how bad does breastfeeding hurt....

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

and does it get easier. i am scared that i wont be able to breastfeed for some reason. is it really painful, or hard to do?

 

[lucypevensie]

Like lots of things in life this is one of those issues that women have varying experiences with. I'm pretty sure that most women complain of discomfort at the very least when it comes to breastfeeding. For me it hurt for about 3 weeks, and then I started to toughen up and the pain stopped. It was also VERY hard to get one of my kids to latch on (the other one was a piece of cake). It hurt so ungodly terribly and she was sleepy and hungry and didn't understand, and I hated it and wanted to throw in the towel, yet wanted her to nurse so I could empty my painfully engorged chest!

OK, I don't want to horrify you. Maybe it will be painless and simple for you and your baby. I'll just conclude this by saying that if you get past the first 3-4 weeks you will probably have it down for good.

 

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

Like lots of things in life this is one of those issues that women have varying experiences with. I'm pretty sure that most women complain of discomfort at the very least when it comes to breastfeeding. For me it hurt for about 3 weeks, and then I started to toughen up and the pain stopped. It was also VERY hard to get one of my kids to latch on (the other one was a piece of cake). It hurt so ungodly terribly and she was sleepy and hungry and didn't understand, and I hated it and wanted to throw in the towel, yet wanted her to nurse so I could empty my painfully engorged chest!

OK, I don't want to horrify you. Maybe it will be painless and simple for you and your baby. I'll just conclude this by saying that if you get past the first 3-4 weeks you will probably have it down for good.

Thanks. I just want honesty. I am glad to hear it gets easier. I will stick it out as long as possible. I just want to kind of have an idea of what to expect, so i dont go into knowing nothing of the pain. thanks!

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

Yes, it does hurt to start with. When your milk comes in you will be engorged and it will hurt. The pain varies from woman to woman but for me this was the most painful time. Both baby and mother are learning how to nurse and it takes time getting used to it but the pain will pass. The best thing you can do is arm yourself with knowledge. The ladies at Google Groups - Breastfeeding are a wonderful nursing support group. They are a wealth of knowledge and have great ideas for getting through the first 6 weeks - cos after that it's smooth sailing .

 

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

thanks so much John 316

i will check that out!

 

[Scostar]

I can't remember if breastfeeding hurt. I was only a baby at the time!

Sorry. I couldn't resist.

james

 

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

thanks for the info Blue Impulse..... i am going to give it a try too and i hope it works out, i think i can get through the pain

 

[sara elizabeth]

For me there were two different types of pain. The pain of engorgement lasts about 1-2wks and is because the breasts are very full of milk. At that point I loved having the baby nurse because it relieved the pressure. The other pain came from cracked nipples. I found though that putting breast cream (like Lansinoh) on after every feeding worked wonders.
Breastfeeding was wonderful for me. I loved having that bond with my babies. There is something so special about filling that natural role.

 

[erin74]

I was told to stick it out for 6 weeks, and that things should have settled down by then.

Small tips - if it hurts after the let down (which is the needle like pain that a lot of women experience) take the baby off and re-attach - no matter how hard attachment was. The damage that is done by a bad latch is really hard to get past - grazed nipples, etc - while you are still feeding. It is much better to re-attach the baby and have a good attachment, even if it takes a little longer. Lansinoh is one of the few creams that does anything at all. A really good way to treat grazed nipples though is to put a bit of breastmilk on them and expose them to the sun - not always very practical, but excellent if you can do it.

I won't overwhelm you with more tips now, especially if they are not problems that you are actually experiencing at the moment!

I have worked through all sorts of issues with breastfeeding. I would be more than happy to help you out, and answer any questions you have, at any stage with it. I really believe that breastfeeding is great for babies, and would be more than happy to support you through it. I am sure that there are other women here who would do the same.

Erin

 

[Tawny]

I agree with the ladies on here, it does hurt for a bit but it really does get easier. One tip for the cracked nipples thing is if, when your baby has finished her feed just squeeze a bit of milk out and rub that on. Works wonders.

Nicky

 

[jazzbird]

I was going to speak similarly to what Blue said.

I have been reading the book Mother's Intention this week and yesterday I was reading about breastfeeding. Of course I have no personal advice to offer you at this time, but I thought this might be of some comfort to you:

It is not "normal" for your breasts to hurt while using them for the function for which they were designed. If it hurts, there is something wrong. If it is allowed to continue, it will be a miserable experience leading to probable early weaning. There may be an adjustment period, with unfamiliar and sometimes uncomfortable sensations, while mother and baby learn, but it should not be allowed to degrade into an excrutiating ordeal.

So, according to the author, there probably will be some discomfort in the beginning, but it isn't supposed to be painful. I know that many women have stories that counter that. I hope I don't sound naive posting such positive information without the experience. I just truly believe that birth and feeding can and should be a wonderful experience. Educate yourself as much as possible and have a support system. Do you see a midwife? If so, she will probably be very helpful as you transition.

I really enjoyed reading this section of the book. It is amazing how complexly God created our bodies. There are so many hormones released during birth and breastfeeding that help mother and child bond. I just think that is so cool.

 

[selune]

The only real pain I had was when I had cracked nipples which led to a mastitus infection, when I was engorged, and when baby tried nipping with new teeth. The engorgement pain went away as soon as nursing started. Mastitus was taken care of by antibotics (had that twice and the faster you get it taken care of the less pain there is). The teeth was another issue that just had to be corrected through patience and reinforcement.

 

[katelyn]

So, according to the author, there probably will be some discomfort in the beginning, but it isn't supposed to be painful. I know that many women have stories that counter that. I hope I don't sound naive posting such positive information without the experience. I just truly believe that birth and feeding can and should be a wonderful experience. Educate yourself as much as possible and have a support system. Do you see a midwife? If so, she will probably be very helpful as you transition.

I agree with this...some of the stories I have heard make me very nervous, but the impression I have gotten is that getting off on the right foot is essential. I have heard that the hospital I am delivering at has an excellent lactation consultant to help with proper latch-on, which makes me feel a little better. Otherwise you can always check in at your local La Leche League and I'm sure they'd help you figure it out.

 

[Zoomer]

It's not that bad. It was the most painful when I was learning how to get my daughter to properly latch on. When the child is properly latched on there should not be any pain. My lactation consultant told me that after the first week, if I felt pain that I was doing something wrong.

 

[Leanna]

Its the best thing for the baby! If you can do it, do it. Stick with it as long as you can, but if you can't for whatever reason, don't feel bad about it. I felt like a failure for a month or more, but now I realize my son has done fine without breastfeeding. I've already written my story out somewhere on this forum and I don't want to do it again sorry! But just remember, the goal is a healthy baby and a calm healthy mother.

 

[erin74]

Can I also say - if you are having any problems find a lactation consultant or midwife who has time to spend with you. With my first I spent 5 days in hospital and I had heaps of rushed midwives, and a rushed visit from a lactation consultant, and they discharged me as breastfeeding successfully, when it so wasnt' happening. It wasn't until I found our local early childhood nurse, who was a lactation consultant, that I finally got some help. She came to me once a week and I went to her once a week, and she also referred me to a speech pathologist. Between the two of them, and the two of us we got it sorted. If she hadn't taken the time to help me though, I would have stopped. I am so glad that I didn't, cause I knew it was the best thing for my son, and I think I would have found it really hard stopping. As it was I was very close to being diagnosed with post natal depression. Without her support I am certain I would have been a lot worse off emotionally.

my 2 cents

Erin

 

[karla]

"Lansinoh is one of the few creams that does anything at all" - I totally agree. I was a lifesaver for me It does hurt to begin with, but like most of the women already said, the pain in temporary and it does get easier and will not hurt forever.

Another thing I would suggest is that if you plan on pumping at all, invest in a good pump (I think that you can rent them at some hospitals) It makes all the difference.

 

[Picture.Of.Obedience]

thanks ladies for the advice... ....i am looking forward to the expierence...the good and bad parts

 

[bliz]

Start preparing now. Buy a nursing bra and walk around with the flaps down. Your nipples will get more air and they will toughen up a bit being rubbed by your shirt.

Le Leche League is a great source of support and information. Not doctors! Most doctors know next to nothing about nursing and their solution to any problem or concern is always to turn to the bottle.

Getting the baby properly latched on it important. The baby needs to take the nipple and part of the aerola in it's mouth. Way too many women only get the nipple in - curls my toes to think of it! - and far less milk gets through making for frustrated and unhappy baby and Mommy.

 

[Neenie1]

I wouldn't say that it was "painful" I went through some discomfort, but not really pain. Only when it was a bad attachment. Ooooh, that is painful. When you have a bad attachment (as someone here has already described, you need to take the baby off) Those grazed nipples are AWFUL. that is what was painful for me. I got some lansinoh cream and that is wonderful, it only took a day or two to heal up, (in the meantime I just fed from the other side, probably why it's so nice we have 2 ROFL)


Generally speaking I would say the first few weeks were more discomfort than pain, just getting used to feeding the baby. I had a few back problems because you have to get into the right position, if you are bending over hte baby to feed, you might get sore back, so you can use a pillow to rest the baby on to feed.