https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 13:32:17 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier/page/2#post-2070834 Sun, 15 Feb 2015 17:23:20 +0000 Happygal 2070834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for sharing your stories-they are so helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier/page/2#post-2070179 Sat, 14 Feb 2015 20:44:57 +0000 FaithFertility 2070179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: awww I am so sorry, we and trouble in the beginning too, I had cracked bleeding nipples it was solo painful! She also hated eating from my left breast and it was such a struggle..around 4weeks we started to jive and we are A ok now! She still hasa her favorite ways to nurse, football hold with boppy, and might fuss if I am out and try to hold her a different way, but not to bad!</p> <p>I feel like bf is a job all on its own! Hang in there and if it is not working, you do what you need to, to be happy with you and LO :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier/page/2#post-2070093 Sat, 14 Feb 2015 18:32:04 +0000 Mrs.Someone 2070093@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: sorry you're having a rough time! I can't give a long response now, but I wrote a very similar thread when I was having trouble and updated it a few days ago. Hope it gets better soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier/page/2#post-2070079 Sat, 14 Feb 2015 18:12:54 +0000 SleepyMonkey 2070079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: it totally gets better! With my first lo i absolutely hated it for 6 weeks then i was neutral towards it until around 10 weeks and by 12 weeks it was really soooo easy. I loved it from months 4 to 10. It really makes a big difference after they grow a bit and their mouths get bigger. </p> <p>This is my second time around and its way easier because i know that there is an end to the frustration in sight. Today for example, she had 3 nursing sessions in a row that were really frustrating because she fusses and latches on and off a million times and there is milk all over the place. Soooo frustrating. I fantasized about formula feeding. But i know it will get better so i will stick with it. Hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier/page/2#post-2070068 Sat, 14 Feb 2015 17:59:41 +0000 keepcalmcarrie 2070068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: It totally gets better. With LO1 I had cracked nipples, had to use a shield, got mastitis around 4 weeks when he started stretching out his feedings at night - it was awful. But then, like magic around 6 weeks it was suddenly much easier. He was a lot faster, his latch improved, I felt a lot more confident about it. This time with LO2 I'm still a leaky mess and the latch isn't always perfect, but at 5 weeks I can already see the signs that better days are ahead - the sessions are getting shorter, my nips don't hurt anymore, I'm not as engorged, etc etc. I had to switch LO1 to formula for an allergy at 4 months, and I can tell you that dealing with formula and bottle feeding was a much bigger PITA than pushing through our BF difficulties. At 3 weeks, you're probably already halfway past the hardest part. No shame in the game if you switch to formula, there's absolutely nothing wrong with it, but if it's convenience you seek and you want to BF, give it a little more time. You're doing great, mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-2070027 Sat, 14 Feb 2015 17:04:30 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2070027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: with DD1 I was miserable until about five weeks. It wasn't until right weeks that I felt comfortable nursing. I was a milky, scabbed, cranky mess for a long time. And then it just miraculously got easier. Her mouth was bigger, so was her tummy and the pain eased. It does get better, I promise you it does. You are still on the thick of it. Nursing a newborn is so much harder than an infant or toddler. We ended up going to fifteen months and I cried when she weaned. At three weeks I cried at the thought of the next feed, I remember her fussing and my husband bringing her to me to feed and me just snarling at him to keep her away, she just ate! It gets better! Hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-2070013 Sat, 14 Feb 2015 16:48:35 +0000 Happygal 2070013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bumping an old thread! We're 3 weeks in, and while I don't hate breastfeeding, I certainly don't love it. I've also had the fantasy of quitting the past few days. These responses are encouraging. Anyone else want to share? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-382207 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:21:31 +0000 pastemoo 382207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>7-9 weeks for us </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-380615 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 01:01:56 +0000 Mrs. Superhero 380615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>4-6 weeks :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-380536 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 23:03:04 +0000 Pink Champagne 380536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It sounds to me like other than the rigor and the "getting used" to breast feeding, you've actually had a pretty easy go of it. I had a baby who wouldn't latch, who finally would latch but only with a shield, who still left me with bruised, bleeding, bloody nipples that would be so sore that I couldn't sleep after middle of the night feelings. In other words- you're doing GREAT!<br /> It does get easier- I would say we got through most of our issues by 6 weeks or so.<br /> Do you pump? I would start trying to find some time to pump (I would pump for 10-15 after every feeding). That way, if you need a break, you can supplement with breast milk and not have to deal with formula. We actually do a bottle at our one middle of the night feeding now (breast milk)- DH gives DS his bottle and I pump. It gets all of us back to bed a lot quicker, and we're all a lot happier.<br /> Bottom line, I think there's ways to work around it so that you're not going crazy without ever having to touch formula. DS is 12 weeks and we haven't had any issues for weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-380516 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 22:43:38 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 380516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: @TurtleDoves: I hated it too for the first weeks and felt sooo guilty! I'd get so frustrated and cross with poor DS, especially at night (anyone else ever try commanding their baby to eat?)</p> <p>It helped to take deep breaths, set him down for a moment to compose myself, and try again. When I got calmer, he got better at eating - although maybe that's a coincidence?</p> <p>@Thehistoryofus: I had a goody basket too! Burp rags, water bottle, phone, iPad, snacks, pain meds, etc :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-380247 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:29:13 +0000 IcebergMom 380247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it got eAsier by one month and by three months full sanity had returned. Hang in there! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-380227 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:22:40 +0000 prettylizy 380227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>6 weeks we started to hit our stride, and now at almost 8 months it's a piece of cake. </p> <p>The real answer IMO, it gets easier every day. Good for you for doing so well up to this point, just keep on trucking, you're doing amazing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-380221 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:17:43 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 380221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah like everyone else..all our problem happened before the 6 week mark. Then is was nice and steady and closer to 3 months LO became super efficient and feeding would last max 10 minutes and I could nurse anywhere because by the time we got settled he was done! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-380210 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:13:02 +0000 mrskc 380210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MusicaV: @Mrs. Tricycle: I have totally seen that graph in my BFing book but forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-380180 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:58:55 +0000 Mrs. Tricycle 380180@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been reading the "Breastfeeding Naturally" book and thought this graph was encouraging. The book also focuses a lot on the stress of the first 40 days - after that, life is supposed to get easier. :) Hang in there. </p> [attach=2158/12/md1k27.600x401.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-380152 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:49:11 +0000 MusicaV 380152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>8 weeks! A LC at my BF support meeting showed me this graph:<br /> <a href="http://www.breastmilkcounts.com/article_pdf/BFanInvestSavesTime.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.breastmilkcounts.com/article_pdf/BFanInvestSavesTime.pdf</a><br /> Of course, 8 weeks is an average of reporting moms. DS went through a growth spurt days 6-13. It sucked. I thought BFing would be like that forever - feeding every 1.5 hours or less. For me, it really has been slowly getting better, particularly as he gains for head control. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-379839 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:44:21 +0000 Bluebonnet 379839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hang in there!! Everything with a new baby seemed hard for the first month. BF got easier around 6 weeks. Each week was a little easier than the last and then one day I realized its not hard, just a little time consuming. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-379781 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:18:01 +0000 hilsy85 379781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hear ya! Right now, I reaaly dread feeding time--I've complained plenty to you guys about it :) You are not alone in wondering when breastfeeding becomes that "magical" experience. I am trying to think in week increments--right now my goal is to make it to 3 weeks (this Thurs!) and we'll go from there. I will say that pumping is a major pain in the butt--cleaning parts, getting set up, being glued to one spot, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-379413 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:23:38 +0000 Bao 379413@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Don't give in! I spent the first 3 weeks exhausted and in pain because of a poor latch. I pushed through and now it's second nature, it's so easy and now during the day I get 3-4 hours between and at night 5-9 hours in between feedings. I promise it gets better and you will thank yourself later that you didn't give in to formula feeding! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-379384 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:17:40 +0000 Amelieisme 379384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh my gosh! It does get easier. I HATE,HATE,HATED breastfeeding at 3 weeks. I felt like I was doing it constantly and always a mess, stuck on the couch and quite frankly, it hurt! But I think it got better at the 4-5 week mark for me, although I'm not sure exactly. The frequency gets less and your baby will become more efficient. I know by the time I returned to work (at 8 weeks) I was fine with it. And at 3 months now, it is so easy! (except the keeping up with pumping at work part...which is a different story) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-379333 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:06:47 +0000 honeybear 379333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TurtleDoves: I hear (and commend) you! At some point or another I had cracking, clogging, and general discomfort, but fortunately nothing serious and everything passed quickly. I might have thrown a few pity parties for myself anyhow. ;) (Try not to follow my example there--I have to say they weren't particularly satisfying or constructive.) </p> <p>In any event, the two important things to keep in mind are 1) even when everything goes swimmingly there are lots of changes in the first couple of years (okay, in life, really--but we don't need to get too philosophical here!), and just because something is a certain (frustrating) way now doesn't mean it will be that way for long; and 2) you don't have to go it alone. If you're feeling frustrated, sad, or just kind of off, find someone encouraging to talk to, even if it's just one of us here on HB. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-379286 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:51:46 +0000 mrskc 379286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TurtleDoves: the night feedings have been the easiest for me. I put one of those dimmer switches on my bedside lamp so I can have a little light. I've been doing the side lying nursing position. Plus my DH gets up and helps me. Luckily my LO knows night time is sleeping time. It's the day time that's been difficult for me. Especially when I'm alone at home all day. Glad your nips are doing better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-379254 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:41:44 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 379254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: today is actually better because nipples feel good but man...are you having a tough time with night feedings as well? I need night vision! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-379246 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:37:31 +0000 mrskc 379246@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TurtleDoves: we can do it! I never thought it would be so difficult. I'm not even dealing with the kinds of things you are and I find it hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-379238 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:35:45 +0000 pinkcupcake 379238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It took me at least 8 weeks to really get the hang of BF-ing, but I had a really rough time (mastitis, thrush for 6 weeks, nipples that bled/cracked for a month). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-379230 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:32:25 +0000 T.H.O.U. 379230@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: Try to do whatever you can to make the session more comfortable for you. </p> <p>I had a basket that sat next to me on the couch. It always had a drink, the remote, my phone, some snacks and chocolate, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-379225 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:30:50 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 379225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@honeybear: I had to pump during nights for first 2w to heal my nipples and *that* was less work than bfing..but it's not suppose to be that way (that goes to show you the kind of time I'm having BFing. Ah </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-379223 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:30:25 +0000 pl0508 379223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>breastfeeding is what I'm most nervous about. I'm afraid I won't be as strong as you ladies and will just quit before it gets easier!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-does-breastfeeding-get-easier#post-379214 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:26:53 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 379214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: thanks for opening this question up...I have been so ashamed to admit that I hate bf!! It's so hard and it's such a pain right now:( but I'm determined to keep going. I am so so glad to hear that it will get better. That gives me tremendous hope. Right now I'm an engorged, sore, uneven, leaky mess that walks aroud with a nipple shield in her pocket 24/7. I can't wait until it becomes 2nd nature! </p>