It's taken nearly 5 months

[~Phoenix~]

for me to finally realise I'm comfortable breastfeeding & I can do it

I'd always planned to breastfeed if I could and knew of the sore nipples, possible attachment issues etc but noone ever warns of:

* Dreading each feed due the pain associated with the first few sucks they take for the first 6-8 weeks.
*Needing to plan each feed about half hour in advance to make sure I'd gone toilet, had my glass of water, make sure I had my mobile, house phone, remote control and my mountain of pillows all in place before I sat down to feed.
*That having larger breasts made it almost impossible to cradle hold feed in the early days and rugby hold it was.
*BB's that leaked like a garden hose 24hours a day but when I tried expressing would only get about 50ml combined total out of both breasts on a good day.
*Worrying constantly DD wasn't feeding/getting enough as she only fed for 15mins max and the midwives and CAFHS nurses kept saying you "should" feed 20mins one side and then try the other.
*continously on here or googling ways to increase my supply or looking for symptoms she wasn' getting enough
*Staring enviously at all the mums out and about sitting comfortably feeding their babies, while I worked on a mad time schedule to make sure I got home as there was no way I could feed in public without my 15pillows

That was until the other day when I was sitting outside enjoying some sunshine while "cradle" hold feeding my DD when I decided I was hot wanted to go inside, so I managed to take off my sneakers, goes inside and get settled all while DD was attached and happily feeding away, breastfeeding was finally easy

When did it all fall into place for you?

Oh and I have also tackled the public breastfeed and won!

[Shanti]

well done to you!!!! Huge achievement!!

We had lots of early challenges with BF (attachment, milk supply, cracked nipples you name it) and it wasn't until 4mths that it all fell into place for us and no more comp feeds for DD!!! At that stage I remember thinking the same as you, wow this is just great, how easy it is now and how worth all that effort it is!! I too remember how hard it was having to rush home to feed on the other side as DD would only take my L side when in cradle position or lying down!!!! that was hard!!!

Isn't it wonderful when you reach that stage where you can say "ah this is just easy" good on you, you have done well!!!!

Here's to many more months/years of your BF relationship!!

[Erin_25]

Awwww, well done!!!!! know one ever tells you of all the challenges you face - the next one is what to wear so you can feed in public without having to wrestel with your own clothes LOL!

For me I was running after DS1, so I managed to feed & walk around from the start, it took me a while to get comfy with feeding in public but 9months on & it's not prob at all!

[onthefly]

Yep, it took us a few months too. Well done!

[~Phoenix~]

Thanks girls! You just really aren't warned at the hard work it can be to BF. I'm stoked to get this far as in the beginning we had real issues getting her to feed and they had to hand express me and she was syringe fed the first 3-4 feeds and there were times I just felt like giving up.

I'm just thankful to the helpful and persistant midwives in hospital who kept me going and encouraging me that she would get it eventually.

[sloane]

i'm glad it's all fallen into place for you now

and you know what - i was actually thinking about this about an hour ago when i was feeding DS before his nap. i was thinking that i couldn't pinpoint exactly when i moved from being completely paranoid, hormonal, emotional & frustrated to thinking that BFing was something of a breeze (not to mention a godsend for when DS was upset).

now i'm just those things about other stuff!