Good tips! I am going to see a LC if it keeps hurting. I didn't think it should hurt this much at all. But you are so right about the bond..I definitely feel the bond and it is absolutely priceless!

Did anyone have trouble with mastitis? I am afraid I am already having trouble with that. It happened last time as well...

I have breastfed my daughter the entire time (she is 11 months old now) and let me tell you in the beginning I was ready to say forget it!! For about a good 3 weeks EVERYTHING hurt!! The Cramps when she nursed along with the painful sucking. IT all hurt bad. I used a over the counter tube of stuff as I call it...I think it is called Lansinoh. It worked great along with changing positions. I think laying on my side with her close beside me has always worked best even now. In the beginning it all hurts.. or so I have experienced. You have to learn each other and what works for you both as a team and once you do it will be a success!! Just don't give up you will get it!! I also am one who is on a tight budget and I went out and bought a gerber electric/battery operated pump at Walmart for $35 and it was the best one ever for me!!! I use it daily even to this day. It is a bit loud..not silent like some of the more pricey ones but I don't care about that. Breastfeeding is normal and who cares about a bit of noise!! Everyone is different though! Well good luck and don't give up!!

I am so glad you mentioned it because bf'ing is so, so painful right now. It feels like a piercing pain every time he sucks, and it hurts so, so much. Right now, it would be way easier just to throw my hands up and give him formula, but I am still trying. I don't even know how my milk production is yet so I am going to an LC on Monday so we can figure out if things are working normally. I just wasn't sure if this pain was normal.

Oh, and one more thing: When I pump, how many cc's should I be producing? Is there a ballpark?

Suzy,
I don't know if anyone has ever made the suggestion, but try some hot, wet cloths (if you want them hotter than your hot water, microwave them). It can ease the pain in your actual breast especially if you do have mastitis or even just the discomfort from engorgement. It always felt wonderful for me in the early days. The stick Cmkramer mentioned also helped me some in the earliest days for the nipple. Heat is probably your best bet for the soreness in the main part of the breast.

As far as the amount...you produce (normally) what your baby needs. At 4 months old, my sister is pumping pretty much dead on what he drinks in a day when she is at work. The other thing about the pumping is that you probably won't for a while pump much. You have to be able to "let down." When I was pumping and working with my son, the let down was the hardest part. Some women find that it helps (if you are away from baby) to look at a picture. Otherwise, you could pump one side while the baby nurses on the other. Being able to express milk is largely psychological.

One more thing, our midwives always told us we could drink a beer a day to help with milk production, something about the hops or yeast or whatever is in beer. I can't stand the idea or smell of beer, much less drink it, so I never actually tried it myself.

I only made it 6 weeks with my daughter (not mentally prepared for it and bad marriage), and I made it to 3 months with my son with pumping at work. Now, being a stay-at-home mom, with my next one, I hope to last a little longer...my goal is 6 months.

Good luck.
Carrie

Never have had to try it but - I have a cousin who used cabbage leaves. I know - sounds totally wierd - but she did this with BOTH babies- she didn't bf - but still - was sore - and stuck a cabbage leaf in each cup of her bra and said it helped SO much! Not sure if it's he coolness or what but she sent her mom out soon after getting home from baby#2 - baby was still in NICU....

When I pump, I get drops! It's very depressing. And so I wonder what he is actually getting from me. And when he sucks, it is so painful. This is getting more difficult by the day. But the good news is, I am going to see an LC early next week.

Suzy,
How's it going with the breastfeeding today? I hope it's getting easier for you. I heard the cabbage thing too. I never tried it myself but was told it works wonders.

Still very painful and he really prefers one side. And when I pump, I don't get much. We are going to an LC later this week and hopefully I'll get some more help. I have heard to give it some time and usually things work themselves out. I really hope that is the case with us. I feel so much better when he is getting my breast milk as opposed to the formula, especially since he is already dealing with temperature issues and I know how good BF'ing is for boosting immunity.

When you pump try putting a warm cloth on your breast and gently massage it. I had to do that when I first started pumping to get my milk to come down but when it came down, boy did it come down - lol. I hope it gets easier for you. The LC's at NFRMC are great so they should be able to help...... I think it's great that you've kept it up and haven't given up considering how difficult it has been for you!

Well thanks so much for the tip. I am going to try that the very next time I BF. I will keep you updated. I really hope it gets easier before I have to go back to work

When I tried to pump in the beginning I got NOTHING at all!! Now thats depressing..then I found out that I was doing it wrong and it was too soon for my milk to let down. But when it let down it was plentyful and then it eventually balanced out. My daughter actually still prefers one side (the right). If things get uneven up there I just pump the other side to level it out. It took me several weeks to get over the pain and for everything to balance out. It takes a lot of patience, practice and of course tolerance for pain. Keep trying you will get it!! you can also call the WIC office off of NE 15th street there is an excellent Lactation specialist there that will help you any day and she is usually available if you just go out there. She definitely helped me A LOT!!

I was REALLY happy today when I got ONE ounce from pumping. That sounds like so little, but it is more than I have been able to pump up until now. So, that is good news

Suzy how is the BF'ing coming along?? I hope it is geting better for you... I know how frustrating it can be.. Hope all is well!!