From the article: Breastfeeding: The First Two Weeks
Some women say they take to breastfeeding with ease, while others may experience confusion, frustration or a host of other things. How were your first two weeks of breastfeeding? A snap? So difficult you hate to think back on it? We want to know! Share your experiences with other moms. Tell Us Your Story
My first 2 wks
- My first 2 wks were filled with uncertainty, pain, delirium and not knowing that my son had a mild case of tongue tie. After meeting with an IBCLC and having his frenulum clipped, things got better. I'll forever be grateful for help! I nursed for 10 months and pumped while at work. Now in a few weeks I'm sitting for the IBCLC exam :)
- —Guest Sharen
Special Care were wonderful
- My daughter spent the first fives days of life in a Special Care Unit. (Nothing really wrong; just checks t make sure.) I was actually really lucky as it was like attending a parenting class as they 'taught' me how to breastfeed and the environment was quiet and calm. (No babies screaming as most weren't really able to.) I had to use an industrial breast pump as I couldn't be with her all the time and this brought the milk within 2-3 days. I've no idea how mothers cope when they have a baby to feed and their milk hasn't arrived. I was able to fully breastfeed my daughter when she came home and she never had formula, ever. I fed her until she was 15 months when, quite frankly, I'd had enough. I reckon the support I got from the nurses as the hospital was invaluable. My daughter actually came home from hospital on a regular 4 hourly feeding routine at less that 1 week! (I didn't manage to keep that going for long but on demand feeding worked fine for us.)
- —Guest Laura
Frustrating But Worth It
- Both of my children were small despite the fact that they were not premature. My last baby was 4lb 13oz. It took her a month to learn how to nurse. I pumped and fed her the milk from a syringe sometimes because I was worried. My mother was incredibly supportive and I stuck in there. I nursed her until she was a year old. At the age of 2 1/2 years Rylee has only been sick once. No colds or anything. She had a mild fever and that was it. I'm sure the BF helped. I had to stop nursing my boy at 5 mo. so I could undergo radiation treatment. I pumped extra milk and froze it for a month before my treatment. After my treatment I would mix about two oz. of the breast milk I'd frozen in with his formula. It lasted a couple of months and he was never sick despite the fact that I was working on a pediatric unit during RSV season. One week after I ran out of the frozen breast milk he caught RSV/ bronchiolitis. If you can't nurse, buy a good breast pump and give it in a bottle. Breastfeeding is hard
- —khayesrn
Second Time Easy
- With my first baby, breastfeeding was tough at first. She was in the NICU for a few days and we got a rough start. Each time I was worried about the latch, it was painful and I wasn't sure she was getting enough. Eventually we got the hang of it and nursed for 20 months. Just had my second and she has nursed like a champ since day one. So much easier this time!
- —Guest Ann
Very difficult
- The first 2-3 weeks were really hard. I was glad I had taken a breastfeeding class before I gave birth, at which the instructor urged us to give breastfeeding 3 weeks before we gave up on it. I thought about that remark many times when I was painfully engorged, or my nipples were burning, or I was waking up for the 5th time in one night, or leaking milk everywhere. Of course, it is so worth it, because all that stuff eventually resolved and then there was nothing more easy and satisfying than nursing my baby.
- —Guest catherine
Unbearable
- My first two weeks were almost unbearable. There was not question of giving up, I had made up my mind before giving birth that I'd breastfeed, come hell or high water. Everyone was supportive. But even with proper latch on, my nipples got sore. Wearing a shirt was a pain. Even bathing made me cry when the water hits my breasts. My baby was a milk-monster. Even his pedia said his sucking was strong. I had to have my husband on hand when I breastfeed, just so I have someone to whack when baby starts to nurse. He took pity and wanted to switch to formula at night when I rest, but I'd wake up and grab the baby from him. Thankfully, by the third week or so, things got better. My nipples healed and my milk supply got going so baby doesn't have to suck as strongly. Now, I have a healthy 4-month old who rarely cries nor get sick.I have a stash of expressed milk in my ref and I pump at the office. When I get home, I breastfeed directly and baby and I enjoy the togetherness of breastfeeding.
- —Guest Danniel
when it just gets worse and worse
- My first two weeks were hell! Breastfeeding was impossible. My baby would not stop crying constantly from not being able to get enough milk she was starving. I couldn't sleep and I was getting more and more stressed from the crying and not being able to do anything. Finally I swapped to bottle feeding and suddenly everything was perfect. She slept and i slept. I simply didn't have enough milk and no lactation consultant or medication was helping. All the techniques were useless. I'm pregnant again and still can't find any information that is helpful. My mum had 6 kids and couldn't breastfeed any. My sister has had 2 and neither could she. What is wrong?
- —Guest Rebecca
