Breast Feeding - New York,NY

Breastfeeding is one of those things that is easy but seems really complicated. The best tidbit of info I found, that many people don't know, is that hospitals have a lactation consultant who should talk to you at the hospital about 24 hours after you give birth. They'll coach you -- AND if you have problems once you head home, you can call them and they'll either help you or tell you who else to call. (Better than paying $150 for a lactation resource center that insurance won't cover!)

I.-

I did not review the previous posts but I will share my experiences with BFing. I now have my second child and I am planning on nursing for at least 1 year. My daughter, my first child, was nursed until 14 or 15 months.

I found nursing to initially be painful with my daughter. What had happened was that her latch was poor and I had microscopic cuts that I could not get to heal. My resolution was to use bacitracin/antibiotic cream on them and wash it off each time prior to her nursing. I also worked with a lactation consultant to improve her latch. I also attended LLL which gave me the support to keep trying and working through the issue. Once her latch improved, my cuts healed up and continued with no issues. It took about 2 weeks to get really good.

With my son, I nearly had a blocked duct. I was wearing a bra that had an underwire. I should have known better, but forgot and the support felt good at first. After wearing it for about 3 days, I had huge pain in the right breast. I resolved this with a hot hot shower during which hubby rubbed the tissue deeply. I let him do it since I knew where and how much it hurt and would have been too "nice" to the area. I really needed a deep message so I let him have at it. After that shower, and a bra change, I have been fine.

As for pumping, the pump is your friend. A good pump should have variable speeds and have both a "let down" stage as well as a "pumping" stage. The let down stage gently stimulates and stretches the nipple which is something similar that a baby does when first latching while nursing. This is why you should never pull your nipple out of your baby's mouth - you need to slip a pinky finger in a corner of the mouth and break the seal. The pumping stage is similar to the actual eating (the swallowing sound your baby makes). Start on a lower pumping level and dial it upward to a comfortable point. Take your time and look at a picture of your little one. It really does help. I also liked having a favorite blankie or something that smelled like the baby with me.

If you make the committment to BF, also make the committment to give yourself a break if needed. Both of my children would get an occassional formula bottle if I needed a break (i.e. over night or out while doing errands, etc). The baby will be fine as long as BM is the primary source of food. I also found it helpful to stash any surplus milk I seemed to have, especially in the beginning before my body regulated down to meet the demand.

Good luck and feel free to email me directly with any other questions.

~C.

Honestly, yes it hurts in the beginning, until you get the hang of it. With my first, I got a cracked nipple, so it was extremely painful to nurse until it healed. So, don't be surprised if it hurts in the beginning. I never had a problem with my pump hurting me. So maybe she has it set to high. On some of them you can change the suction settings. I would look for one that has that. I had the Medela brand one and was very happy. This is what you do, after each session of nursing, leave your bra open so that your nipples can air dry. Then once they are dry put some lanolin on them, this is safe for baby to ingest. Do not clean your nipples with soap while nursing, because it could get into the milk. Take a lacation class if your hospital offers one. And once the baby is born ask to have the lactation consultant sent to your room to help you, most hospitals keep them on staff. They can help with the latching on process. Once you are settled, it won't hurt to nurse, but it takes some getting use to. Remember, you have never done this before and neither has your baby. It will take some time to figure it out.

I had trouble getting my babies to nurse due to various medical complications but I pumped milk...for the last 10 months. Sometimes pumping is uncomfortable but there are few moments of real pain (and you can always readjust the pump or just stop and try pumping later). One thing with pumping, it hurts more at the beginning so start with the suction lower and after you get the milk flowing you can turn it up higher (this was pointed out to me by a breastfeeding specialist). Good luck.

Hi I.,
I highly recommend that you meet with a lactation consultant before leaving the hospital with your little one. I was planning to breastfeed and add pumping after returning to work. We had difficulty with latching and the lactation consultant suggested that I nurse and pump while in the hospital to stimulate milk production. As a new mom, I had no idea that pumping wasn't supposed to hurt. Thankfully, the lactation consultant routinely measures nipple size to make sure that women use the correct size breast shield (the funnel thing that goes on the breast). I needed the XL size instead of the standard size (and got them in the hospital.....Babies r us also carries them). Pumping never hurt after correcting for that! (I might add, that my nipples do not look XL in any way, so that was a big surprise!!!) I nursed/pumped for over a year and continue to nurse a little with my 2 year old. It has been a beautiful journey. I wish you all the best!
J.

Very good question! It depends on the woman. Neither should hurt at all but it does feel a little wierd in the beginning. If either hurt, especially nursing, something is wrong. In my experience I didn't like pumping. I had a fancy electric one and it was really boring and I never got more than one or 2 ounces. The only thing it was really good for was when my son started sleeping through the night it relieved the engorgement I had until my breasts got used to the new schedule. As for nursing, it never hurt for me but my son latched on well from the first second. If you have pain please get help because every woman can successfully nurse with the right help.

I have an almost 7 week old (my first) and am breastfeeding her. It hurts at first and is challenging but it SO WORTH IT. The pump has different settings so it can mimic the suction that your baby does-don't worry about pumping until you get that feeding down. My nipples were sore and I walked around with no shirt for a month but its gotten much better. Truly, if you stick it out for the first 6 weeks you are home free. Make sure the latch is correct because, as everyone has mentioned, that can cause pain. I recommend a class if possible are part of your preparation. I had my baby at NYU Hospital and they had a class every day in the maternity ward so you can have it WITH your baby. Good luck!

Hi I.,
Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt past the days of engorgement if you are latching and positioning your baby correctly. If you have the correct pump set up properly, pumping may not feel great but it should not be painful. Make an appointment with a lactation consultant to get instruction on getting breastfeeding (and pumping later when you need it) off to a good and comfortable start, it's money well spent.

No doubt you will get tons of answers to this...
I nursed my oldest son and am currently nursing my second.
The first time around it is very challenging, but I stress completely worth it!! I think it is important to tough it out for 6 weeks with breastfeeding. It hurts alot with a first baby, but the pay off in bonding and the quality of food that you are feeding him is immense. Breastmilk is easier to digest and helps them establish immunity. Not to mention, no bottles to wash, food is ALWAYS ready and warm and as long as they nurse often there is always enough for them.
My oldest had a hard time nursing at the breast after I went back to work. I no realize that we gave him too many bottles too early and he simply preferred them, so he eventually stopped nursing. I pumped at work and nursed him for the first 2 months after I went back to work, and then for the next 3 months I pumped 7 times a day and bottle fed him the milk. So he got breastmilk until he was about 7-8 months old. It was a ton of work, but the pump doesn't really hurt. I would recommend getting a really good pump as that truly helps. I currently have the Medela Freestyle and I gotta tell you it is worth every cent! I have used the classic pump in styles and this new one doesn't compare in terms of ease of use. Certainly I got good quantities of milk from the pump in style, but the freestyle is alot more convienent.
I would recommend however having the baby and nursing for 2-3 weeks before investing in an expensive pump. you can't return them and it would be a shame to buy a $400 pump only to realize you hate breastfeeding. Besides, you won't wantto introduce the bottle until he is 4-6 weeks old. I learned that the hard way last time.
But take heart, after the first 6 week breastfeeding becomes very very easy and comfortable and second nature to the baby. you can feed him anywhere anytime! And with a second baby I had no pain, only I had to teach the new one how to do it and let him get good at it.
Hang in there!! It is so worth it!

hi I., and congrats! no, breastfeeding should not hurt. it may be uncomfortable in the beginning, there is definitely a bit of a learning curve sometimes, but if you are truly having pain then you are probably needing a little guidance, you might not have a good latch, which you should address asap because it only gets worse if you dont correct it. usually, it is so easy to correct if you get the right help. your hospital will have a lactation consultant on staff, the nurses in the nursery can be a tremendous help as well. take advantage of them while you are there, get help if you need it, get support even if you dont think you need it, it helps. and you can email me too :) best of luck to you, breastfeeding is a huge benefit to both you and your baby, and once you get the hang of it you will love it. as for pumping, it doesnt hurt either, actually it is easier on your nipples than nursing is, when i was having cracked nipples due to a bad latch, i pumped to keep my supply up while they healed. i never liked pumping, it was so annoying for me and didnt have the bonding and sweetness of breastfeeding, but i did it for years for many reasons here and there. not painful, just annoying,,, for me, anyway. but its a lifesaver in many situations. and as far as im concerned, medela is the way to go. get a good double electric pump, my medela pump in style is one of the best investments i ever made.

I.,
Congratulations! When are you due?

It all depends on your latch with your baby and how well that goes. It generally doesn't, unless several factors are pulled into play (bad latch - get your nurse to show you how to have the baby open their mouth very wide for nursing! and other possible factors that may not happen).

Don't be afraid to pump, it will only increase your milk supply for your baby!

Avoid BPA, PVC and other 'bad' plastics. medela generally has plastics free of these things, and others too. Glass is great, but doesn't freeze all that well (plus a zillion glass bottles in the freezer, nto that convenient! : )

get the lanolin ointment unless you are allergic. Safe for baby too.

If it hurts - keep on going! It hurt (on start up) for me, for about 2.5 months. Then we discovered his latch was just not there yet and we did some corrective stuff (hard to explain). and voila! he nursed just fine and I was fine too.

Don't be afraid of an pain you might have - the benefit for your baby is SO GOOD! Don't let anyone talk you out of trying either - There is such a great bond and when your baby starts teething (and mine did at 3 MONTHS!) you will be very grateful. There were days when NOTHING would soothe him except milk. He's still teething now (last molars) and while he likes the sugary stuff, it wears off. Nurse him and he's good to go in 5 minutes or less, and he's happier and sugar free (no peeling off walls necessarY).

Good luck, any questions, just email!
M.

Breastfeeding can be painful right at first because your nipples need to "adjust" the BF ... BUT get a lactation consultant to show you the right way and it is sooo much easier!!!! Also it has good benenfits to you and baby and so CHEAP!!!! (NO COST BABY FEEDING!!!!) It can be a great experience! A.

Hi I.,

Have you taken a breastfeeding class at a local hospital? That is one option for you to start gathering good resources and local support. Most hospitals also have lactation consultants available for new moms and offer follow-up support. Breastfeeding should not hurt, but a lactation consultant can make sure your baby is latched on correctly. My first son got a bad latch the day he was born and before I could break the suction he had given me a small bruise, which was rather painful, but cleared up.

Some women have discomfort with different breastpumps. If you use an electric one, you can adjust the speed and suction to make it comfortable for you. If you use a manual (I did), you naturally control all of that.

For me, the worst discomfort with breastfeeding was engorgement when my mature milk came in. There are many things to help relieve that, including compresses, frequent pumping and nursing, and plain Tylenol (if your doctor approves). That, too, will end. Not all women experience that, though. Line up support ahead of time and keep reading. :)

Hello I. -

Breast pumps may be a little uncomfortable at first but once you attach the suction cups on correctly to the breast the discomforts goes away. Breasfeeding should not hurt and if it does the baby is not latching on correctly. If it hurts pull the baby off the breast and start again. I suggest that you speak to your Dr. and perhaps attend a breastfeeding class. I actually attended classes before and after my baby was born and I received tremendous help. I felt much more secure and informed. I also received tons of help from the lactation nurse whille I was at the hospital. I had my baby at St. Peter's, New Brunswick,NJ. Regarding pain - there are creams that can be applied to the breast/nipple area to provide some relief. Creams should be cleaned off the breast if getting ready to breasfeed. Do not worry - women have been breastfeeding for centeries. Please remember that everyone's experience is different. Knowledge is key. Good luck and remember to relax when you pump or breastfeed it will help with the flow of milk.

I remember reading that it can take up to six weeks for your body to get used to breastfeeding. It took just about that long for me to be pain free, but the benefits to both my son and I strongly outweighed any discomfort I felt. We ended up nursing until he self-weaned at two years old. Just remember that it's your choice. You can always try it and then decide that it's not for you. I found it to be a wonderful way to nourish and bond with my boy. Best of luck with everything!

Look at it this way - you gave birth didn't you ? Well THAT hurt - and breastfeeding is a piece of cake in comparison !!! Things that are easy in life (bottle feeding) are NOT the best things for your babies. Even if there is temporary pain, you still should make the effort to overcome any preconceived notions of pain, and make the choice to breastfeed because its the RIGHT thing to do - we need to sacrifice for our kids. Otherwise, you shouldn't have kids.

I breastfed three of my children for a minimum of one year each. I can tell you this - if you want SMARTER kids with higher IQ's (this is proven look it up) breastfeed your kids. If you want healthier kids with a higher immunity (less ear infections, etc.) Breastfeed your kids. I would never in a million years feed my kids a bottle - all that man made garbage is a joke. God gave you breasts with milk to feed your babies - that's what they were designed for, so use them and you will reap the benefits. You also will have a much better bond with your kids. My kids are all so far ahead of kids their age - light years ahead - their cousins all bottle fed aren't too bright. Whatever you do, do NOT I repeat do not ever feed your baby soy formula which is harmful. I will post a few articles here so anyone considering this will have the information to make an informed decision:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/1...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/0...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2002/1...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/1...

http://search.mercola.com/Results.aspx?k=soy%20formula

Dear I.,

Congratulations on your baby-to-be!

I really recommend an organization called La Leche League. It's a whole organization of breastfeeding experts, and ordinary breastfeeding moms. They hold monthly meetings just about everywhere, and you can go there with any breastfeeding question in the world. It's also a great place to meet and connect with other new moms. Many hospitals also have lactation consultants, as others have mentioned, and breastfeeding support groups.

In response to your questions:

Breastfeeding often hurts at first. For some it's just a little uncomfortable, for others it can be quite painful. But it is WORTH IT. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, like breast milk for a baby. If it really hurts, try Lanisoh, or call a lactation consultant or La Leche League. And the pain really does go away. After about a month, I swear, someone could have driven a truck into my nipples and I wouldn't have blinked.

On pumping, it didn't hurt for me, but that's because I only started pumping after my maternity leave was over and my nipples could handle anything by then. I did find it awkward, time-consuming, and weirdly embarrassing, though, even though I did it in total privacy. But that's just me. If you have any pain or difficulty pumping: again, check with La Leche League or a lactation consultant.

All of this advice is great, but one thing to always keep in mind is that if it hurts, you are doing something wrong. That always seemed to give me the strength, patience and determination to try harder (I'm a bit of a perfectionist)!

I breastfed for a full year and don't regret one moment of it!

Good luck!

(See below for some VERY good advice from Wen T.)

Breastfeeding is one of those things that is easy but seems really complicated. The best tidbit of info I found, that many people don't know, is that hospitals have a lactation consultant who should talk to you at the hospital about 24 hours after you give birth. They'll coach you -- AND if you have problems once you head home, you can call them and they'll either help you or tell you who else to call. (Better than paying $150 for a lactation resource center that insurance won't cover!)

Hi I.,
Breast feeding can hurt the nipples and cause it to be tender AT FIRST. At least it was for me. But remember each case it different and we each stand a different kind of tolerable pain. As you become a new mom, everyone is going to try to tell you what to do and what not to do and what hurts and what doesn't. The best judge is yourself. If it becomes too tender to breast feed the nurse can offer suggestions. I was given a cream to use to put on the nipples at first which was ok with the baby still breastfeeding. I breast fed my baby and I used the Medala Pump (I think that is how you spell it). The pump is expensive around 250 - 300 bucks. But you get what you pay for.

It does take 8-10 days for your nipples to get used to the baby/pump suction. BUT breasfeeding and pumping shouldn't hurt, if it does then you are doing something incorrectly. Feel free to email me with questions, I am a lactation consultant.

Dear I., First, congrats on your pregnancy. I breastfed all 5 of my children and cannot say it hurt except when my first started teething at 4 months. I never had need for a breastpump so I cannot comment about that. I would rather say there is some discomfort at times but the benefits to you and your baby far outweigh this. There will be many things abut motherhood that may not be comfortable. You should try it and judge for yourself. Give it a chance for your baby's sake. My best, Grandma Mary

no it does not hurt at all - in the beginning it is a weird sensation and maybe a little uncomfortable at first but it is really nothing. I had a preemie and pumped for 5 1/2 months - it was no problem at all other than being more time consuming than actually breastfeeding. Good luck!

The pump doesn't hurt. YOu ahve to get used to it. They have speeds on them. Start at lowest speed and work your way up to where it feels comfortable.
Breast feeding should not hurt either, well at least while they still don't have teeth! LOL
If you have any pain during breast feeding, the baby's latch may be incorrect. You can always contact a lactation consultant if there is any problems.

In my experience using the breast pump did not hurt at all. What no one really stressed to me was how painful and how hard the first two weeks of breastfeeding would be. Not to discourage you but just to prepare you. They say the first two weeks are the worst and after that you should be good. Stick with it and don't get discouraged. I was ready to give up but stuck with it and after that 2 week mark it was easy. Make sure that you buy the Lanolin cream to help with the soreness.

It may hurt at first, but once your nipples get used to it there is no discomfort. Pumping is fine- and will actually help your nipples and your milk production. One thing that I don't think anyone ever talks about is that the first few weeks of breastfeeding is one of the hardest things. Once you and your little one get the hang of it there is nothing better in the world. It is such a magical time to bond with your baby, and know that you are the only one in the world that can provide this amazing gift and nutrition to your child.

I rather breast feed than pump. I bought the wrong size breast shields for the pump so that is why I had a negative experience. Also, pumping is so impersonal and made me feel like a cow. If you have to pump for stimulation before breast feeding or to get the extra milk after breast feeding do so for your baby to have a bottle later or store it for your baby when they have their first rice ceral for the first food. Unlike breast feeding your baby where it is direct and personal and the baby is better than a pump. Breast feeding hurts if not done right if the baby is not attached correctly. There is a good book called So That's What They're for! that helped me a lot. Finally if you are having a hospital birth there should be wonderful nurses or lactation consultants to teach you. At Valley Hospital, there is a breast feeding support group that meets on Thursdays at 10am. If you are having a home birth, than your midwife should be a great resource and she can recommend other professionals. Plus, take a breast feeding class where you are taking your birth classes. Remember, everyone's experience is different. I am still breast feeding and my baby is 16 months old. Good luck and Congrats!

I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that it never hurts to breasfeed. It does hurt at first but once your body gets used to it, it doesn't hurt at all. I was very nervous about breastfeeding because I had friends who had bad experiences with it but I'm glad I did it. It can be difficult at first but it's worth it.
I used Lansinoh Lanolin cream after every feeding and that really helped. Also, when your milk comes in you might get sore. Heat helps. I put a heat pack on my breasts before feeding for the first week that my milk was in. It helps get the milk flowing more comfortably. Gerber makes a pad that you can heat in the microwave and fits over your breast. I know they have them at Target and probably Babies R Us too.
I didn't use my breastpump until my daughter was almost 1 month old but it didn't hurt. It felt a little weird but you get used to that too.
I agree with the other post that said to see a lactation consultant. They really helped. There should be one at the hospital so you can request to see her right after you have the baby and she can help you. Also, some hospitals have breastfeeding classes that you can take before having your baby.
Good luck!

Breast feeding is the most natural way to feed your child. In the beggining nipples might get sore but its not a big deal. You can put ice on them. Pumping does not hurt but i guess it depends on you. I breastfeed my 3 children for 10 to 11 months it was normal and easy , i did not had to worried about formulas and chemicals . good luck

Does a breast pump hurt?
- If you use it incorrectly, it can hurt. If you use it correctly, the breast pump can be awkward (you're literally milking yourself), but is a great way to maintain your milk supply and nurse after you go back to work or when you are away.

Is breastfeeding painful?
- It can be, but it is worth it. The only pain that I experienced was chapping/cracking after extended periods of nursing. The best way to prevent that is to use the creams designed to prevent! Medela makes a great cream that alleviated the pain and prevented the chapping from happening again.

If breast feeding hurts, call the lactation nurse who worked with you in the hospital. They are a wonderful resource and can help you find out why there is pain. Some insurance companies have lactation allotments for a period of time after you give birth. Ours did and I called frequently for help. It was great to be able to talk to someone about delicate concerns.

Just something to keep in mind... do NOT buy a pump until after you have established a good nursing pattern and relationship with your baby. They are one of the very few items that cannot be returned for health reasons.