Hellobee Boards

I didn't vote because physically it's been a breeze for me - only a couple of clogged ducts - but mentally and emotionally it's been exhausting. But I actually look forward to it most days now that I'm working again and I don't feel as much like a cow

8 -- LO was never able to latch (after visiting SEVERAL LC it never worked) so I had to exclusively pump, it hurt, I got clogged ducts, and then my LO hated my milk. We switched to formula at around week 10. I don't regret it, I tried it, it didn't work, and she was much happier on the special formula (and so was I!)

3. We picked it up easily and didn't have problems until he was 3-4 months old we battled thrush and nursing strikes for about a month. Thrush never fully went away as is the case with many yeasts.

It is one of the hardest things I have ever done . . . absolutely no part of the process was easy (although it was made even harder by my nightmarish induction) and just continued on from there (to include thrush right around 8 weeks which wiped out my freezer stash before my return to work at 12 weeks) . . . My supply was really late (due to hemorrhage and antibiotics during labor), I had ongoing supply issues, latch issues, thrush, and pumping once I returned to work sucked!

BUT, every last stinkin' minute was worth it. And I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

ETA: I rated it a 9. My delivery was a 10. That was the most intense physical pain for the longest period of time (28 hours of active Pit back labor) in my life.

I voted 2, but bearing in mind I'm only a week into it, things could change I guess. It did hurt for a couple of days and my nipples got blisters, but now those have healed, it's fine. Now if only I could stop getting covered in sick/spit up at every other feeding!!

I despised pumping to keep the relationship going but once we got past the tough spots (the first three months) it got a lot easier. Stress made it SO MUCH harder. I had a pediatrician tell me my milk wasn't caloric enough and that is why my baby wasn't gaining weight. He had me feed her formula right then and there in the office. Awful.

Like @mslipgloss said, "every last stinkin' minute was worth it. And I would do it all again in a heartbeat."

For my first it was a 10. changed it from a9 because it was definitely the hardest thing I ever had to do. And I didn't make my goal even by a longshot.
For my second it was a 3. Changed it from a 2 after I thought about pumping and what a pain that was.

Weeks 1-6, an 8. Weeks 6-12, a 6. Week 12- now (13 months), a 1.

I'd say a three. My nipples were sore for the first week or so, but lanolin helped a lot. Then I messed up her latch for a couple of days by giving her a bottle too early. That corrected pretty quickly. I've had a great supply and she eats rather quickly. I think the hardest part is feeling a but tied down and being the food source can feel challenging during night feedings.

I said a 2. The only issue that we had was some MSPI issues for 8 weeks around 4 months. That was hard. But, overall, breastfeeding came so easily to both of us. No mastitis/clogged duct issues, no latch problems, no nursing strikes. Yes, I nursed her around the clock for almost a year. But as a SAHM during that time, it was my job and I saw it that way. I wouldn't change a thing (except i would have been able to eat cheese and ice cream during those 8 weeks).

I voted 2. I was really, really lucky that we had no issues. He latched on right away, my milk came in within 24 hours. The LC who visited with us there watched me nurse and only gave tips about interesting a sleepy baby in eating. No pain, nipple cream was given unopened to someone else. No thrush, or mastitis, or supply issues.

We did have a few nights where I was in tears because he was on the boob all.the.time. For the first 6 months he was rarely not nursing. He didn't stretch out to 2-3 hours between nursing until he was close to 6 months old. His demand was sometimes overwhelming. I also had a few months where for several days I would be in extreme pain when he latched on, but it's passed now. I'm not sure what it was.

I know how lucky I am, and I'm so grateful that it was so painless for us.

I voted 8 - but I quit at 6 weeks because of oversupply, latching issues, reflux, MSPI and the list goes on.

Voted a 2. I could probably have voted a 1 but I did have some tearful nights in the first 2 weeks simply because she was eating so frequently that I was getting no sleep and I had one small blood blister on a nipple when she first came home due to letting her feed for a long time during one session with a bad latch.
Otherwise, a total breeze. Never once had to supplement, no cracked or bleeding nipples, no pumping issues/supply issues on returning to work at 12 weeks (or now as we hit 10.5 months), no clogged ducts, no mastitis, AF didn't return until 9 months and hasn't shown up again, never had difficulty going from breast to bottle and back.
I consider myself very, very lucky.

I voted 8. We're in the thick of it right now. DS wouldn't latch for the first 5 weeks so I pumped and we had to give him formula. The. We had milk intolerance issues, so I'm off dairy. And now he's latching but it's horrible, toe curling, lip biting pain. And I am always worrying about my supply because he always wants to eat and never seems satisfied. Physically, emotionally, and mentally, it's so hard.

So I'm not sure how to vote... those first 6 weeks it was definitely the hardest thing I've ever done (10) AND the only issue we had was latching - I never had to deal with the hardship of thrush, matisis, tongue tie, lip tie, clogged ducts, etc. But it was still the hardest thing I, personally, have ever done and I almost quit. Looking back, and hearing about others' experiences, I know I probably had it relatively easy!

After 6 weeks, it's probably a 2 - super easy now (although pumping's a pain).

I voted a 3. Physically it's been very easy for us so far--my milk came in the day we went home from the hospital, minimal soreness, no problems with supply. But, I did a lot of research before I had her which really paid off and has contributed greatly to our breastfeeding relationship.

Emotionally it is hard sometimes, though. Some days it's very exhausting being the only one that can feed her (especially in the middle of the night). At the same time it's so rewarding...she recently started looking up at me and smiling while she nurses and it just melts my heart.

Overall it's been much better than I was expecting.

I voted a 1. We've literally had no issues even though dd was 5 weeks early & didn't get to actually nurse until she was 8 days old. I pumped until then & she took to it like a champ. She's 10 months now and still no issues! I consider myself very lucky.

I wish there was multiple voting because of my two kids, but both were relatively easy so I went with a 3.

With DD, I had no issues at all except some engorgement and one plugged duct. She latched like a champ right out of the womb, and I never had pain... even gave away my tube of lanolin.

With DS, we had some major oversupply issues that made nursing frustrating. He was also really squirmy from birth - it was not enjoyable at all those first 2 months even though we didn't really have any issues either. The oversupply issues were my fault since I started pumping so early on and told my body I needed more milk than the baby really needed. Got a huge stash from it though.

Mentally and emotionally it is draining and stressful at times, just because I was always the one waking up for feedings, I preferred to nurse than pump so I'd always try to make it home before the next nursing session... and I had to watch what I ate because DD had dairy and soy intolerances. Also, it was annoying having to dress in nursing appropriate attire all the time. Sometimes I just wanted to wear what I wanted to wear without limitation. Oh well!

I would say it got more enjoyable with both of them at the 4 month mark. They went longer between feedings, they got stronger and latching became second nature to them (they would latch on even in the pitch black dark just by sense - no more struggling to position them), and my supply evened out!

At 6 months was when the love relationship with breastfeeding really began. With the introduction of solids, both my kids started going 4 hours between feedings, which made a world of a difference... and those quiet snuggle times with them are so nice - they're so plump and chubby, yet little in my arms... just calmly and happily nursing away. The way they look up at you in wide-eyed wonder... it's amazing.

I voted a 9--dealing with tongue tie, mastitis, vasospasms, bleeding/scabs...I have never cried so much in my life as I did over breastfeeding. But at 11 months, we're still going strong. Emotionally, I would say I started to enjoy it a few months ago, and while I'm looking forward to dropping our # of sessions (we're still at 5-7), I"m definitely keeping at least 2 for several months after he turns 1.