When I was pregnant with my first baby I was oh so naive about how the breastfeeding thing really works.
I even read the chapter in the pregnancy book about exactly how to do it.
Pull out the boob. Pop the baby on. Sit back and relax while your baby nurses to their heart’s content…
LOL, I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I wish my Dr, and mother, and sister. and everyone that I know that has ever tried to breastfeed would have told me just how hard and miserable that breastfeeding can be.
Why don’t pregnancy books tell you about how you will be sitting in bed in the middle of the night with your screaming newborn in your arms.
Your sheets and shirt will be soaked from your milk finally coming in.
Your nipples will be cracked and bleeding from a poor latch.
And on top of it all, you will be crying and feeling like a complete failure as a mom.
I had a very hard time getting established breastfeeding my first two children.
I kept at it for a few months each time but I just never felt comfortable doing it. It was always either painful or a pain in the a**.
Breastfeeding my third baby is going a little better I would say.
We are in a good grove and it seems to be working out for us for now. But, it is a full-time job and it is HARD.
We have all heard why breastfeeding is so great and so beneficial for mom and baby.
But there are so many sucky aspects that we don’t get told about when we are still pregnant and naive.
This post is not intended to turn any mother away from breastfeeding it is merely the points that I have experienced over the years that I was not told about before I had children.
I am 100% behind the concept of “fed is best” and understand that every situation is different. Right now I exclusively breastfeed my daughter but I know that in the future that may evolve as well.
Here are my top 11 reasons why breastfeeding can suck
1. Bowling Ball Boobs.
Skin is stretched to the max. Engorged and Uncomfortable.
2. Pancake Boobs.
Flat, deflated, and hanging low. Going back and forth, both extremes multiple times a day.
3. Daily Wet T-shirt contest winner.
The leaking boobs that never seem to shut off.
4. You feel like a milk cow.
Literally, back to the barn every few hours to get milked.
5. Biting.
They don’t even need teeth for it to feel like you nip is being cut off.
6. Blocked Ducts.
Painful and hot to the touch. You will want to cut off your own boob.
7. The baby weight will not fall off.
Complete lie, you will maintain your lovely plumpness because you are starving all the time.
8. Your period will come back with a vengeance
The myth that no one gets their period while breastfeeding, yeah another complete lie. Aunt flow is back worse than ever.
9. Boob accessibility is the priority.
While dressing the only style concern is how easily it is to access the tatas.
10. Still no drinking.
The 9 months has come and gone and you still cannot peacefully enjoy a drink or two.
11. Oh, the Pain.
Breastfeeding HURTS. The sore, cracked and bleeding nipples will make you want another epidural.
This list should be published in all those pregnancy books alongside all the blissful breastfeeding mothers.
This post is not intended to turn any mother away from breastfeeding it is merely the points that I have experienced over the years that I was not told about before I had children.
I am 100% behind the concept of “fed is best” and understand that every situation is different. Right now I exclusively breastfeed my daughter but I know that in the future that may evolve as well.
Have you struggled with breastfeeding? Let me know below!
I can’t agree with most of those points. Instead of just saying it sucks and leaving at that you could offer some guidance as to where woman can go to seek some advice about a painful latch for example, which yes most if not all breastfeeding books will address. My period didn’t come back for 8 months and when it did it was much lighter and far less painful than before giving birth and I lost all my baby weight in 2 months, then went under my prepregnancy weight after about 6 months. The engorged boobs and leaking lasted for a max 2 weeks. Anyways I just wanted to point out that what you are saying is not a universal experience and with so much things to worry about as an expecting mother we don’t need to make it seem like worst case scenario is some secret that no one talks about but WILL HAPPEN and people don’t say anything because they want to watch you fail or something?
Thank you for the comment and it is so good to hear that you had such an easy time postpartum. It gives us who struggle with all things postpartum a little bit of hope that things will get better. This post is not intended to turn any mother away from breastfeeding it is merely the points that I have experienced over the years that I was not told about before I had children. I am 100% behind the concept of “fed is best” and understand that every situation is different. Right now I exclusively breastfeed my daughter but I know that in the future that may evolve as well.
Breastfeeding should not hurt. If it hurts, the baby is more than likely latching wrong. I had this problem for the first month or two with my son. After I went just one time to a lactation specialist, I learned that the latch was wrong and it took me a few weeks to break him from the habit. But once he learned to have a DEEP latch, he was good, and so was I! The key is to get the boob in there. You want the whole areola and maybe then some in there. I was about to quit because of the pain. As long as your baby has a deep latch and you’re emptying your breasts often, your breasts shouldn’t crack, hurt or become engorged very often at all. The key word is SHOULDN’T of course. There are exceptions. And it doesn’t mean you’re a failure if they do. Lanolin is wonderful for those times.
I just feel like this thread is very negative. I was hoping for “but… this is why it’s worth it” and “this is how to overcome those things that suck”. But it’s very anti-breastfeeding. 🙁 I’m surprised since you have breastfed three babies. It’s like you’re trying to scare new moms away. I’ve had so many moms talk to me, scared to death because they are afraid it’s going to hurt. And formula is so convenient, most of them end up just going to that. All over a fear of trying! But let me tell ya, formula sucks too.
#1) It’s hard on baby’s tummy. Many babies have to keep switching formulas because they can’t stop vomiting it back up.
#2) The crap that’s in formula would make your stomach turn too! YOU try to drink it. No thanks. It stinks! And I can’t bring myself to even taste it. I have, however, taken a swig of my own breastmilk. Sweet and not stinky.
#3) It’s EXPENSIVE! BFCAA.com states that it will cost on average $1,138.50 and $1,188.00 a YEAR to formula feed! Compare that to the costs of even buying a nice pump, some bags to freeze for later, nipple cream, breastfeeding bras, nursing pads and even throw in some lanolin costs. It doesn’t even compare.
#4) Bottles! I know many women who exclusively pump & bottle feed, however most that I know (including myself) pop the baby on the boob at least most of the time. With formula, you don’t have that option. You always have to dirty up a bottle. And it gets tiresome cleaning all those bottles.
So am I anti-formula? Yes, I would say that I am… in a way. But sometimes it’s a necessary evil, sadly. I just wish that the companies would stop making it in such a disgusting way. I wish they would make it with the babies in mind, and not their pockets. But, sadly, it isn’t the case. But some moms can’t help it. They can’t breastfeed. And some women just don’t want to, and I respect that decision. When it comes down to it, fed IS best.
One final comment: For those women who REALLY want to breastfeed and can’t, there might be another option for you. There’s a thing called breast milk banks. You may have one near you! Women donate their milk, it’s tested for anything harmful, then given to mothers in need. I’m pretty sure it costs money, but again, formula’s not free. Well, unless you have WIC, but after a while, even WIC doesn’t give you enough to feed the baby and it still has to come out of pocket. And, it’s healthier. So, maybe this is an option for you?
Sorry this comment is so long, but I had to say something. As I said, it’s very anti-breastfeeding sounding, and I’m not sure that you meant for that to happen. I thought some pro-breastfeeding thoughts were needed. Too many new moms are scared enough as it is.
This post is not intended to turn any mother away from breastfeeding it is merely the points that I have experienced over the years that I was not told about before I had children.
I am 100% behind the concept of “fed is best” and understand that every situation is different. Right now I exclusively breastfeed my daughter but I know that in the future that may evolve as well.
Thank you for your experiences. At least now I know that I am not alone in the perils of breastfeeding. To the other moms post, super happy that your breastfeeding went well, that is not always the case and I did find humor in Bobbie’s post. My son had trouble latching, my nipples were small and he was hungry ALL the time. Even with my breasts leaking milk everywhere, he was still hungry after being breast fed. I do agree that breast is best but it is not always easy or even possible all the time. I felt like a huge failure as a mom when it came to breastfeeding. He had to be put on formula even though he was being breastfed. Give us moms who have difficulty so slack, we are glad you did great, but that is not a reality for everyone.
Thanks and that is what is really important. Sometimes it is hard and we need to know that we are not alone and we are just trying to do our best!
Our first child was adopted at birth. I struggled so much emotionally with not being able to breast feed because of all the great things that I heard about the bonding, health benefits etc. But, after being able to share the opportunity to feed our child with my husband, it helped take away the “sting” of not being able to breastfeed. This article helped ease that as well. I’m sorry your struggled so much with it! But I love that you agree with the concept of “fed is best”! Thanks for sharing a different perspective!
It is so great to be able to share feeding with husbands. I trying to wean my daughter just to take some of the pressure off of me but she refuses all formula and bottles so we are just going to keep rolling with breastfeeding. Which makes me happy and sad all at the same time. This topic brings such a whirlwind of emotions forward some days. At the end of the day, I just encourage having a happy baby while trying to do what you feel is best for you! Thanks and much love!
I enjoyed reading this. It made me feel more normal. And maybe if I read this, I might have breastfed longer. People make it seem like it’s so easy and doesn’t hurt. It’s nice reading otherwise. I felt like I was the only one struggling. Thank you for your honesty.
I am so glad that you found some common ground with this. I just think we need to share the hard parts of breastfeeding as well as all the great parts.