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Pregnancy

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

Does breastfeeding always hurt?

60 replies

serialplanner · 04/09/2020 08:01

No judgement about no BF please.

I am considering trying for the benefit of the baby but not pushing myself because I read lots about it being painful and quite frankly I think pregnancy and birth is enough. It would be great to share the responsibility of feeding with DH and have the tiniest bit of freedom by not being the feeding machine.

Not sure if formula is an alternative or if I have scared myself about breastfeeding.

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thirstyformore · 04/09/2020 08:03

You've scared yourself!!! The first few weeks can be a bit sharp when latching on, but then it doesn't hurt at all. For me, although the first six weeks were tough, after that breastfeeding was so easy. No bottles, no sterilisation, no heating milk. Ready whenever the baby needed it. Could go out for the day without worrying about milk. And free!!!!

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 04/09/2020 08:07

From my personal experience it wasnt painful
There were a few moments if the latch wasnt right or a nosy baby turned whole still feeding! But other than that it was easy and meant I didnt have to plan days out around bottles (probably more benefit with older siblings)
On the other hand I had nights where I knew it would fall only on me to be up feeding and I found that emotionally hard. But dh was at work and I was on maternity leave and he helped me have a lie in or sleep at the weekend.
Its entirely your choice

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 04/09/2020 08:07

*while still feeding

Wingingthis · 04/09/2020 08:10

Honest opinion..... Currently breatfeeding my second baby. My first had tongue tie not diagnosed until 3 months. Both were absolutely fine!! The teeniest tiniest bit of soreness the first couple of weeks but I wouldn’t use the word “painful” at all. Apply nipple cream each time and you’ll be fine xx

toiletpaper · 04/09/2020 08:10

I found it incredibly painful, the cramps I had in my stomach when bf DS just after he was born were horrendous and the nipple pain wasn't much better. I couldn't take it anymore and switched to aptamil a few days after he was born. Maybe it sounds selfish but I didn't even bother trying to bf DD when she was born a few years later, I went straight onto aptamil.

steppemum · 04/09/2020 08:11

I have bf 3 kids, and I didn't have any pain with any of them.
This is not somethign I can easily say, as most people do get some discomfort, but it was dead easy.
If you do get discomfort it can be because the baby is in the wrong postion, and shifting that can help.
I did do a fair amount of nipple rubbing while pregnant, it is supposed to prepare them, so maybe that worked?

It was also ridiculously easy to do, no bottles, sterilizing, formula, measuring, getting up and heating milk in the middle of the night etc. Just stick them on the boob.

Easy when out and about too.

DappledThings · 04/09/2020 08:12

DC1 was a bit painful when first latching for maybe a couple of weeks then not at all. DC2 was worse because she got thrush and we had to get rid of that but even then it was still only momentary sharp pain occasionally.

Some women have it much worse, some have it easy like me.

For me the convenience of not having to ever plan feeding or sterilise bottles or figure out how to make up formula or bring anything regarding feeding out and about with us for 6 months far outweighed the night times.

AlmondsAndChocolate · 04/09/2020 08:13

I had no problems whatsoever breastfeeding both my DC. No pain, no cracked nipples. I even had a very premature baby who was tube fed for the first 7 weeks of his life, and we still transitioned to bf without major difficulties.

As with anything, you mostly hear about the horror stories. Women don't come on MN to say "oh, I had such a wonderful time bf, it was so easy, no problems at all!"

I also find most official bf advice very restrictive - don't give a dummy, don't give a bottle, only feed on demand etc. Bf (for me) was so much easier than it sounded. DC1 had a dummy, DC2 had a bottle of formula every two days or so. Neither were a problem.

I'd give it a try, you can stop whenever you want to. You can also mix feed if you want your partner to do his share.

Whyaretheredinosaursinthebath · 04/09/2020 08:13

Maybe a bit sore early on but after that generally not at all, except when I had mastitis which was agony and I assumed that was what people were talking about until I realised it was infected

Once established it's so convenient! Pregnant again though and this time once established will introduce baby to bottle of expressed milk so I can pump and freeze it for someone to give if necessary (for example I was very ill when DC1 was little and my supply dipped but she wouldn't take a bottle at that point)

vinoelle · 04/09/2020 08:14

I’m 4 weeks into my breast feeding journey - and I have to say it has been very painful because we weren’t doing it right

We have had lots of problems with latch and I knew there was an issue, however was dismissed by endless midwives etc saying “it’s supposed to hurt in the beginning” and that I’ll get used to it. I think some discomfort is normal but real pain shouldn’t be (especially after the first few days) so if it does hurt - get help.

Having said that I’m glad we are doing it and trying. No harm in giving it a go if you’re able and willing?

mdh2020 · 04/09/2020 08:14

Do give it a try. I loved breastfeeding. There is something special about sitting quietly with your baby doing something only you can do. It really shouldn’t hurt and there is lots of help available out there

Blueuggboots · 04/09/2020 08:15

I loved breastfeeding and was really anxious about trying bottles!
I didn't experience any pain. It was hard at times when building supply etc.
I was gutted when I stopped at 3 months due to an undiagnosed dairy allergy. If I had the chance to do it again, I'd do it.

BertieBotts · 04/09/2020 08:16

IME no, not at all. There can be parts which could be described as painful but they may not happen to you, and in the normal course of things it's not painful at all.

The bits I've found uncomfortable:

At first when they are newborn there can be a little sort of ouch as they latch on, makes you breathe sharply. This should last for no longer than 10 seconds at the start of the feed and about 10 days max, then it completely goes away.

After birth breastfeeding causes contractions which is your womb going back to normal size. I think you get these anyway, but when breastfeeding you tend to associate it with feeding because that's when you notice it. Again it's only for the first couple of weeks or so. Also I never found these very bad, similar to mild period cramps although other people I know report they were worse.

When your milk comes in, or later if you have a long gap between feeds, and you get engorged that can be painful although again it only lasts a day or two. Feeding or expressing immediately relieves the discomfort. You will likely experience this whether you breastfeed or not (obviously if you do, it might happen more than once). Engorgement not dealt with or noticed can cause mastitis which is infection of the milk duct which is quite painful, but might not happen to you. I only had it with my second child. It is treated with antibiotics. Was not the worst illness I've ever had although not very nice.

When they are older occasionally they bite which is unpleasant. It tends to be a short lived phase.

When they are huge if you breastfeed until they are that long they can climb over you and elbow/chin you in the boob which isn't very nice! But you might stop before the gymnastics become an issue.

I never had thrush, badly cracked nipples etc, those things don't always happen.

The vast majority of feeds have been completely painless and just a neutral feeling.

flowerpotsandrain · 04/09/2020 08:18

The first 6 weeks I found the first few minutes extremely painful but the rest of the feed was fine. BF was so much more than feeding though, a painkiller, antibodies, sleep inducer, happy hormone maker etc. I ended up feeling proud to sustain a human rather than a machine. There were times when it was the only thing sick DC could keep down and kept us out of hospital, and times it was the only and instant thing that soothed pain or distress. I can't imagine not nursing my children, it's so much more than milk and was an essential part of my parenting.

FoxtrotSkarloey · 04/09/2020 08:21

This reply has been withdrawn

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flowerpotsandrain · 04/09/2020 08:21

Sometimes you are doing it 'right' and it can still hurt (DMER) but I'm so glad I persisted through it, and times of clogged ducts, thrush and mastitis. Temporary issues were insignificant compared to the benefits.

Robs20 · 04/09/2020 08:29

Currently bf DT1. She is 18 weeks and it hasn’t hurt at all (I was happy to bf of ff so would have stopped if it had hurt!). Good luck!

KitKatastrophe · 04/09/2020 08:34

Get an experienced midwife to help you with latching on in the early days and then it shouldnt be painful. I always had about 30 seconds of pain when the milk first started flowing and then it was fine. Even that eased off after 12 weeks or so.

GoudaGirl · 04/09/2020 08:39

It was pure agony for me for 2 weeks for first baby. Needle stabbing hot wire nails in palms of hands for every feed for the first 2 weeks. I kept going and then the pain stopped apart from then getting mastitis. Second baby- didn't hurt at all!

That said my first delivery was horrendous so it may have been to do with recovery from that. The thing is you can always try and stop if it isn't for you. You can always express milk too and freeze it too for a bit of freedom.

RowboatsinDisguise · 04/09/2020 08:43

I did find it painful for the first couple of weeks. For some reason letdown was horrible. But by three weeks in it was easy and painless, and was a hell of a lot more convenient than bottle feeding. It’s not always super easy and painless but why not try?

StillGardening · 04/09/2020 08:46

Hurt a bit until we got the latch sorted. And then I just got this lovely rush of hormones each time I fed, it was like being in a love bubble. I was really sad to stop. And it’s free and convenient and much less washing up ! I loved it. But I also gave a bottle of formula each night because mine was v big. So I think I had best of both worlds. Baby went to sleep each night with a full tummy as by the evening my milk was very low and watery. Not normally a problem !!

1940s · 04/09/2020 08:49

If you choose to breastfeed you can share the load with DH with him doing the winding and nappy change after every feed.

stoptheworldiwant2getoff · 04/09/2020 08:52

Genuinely I felt no pain whatsoever! However I did when pumping which is weird. So I quit pumping and just boob all the way.

stoptheworldiwant2getoff · 04/09/2020 08:53

I've got (horrible) massive nipples and do wonder if that's why I felt no pain

Chickoletta · 04/09/2020 08:57

I BF my two until they were 13 months each and never found it painful. A little uncomfortable for the first week or so but not painful. Don’t overthink it, just give it a go and see how you feel about it.

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