https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 10 May 2026 18:38:40 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-893248 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 11:06:43 +0000 maybebaby 893248@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Revel: We're in the same boat in a lot of ways :) Glad to have good company and hope it starts easing up for us both soon!</p> <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: This is very heartening! I think part of it is that I am still figuring out my own body let alone how someone else can drink out of it--it still hurts to sit, stand, get out of bed, etc. I look fwd to really feeling better and hoping that will help with BFing.</p> <p>@scg00387: This article saved me the other night when I was really having a rough time. I should read it every day!!</p> <p>@travellingbee: this is really good to know, thank you!</p> <p>@RubyCali: Thank you!</p> <p>@regberadaisy: Did your LO have an allergy? J is so fussy/gassy these days I wonder if I should try cutting dairy...</p> <p>@lemondrop: Thank you :) I have daydreams about completely forumla feeding but there are too many reasons to not give up. Really hoping persistence will pay off.</p> <p>@hergreenapples: Congratulations!! Sounds like your hard work has paid off--really hoping I have a similar "epiphany." Starting a BF support group next week, I hope it helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-893208 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:52:36 +0000 heartonastring 893208@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You know, I just left my Friday morning BFing support group and as I was pulling out of the parking lot I thought to myself, 'I don't think I need to come back next week. I think we have this figured out.' DD is nine weeks old.</p> <p>It's been a struggle and we also dealt with terrible nipple trauma and a number of other issues that almost caused me to switch to supplementing as recently as last week, but everything seems to have fallen into place now and it's going well. Do I enjoy it? Not particularly, but I'm doing it, it doesn't hurt and DD is packing on the pounds! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-893179 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:43:42 +0000 tysonja 893179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: my experience was about the same (but didn't need to get stitches removed)... i think things hurt less around 3.5 months or so. </p> <p>it felt like foreeevvverr at the time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-893176 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:41:00 +0000 lemondrop 893176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We finally started becoming a team around 8 weeks. I pumped after every nursing session too and had more than enough milk by then.</p> <p>Congrats on making it this far, it definitely isn't an easy thing to learn! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-893145 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:29:28 +0000 T.H.O.U. 893145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>By 6 weeks, it started getting less hard and by 8 weeks it was easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-893120 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:20:21 +0000 regberadaisy 893120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's true! I think by 8 weeks it got easier for us bc I eliminated dairy from my diet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-893117 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 10:18:36 +0000 RubyCali 893117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Things got progressively easier from week 6 on, but I'd say we really hit our stride around 2-3 months. We went through it all-- refusing the breast, poor latch, low supply...</p> <p>Hang in there!! You're doing great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-893013 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 09:44:20 +0000 Revel 893013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm at 4 weeks and still having trouble, so just wanted you to know you are not alone! It's heartening to read this thread because I feel like I keep hearing how it should be easy by now. I'm not ready to quit but I do dread feedings sometimes. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-893005 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 09:42:54 +0000 mrskc 893005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a fairly easy go with breastfeeding. (I feel lucky). So I started to get the hang of hit around 4 weeks and by 12 weeks is was a breeze. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892996 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 09:39:51 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 892996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3 months.</p> <p>It hurt soooooo badly! I also had bleeding nipples, 30+ stitches in my vag (some that actually needed to be removed) and bled for quite some time.</p> <p>Once all that cleared up, breastfeeding became way less stressful and way easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892981 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 09:34:25 +0000 plantains 892981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Around week 7 or so, the pain lessened dramatically and then a couple of days later it completely disappeared. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892924 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 09:18:13 +0000 travellingbee 892924@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: They can prevent your baby from getting really effective suction and thus from emptying the whole breast. This can result in plugged ducts and mastitis. I didn't know it was happening and all of a sudden I woke up and my boobs were hard and hot and the next day I had a 102 fever! The LC said, yeah that can happen with nipple shields. They are a wonderful thing but it is good to be aware that they can have this effect. If you are cautious and make sure to check for lumps and pump after you feed, it should be fine. But you'll want to wean off of them eventually. HTH and I promise it really does get better. I was so determined but it was truly hell for me for a while Now I love it. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892901 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 09:11:31 +0000 immabeetoo 892901@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: after reading this <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/04/before-i-forget-what-nobody-remembers-about-new-motherhood/274981/" rel="nofollow">http://www.theatlantic.com/sexes/archive/2013/04/before-i-forget-what-nobody-remembers-about-new-motherhood/274981/</a> I was remembering how much time I spent figuring out his latch, having DH help me pull his chin down, trying to peek at his lips from the sides without unlatching him. Oy. A far cry from now, when I can keep my eyes closed the whole time and he practically unclips my nursing strap himself! Hang in there :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892886 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 09:06:40 +0000 maybebaby 892886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travellingbee: how do nipple shields cause mastitis? I hadn't heard that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892836 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:53:05 +0000 Mrs. Bee 892836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>well with charlie i gave up and exclusively pumped. with olive i was pumping a lot and though it was never painful, i would say we got into a good groove around 8 weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892830 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:51:34 +0000 travellingbee 892830@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>8 weeks.. Prior to that we had a bad latch and a lazy tongue, lots of LC visits, used nipple shields, clogged ducts, mastitis, (be careful that you fully drain your breasts when you are using nipple shields because they can cause mastitis) thrush, Rotovirus (which = pumping and feeding with a bottle for a couple of days).... sigh. It was very rough. Then, I stopped using the nipple shields and I guess L's mouth was big enough to latch right. That was right before 8 weeks. We are at 15 now and it is a breeze most of the time, with the occasional sore breast or nipple. Nothing major though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892770 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:35:28 +0000 Adira 892770@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: If things aren't improving for you, I'd suggest seeing another LC. I think I saw like 4 while I was in the hospital and they were always all "His latch looks great!" even though I was in crazy pain. Then I saw a pediatrician who was definitely helpful and things improved for a short period of time before they got bad again (still had latch problems). Then right before I quit at 6 weeks, I saw another LC, and THIS time, it just clicked. I finally saw what they were talking about with bringing him to me instead of the other way around and how close his face should be. After that, we only had a couple bad latches, and we've been good ever since!</p> <p>I hope things work out for you! Now that I'm past all the pain, I find breastfeeding a really enjoyable experience. Especially now that I'm back at work, I really like coming home and nursing. It's like our own little quality time together that he can't share with anyone else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892759 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:32:39 +0000 Smurfette 892759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have any huge issues other then she didn't open up wide enough most times to latch, so it would take a while to get her on right. But I will still say 6 weeks before it felt natural to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892748 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:30:26 +0000 maybebaby 892748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: So glad to hear that really solved things--I think we are definitely on an upward trend, but I look forward to even more improvement. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892737 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:27:57 +0000 Adira 892737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: Oh my gosh, I did that ALL THE TIME!!! They always tell you how you should unlatch him and try again, but when you have a starving baby and are getting no sleep, sometimes you are just like "F it!" and let him drink with a poor latch! I did that a LOT!!! And I was always dangling my boobs over his face and hunching over him to get my boobs in his mouth, instead of actually pulling him TO me. I also didn't realize how squished into my boob he actually would be with a correct latch. For me, Xander's nose is right up against my boob when he's latched correctly. Before that, he wasn't, which is another sign that he's probably not taking the nipple in deep enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892727 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:25:31 +0000 maybebaby 892727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: That's awesome!</p> <p>@Adira: this is so heartening. I saw our LC earlier this week and was doing the same thing (boob to baby). I also realized that in my desperation to feed him (ie. stop the crying!) I would accept a sub-par latch just to get him fed. Now I know to take a deep breath and to try again to get it right--we will both we better off in the end. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892721 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:24:39 +0000 Adira 892721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One thing that I didn't realize until later (after a ton of pain) was exactly how the nipple should be while breastfeeding. I'm not sure if the latch is causing you pain, but I think it's a common problem for most people. I feel like a lot of what I read indicated that the nipple should be fairly close to the upper lips and that the baby should take in more of the aerola below your nipple. That actually didn't really work for me, because my nipple wasn't getting far enough into his mouth to be at the soft palette (as opposed to the hard palette). I had to do a more centered approach so that my nipple was deep enough in his mouth. It should be far enough back that when he sucks, your nipple itself doesn't actually feel much (though there were a couple weeks for me where it would tickle - I have no idea what he was doing, haha).</p> <p>Not sure if this will help you, but learning about the hard palette vs soft palette helped me figure out that even though his latch might LOOK correct, it really wasn't, because my nipple wasn't far enough in his mouth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892712 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:22:52 +0000 aprk 892712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maybebaby: yep, I EPd for the first three weeks. I was mad at the time but I think in hindsight it helped bc I never had any nipple damage. @Adira: is right that the bigger they get the easier it is. I hope you get some relief soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892703 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:19:31 +0000 maybebaby 892703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprk: Were you pumping previously to maintain supply? Sometimes I feel like our rough start almost made it like we lost the first couple of weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892700 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:18:33 +0000 pelikila 892700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was never really easy but I stopped thinking about it around 8 weeks. It finally became more "natural" at that point. Six weeks was crisis point for me but at 8 weeks we'd gotten over the hump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892694 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:17:19 +0000 Adira 892694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think part of what makes it easier is that they go through a few growth spurts and they get bigger, so their mouths are bigger and it's easier to latch correctly. When they're brand new and their mouths are so small, it's hard to get as much of the boob in their mouth as is necessary for it to not hurt! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892692 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:16:54 +0000 Mrs. Twine 892692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never really had too much discomfort from nursing either time, but I would say that with Ellie it felt "easy" by about six weeks, and about four/five weeks with Lorelei. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892688 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:15:50 +0000 Adira 892688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me, it came around 7 weeks. At 6 weeks, I ALMOST quit. I was in so much pain and so miserable and I dreaded every time I had to feed Xander. But I suffered through it, saw a lactation consultant, watched a couple youtube videos, and I think him just getting BIGGER, suddenly things just clicked for us. Once we FINALLY got his latched fixed, things became sooooooooo much better. My nipples healed and I finally started to enjoy breastfeeding my son!</p> <p>Talking to multiple lactation consultants (and a pediatrician who specializes in latching) was the biggest help to me. I repeatedly kept make the same mistake over and over again (bringing my boob to the baby instead of bringing him to my boob) and it wasn't until I finally stopped doing that and learned how to make Xander latch correctly that things got better!</p> <p>Now it's super easy. I just put my boob in his face and he latches on perfectly (he's 4 months now). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892687 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:15:37 +0000 hilsy85 892687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At 8.5/9 weeks...I remember writing in my journal "Hey, breastfeeding hasn't hurt in a day or two! Maybe this is the turning point". And it was! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-breastfeeding-become-easy#post-892678 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:12:20 +0000 aprk 892678@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't start breastfeeding until week 3. I'd say it became significantly easier by week 7/8. </p>