When Does Breastfeeding Get Easier

Being a mother feels so happy and delightful until the side effects start kicking in. Breastfeeding is necessary for the child, but it gets quite tiring for a mother, especially if it’s her first time being a mother. You must be extra careful for the first two months and take care of your baby and health. So, if you ever think, When does breastfeeding get easier, a simple answer is after four to six weeks. A detailed answer might consider your age and your health.

For a first-time mother, the first four to six weeks can be tiring as your body is healing, but you are exerting energy to create breast milk. However, if this is not your first time, then things might be easier for you. Human bodies build tolerance for the stuff they have gone through before, so if that happens again, your body will be ready for it.

On the other hand, your health plays an important role in this. You don’t have to worry if your body is strong in developing immunity. It might be less than a month for your body to get used to the fatigue caused by breastfeeding. However, you might need to get used to sleeplessness and breastfeeding time. At such times, a breast pump would be a better option.

You can express milk using a pump and get some rest while your husband or someone else can feed the baby. This is a good option, but using a breast pump for a long time has risks. We won’t recommend using a breast pump a lot, only when necessary.

Now comes the main issue, would you wait for four to six weeks or take cautions to reduce the pain? So, this article will cover some remedies to ease the pain.

How to Ease Breastfeeding Pain

It is obvious that breastfeeding pain is irritating and won’t go away even after feeding your child. Despite high tolerance levels, there comes a time when you can’t endure the pain. Here are some ways that can help reduce breastfeeding pain.

Get Lots of Sleep

Sleeplessness is the biggest cause of this, so the first thing you should do is to get lots of sleep. As you sleep, your body pays attention to painful areas, reduces the pain, and you wake up with less pain and fatigue. However, that doesn’t mean you should take sleeping pills; instead, rest right after feeding the baby. Breast pumps are a good option if your baby has a disturbed schedule. You can express and store milk while someone else can feed the baby as you sleep.

Keep Your Breasts and Nipples Clean

Bacteria can enter your nipples and cause an infection easily. Sometimes a baby cannot grip the nipples properly, and it causes the nipple to open a little. From that little gap, bacteria can enter and start causing an infection. To avoid this, always clean your breasts and check your nipples after the feeding session. Though these infections won’t last long, they can cause pain. You can also use creams to cure these cracked or blistering nipples.

Train Your Baby for Proper Latch

Train your baby to open their mouth wide enough to latch on the breast properly. It is up to you how you can make your baby do that, but a proper latch can stop your nipples from getting damaged. If your nipples are fine after feeding, they’ll remain safe from bacterial infection and won’t hurt. You can watch breastfeeding videos or take help from your mother in such cases. They know how to train the baby; on the other hand, breast pumping is also a good solution here.

Let Your Breast and Nipples Breath

Nipples are one of the most sensitive parts of the body. During the breastfeeding period, they are more sensitive than usual. Even a rub from a cloth can cause a painful sensation. So, it is better to let your nipples breathe daily for at least 15-20 minutes; during that time, you can be topless, lie straight under a fan, and let them enjoy the cool air.

On the other hand, you should also be careful while sleeping. Make sure there is no stress on your nipples and breasts so they won’t cause pain when you wake up.

Daily Massage Your Breasts

This is beneficial for your breast health, and it can get rid of breast pain. However, it is advisable not to use force while massaging and let someone else massage it for better results. Avoid wearing undergarments for as long as possible, and let your breasts breathe and stay relaxed.

Take Care of Your Physical and Mental Health

This is one part that every mother ignores so they can take care of the baby. While prioritizing your baby’s health is important, you should worry about your health too. The better you are, the quicker your body can get rid of the pain. Moreover, your mental health plays an important role in building immunity. Stay calm and relaxed; your body can easily tackle the pain without medications.

What if Breastfeeding Doesn’t Get Easier?

In rare cases, even after six weeks, breastfeeding is painful for you; it is time to visit your doctor. Moreover, if the painful sensation keeps increasing after every session, you should visit the doctor without any wait. Usually, it happens because of an infection that keeps on growing.

Usually, an infection starts and gets eliminated quickly, but in some cases, it might stay and grow. There is no need to wait anymore; quickly visit your doctor and get rid of that infection before it gets severe.

Final Words

When does breastfeeding get easier? There is no direct answer to this as it depends on the conditions. However, on average, you should feel relaxed after four to six weeks. Pay close attention to your nipples after feeding to see if they are damaged or not. Moreover, follow the remedies we shared above to take care of your breasts and avoid getting painful sensations.