DS is now 11 weeks old, and I can barely remember not enjoying it. It really hurt at first, even though my lactation consultants all said his latch was great , and he was a very enthusiastic nurser from the minute he was born (still hasn't taken a bottle!). I think see people really do have sensitive nipples, and it didn't help that he could nurse for an hour or more at a time. I did have some trouble with oversupply around week 8, but no mastitis, plugged ducts, nipple issues, etc. Once we were able to master side lying nursing position, life got great. I only use the My Brest Friend pillow when I get up in the middle of the night (too groggy to nurse in bed and DH is a very heavy sleeper. It also got better when he started nursing for less time, and when he could help with the latch. I will miss it when I go back to work in a few weeks.

I'm a labor and delivery nurse, and I expected that breastfeeding would be the easiest, most efficient, healthiest thing for me and my baby. What I did not expect was the excruciating nipple pain in the first few weeks. I had no idea it could be so awful. For me, worse than labor pains. But I have to say, at about 3-4 weeks it just got better. Now I can write this post while my baby nurses. It truly is easy and efficient, and beyond that, it's the best bonding time ever. Stick with it. It's really hard, but it will get easier!!

I was very lucky - from the very 1st time DD was put on my tummy minutes after birth and instinctively started seeking the boob, it was easy. But I was in a lot of "new mommy" groups and I know that was really rare.

I BF until DD was 2.5 and interestingly, even though it never hurt, I unfortunately now cannot stand the feeling of anyone playing with my nipples. Not DH in bed, and not DD when she's upset and instinctively tries to put her hand in my shirt for comfort. It bugs the crap out of me for them to be touched. I'm hoping with a few more years "rest" I will enjoy it when DH touches them again. Hopefully!

I never enjoyed breast feeding in the way other moms seem to feel it was a great bonding time, etc. But after 4 to 6 months the pain went away and it became an efficient way to feed DCs (DC #1 and DC #3; DC #2 never learned to latch and I EPed). No bottles and nothing to buy! So I enjoy that BFing is quick, easy and free, if that's what you mean.

OP, don't worry if it isn't some sort of magical experience for you. It doesn't have to be.

i started to enjoy it a bit around three weeks after using all-purpose nipple ointment religiously and it got much, much easier around 6 weeks.

Around 4 weeks for me. Before that I would tear up from the pain...I had these ameda nipple pads that were cooling that helped.

with DC1 was smooth sailing from day 1.
with DC2 i'm counting down the days to 12 months. i just hate every minute of it. he hurts me all the time and not to mention now he thinks it's ok to try to roll over on my lap and look over my shoulder while latched on. he's 8 months old and the best way to nurse him is laying on my back with him crawling over me while latched on. it's insane!

We got the latch right after a week, and it was comfortable after a month. I could nurse without being distracted by it most of the time.

I think you'll find it varies wildly. I had a super easy time (x3!) with no problems or pain from day one. They each bit me at least once when they got teeth that sucked but otherwise it was (is) great. I hope things improve quickly for you. Great job for EBF, it's a gift to your baby!

Anonymous wrote:For those that enjoyed breastfeeding, when did that start? My son is 2 weeks old and I am exclusively breastfeeding. I've met with two lactation consultants that both confirmed that I have a good latch but must have extra sensitive nipples (?) because latching on is painful and nursing in general is uncomfortable for me. Was this the case for anyone else? Were you eventually able to enjoy or at least tolerate breastfeeding your child? When did that happen?

It takes about a month for it to become comfortable.

13 weeks

4 months

never. the entire 11 months were pure hell.

Pp here. No pain after first few weeks but even then was bearable. Bf for 13 mos.

8vweeks. from nightmare to love overnight. i think his mouth grew