[peanutsmommy28]

does anyone have any breast feeding advice? i'm having such a hard time with it. i didn't do it right in the hospital, i guess. the nurse showed me how, but i didn't let my daughter get enough of the areola in her mouth, so my nipples got really really sore, now every time i do it (i know she gets enough in now), it hurts sooo bad. she's only five days old, so maybe it is just both of us still getting used to it. they had me do the football hold in the hospital, but i decided to change positions and it got better on the one nipple, but now i can't use my other nipple at all it is so sore. i even started bleeding yesterday. instead of milk coming out, it was just blood! any ideas on more comfortable positions?

also, she falls asleep eating after about fifteen minutes, so i have to feed her a lot more often so she gets enough, so my nipples seem to get overworked from that too. i've tried and tried to keep her awake, but she just loves her sleep (at night she sleeps a lot and tends to eat more during each feeding only every 3 or 4 hours, and during the day she eats a lot less a lot more often, lucky me).

[mrmnmom82]

This happened to me with our first. He would cry to eat, and I would cry anticipating the pain, I was also bleeding. It stopped after a week or so. At about the 2wk. mark I was fine, no pain. I don't know if I just had to toughen them up, or what? The only advice I got was encouragement to tough it out, and stick with it just a few more weeks and it would get better, which it did, but that was a tough week!!

I hope someone else has something better to contribute than this! I only have sympathy, and encouragement!

[peanutsmommy28]

thats what my mom says..to just suck it up and it will get better. i'm a weenie compared to her though. it does seem to be getting easier..like i'm getting used to the initial latching on part and the sucking doesn't bother me as long as i got enough areola in her mouth. i find that if i'm focusing on something else like the tv or talking to my fiance it doesn't bother me, but when i'm alone with no tv, i definitely notice the pain! also, what about feeding in public? i make sure to always bring a blanket to cover myself, but some places don't have any private areas to nurse without being bothered much. in walmart the other night a mother was walking around the store nursing. i work at walmart, so i at least know i can hide out in back to do it if i need to.

[KR258]

I honestly don't see any problem breastfeeding in public. If your baby is hungry you should be allowed to feed your baby. I used to do it all the time even in resturants. Other people do have problems with it but they'll get over it. It's what feeds your baby....Whatever you're comfortable with is what you should do but I wouldn't be embarrassed about doing it anywhere.

[mrmnmom82]

I clicked on the web link connected with someone who made a comment on something else the other day, and it was for funny shirts and pins. One of the shirts said, "If my breastfeeding is bothering you, feel free to put a blanket over your head!"

I would, and have, nursed anywhere. With my first, I was not as confident, but mostly in my ability to keep the blanket over me. And I would have to sit on the toilet in the bathroom to nurse sometimes. NO MORE!!! If my baby's hungery, I will feed it when ever it needs, where ever., and not apoligize for feeding my hungry child. Would they rather I let it scream?

[peanutsmommy28]

i felt embarrassed in church this morning when i was in back by the bathroom. they have a changing table and rocking chair back there, so i sat in the rocking chair with a blanket over me and i had no problem, was comfortable and felt covered up and not embarrassed yet, until a guy walked back there and when he came out of the bathroom he told me that there were rooms to nurse on the other side. i didn't know if he had a problem with me nursing or if he thought i was kinda embarrassed to be nursing back there, so i just said sorry. she had finished by that time anyway though. and yesterday i was in subway where they only have one bathroom and i was doing great (i'm so proud of myself cuz there wasn't one problem that time) but someone knocked on the door and i could hear them standing outside waiting. i felt rushed so i had to stop and wait to feed her when we got home. i haven't figured everything out, like how to hold the baby and get my breast ready and have a blanket over me all at the same time yet. i'm sure i'll get used to it.

[KR258]

I didn't feed her in the bathroom. I tried once but I just couldn't do it. I was uncomfortable but its all about whatever works for you. Don't ya hate when you go out to eat and they don't have a changing table to change your baby?! That drives me nuts. (totally different topic I know) I understand some can't relax enough to breastfeed where others can see but I didn't want my baby thinking the bathroom is where we eat. I dono I'm silly I guess.
I had a very hard time using a blanket. I couldn't find her and get her latched on (she was a 5 pound baby and I have big boobs....lol) I ended up just using nursing shirts and covered as much as I could with my shirt but left her uncovered so yeah you could see a little of my boob but not much. I felt much more comfortable and confident seeing my baby.

[peanutsmommy28]

yeah, my 17 year old brother spends the weekends at my apartment since its closer to his work, and when i'm at home i'm walking around in my nursing bras cuz its that much easier and i guess he's mature enough not to care, cuz he knows, but i sometimes feel awkward cuz it's my younger brother and i'm sure he doesn't want to see my boobs

[purelegance]

there shouldn't be any pain, pain indicates a latch problem. for me, holding izzy in the "cradle" position is easiest. that way i can lay back, and she can lay on her belly and we can both relax (and normally doze off). i normally timed our going outs in between feedings (small town) or would use the store's fitting rooms. (99% of our outside errands are at either the mall or target). i did the bathroom thing a few times, but i felt weird sitting on a toilet and feeding my baby. you may want to look into getting a sling, that was the best thing ever when DD was a newborn. i bought this one hotslings, and liked it only i wish i had bought it a size larger (i grabbed xs and which i grabbed small) for when DD was about 8months and up.

[KR258]

I actually just bought one of those hotslings cause it was on sale.....hopefully it fits when the baby comes