Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

My little girl is only 8 days old today, so I know we haven't figured everything out yet, much less worked out a routine, but I feel like all I'm doing is feeding this little girl.

The ped said to make sure she feeds every 2-3 hours during the day, and if she can stretch it to 4 hours at night. We've been doing the 2 hour feedings during the day, but sometimes it takes her forever to get going. For instance, I just started with her at 5:50 and since she was so sleepy I couldn't get her to really eat until 7 (with a few breaks in between to try and wake her).

I was really looking forward to breastfeeding, and the bonding with the baby, but at this point I just feel like a cow with my breasts out all day long. It's so exhausting and I'm so jealous of DH because I feel like he gets to do all the fun things with her, while I"m shoving my boob in her face all day.

Does anyone else feel like this? Any suggestions are totally welcome!!!!

TIA!!!!

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

It totally get's better! The first few weeks are the hardest, but she'll start going longer stretches between feedings and becoming more alert. It actually is enjoyable now (and she's only 10 weeks old). I just made short term goals and took it day by day.

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

I wouldn't try and stretch feedings when bfing- they digest it faster than formula. dd ate every 2 - 2.5 hours during the day and at night would give one long stretch of 4-5 hours and then every 3 for every feeding after that.


It gets easier, i promise! My original goal was 8 weeks, then 12' then 6 months and I just finished up before dd's 8 month bday!

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

it's very hard in the beginning and it's a lot on you. it does get better. just try to relax and go with the flow. dont stress out about making sure you do things by the book. if she's really tired just keep trying and she'll eat what she needs. she'll start staying awake more and having better feedings really soon

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

Oh my goodness.....so many feelings came flooding back to me reading your post. I swear to you that breastfeeding gets better! My daughther is 10 months now and I VIVIDLY remember feeling the very same way you are. I was feeding her a bit more often - every 1 1/2 to 2 hrs from the time I started. I remember watching movies back to back with her just latched on. I also felt a bit resentful that my DH was able to do other stuff. You can absolutely get through this. I wish that I had known of this wonderful site at that time. I felt soooo lonely. It does get better. She will start by dropping a feeding at night. The extra sleep for you will be a blessing! I just want to warn you in advance that at times, your baby girl might "cluster" feed during the evening time to make up for the dropped feeding. Don't be alarmed by that....it's all normal. Congrats to you! :)

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

I have a 6 week old son and we are still working out the kinks. He has reflux so it makes it a little harder more feedings. I go to a great support group. If u are close to smithtown. You should come it is run by st. Catherines and the lactation consultant is awesome and helps you out all the time. You can fm me if u want details of the group

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

First of all, Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!

Secondly, it gets sooooooooooooo easy but dealing with the next 2 weeks will be the toughest time you'll deal with. It gets a billion times easier!!!!!!

I know it's very time consuming.... consider nursing while lying down so you can sleep/rest as well.

I'm still BFing my 20 month old and I wouldn't be doing that if it wasn't so easy and enjoyable. It's the best experience ever. If you can get through this, you'll look back and be thankful you did. IMO, it's much easier than cleaning and preparing bottles all the time. You just whip out a boob and instant food for the baby! Hang in there!

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

Yes it WILL get easier, I promise you that!!! I felt exactly like you in the beginning and so many times broke down crying to DH saying "I feel like a dairy cow". DH would laugh but it wasn't funny to me. I walked around with my boobs out all day (sorry for the TMI), my nipples were sore, I'd leak like a freaking faucet, and on top of it all, I was so sleep deprived I could hardly see straight. I'd be up every hour or two at night BFing DS all the while, DH would be peacefully sleeping next to me. Some nights I was so tired and jealous I wanted to pinch him. DS would nurse every 1.5 hours and it would take him about 45 minutes each session. What you are going through is 110% normal.

You'll see, soon enough it will all become second nature. Your DD will start becoming more efficient at nursing so your sessions will be shorter in duration, you'll be able to start spacing out the sessions, catch up on sleep....it will make a world of difference. The hardest part is just getting through these first few weeks. I didn't think I'd make it, but DS is now 15 months old and still going!

Like a PP mentioned, DD will go through growth spurts (usually at 6 weeks) and will start to cluster feed to build up your supply but it won't last that long. To keep my DS awake, I'd take off his clothes, tickle his feet, use a cold washcloth to wipe his face and belly, and tickle him under his chin.

Good luck and congrats!!!!

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

It's so hard in the beginning. If you stick it out it gets much easier. I don't remember exactly what I did, but I'm pretty sure we didn't wake her up until the 3 hour mark. At night if she was sleeping I let her. She would generally go 4 or 5 hrs and our ped was totally ok with this. If she was up and hungry I nursed on demand. Try rubbing the bottom of her feet, kind've tickling her. I think that worked best for us. Once you get past 4-6 wks it's so nice just being able to relax with the baby. Hth!

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

I agree I promise it gets better...I was super emotional in the beginning and thought I was never going to get through it...I ended up bf a full year with both kiddies...I do have to say it takes about 6 weeks to get into a grove..to see e signs, feel you are comfy with the latch and for them to get comfortable with it themselves...it is exhausting but it won't always feel that way...

Good luck...def ask more ques if you have more issues!

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

Posted by KennysMommy

First of all, Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!

Secondly, it gets sooooooooooooo easy but dealing with the next 2 weeks will be the toughest time you'll deal with. It gets a billion times easier!!!!!!

I know it's very time consuming.... consider nursing while lying down so you can sleep/rest as well.

I'm still BFing my 20 month old and I wouldn't be doing that if it wasn't so easy and enjoyable. It's the best experience ever. If you can get through this, you'll look back and be thankful you did. IMO, it's much easier than cleaning and preparing bottles all the time. You just whip out a boob and instant food for the baby! Hang in there!

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

I promise you that it gets EASIER!!!

I dreaded feeding my DS. I would break out in hives all over because I would get so anxious before a feeding fearing the pain that I was about to endure!

My nipples were cracked and bleeding and he would be on my boob for what felt like forever!!!

Between the engorgement, the pain, the bleeding, I was almost positive that I'd never make it......

BUT here I am 29 months later and still nursing my son.

You eventually get used to it, and the pain subsides. You'll get into a routine and you'll both get the hang of it!

Good Luck Mommy!!

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

BFing is so difficult at the beginning. DS would nurse for at least 45-60 minutes as a newborn. It was exhausting and painful for a while. It got much better around the 6-8 week mark. If you need to, take it day by day or even feeding by feeding. Growth spurts around 3 and 6 weeks will be rough, but once you get past them, things should get better.

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

I promise it gets easier. I didn't think I'd make it past week 3 and DD just turned 6 months and we're still going. I had almost every issue (oversupply, clogs, thrush, mastitis, food sensitivities) one BFing mama could have. So many people said they couldn't believe I was still doing it, but I just knew that if I hung on a little longer, things would get better. They did and all those issues cleared up. DD used to want to eat every 1-2 in the beginning. Now she eats 3, sometimes 4 hours. It only takes her 10 mins--15 max! Some days she only nurses 4 times a day. I can remember those days of 12+ feedings--it felt like it was all we did.

One of the best things I did was join a weekly support group through my hospital. It's all new moms--and some experienced ones. I always leave feeling empowered. I'd check with your hospital to see if they have something similar. Or, if you're in the huntington area, I'm happy to recommend my group.

I thought that I'd stop at 6 months, but right now, it seems like the easier option. Weaning seems so overwhelming to me--as does always having to prep bottles. I love that I never have to worry about forgetting her bottles at home or warming stuff up–I have everything she needs. And I haven't counted up how much I've saved over the past 6 months, but I'm sure it's a small fortune.

Hang in there. You're doing a great thing and I promise, it does get better.

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

those first few weeks are sooooo hard, not going to lie. It was probably one of the hardest things I had to do in those early weeks, besides functioning while being sleep-deprived. But I was determined to stick it out (even though so many told me it was okay to quit), and I'm glad I did.

Definitely join a support group...and take as much help as you can get from everybody!! So that when you do have that downtime, you can rest and be you for a little bit!!

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

You've got great advice from the ladies on here; for me the first two weeks were torture! My nipples were cracked and bleeding, I lived on midol and lansinoh. One I passed two weeks DD began to latch correctly, my milk fully came in and nursing became so easy. I basically fed her quite often (every two hours?) during the day and she was sleeping 7 hours by 6 weeks. I nursed her to 15 months and am so happy that I did.

Good luck to you and congrats! :)

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

First it does totally get easier.

I didnt BF DS#1 but really wanted to with DS#2. Well he is nearly 12 weeks old and I have quit so many times (in theory) its hard in the beginning. For me it was doubly hard because DS#2 would eat for 45 minute and then be off for 45 minutes and then want to eat again and I felt I had no time to care for DS#1 which was the part that really was killing me.

Now DS is 12 weeks, I wont lie I do not EBF, but I never really had the intent to do that. I am about 50/50 at this point but its by choice. DS had been taking a bottle since day 1 infact I didnt really try to BF until he was nearly 2 weeks old. Before that I did pumped milk and formula. And he never had nipple confusion.

If its imporant to you set small goals, say I just want to make it 2 weeks, or 4 weeks or 8 weeks. This makes if feel attainable. And feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel if its not working for you. For me also that big motivator is drs appointments. When DS wasnt for his 1 months appt I was ready to throw in the towel. At that poitn he was about 90% BF and 10% formula. I was sure he wasnt getting enough, I was sure I wasnt doing what was best for him. Then I went to the Dr and he had gained over 2lbs in 2 weeks and I felt a sense of accomplishment knowing I did that. So every time I tell my DH I am done BF...a week goes by and he says I thought you gave that up...but I just cant do it becuase now it is easy to BF, I FF because I like the freedom and we have a busy life and I am not a public BFer.

I also agree with the other posters, start pumping. Start 1x a day about an hour after your first feeding in the Am and let DH give a bottle. you will see how much more relaxed you will be when you dont feel like its 100% your responsibility!

GL! and Congrats!

Re: Breastfeeding Moms - Please tell me it gets easier!

Your doing great, keep it up.. in a few more weeks you will be sooo happy you did and it will become the best feeling. I find in the beginning to just think "My only job in life right now is only to lay here and feed" I also agree with pp, try to position laying down.