I dont enjoy breastfeeding

[*Infinity*]

Hang in there hun, I know exactly how you feel. Its feeling like a constant battle here too ATM but nothing has tipped me over the edge enough to force me to throw it in. And.....I know DD is getting huge benefits from it so I'm doing it mainly for her. It hurts, one boob is always playing up somehow, she's a pincher and just won't bleeping lie still during a feed. I'm sick of having to wear clothes I can get easy access with. Gah!

I'm a bit with Traveller too.....I like to prove the doubters in my life wrong too (and there are lots of them).

Go the bathers though!

[Taurean]

I felt the same until DD was 12 weeks! I had SO many breastfeeding issues (severe nipple vasospasm being the worst) I loathed it most the time but when I was finally pain free, it was awesome I can't wait to BF again, when we have #2, I only hope it's a little easier next time.

You're not alone hon. I hope it gets easier soon

[tinkerbelle]

i hated it for the first month - it was so painful. but saw a lactation consultant that was really good and had it sorted within a week.. and as bubs has learned to attach better too its so much better. and for some reason, lying down on the bed with bubs beside me made a huge difference to the whole breastfeeding experience for me - as soon as i started doing that, both of us seemed to relax so much more. that lanisoh was a lifesaver in the first few weeks too..
oh traveller - i am totally with you on the proving others wrong thing - my MIL - every time she sees me she says ' oh he seems so much happier on the bottle, why dont you just bottle feed?'' (grr).

[onthefly]

You now how it goes - mothering is hard work and not all of it is fun, but it's so worth it.
Well done to you for sticking with it anyway - that's great! It wil get easier as she gets older. Soon you won't be spending nearly as much time feeding and hopefully it will also get a lot more comfortable for you by then.
I do remember that feeling of dread that it was time to feed DS again - I didn't hate it or love it, I just did it because he needed feeding but it just hurt so much early on.

[Cassius2]

i really didnt 'love' it this time in the beginning with Marta. i had gotten a *lovely* bout of nipple thrush and she had oral thrush (PITA to get rid of) and then had 2 bouts of mastitis. her attachment was also really crapulent and after 8 weeks we finally found out that she had a posterior tongue tie. the LC at the RWH told us to get our bums to an osteopath and VOILA! our BF journey was transformed! her attachment improved and i began to love it again.

i cannot say how much i recommend seeing an Osteopath for BF. my midwife told me that she believes that all kids should see one after they are born 'cause let's face it alot of squishing and squashing goes on

[Isadora]

Ohhhhh my goodness thank you so much everyone!!! I honestly thought I was on my own on this one.

Traveller & Infinity - I also have one person in my life who has nothing but negative comments to say about breastfeeding and I really know what you mean about proving them wrong. I am so gonna do it!!!

MadB - Yep I get that feeling of dread. Not always, but often enough.

Cassius - Glad it worked out for you and M in the end. I know that E has the attachment right, because I can now feel the difference between a good and bad attachment and whip her straight off if she happens to attach badly. She mostly has a good attachment though. I think its just that my nipples/boobs are a bit sensitive from simply feeding so much.

I must make some more trips to the beach and pool to get the girls out while I've got them hehehehehehe!!!

Thanks again ladies, very glad not to feel alone on this. 100% hanging in there for baby.

[onthefly]

oh yeah, i forgot to congratulate you on the girls I do like having boobs too (they're not much, but they're mine)

[sloane]

another one who wasn't a huge fan! well, i love the idea of BFing & i love the benefits it's giving my DS but it was a hard slog to get to a place where it was just something i didn't overthink or dread.

but you can & will get there - it really does settle down with regards to how demanding it feels on your emotions & also physically. i only fed football hold for about the first 9 months. i don't feed in public (absolutely nothing against it - love seeing other mums BFing in public, i just detest my boobs - but that's not a BFing thing ) but we still got out & about. i found which parent's rooms had good feeding areas.

i'm just about to start weaning & DS is almost 19 months. actually, now i'm kind of sad to think it'll be coming to an end.

[Manhattan]

another one who wasn't a huge fan! well, i love the idea of BFing & i love the benefits it's giving my DS but it was a hard slog to get to a place where it was just something i didn't overthink or dread.

but you can & will get there - it really does settle down with regards to how demanding it feels on your emotions & also physically. i only fed football hold for about the first 9 months. i don't feed in public (absolutely nothing against it - love seeing other mums BFing in public, i just detest my boobs - but that's not a BFing thing ) but we still got out & about. i found which parent's rooms had good feeding areas.

Wow Sloane, my thoughts and feelings exactly, even down to the feeding in public, I just couldnt do it.

I initially struggled so much with b/f as I didn't enjoy it, but it was something I was so determined to do, so I was often torn. I often thought there was something wrong with me as I kept reading about mothers that loved feeding, and the closeness it brought, but I just didnt feel that at all.

I think that some of us just aren't earth mothers, and there's nothing wrong with that.

x

[Artechim]

Isadora, I am another that never really liked BF. I do it, but I have never understood how people love it. It just seems weird to me, having someone sucking on my boob! And all the time! I totally get you with being permanently attached to the baby. Mine have both been sooo clingy. I also don't understand the BF bond that people talk about, it seems that I missed out on that.

It will get easier and more comfortable with time and you may grow to really enjoy it. But if you never think it is fabulous then that is alright too.

[Cass72]

Your totally normal ..... and thankfully that means I am too! Yes, I've struggled through many days when I just want to stop because it's just "ARGH!!!" and, dare I say it......an inconvenience to me - why can't someone else do it?!! - popping a bottle in just seems so much easier. But I get through and then I get past it and feel quite proud of myself for sticking it out!

[peanutter]

it gets easier, they get quicker, it hurts less, and it can become more enjoyable

be kind to yourself ...

[Miss K]

Isadora I totally understand where you are coming from theres days I say to DH that thats it I'm going down and getting formula (I never do) And the way I have tricked myself into it is saying to myself I am burning more calories breastfeeding and its better for bub the only 2 things keeping me sticking to it...

Yet when DH gives her an expressed bottle I hate not feeding her go figure LOL!! It does get easier though I have found that now I am starting to not hate it anymore! Good on you for giving it a go xx