Breastfeeding Success | In the Beginning It Can Be Hard!

definitely remember feeling in the beginning like, “This is really hard; it’s a lot of work.” I remember the first night in the hospital, trying to breastfeed, and it took two of us, my husband was holding the baby’s little hands down because he kept getting his hands in the way. It just was physically awkward at first. But now it’s like nothing. Now it’s totally easy and my body has regulated itself and my milk production is right where it needs to be. Also, my husband is very pro-breastfeeding. He’s never been jealous, or if he has, he hasn’t told me. In fact, if the baby wants to nurse and is tugging on my clothes my husband says, “If he wants it, you have to just give it to him.” My husband grew up in Mexico, and his mom breastfed all of them. It’s totally normal to him.

here were times when I was very frustrated. When he was first born, I didn’t have the milk yet and it was frustrating. At the hospital, it seemed like the nurses were actually a little bit against the breastfeeding. I had a really difficult time. I’m a new, young mother; I didn’t know how to position him the correct way at first. He wouldn’t latch on, and the nurses were actually giving him bottles with formula in it! It was really frustrating for me and for my doctor. He got so mad at the nurses for doing that. I didn’t know to tell them, “Don’t do that.”

had my baby 16 weeks premature and I had planned to breastfeed. She stayed in the hospital for two months and I was pumping my milk for her. Every time I pumped, it felt good, because it was for my baby, for her well-being and the quality of her life. She got introduced to the breast at about three weeks old. She was so small. For a minute, I thought that she didn’t want me. But it was just because she had to learn how to breastfeed. She was so tiny, she had to get the hang of things, and I did too. But I was like, “I gotta do this.” I made sure she didn’t get any formula.

hen my baby was first born, they had to give him formula. He was a month early and his sugar level was low. He had a little bitty mouth and it couldn’t go around the nipple, so I had to give him formula for just two days. Then all of a sudden, it came. Then I started breastfeeding and my WIC counselor came. She had helped me with my first child.

he first time, it hurt, the nipple. But after one week, it was very comfortable. The second child was easier to feed. I am very happy. My baby and my relationship is good. I enjoy the breastfeeding. With the first baby, after I fed for one year, my body is better, I felt it. And now, also, with this child, my body feels it’s better.

had a Caesarian. At first it was a little hard to get her latched on. I couldn’t really move. The nurses were very helpful. Except when my baby had jaundice, one nurse actually tried to get me to give her formula when she had to go in for her jaundice. I was saying, “I don’t want you to give her formula, she doesn’t need formula. I’ll come feed her when she’s hungry.” I think part of it is because I am young. They think that you don’t know and you’re not educated, and you don’t know what you’re supposed to do.

t’s hard in the beginning. I almost gave up after I came home from the hospital. The latching on part is hard, and then your breasts and your nipples, they go through so many changes and it hurts, and they bleed. I just thank God for my WIC lactation counselor, because she came out for a few days straight. She showed me all kinds of things—brought me the nipple shield and showed me how to use that. Now when I meet pregnant women, I tell them, “Stick to it, it’s going to be hard in the beginning but if that’s what you want to do, just stick to it. After a month or so it’ll be so easy!” My baby’s dad has always been for breastfeeding. He says, “It’s the best thing for her. Whatever makes her healthier.”


		aybe the first couple of days were difficult. The engorgement. I felt the milk come in but it wouldn’t come out. It’s very painful. But once it came out everything was fine.