Help I need motivation to keep breastfeeding ?. I want to do what's best for him but I'm all alone…

It gets easier! I promise. I remember crying on my bed with my oldest child was an infant. I didn't think I could do it and it hurt so bad. I pushed through the hiccups and we learned together. We nursed for 18 months!

Stick with it!!! You're doing awesome! I cried so many times w my first also. It was soooo beyond painful I didn't think I could do it. After 4 weeks it was so much better and by 6 weeks I was pain free. Especially if you are alone I would stick with it. The big benefit of formula is having your SO be able to get up and feed at night too but if it's just you I think you'll grow to really love nursing.

You're braver than me! I had issues with my first so I didn't even attempt with this one. I'm so jealous of the women who are successful with it. Pumping is hard in the beginning too. Stick with it but know that you're not failing if you stop. You're mental well being is important too! I've been successful with pumping but my baby gets formula too. If you have an pump you could try clearing with that. I got one last time I took a hot shower massage in shower and then pumped pretty immediately did not feel good but it cleared it up. Also icing it can help. Good luck ???

It gets easier. The first 6 weeks were so hard but we made it 19 months! It was one of the most wonderful and rewarding things I've ever done and can't wait to do it again in a couple weeks! But it is so so hard at first. You're halfway through the worst of it!

It totally gets better. And it's totally okay to wanna throw in the towel at the same time. I would text my sisters, crying in the middle of the night, bc I was just so tired, hormonal, and stressed. Once we hit 6 weeks I turned a corner, 8 wks felt solid, returning to work=started to love it. Also, it does not have to be an all or nothing deal. You can do 1/2 formula, 1/2 breast if u have certain feedings that are more enjoyable like am and bedtime. You can literally do anything. I just encourage you to make decision on a good day, not a bad one. Any time I've talked to a mom who made a decision on a bad day, she also felt regret and other crap no one needs!

It gets easier!! Massage your breasts in a warm shower. Get a disposable diaper and put hot water on it and hold it on the clogged breast. I know it hurts and seems unbearable but nurse as much as you can on that breast. I had clogged ducts but managed through and breastfed my son for over a year and a half. I'm on week two with my new little man. The first 6 weeks are the hardest but it is totally worth it, I promise!

It gets easier , and before u feed out a sock with warm rice in it , feed then put fresh grated ginger or a ginger tea bag on ur breast with a cabbage leaf it should help

Thanks ladies, I feel more reassured. I feel like giving up all the time but I am going to keep going until I feel like I can't anymore. I think he got my clog out or most of it, there was a big white blob thing on my nipple when he got done feeding.

@shainaboop, i breastfed and pumped his first week, maybe try doing both, as in breastfed during one feeding then the next pump and just keep doing that. I have over 60 bags of breast milk in the freezer now, the first week i altered between feedings id pump a full bottle from one boob then the other boob id store in a bag, then the next feeding breastfeed until he was satisfied, then pump the rest out of that boob feed him the rest if i felt he was still hungry, then the next feeding fully pump, he is now on going on 3 weeks i am fully pumping, i pump every 2 hours during the day and once at night unless he wakes up more and i still get 40-50 oz a day:) of all people i believe you got this, it's hard but i think all of us ladies would agree we know you got this:) whatever you decided wont be the wrong decision because only you know what ia best for your little guy.

This is my third exclusively bf baby and it's hard each time ? Number one had me in tears due to cracked nipples, bloody nipples and painful latch. On top of that I make way too much milk so I had a baby that would scream and cry all day long from tummy issues. I nursed until she was nearly 2! Second baby was the same thing :( But that time I learned faster and we nursed until nearly 2. Number three I figured out in about 1 week but we are now experiencing tummy issues - ugh. I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Remember that...try to hang in there!

When I was pregnant with my son I decided last minute to breast feed, then I gave up very quickly after birth I always regretted not trying harder and he had a lot of tummy issues with formula and I felt like it was my fault.. with my daughter I swore I'd try everything to breastfeed her since I gave up so easy with my son, it's been painful, tiring, and I'm home alone a lot too pretty much all day everyday, I do have a SO here but he works all day and we have other kids so all the cooking cleaning laundry and taking care of them relies on me right now with a hungry breastfeeding baby. (Which is really new for me seeing as I normally work 50 hours a week and I never get to stay home all day with the kids until now) It's a full time job within itself! But at 3 1/2 weeks now I'm glad I haven't given up! There's a lot of breastfeeding support groups on FB I've been referred too that's helped me some look up some if you can. Those have helped me more than the lactation consultants because it's moms just like us. You really wanted to stick to breast feeding when you were pregnant with him I say just try to keep pushing through it. You got this, it'll get better!

It gets easier! I'm 2 weeks into it and it's just now starting to get better but it does get better! Warm washcloths, hot showers and nipple cream helps out SO SO much

It does get easier! With my 1st and this one I struggled and struggle with having inverted nipples. Have to use nipple shield to help feed but it has helped a lot. In the beginning I had horrible cracked and bleeding nipples, pumped and let them rest from feedings and then went back to it. Eventually I'll be able to feed without the shield again. I had gotten mastitis with my 1st but at like 9 months, the Dr was surprised I was still breastfeeding then lol. But I made it a goal to go at least 6 months, met that goal and made it a goal to go a year (not exclusively). Aside from the minor set backs, I can honestly say breastfeeding was the best and is the best thing I've done for my babies. If you're not having major issues, I'd say keep it up but of course it's different for everyone and I believe "fed is best" over "breast is best". You can do it! Keep your head up :)

I know it is hard. It is SO hard. Might I add formula feeding was just as hard. I bf my daughter but my son was ff. I can't tell you how much I cried bc every one we tried was hurting his stomach so bad. We went through like 10 diff ones. Not to mention the cost of it all ? it's taking me really working with her. She now has the perfect latch. I make sure her lips are puckered out to where she looks like a fish and she automatically puts her tounge underneath my nipple. Ah the relief lol. I didn't even try working with my son due to my lack of patience but it's a better experience this time around even though I still have days I cry and want to give up. I also make sure I pump and have bottles for her night feedings. It probably messes with my supply but our sleep is just as important and it gives my nipples a rest.

You can do it, take it one feeding at a time

It does get easier with time but it's hard work for several weeks. Both you and baby are learning and it can be frustrating for you. Once my daughter and I figured things out and got in a pattern, she nursed until her first birthday and that is something I will always cherish. It was a special bond that no one else had with her.

We have good days and then we have nights like last night where Nolan is only happy if he's nursing but he's frustrated because milk isn't pouring out after he's nursed for an hour. I was in tears because of the frustration and exhaustion. Hubby works nights so it's just me to comfort him.

I would see if your hospital has a breastfeeding support group they offer where you can meet with other moms and a LC. I have been attending one twice a week and it has honestly saved my sanity while nursing. It helps to talk about issues with other moms and bounce ideas off of them to see that I'm not alone.

Hang in there, momma! It will get easier and this will pass!

I nursed my three other children and got mastitis every time. My last one I got it three times but nursed him til he was 18 months. Now I have twin girls and when they were two weeks I started feeling achey and had a low fever but I just had a clogged milk duct and after two days it started getting better. One thing that helps a lot is to change the position every time you nurse. Like if you usually do cradle hold, next time do football hold,etc... Also if you don't feel like your breast is softer after he nurses, pump afterwards to empty the breast. Those are things that I did and now my girls are going on five weeks and it's a lot better! Good luck

I know exactly how you feel but you can do it! The second night in the hospital I was crying and so close to just asking for a bottle cause I was so frustrated and he wouldn't latch right and I felt like I was starving him, but it's gotten a lot better now. I still have bad days tho don't get me wrong and I still have moments where I just wanna cry but I honestly love feeding him, I feel a different bond with him that I know nobody else could have with him. I actually honestly bought a couple of the little 2 ounce premade bottles my first few nights home because I just felt so over whelmed especially being the only one that could feed him, but I couldn't even bring myself to give one to him because I felt bad giving up so fast and I'm glad I kept going. No matter what you do, it'll be okay because like everyone says fed is best. But I really think you can do it ?? and I heard it does get a lot better once we get past these few weeks.

I have such a love/hate relationship with it. I'm trying to pump more after feeding to clear out the clogged ducts. I've gotten like three white stringy blobs out of my left breast, so I think I had multiple clogs. It doesn't hurt as bad though, I guess in the future I need to make sure I drain my breasts more often.