What does "normal" breastfeeding feel like?

After a while it doesn't really feel like anything... maybe pressure because your areola is being squeezed but you don't feel anything on the nipple. Unless they yank off and pull the nipple with them. (Ouch!) Honestly, I get more irritation from the baby scratching me with his nails (and reminding me I need to trim them) when he kneads the breast to make the milk come faster. Then you get a release of hormones and it makes you sleepy.

The only advice I give is to get as much of the surrounding area in his mouth as you can, and when you de-latch (which you shouldn't unless he's been asleep for a long time!) to put your finger in the side to break the suction and then his mouth will just fall open (if he's truly asleep), rather than pulling him off and stretching the nipple. I know it sounds obvious, but I didn't know that with my first and soon had some serious trauma going on. Much easier with each child!

My ds is also 4 weeks old, I'm so sorry you've had these problems!! Good for you for keeping it up, though, a lot of mamas in your shoes have given up.

If the clicking means he's not got enough nipple in his mouth, remember to hold your breast behind the areola when getting him to latch. When I took a bf class before my oldest was born, she kept saying that the babe should take in most if not all of the areola. Well, mine are very large, and that's just not possible, but I think I may be of a minority, because every LC I've seen has commented on that I actually squeeze/compress the areola a bit to help get as much as possible in the mouth. Now, with this baby, I've been very lucky and the only time I ever felt latch pain was when my milk first came in and I got pretty engorged. But with ds's #1 and 2, I had sore, cracked nipples at the very beginning also. I kept lansinoh on them and let them air out a LOT.

Really, it's hard to give advice without watching you nurse, kwim? Have you seen an LC or a LLL leader? If so, I'd keep up with them

Other than that, bf now isn't uncomfortable at all. Just can feel the tissue compress when he sucks. It's actually pretty relaxing to me, but that's my experience.

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Isn't that the truth?! Add that with the kicking feet. LOL

Hang in there mama

Nursing was HARD in the beginning- I got to the point where i understood how women give up. But it was important to me and I wasn't about to. Things i found that helped: a hair dryer (not warm compresses, 'cause they just get cold when youtake them off- i had 'raynauds' your nips tighten and the tips get white-ouch! but vit. B6 is supposed to help too), and the first and foremost thing that helped....not the usual advice that "breast feeding shouldn't hurt" but "it's going to hurt!" That made me stop waiting for a miracle feed and just deal with the pain one feeding at a time. Things got a little better by week 4, but the 6th week was magical!!

As for thrush, when i was in the BF'g clinic there was a mom with a 5 mo old who was STILL having problems....everyone i know with that problem regrets not attacking it aggressively right from the start- accidophillus and pro-biotics, no sugar or bread....there are other things that help-find them and use them!

Good luck mama, hang in there!

i had a rough start too. i was bleeding and had blisters, ouch! my lactation specialist gave me nipple shield to use, which saved my breastfeeding relationship with my daughter. i hated using them, and wanted off as soon as possible, but i couldn't seem to get her on my nipples. at 4 weeks, the lactation sp. said "don't rush it! it will happen!!" and it did! at 6 weeks she and i just got the hang of it. the difference between 4 weeks and where i am now at 7 weeks is remarkable...i still have pain at the very beginning after latching, too, which is normal i am told. and sometimes it takes her ten or more tries to latch on right! hey, i don't care as long as she gets it eventually. i was really afraid before to delatch once she latched if it was uncomfortable because it took so long just to get that latch! BUT, it is worth delatching and retrying to get it comfortable and to save you nipple pain. my nipples are only sore from time to time and strangely enough feel sun burned.

anyway, keep trying...it really is a learning experience for both of you...i watched her learn right along with me! how wonderful!!!!!

good luck

sherri

Once you get established, and all problems resolved, it doesn't feel like much For the first few months you may feel twinges during let down. Sometimes it even resembles a sharp twitching pain like you described.
When your babe starts sucking and then the milk"comes in"