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BellaBoo 
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 Topic: BF is stressful!
Posted: 20 December 2007 at 2:17pm |
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Not only do I have sore nipples but sometimes I am BF for 2hrs staight! I constantly worry bout wether she is getting enough. I thought it was going to be enjoyable- boy was I wrong
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peachy
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Location: Auckland
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 2:28pm |
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Topsy I so know how you feel! I felt exactly the same in the first few weeks I absolutely hated b/f, I would cry when Lauren woke and wanted to be fed! I felt like such a failure!
Honestly hun hang in there it does get way way better and it does become enjoyable!
As for bubs getting enough, I stressed majorly about this as I am such a "measureable" person, I needed to know that she was getting the right amount! There is no right amount, if they are hungry they will let you know!!
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caraMel
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 2:32pm |
 Yup it sure is!
Those first 4 weeks are really rough but it does get better, I promise!
I didn't start enjoying feeding till Benjy was about 3 months old, but it definitely got easier after that first month when my nipples stopped hurting and the engorgement settled down.
Are you using any cream on your nipples after feeds?
A little bit of purelan cream after each feed really helped me (not too much though or they bubs tends to slide right off the boob, lol!)
And sunshine between feeds speeds the healing too.
Hang in there Topsy!
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Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and:
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BellaBoo
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 2:39pm |
I am determined to keep going. Even when she latches on correct it is still painful as I can feel her hard gums doing all the work. She is very stop/start too which means quite often I am breastfeeding almost non-stop. My hindmilk seems to dissappear by mid afternoon and she just cant be satisfied. I want to be able to enjoy her without the thought of "not again" when she shows hungry signs 
Thankyou for your encouragement. I cant wait till it becomes easier.
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Mum2ET
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 3:09pm |
Like the others said....hang in there, with time it will get easier and you will start to enjoy your special one on one time with your little girl.
She sounds like she is going through a bit of growth spurt at the moment, which is why she is feeding all the time...hopefully it settles down soon.
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peanut butter
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 3:17pm |
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all sounds normal Topsy. It will get better and is so worth it to hang in there. I say that not because "breast is best" but because breast is cheap, easy and always there. Great when you are disorganised!
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MonicaMouse
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 3:20pm |
I felt the same at some stage with Blair. All it seemed I was doing was feeding and to be honest it was beginning to get me down.
Hang in there
If its warm chances are bubs will want to feed more, and Breast milk is generally lower in fat in the evening as well which will contribute to wanting to feed more. Remembering this along with growth spurts made me feel better. Silly question, but are you getting wet and dirty nappies? Off the top of my head I can't remember the suggested amt, but its a sign that milk is getting in. Remember that not all babies poo every day thou
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Blair 15/10/2007
Daniel 30/07/2009
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BellaBoo
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 3:33pm |
yip lots of wet nappies and poops. She is putting on weight too. I just wish it was half an hour at a time as I hate sitting there in pain for 2hrs and still having a hungry baby. Oh and now I have hickies on my nipples from expressing
Edited by Topsy
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Andie
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 3:34pm |
Hugs to you, BF can be sooo difficult to start with, and it's not that you're doing anything wrong, it's just that you and baby are both learning this completely crazy-new thing and it takes a bit of time to get the hang of it. I used to cringe when Ella woke and cried for a feed in the early days too, because it was such a horrible experience for me - it doesn't stay that way so don't panic about things always being like this! Ella went through a rather long stage of feeding for 3 - 5 hours straight every afternoon/evening - so I know it can kinda do your head in when you're that couch-bound. If you need to get up part way through and just go outside for a breather or grab a drink or snack, I'd say after feeding for around 40 mins you could safetly un-latch baby and do what you've gotta do, knowing that she's not going to starve after a lovely long 40-min feed, before settling back on the couch for the rest of the feeding sesh. Even if she grizzles away, if you choose a time when there's someone who can cuddle her there, she'll be OK. Maybe ask your plunket nurse about it too?
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Andie
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bub
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 4:10pm |
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you get threw it all i didnt like bf at the start etha coz it was so sore and i thort i was doing everthing wrong but it does get better i promise.
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mother to Brianna, Amelia & Mathew.
 
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bookwyrm
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 4:44pm |
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I am not breast feeding yet, as still awaiting for little Phoenix to arrive, but Topsy, I just wanna give you some support. I will be next in line for all of this. I think you are doing a great job, if she is weeing, pooping and gaining weight then that is fantastic. I am just sorry that it hurts so badly, but as the above ladies mention, this period is to pass. I know that doesn't help much now, but maybe something to look forward to. Try the breaks between feeds, just see how that goes and contact Plunket maybe.
I am nervous, this could be me (and it will be) real soon. Please remind me of all my own advise when I am in tears.
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Salifer
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 7:43pm |
Topsy - hugs to you. I too have had a rough start with BF...so I send you loads and loads of support....my baby is 9 wks old and the pain only stopped last week!!!
Its still not that comfortable when she latches but way better without the "razorblades in my nipples" feeling I had for 2 months. Turns out we both might have had thrush.....so if you have hot stabbing pin feeling...ask your MW about medication.
Everyone told me it would get better, I didn't believe them....but it does....I would cry nearly every day with the pain....everyone told me to give up and go to the bottle....but so stubborn and didn't want to give in......
You know what...it does get better...easier...faster...could do it up-side-down!!! Truely....hang in there....
  
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NovemberMum
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 8:36pm |
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oh yes I know about the pain ..I would be in tears cause of the pain and cringed whenever Megan would want to feed. I did have some people say to give her formula but I had milk it was just a matter of us both learning how to latch on properly.
there are some days even now when Megan will feed almost every hour which does tire me out..she does tend to do it during the day so it usually means she sleeps a good 6 hours at night.
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nikkitheknitter
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 10:32pm |
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Ooooer I remember it too. It was at its worst at around day 10 and then one day, some time later, I remember sitting there breastfeeding and suddenly I realised it didn't hurt anymore! Brilliant day, that was.
Someone told me once that babes get 90% of their feed in the first 5 minutes. In saying that, I remember it taking over an hour to feed Hannah. She'd just keep going forever if she had half the chance!
Anyway, sounds like you are doing fab. It'll get better soon - I promise!
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EmDee
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Posted: 20 December 2007 at 10:46pm |
Just reiterating what the other ladies have already said - it does get better! I remember making a deal with myself that if I couldn't handle it after 2 weeks, then I would give up. 2 weeks came and it was still hard but not so bad, so I kept going and we both learnt how to do it properly. Eventually it became a beautiful thing and I cried when we stopped at 16 months.
I have to say I had unrealistic expectations - I thought it should be easy and painfree from the start!
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3boys
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Posted: 21 December 2007 at 7:56am |
As the others said - it will get easier. Your baby will get faster and more efficient at feeding.
Another little gem I know - Purelan - it is great for sore nipples in the early weeks - put in on each nipple before each feed. You can get it from a chemist if you don't already have it. It is safe for baby and provides a little barrier over your nipples.
Just remember all that sucking is so important as it is establishing your mill supply.
I know how you feel though - I used to cringe when my babies would first latch on in those early days
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BF is stressful!
