I really want to be able to go out but with my son's feeding rituals that would be impossible. To b/f I need to set myself up all comfy with pillows and blankets all over the place. Also, I need to take off my shirt or lift it right up and literally hang out a breast (sorry tmi) to try to latch him. He is really strong and I can't move his hands away from his mouth so it takes a few minutes to finally get a good latch. Also, I end up spraying and dripping milk all over his face, clothes, hands and myself!
When does it all settle down and b/f becomes less of a chore? I need to know it gets better.
Also, my breasts get so full after 2 hours or so that I literally soak heavy breast pads and need to change them 2 to 3 times a day. Does this slow down and become more "normal" or am I going to have to deal with that the whole time I'm b/f???
Please help. Any advice or personal experiences are very much appreciated...

LOL! I feel for you, really I do, 'cos I've been right there (especially the bit about spraying milk everywhere - in fact that still happens sometimes and my DD is 9 months old). Yes, it does get much better. You don't say how old your baby is but quite quickly they learn to latch on themselves if you just wave a nipple anywhere near their face. They also get bigger so you'll find you don't need loads of cushions because their bum will rest on your legs. Plus they get stronger and can support themselves better. Then breastfeeding in public is easy.....until they get old enough to get distracted by things going on around them....at which point they pull off every couple of minutes and leave you exposed and spraying milk everywhere! LOL! But by then you'll have mastered one handed breastfeeding and will have one hand free to preserve your modesty!

As to the engorgement, yes that gets much better as well. As your baby's feeding pattern settles down your body will only make as much milk as you need. I only feed four times in a 24 hour period now and even when I wake up in the morning they don't feel full and hard.

Good luck, and thanks for making me laugh.

Spanish

You can get breast feeding ponchos. It goes on over your head and covers your whole upper torso. These are great.

I can't breastfeed in public, or at least, not yet. I have BIG boobs (E's) and it's way to hard to keep them conceled because finding nursing bras in my size is imposible, which means I have to whip my shirt up. Not fun.

My daughter is now 6 weeks old and will take a bottle of expressed breast milk, which is usually what I do if I'm going out when she needs to be fed, otherwise I'll try to feed her in the car. At least that I way I can flash my ta ta's all over the place (thank goodness for tinted windows!!).

I've also noticed my milk has calmed down a bit, although it has taken a dive in the other direction (poor supply) but that is due to some mistakes on my part (supplementing).

I live in Florida and I could not imagine using a nursing poncho, way too hot! I do use a light recieving blanket. You know the cheap little things that come in packages of 6? Those. They're great because they're so light.

My 2 cents...

Luckly for me in the beginning most of the malls in North Texas have "family" restrooms with private nursing rooms (6x6, rocking chair, sink and changing table) I just loaded my bobby under his stroller and when needed went in there. As for out and about, I found sitting in the back seat of my car with the bobby and a light blanket gives me enough privacy. Even when I did have to feed him in front of strangers (like a doctors waiting room) most pretty much ignored us.

It gets easier as you go along. I found 6 weeks was our "we finally get it" stage - my engorgement and painful letdown reduced tremendously and DS's latch became a breeze. You will get there, I am sure you are doing a great job.

My ds is now 8 weeks. If you would have asked me two weeks ago I would have been no help at all because I was still sure it would never get easier. He is now latching on much easier and can come of and on by himself during a feeding. I have not figured out how to get him latched on without exposing myself yet though. I am waiting for the day that he can support his own head ~ that will free up a hand and I think make it easier.

I am feeling your frustration.

Thanks ladies! It helps to know I am not alone. When I posted ds was only a week old. Now he is 12 days and we are still going strong with the b/f. I have actually fed him in front of my Mom and Grandma now and just used a light receiving blanket to cover up a little. To latch I still need to fully expose myself and he still fights me with his hands so we are still having some troubles.
Also, my left breast is really sore and when he latches on that one I have toe curling pain. My right one is fine, it still stings a little when I am engorged but nothing like my left?! I don't know why this is.
Does anyone else's little ones "cluster" feed a lot during the day? My son does this every hour to hour and half between 6pm and 11pm and then goes 5 hours at night without a feed. My breasts don't know what to do!? :eek:
Does the engorgement issue really go away soon? I can't stand the pressure and pain! Listen to me complaining... I couldn't b/f my first and cried for weeks because of it. I guess I should just feel blessed and be happy I can b/f my new ds!...

It does get better! Your milk production will match the needs of your baby. But I still do have the spraying problem and leak at 6 mos. It becomes more enjoyable and less painful. I always use the private breastfeeding rooms when I'm out or I go out to the car. At the doctor's office, I asked to go into a private room. A couple of times I was able to b/f at a restaurant but it was tough when she had to burp to keep us covered. My brother-in-law was there at the table once and he turned red when I got started (nothing was exposed though). I need a shawl!

Baby#2 - Cluster feeding at night is normal. I was relieved when I was told this by a lactation consultant and others. I was glad to know that it was normal. My DS definitely cluster feeds at night and it feels never ending. And it feels like I don't have enough for him at night. We have given him a bottle sometimes at night to ensure that he is getting enough and then he is able to fall asleep soundly. But, now that I think he is growth spurting again I think I need to just make sure he feeds on me to stimulate my milk supply. Nights are definitely more difficult due to the cluster feedings though and due to DS not being content because it does seem as though he is not getting enough. I hope that he is not growth spurting this weekend because my in-laws will be in town and my DH is graduating with his masters degree. So lots is going on.

I had the same toe curling pain (that's exaxtly what I would do... curl my toes). It lasted several weeks but is gone now unless he has a bad latch.
My DS cluster feeds in the am as well as pm. He also used to get his hands involved when I was trying to get him latched... I was constantly saying " now, now, your hands have nothing to do with it " sometimes it would take a few minutes of me trying to get his hands out of the way long enough to get his head to my breast. It was very frustrating. But like I said ~ it does get better. Hang in there.

My daughter is 8 months old now and I am no longer breast feeding, but I did BF exclusively til she was 5 1/2 months old, then continued to feed at bedtime, in the night and 1st thing in the morning til I went back to work when she was 7 months old.

Apparently, the toe curling pain can be caused by poor attachment, so it might be worth asking a lactation consultant to check this for you. I had it for the first couple of weeks and it was a relief when the pain stopped.

Have you tried holding your baby's hand, or letting him grab hold of your finger when you are feeding? That might be all it takes to get his hands out of the way. I personally loved it when my daughter rested her hand on my breast or reached up to stroke my face when she was being fed. One of my friends used to joke that she was saying 'this is mine, all mine - and so's that one over there'!

I agree with the others - your milk will settle to meet demand in the next few weeks and you will find it easy to attach your baby to the breast very discreetly before you know it.

I found it really useful to go to a breast feeding support group - it's a great way to make friends with other mums who have babies of a similar age and there is normally someone there who can help with any problems you might have.

HTH

Rebbie