Comments on: Breastfeeding sucks

By: When to give up on breastfeeding | PhD in Parenting

When to give up on breastfeeding | PhD in Parenting — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:39:29 +0000

[...] In addition to Colleen’s story and my story, you can read the stories of Lindsay, Maria, Dani, Katrina, Beth, Tara, Christina and many others that replied to my poll. You can go to message [...]

By: nomotherearth

nomotherearth — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:04:38 +0000

My first was a tiny bit tongue-tied, and boy did the breastfeeding every get better after a tiny little snip. I was floored. I had no idea – and no doctor had even thought to look (It took a trip to Dr Newman to find out. He’s not the nicest person but he did help..)

The hands in the way drove me nuts this time. I had to pin the baby down more than once.

By: Steph

Steph — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 21:38:52 +0000

Hi there I am new to your blog, I remember all to well the feeling of my little ones latching on, I even tried to show my husband how much it hurt by pinching the hell out of his nipples I still don’t think he quite got the message. However I am in shock that you are up and blogging when you have 2 other kids at home as well as a new new born! You rock! Best of luck I am sure it will get better.

By: suze

suze — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:14:58 +0000

and suddenly I no longer want the breast-feeding experience…lol. (Fair, freckled, red head here…) Luckily my first child is still just a thought and a few hesitant discussions with the fiance at the moment, so by the time we actually get around to producing a baby, I’ll have forgotten all about this post…

(I think the captcha is telling me i stink… ‘move, shower’)

By: DaniGirl

DaniGirl — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:35:59 +0000

Awww, you guys are so sweet!! It’s amazing to hear how many of us have gone through the same thing — I only wish I had known you all when I was struggling with Tristan’s BF issues!! Solidarity, sisters!

I’m honestly not sure that an LC could help, though. We saw a slew of them when I was nursing Tristan and they were a huge help, but I’m pretty sure we have a good strong latch and good positioning — I just have really sensitive nipples. I remember reading somewhere that people with freckles, fair skin and red hair (well, mine’s dark with reddish tones) are the most likely to have sore and sensitive nipples. Lucky me.

Lansinoh — I live in it!! Got a tube stashed on each floor!!

Ugh, the baby who did not sleep all night is also not sleeping all morning. It’s our first venture out to the world in a minute, dropping off the boys and then on a major expedition to the drug store. My world is suddenly very, very tiny!!

By: Terry

Terry — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:32:37 +0000

Dani- good for you for hanging in there! I really recommend Joan Fisher as a lactation consultant in Ottawa. Her technical knowledge is incredible, and I do believe that she can fix all breastfeeding problems! I used her with both my babes, and her professional expertise was well worth the investment. Call a LC right away! Don’t suffer any longer!!!n

By: Michelle Dunn

Michelle Dunn — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:25:17 +0000

I totally feel you!! I know what you mean, my breast feeding days hurt rather badly…but I have to admit that I do miss that closeness with my child, that part was always nice and made up for all the pain.

Trying To Have a Baby – A Mother’s Story

By: juls

juls — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:24:47 +0000

The LC was wonderful for me. I can recommend Lana Matthews in Ottawa. She is off Conroy (I have her number if you like). The midwives did as much as they could for me, but Lana helped so much with the pain. My friend’s baby was tongue-tied. I went with her for moral support when he got it cut. He didn’t even blink. It took 30 seconds!

Good luck and I really hope the pain goes away soon!

By: nancy

nancy — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:52:06 +0000

It will get better. I remember my nipples being so sore I would SLATHER on the Lansinoh and sit there with no shirt on…for hours, really very attractive!!

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:38:39 +0000

I feel your pain, sister. I had the WORST time with Emily and breastfeeding. It was so painful. There was blood, cracks, sores, blisters; I sometimes cried when she latched on. It took about 4 weeks until it stopped hurting and I went on to nurse her until she was almost 15 month. Still, it seriously sucked and I am there with you.

By: mespetitesabeilles

mespetitesabeilles — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:22:58 +0000

Dani – I’m breaking out of my always the reader, never the commenter role…great suggestions on here. Great post. Brings back memories!
I used the Medela Purelan for both Bees, and it was awesome. Bee #1 and I had a terrible experience nursing for the first couple of weeks. The nurses kept telling us it was the most natural thing, but each one made us try nursing a different way, which only made it worse So when we came home and it didn’t get better, we went to a LC. It was the BEST thing we could have done. She helped us within the first 15 minutes we were there. Saw her twice, and although it cost us money, it was well worth it, bc everything got significantly better right away! With Bee #2, I didn’t have any problems at all bc I had already been coached on it!
I feel your pain…and hope you find something that makes it better. If you’d like the LC’s name/website, let me know.
You have 3 gorgeous boys…sure to be wonderful men Lucky Mommy!

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:50:56 +0000

I found Vitamin E spread over, then 5-10 mins under a “heat lamp” ( I used a bedside light that got hot) and perfect positioning all helped. And that was with my 3rd – no problems with #1 and #2.
But the bleeding and pain brought on tears – sorry that you have to go through it.

By: Chantal (Bread Crumbs)

Chantal (Bread Crumbs) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:47:25 +0000

Some tenderness and getting used to the idea of doing it again is normal. Pain, cracks, and rawness are not. Also, the burning pain (especially when air hits them) is a sign of either thrush or Reynaud’s Syndrome. I think you should delve deeper with the midwife who speculates there is a problem. Maybe try Birthcare Ottawa (www.birthcare.ca I believe) or another LC your midwives can put you in touch with?

By: Ella

Ella — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 22:11:50 +0000

I had so much pain last time that I actually cried.Ed

I’m already putting on lanolin in preparation even though I’m not due for five weeks, that’s how much I’m dreading it…

By: cinnamon gurl

cinnamon gurl — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:53:50 +0000

Lansinoh! You DO have some right?

As for the possibility of him being tongue-tied, maybe you should see a lactation consultant? I was shocked by the difference (and increased value) of information from the lactation consultant versus the midwives and public health nurses. And I didn’t have any trouble and the sore nipples stopped after a few days, and I still found value in visiting with a lactation consultant.

But I remember that ambivalence, that conflict between wanting wanting to nourish my precious new baby and not wanting any more pain.

captcha: server woe

By: Renee

Renee — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:42:04 +0000

Oh Dani, I so remember those days. But the great thing is knowing how much easier it gets and how nothing beats the feeling you get after you get over the hump! Good luck!

By: Jeanne

Jeanne — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:51:08 +0000

I’m due with my second child in three days and was hoping that breastfeeding only hurt with the first child. Like my nipples are now tough from the first go around. Well at least now I know that the first few weeks will hurt again. Thanks for the heads up.

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:44:58 +0000

Ouch. Really. Ouch.
I didn’t have too many nipple problems, but I remember my boobs being hard as rocks and hot as fire. Ouch.
You are a champion for hanging in there! Yeah You!!!

By: p.

p. — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:22:14 +0000

Oh, the vivid memories you are bringing back for me. My LC told me it shouldn’t hurt THAT much … she asked if I could pass the towel test (as in, would you let a towel touch your nip*ples and from the sounds of your cold air experience, you can’t) I couldn’t and she confirmed the pain was definitely too much. Turns out my little one was latching on fine but then pinching to curb the flow. I dreaded the latch on, dreaded the next feed, cried as she latched …. oh the memories. Under her advice, I stopped BF for about a day and a half to let my poor blistered and bleeding b’s heal while I pumped instead. I healed a little and then worked with the LC to get this BF-ing thing right. All this to say …. Call a LC now and get yourself some help! Good luck.

By: Fawn

Fawn — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:52:19 +0000

I remember those first days. The doc told me when Jade was first born to let her nurse as much as she wanted, and so I let her go 40 minutes on one side on the very first feed… MISTAKE! After that, I wanted to cry whenever she wanted to nurse. Thank God it didn’t take long to get better, a week or two maybe?

Good luck, hon!