When Does Breastfeeding Get Easier

Why is breastfeeding so difficult for new mothers? You have two individuals attempting to acquire a new skill and significant communication obstacles, which may make nursing a challenging endeavor.

You can’t help but feel stressed and anxious since you’re recuperating from childbirth and your emotions are all over the place, even though you think this is normal and should occur naturally.

Why Is Breastfeeding So Hard?

Although it’s clear why it’s so tough, our expectations are unrealistic. That’s not how it works. For both the mother and the baby, breastfeeding is a skill. Learning takes time, frequently needs the assistance of another person, and necessitates a certain amount of patience. However, sometimes even with much support, help, and knowledge, we feel like failures.

Research shows that 8 out of 10 women quit nursing before they wished to and would have persisted if they had received enough assistance. This is alarming since it indicates that some mothers feel they have no option but to discontinue nursing because of a lack of support or knowledge about where and how to get instructions, care, or support. Also, this isn’t limited to new mothers. Even with your second and third, you will find it very hard too.

When Does Breastfeeding Get Easier?

When it comes to something we take for granted, like nursing, you may wonder, “When does breastfeeding become easier?” The quick answer is that your experience will likely be unique, and each woman and baby will experience breastfeeding differently. 

The lengthy response is that the vast majority of women believe that things begin to calm down around the three-week mark, that by week six, breastfeeding became a lot easier, and that by week 12, they’re beginning to emerge from the haze and feel more like themselves again.

You’re doing a fantastic job if you’re almost through week 3 and are still going strong. 

When it comes to nursing, as we’ve said many times before, it’s a skill. To learn and adapt, one must put in the time, effort, and patience. Nothing happens in an instant.

Knowing how to hold and understand your baby’s signals may be a challenge, as well as worrying whether they’re eating enough. Moreover, figuring out how to deal with the leaks takes time. Just keep in mind that things will become easier. It’s true; it does become easier with time, so do not give up on yourself and your baby. Many of the moms we’ve talked to were astounded at how quickly their breastfeeding progressed as if it had happened over a day.

In the blink of an eye, they’d gone from struggling to nursing their infant in the middle of a grocery store without missing a beat. Hopefully, that might be you next. Feeding your baby quickly and effortlessly ( Not exactly effortlessly, but you got the point).

In the first stages of nursing, almost every mother will feel like she is doing everything incorrectly. You are not alone, Mamma. 

Many new parents, including myself, have reported that nursing has become easier with time. After approximately a month, we felt like we had hit my stride, but the average time frame when breastfeeding becomes easier appears to be between two and six weeks.

Hacks to Make Breastfeeding Easier

Even though breastfeeding may not be for every mom, and you should never feel bad for wanting to quit, we find a few ways to alleviate the discomfort and concern.

With experience, both mother and child learn the art of nursing, which is a physical adjustment for both. However, there are many things you can do to make nursing easier while your baby is still a newborn.

Wipe Your Nipples

After each session, wipe or cleanse your breasts with a washcloth or a sanitary pad.

You should thoroughly clean your breasts. You’re preventing infection by keeping the breast clean. After each session, you may either rinse your breasts or take a shower after a long day of latching. Another option is to use a wet washcloth regularly.

Use a Nipple Cream

When breastfeeding, use a nipple cream after each session.

Nappy nipples that are bleeding cracked, and blistered will make any mother squirm in agony while she nurses. We feel you; we have been there.

Similarly, as cleaning your face with a towel, apply the cream before and after each breastfeeding session. Applying cream or your breast milk can aid in the healing of your nipples and prevent additional injury.

Check for How-to Nurse Videos

Many mothers swear by viewing a bunch of videos and doing it repeatedly until it eventually clicks. You may check whether the baby’s tongue, lips, and latch are in the correct position.

Alternatively, you may consult with a lactation consultant to obtain rapid guidance on achieving deep feeding sessions. 

Take a Break by Pumping 

Babies breastfeed a lot while they’re newborns, which may put a lot of pressure on you, and you will be pleading for a break or relief. Breast milk may still be produced even if you’re not breastfeeding, and pumping is a great way to do so. You may alternate between breastfeeding and expressing milk until you get used to it, or you could pump once a day for the first several weeks.

Find Your Ideal Position

There are a plethora of nursing positions, and not all of them are suitable for all mothers. Depending on the size of your breasts, the pace of your letdown since sometimes it may be extremely rapid, and the method your baby chooses to feed, each position has its advantages and disadvantages. Try out a few different roles to see which works best for you.

The following postures may assist in alleviating engorgement, mainly while your milk is coming in, and may be more comfortable for you than the present position.

Soothe the Pain by Using Nursing Gear

Fortunately, a wide range of nursing gear and products may assist in alleviating and avoiding discomfort. The following are a few ideas to consider:

It is possible to breastfeed while your body recovers using nipple shields temporarily. Nursing with flat or inverted nipples may be painful, and you can benefit from using the shields.

If your breasts itch due to friction with your clothing, a nipple shell may provide some relief. My garments didn’t bother my breasts because of the nipple shells I wore.

Sore nipples may be soothed using gel pads, which give quick cooling comfort. Once you’ve finished breastfeeding, lay the pads immediately on your breasts.

Breastfeeding pillows are worth it. If you don’t already have one, invest in a breastfeeding pillow. Look into other brands if your current one doesn’t allow you to breastfeed in various positions.

Let Your Nipples Breath a Little

Nips are more difficult to heal when they frequently contact your bra, which might irritate the blisters attempting to heal. Try to let your nipples breathe as much as possible. 

Conclusion

To wrap things up, we’d like to remind you that you shouldn’t put yourself down. Maintain a positive attitude toward yourself and keep experimenting with new ways to see whether the process is becoming easier. Avoiding self-loathing can help you feel more confident about nursing.

We hope that you now have a slew of options to test out. It might be as simple as cleaning and moisturizing your breasts after feeding. After reading this, you may want to watch a few videos about nursing. To relax your nipples, maybe you’ll buy a few breastfeeding products and let them air-dry during the day.

These easy tips may help ease the discomfort of nursing because it may be an inspiring experience if you grasp it. Eventually, you don’t have to worry about what you’re doing, and the baby latches and gets enough milk without support from you.