Hands up who found breastfeeding easy? ….. *crickets chirp* …. yep that’s what I figured, I am sure most of you had one problem or another – mastitis, cracked blistered nipples, thrush, over supply, under supply and the list goes on!
Me …. I could tick every box (except over supply).
Breastfeeding is not easy, in fact it’s hard, emotional and painful. But no one really talks about it. All you hear is “it’s such a wonderful bonding time” ….. “it’s so beautiful and natural”. Those I do agree with, about 6 weeks after my son was born and we had the hang of feeding it was a wonderful bonding time and it was beautiful. But before that it was hard, painful and stressful. We only fed until 12 weeks as I had really low milk supply.
A friend of mine had a baby last week is very young and told me she thought breastfeeding came naturally. She had no idea that she would have to learn these skills and she said it set her up for a big fall. She had a traumatic labour that ended in a c-section and she held on to the thought of holding and feeding her baby only to be hit with how hard and painful it is.
So lets get it all out in the open, did breastfeeding work for you? What issues did you have and how did you overcome them? Any tips or advice for other mums and mums to be when it comes to breastfeeding?
We will be putting together an article about breastfeeding and will be using all of your answers in our article so share your story! If you have a longer story and you would like to write it down and share it on Beyond The Baby please email us submission@beyondthebaby.com.au
Looking forward to hearing your stories!
Well you have said it all… it can be great and also not so great!!! I had a really pushy midwife in the birth suite after the birth who pushed baby onto suck and I ended up with grazed nipples before the day was through… this made the next two weeks very painful. Lucky a midwife late that night was able to help with a better position/hold. I ended up getting cream and nipple shields to help with feeding. I pushed through and generally don’t have any trouble now. I love the time we have together that no one else can have
My partner has been very helpful throughout and is great at making dinner when baby is feeding 
Every little bit helps and it is all worth it!!!
I can tick every box there too !! After 11 months Flynn self weaned after biting me for about 8 weeks ARGH !! It was hard work the first time and is the same the second time- it may be a beautiful and natural thing but that doesn’t mean it comes naturally it is definitely a learned skill that takes perseverance and resolve : ) Well worth the effort but not easy !!
Oh and I am the same Melissa with the cream and the shields and I still have to use them occasionally 6 weeks on !!
my little man is four weeks old,
,
I spent the first week of his life in hospital and the first four days in tears and buzzing midwives trying to figure out why my baby would latch on for everyone but me,
A friend eventually told me to make sure I was putting my nipple at the top of the mouth and the next feed we got it
But I ended up with damaged nipples cos I was told it was ment to hurt like hell when they latch on and ended up with mastitis and on antibiotics within the second week of my bubbys life.
I love feeding and while it’s something I adore I certainly didn’t find it ‘easy’ or ‘natural’ to get the hang of.
The repeated mastitis was something I’d never wish upon anyone (nor the oversupply). I did find breastfeeding easy, apart from dealing with mastitis but for me, it wasn’t really an enjoyable time… WET HEAT (when hand expressing too)and cool face washers otherwise, alternating was great for the mastitis all three times.
Everyone is different and no two babies are the same. Try different holds, positions, shields, creams, expressing manually or with an electronic pump. You never know what will work for you and bub until you try so be open to suggestions.
NO MATTER WHAT, don’t let anyone ever make you feel guilty for the feeding choices you make for yourself and your child.
breast feeding is so hard and i agree that you shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for using formula to feed your bubba if breast isn’t working. The pressure on women to be “super”women and get the whole baby thing is just so sad for any mum. I know I’m there at the moment – breast feeding is hard, the comping makes me feel guilty. I could go on, yes breast is best but what is best for you and your bub should be what is best and if you need to formula feed so be it. No one should be made to feel that they are depriving their baby – walk in someone else’s shoes and don’t judge!