Is it true breastfeeding comes naturally? I didn’t do it at all with my first born, but this time I’m bound and…

Yeess it definitely does!! It's tough the first few days and weeks you know but omg it just gets so much more easier you just get the hang of it I'm so happy that I had the chance to breastfeed and we are still going at it 10m breastfeeding haha

I don't really think it comes naturally.... It takes practice and a lot of commitment and can be very difficult for some women and some babies don't take to it right away either, they need practice latching. That's why there's lactation consultants... But it's suppose to be very rewarding if you can manage it. It's not for me though.. I mean I thought about breastfeeding my 2m old when he was born because he was so tiny but I just know I couldn't keep up with it.

Only for some people it depends on the baby and your determination.

@readyforhalloween, ok!! I often get freaked out over the pain of it too in the beginning, but I’ve been pintresting tons of pain relief tricks haha

I don’t think it really comes naturally. It can be difficult at first but, sooo rewarding if you persevere and stick with it. I breastfed both of mine for the first year. Planning to do the same with baby #3. Motherlove nipple balm is a lifesaver on sore nipples, in my opinion.

It definitely comes naturally I loved my breastfeeding experience once I got use to it

It was only natural for me bc I knew I wanted to do it. My first weened himself off at 3 months and would only take it pumped into a bottle bc he got frustrated; my second weened herself at 3 months bc she got use to the bottle from me not being able to breastfeed for 3 days due to having to take steroids; third baby (current) takes pumped milk in a bottle. I breastfed in the hospital and a few days out of there, but I just decided it was too painful this time around and I don't think he could get a good latch bc my nipples are huge, so he got frustrated. You can pump between feedings to relieve the pressure from them being engorged and it will help with baby not getting squirted in the face if you have a lot in there!

@niennunb, thanks!! Any advice on avoiding mastitis? Or is it just bad luck??

I think it really depends on the person. I felt like it came pretty naturally to me but I did take a lot of time learning things about it before baby was born. I wasn't completely clueless so I think that helped alot. My SIL on the other hand had a lot of issues and thought it was pretty difficult. I think either way having knowledge ahead of time really helps. Take the time to research ways to get them to latch correctly and different feeding positions. How to know if they're getting enough and the signs of mastitis and clogged ducts. If you plan on pumping also make sure to do your research on that also. I think going into breastfeeding blind will make it worse than anything.

I don't think it comes naturally for everyone.

With my first I tried so hard to bf and it's just didn't happen. I hated it, I was unhappy, my son was unhappy, and it was the cause of my ppd. I quit within two weeks.

With my second, I was determined to bf. And it did come naturally for us. He is still breastfeeding. It took a lot of learning for both of us. Getting past the pain of first starting when my nipples weren't tough enough for it, long nights AND days because I was nursing every 45 minutes 😂 but it is the best thing I've done. I feel so accomplished for sticking through it.

I hope it does come naturally for you op!

@bodybycheetos, thanks!! I know there are struggles with it like everything else in parenting, I just hope I don’t make dumb mistakes

I definitely don't think it comes naturally for everyone. It didn't come naturally for me and I'm not a fan of it at all. I prefer to pump and supplement with formula.

@aengs2, not for everyone!

@-boytribe see if there is a lactation consultant in the hospital that can talk to you when baby is born.

@-boytribe, only advice on that is keep them as unengorged as you can! I didn't get it with my first, but I did with my second. I think it takes some time for your milk to kind of regulate itself at just how much you need bc I got it in the 1 breast when she was 11 days old and then in the other 1 the following week. But then that was it. I just made sure I pumped a lot after that.

Breastfeeding wasn’t natural.. to me that was a lie that made me feel guilty when I was struggling with nursing my first. I pushed through and treated it like a skill I had to learn and was able to nurse him for 13 months. With my son now, I’m dealing with mastitis and clogged ducts a lot and it’s exhausting but I know I’m doing what’s best for him so I continue to push through.