please tell me breastfeeding gets better!

right now i am in so much pain! my nipples are so sore and cracked its unreal.

in the hospital they had me supplementing elliot formula, which i now highly regret. but this is my first baby and they scared me into thinking he would lose too much weight since he is small. so i haven't supplemented with formula since i was in the hospital and my milk came in. but i was pumping and giving him a bottle with my milk maybe a couple times a day. mostly at night, so my partner could feed him and i could get some rest. now we are having some issues with him at the breast and i am assuming it's because of all the bottle feeding.

so today i decided that he wouldn't get a bottle at all anymore and i would soley breastfeed until breastfeeding is completely established. but sometimes he just doesn't want to latch on at all. he gets all mad and frustrated and it ends with both of us in tears. he gets all worked up and then when i calm him down enough to give him the breast and he latches on he kind of grunts and shakes his head really fast. then the whole episode happens again. usually this goes on for about 15-20 min before he finally gets a good latch and is calm enough to stay on. aahhh! it's so frustrating! so much that i was actually toying with the idea to give this up and just start giving him formula. now this isn't something i want to do so if anyone could give me some advice i would really appreciate it. it's so hard to know that your baby is hungry and you have the means to help him but it just doesn't seem to be working right.

and not to mention that he seems to be hungry constantly. i have been mostly trying to forget a schedule and watch for cues (hand eating, rooting etc) of hunger, but it seems that he is a pretty sleepy baby and can sleep for a good stretch and will wake up ravenous. i keep reading so much conflicting info. feed on demand. feed every 3 hours. wake baby up to feed. don't wake baby up to feed. i think i'm starting to go a little batty!

help!

 

It does get better, it does! Forget any kind of schedule, feed him when he's hungry, and he'll probably be hungy ALOT! It seemed like my son nursed non stop while he was small. Get some of that lanolin breast cream if you can for sore nipple. Try ice packs if your breasts are really sore and engorged, or even for those sore nipples. It will be painful and hard for a while, but it's so so worth it, and I swear the pain goes away. Kinda like birth, pain at first and maybe it helps us learn how strong we really are to stand that pain, strength we need as moms. Hang in there sister, it will get easier, just give it time.

 

Throw out the clock, and watch your baby. These first few weeks, he's supposed to eat constantly. That's normal. It's how he will establish the milk supply needed to keep him going when he's bigger and goes longer without nursing.

Find yourself a good nursing spot (couch or comfy chair with footrest), put a table near it with diapers, wipes, burp cloths, a pitcher of water and food for you, as well as books to read, something to knit or crochet, a radio, and TV remotes. You're going to be there for a long while.

And no more bottles. You're probably right and the babe is having a bit of nipple confusion. Get ahold of a good IBCLC in your area, or LLL, and keep on with the breast. No more bottles.

You're a good momma to try and fix the nursing problem instead of switching to formula straightaway. Good for you! *hugs*

 

((((((((((((((((((((((salty dog)))))))))))))))))))
My daughter and I had a lot of problems bfing, and I was never able to get over the fact that I put her onto formula...it still bugs me. granted, the people I was seaking for help were idiots, which is a huge reason why you shoudl find yourself a local LLL branch and a good LC. Like everyone else said, you should just watch your baby. I remember reading all the stuff, too, and it was pure hell trying to figure out who to listen to. Welcome to parenting. It's sooooooo frustrating sometimes....you're ALWAYS wrong according to someone. Trust your instincts and "learn" your baby. But yeah, deifinately get the support you need. This is WAY too hard to go at it all by yourself sometimes.
http://www.lalecheleague.org/
that's the site for la leache league...I'm not sure where you live, but you can find a local group on this site close to you. They're all over the place!

 

ok i've been soley breastfeeding since i wrote this and it's getting worse not better. i know it's only been two days. but i don't think this is for me. i feel so guilty even considering giving up but i am in so much pain and we are both frustrated. i called a lactation consultant and she told me to first heal my nipples and only pump for 24 hours. no feeding from the breast. then once my nipples have healed concentrate on getting a correct latch. well that's all fine and dandy except pumping hurts like a bitch too! i am literally in tears most of the day. so i think that for at least today i have to feed him formula. i don't think i can even attempt to breastfeed or pump anymore today. maybe tomrrow my nipples will feel better. man the guilt i feel over this is really bad but this is becoming a very horrible experience for both of us.

 

Feed him from a cup! Or a syringe! Don't give him another bottle! Don't make it worse!

Was the LC you called an IBCLC? Doesn't sound like it to me.

And if your breast pump is hurting you, it's either up to high or on your nipple wrong. Did anyone help you learn how to use it? My breast pump hurt until someone showed me I had the suction up too high!

don't give up, momma! It's a long hard battle, but totally worth it! I know it's so frustrating now, and you don't see an end in sight, but finding a good IBCLC (LLL can help you find one!) and keeping with it will make you feel so good when you look back on these first weeks and know you did the best for your baby!

*hugs* I know how it feels, momma. I've been there. But knowing that I did everything I could to feed my baby breastmilk makes me feel proud of myself and strong, and a good momma! You can do it!

 

Oooohhh I was in so much pain with breasfeeding our son

I had had a c section and almost died, losing lots of blood then went onto breast feed....I never thought it would get easier...didnt know whether the pain from the wound or my nipples was worse...it was AGONY!!!!

But it did get easier and I went onto feed him for a year.....

Just prayed a lot....

 

Oh yeah....

I never ever woke up our son to feed him.....i fed him when he was hungry....I went with the flow...

Try to relax if you can girl and dont worry....its hard...but it will ease

 

If you feel you want to give him a bottle, give him a bottle. You are so stressed, that's not going to help to be in pain. Let yourself heal for now. Formula will not hurt him, there are many mamas that have to give formula and have perfectly healthy children.

Maybe when you're feeling better and healed, you may want to try again. Hang in there.

 

check out this site http://www.mothering.com/discussions/forumdisplay.php?f=27 they have great advice on breastfeeding and a great support system. please go and check it out

 

ok so i have been pumping and supplementing in hopes that i could eventually go back to breastfeeding. the last week i decided to re-introduce the breast to elliot. and he has been latching on like a champ! i have been having no pain and finally i feel like we are bonding through breastfeeding. BUT now i have a new problem! the other day i noticed red bumps (kind of pimple like) on my breasts. mostly on the areola not on the actual nipple. they don't hurt except there is one on my right that all of a sudden hurts SO BAD. i can't nurse him or pump that side! i swear, if it's not one thing it's another! anybody have any idea what this might be? i am going to call my midwife as soon as her office opens, but i just thought i would see if anyone here had any insight. could it be plugged ducts?

 

congrats!!!!!!!!!!
I'm so happy to hear everything is going well for you now!
About the bumps, I'm happy you asked that. I got the same thing.
There are these things called montgomery tubricles that pretty much all women have, but they don't hurt. They do look like pimples, though. They're normal. But I also got these HUGE lumps form right on the out side of the areola and they hurt like hell! And they've never gone away...they felt like a huge boil!