Why is it so hard!?

Question

Update: 
Baby had been checked for a tie, and she doesn’t have one. What she does have is a very little mouth and thin tiny lips. Today has been a little better, my milk came in so I guess this is the part where I have to wait for my nipples to toughen up and heal. Thanks for the advice and support ladies! I’m speaking to the doctor on Thursday for a lac consult. 
Why is breastfeeding so hard?! It hurts, I’m sore, frustrated, scabbed, blistered, red, tired and feel like it’s never going to get easier. It’s four in the morning as I write this and I’m so done. I don’t want to be done but I’m tired and Baby is tired and frustrated too. I’m pumping and feeding so we can both have a break. Yes I use lanolin, yes I have tried the nipple shield and warm compresses and swaddling Baby and nipple cream and so on. I know we are having a hard time latching and I’m so upset we can’t find our groove. But right now I just want to give up!  Ughhhhh I just have to remember Baby is five days old and only practice makes perfect😢😭☹️😩😫😖😣😔😞 support would be helpful ladies, rant over

Answer

First 2 weeks are the hardest then it’s pretty easy.  Your nipples will get use to it. 
 
It pays off when baby gets hungry in the middle of the night and you just pull out a boob instead of make a bottle.
Hang in there mama you are half way past the hard part.

Answer

It is pretty hard while you’re getting the hang of it. But don’t worry too much. It gets a lot easier. Just takes a lot of perseverance! Has your baby been checked for a lip tie or tongue tie?

Answer

I’m sorry!  I was going to say “Sounds like you aren’t getting a good latch”...then you mentioned latching problems.
Besides being incredibly frustrating, bad latches will destroy your nipples (no kidding captain obvious...right).
I don’t know if this is helpful, but a lactation consultant told me to hold my boob like a hamburger and shove it in the baby’s mouth.  If your baby looks like they are “nipple feeding” the latch is too shallow.  If you feel like you are almost choking your baby because the have the whole areola in their mouth, you probably have a decent latch.
The baby’s lips should look like fish lips if the latch is good.  If your baby has a good portion of boob but no fish lips, you can gently pull on their chin and skin between the nose until they look like fish lips.
If that doesn’t work, put your pinky in the corner of the baby’s mouth, break the latch, and start over.
I had to do this process over and over with my first...sometimes unlatching and latching 10 times before getting the right latch.  It did get better...but there is also no shame in saying breastfeeding is for the birds...if you feel like it is taking too much of a toll on your mental well being.

Answer

It does get better, trust me! 
I spent many nights those first couple of weeks bawling my eyes out for these same reasons. But just continue to work on the latch, as frustrating as it is, and she’ll learn eventually. 
My daughter has lip and tongue tie which we are finally getting fixed next week at 5 months 🙌🏻 
But if things don’t improve, I would highly suggest making a lactation consultant appointment. They are a God send and I saw them multiple times in the beginning to help get my daughter to latch better. They were the ones that saw her ties and suggested we see a pediatric dentist to get it evaluated.

Answer

The first two weeks are SOOO hard, but it does get better! Keep trying. It’s so worth it!

Answer

It does get better, trust me! I was in the same position. When I first started breastfeeding my daughter I was SO depressed! I dreaded nursing her and it was making me mad 24/7. I felt like all I did was breast feed and the thought of continuing to breastfeed made me anxious and I wanted to quit so bad. But here we are a year later and she’s still nursing and I love it and don’t want to stop! It’s such an amazing bonding experience 💕

Answer

My girl had a lip & tongue tie & trouble gaining weight. It was so nerve wracking, I felt like my life was feed, pump, give bottle, repeat & I remember crying because something that seems so simple in theory is such a bitch to actually get the hang of. As time went on, though, & her ties got fixed, one day it all just clicked. We made it 19 months & would probably still be going if I wasn't pregnant again. All I can say is, it WILL get better. It's totally worth it but it's so fucking hard in the beginning. Good luck Mama!

Answer

This was me!!! Let me tell you that my son is 11 months old and still breast feeding, so obviously we made it through the grueling first days of pain and frustration. Sounds like you’re doing everything you can to manage pain. You could contact a lactation consultant; I did several times in the early days because I thought my son had a lip tie. (Doctor confirmed he did, but not significant enough to get it clipped.) I know you tried nipple shields, but those were my saving grace when my nipples were cracked and bleeding. I know you probably hate hearing this, but a friend told me this and it’s so true. “One day you’ll realize it just doesn’t hurt anymore.” It took me 8 weeks to get used to it. I know this probably sounds like a lifetime, because trust me, it hurts like hell, but you can do it! I promise!!!

Why is it so hard!?

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