Breastfeeding questions. 🍼

I combination fed my first 2 until they were 3 months and I exclusively breastfed my 3rd. It's honestly not as bad as people make it out to be. The first few days are the hardest. Your nipples are sore and your baby is constantly on boob to establish a milk supply.

I found it way easier than formula. I could just leave the house without thinking about having to boil some water and take enough formula. And also I can just go to bed without the whole bottle cleaning and prepping routine!

After you establish a good milk supply you will be fine. Theres also a nipple balm ( lansinoh ) which was a godsend and relieved my cracked nipples.

I'm planning to exclusively breastfeed again this time x

I didn't try with my oldest but my youngest I couldn't get on with actual breastfeeding, I'd had a csection and was just so sore everywhere, so I pumped and was giving bottles of breastmilk and an occasional bottle of formula to top up but could only do it for 6 months.

Also, things I've done to help with my milk supply are; drinking loads of water and drinking lucozade for the electrolytes. Eating flapjacks or porridge. Anything that has oats helps with your milk supply.

I did that for the first few weeks and I'd say that helped enough for me to even pump and freeze milk x

Once you go past those difficult 3 to 4 days it gets easier because that’s when your milk will come in properly. Prior Baby will cry demand more and on top the nipples will be so sore. This is the stage where u just want to give up. But ultimately from my experience it takes 4 weeks for the milk to establish. The more u feed/pump the more milk u will make.

The first few feeds is small in quantity. I don’t think that should be a problem it’s only when the baby is suckling often for it’s main source of food.

Breast feeding shouldn’t be painful

If it is

1. The latch is incorrect

2. The baby most often has a tongue tie

Breast feeding was neither hard or painful for me

The hardest part was getting her off it lol 😂

But yeah lanolin nipple cream is great for your nipples

Apply before and after feed

First few feeds shouldn’t hurt Or be uncomfortable

It can sometimes become uncomfortable for the constant sucking.

But again having the correct latch is a must :)

You can transition straight onto bottles

Although maya never liked bottles so you may have that issue

But can be overcome :) xx

I really feel like the horror stories come mainly from women that most likely had underlying issues as to why breast feeding was that painful ( incorrect latch or baby with tongue tie)

The first 4-6 weeks will be hard. Days 1-4 will suck! You'll want to quit, you will be sore, exhausted and you'll think baby is not getting enough because all they will want to do it feed. But all of that is normal. Having a good support network is critical, your partner being supportive is also important.

Feeding may be painful for a couple of seconds at the start of each feed, but not throughout a feed.

I had a horrid start with Theo, his latch was awful, I had no suppprt other than my partner. But we stuck it out and he fed until he was 3 years 2 months, when he weaned himself off. He did also have formula once a day, from 5 months on.

With Aniela, I had no issues, other than over supply (which you do noy want) dispite her having mild tongue tie. She has never had a bottle.

I would say the main diffence between them was the amount of pressure I put on myself, with Theo I felt like I had to make it work, the house had to be clean because people were coming back and fore and it was all too much. With Aniela people couldnt come back and fore, I also had the attitude of "well if it doesnt work then that is fine".

Take it one day at a time, don't put any pressure on yourself and go in knowing that baby is going to feed, A LOT initially. But that it all gets easier :)

Hi I breastfeed and personally find it so easy like who can be arsed making bottles in the middle of the night when you can just lob yah tit out like others have said you can get sore nips but all you need is some cream x

Also wwhy buy something you can make for free 😜