particular (short if you like) book. All the best with your nursing and your pregnancy.

Flip