Discussion about What were the challenges in your breastfeeding journey and how did you overcome it?

shabana syed Mom of 3 children 11 months ago

Breastfeeding is a beautiful yet challenging journey for many mothers, with sleeplessness being one of the most common struggles. Many babies wake frequently, take short naps, or have difficulty settling, making it exhausting for mothers. Establishing a bedtime routine, ensuring full feedings before sleep, and creating a calm, dark environment can help. Dream feeding and safe co-sleeping are also effective in managing sleep disruptions.

Apart from sleeplessness, mothers often face other challenges:

Latching Issues – Some babies struggle to latch properly, leading to discomfort and inefficient feeding. Trying different positions and seeking lactation support can help.
Low Milk Supply – Concerns about milk production are common. Frequent nursing, staying hydrated, and maintaining a nutritious diet can help increase supply.
Engorgement and Mastitis – Painful swelling and blocked ducts can occur. Warm compresses, gentle massage, and regular feeding can relieve discomfort.
Balancing with Other Responsibilities – Managing household tasks and caring for older children while breastfeeding can be overwhelming. Support from family and prioritizing self-care can make a difference.
Despite these challenges, with patience, support, and the right techniques, many mothers successfully navigate their breastfeeding journey, creating a strong bond with their baby.

Shivani Kulkarni Mom of a 1 yr 6 m old boy 11 months ago

At first my baby's latch was not proper. therefore for first 10 days I had to supplement my breastmilk with formula. thereafter eventhough his latch became proper, i felt needle like pain and had to pump the milk. So I bought phillips manual breastpump. Then my life became easier and I overcame the most difficult phase of my life.
so mommies, hang in there! This phase too shall pass. I know it is easier said than done. still, more power to all the mums!

AMIt SuRaHA Father of a 11 m old girl 11 months ago

fhvvuufs dtxdyts

Swetha Mom of a 1 yr 3 m old boy 1 Year ago

motherhood is a beautiful journey. Though We face challenges and guilt for not breastfeeding our baby properly and the first challenge is the position we breastfeed our baby and it will be really difficult to handle and how i overcome it with the feeding pillow and back support by this way the baby will be fed properly.

The second challenge is nipple bite and to overcome this i feed the baby when hungry and not wait for the baby to shift aggressively crying.

Dharmishtha k solankii Mom of a 3 yr 5 m old girl 1 Year ago

after birth my baby i faced many many problems mera baby breast feeding nhi krta tha ..maine bhoot problem face ki hai...bhoot mehnat ki hai...pr birth se hi usko formula milk ki habit ho gayi thi to usne nipple muh me bhi nhi liya mujhe bahoot dukh hua bhot mehnat ke bad wo breakfeed kr raha tha pr side me formula milk to usko chahiye hi tha kyuki mujhe bhoot feed nhi aa raha th

Breastfeeding (nursing) your baby can be a good experience for both the mother and the baby. It takes time and practice to get comfortable with breastfeeding. Things you can do to help the process include: Start breastfeeding your baby in the hospital, right after birth. Ask for help from a lactation consultant or nurse to get you started. Read about breastfeeding before your baby is born. NIPPLE SORENESS Most women are able to breastfeed with no pain. Sometimes, breast tenderness and nipple soreness will occur in the first week. Getting help with a proper latch right away from a breastfeeding support person can help this go away more quickly. Nipple soreness may be caused by many things, including: Poor feeding techniques Wrong position of the baby when breastfeeding Not taking care of your nipples For many women, there is no clear cause of nipple soreness. A simple change in your baby\'s position while feeding may ease soreness. You might have sore nipples if your baby keeps sucking as they come off the breast. You can help your baby learn to let go by gently inserting a finger into the side of the mouth to break the suction. Skin that is too dry or too moist can also cause nipple soreness. Bras made from man-made (synthetic) fabrics may cause moisture to collect. These fabrics may increase sweating and slow evaporation. Using soaps or solutions that remove natural skin oils can cause dry skin. Olive oil, expressed milk, and ointments containing lanolin can help soothe dry or cracking nipples. Some babies chew or bite on the nipples when they start teething. Giving your baby something cold and wet to chew on a few minutes before breastfeeding can help avoid this problem. A clean, wet washcloth from the refrigerator works well. Offer your baby another cold, wet washcloth before feeding on the other breast. BREAST ENGORGEMENT OR BREAST FULLNESS Breast fullness is the slow buildup of blood and milk in the breast a few days after birth. It is a sign that your milk is coming in. It will not prevent you from breastfeeding. Breast engorgement is caused by back up in the blood vessels in the breast. The breasts are swollen, hard, and painful. The nipples may not stick out enough to allow the baby to latch on correctly. The let-down reflex is a normal part of breastfeeding. Milk made in the milk glands is released into the milk ducts. Pain, stress, and anxiety can interfere with the reflex. As a result, milk will build up. Treatment includes: Learning to relax and finding a comfortable position Reducing distractions during nursing, performing a gentle massage, and applying heat to the breast

Dharmishtha k solankii Mom of a 3 yr 5 m old girl 1 Year ago

Breastfeeding (nursing) your baby can be a good experience for both the mother and the baby. It takes time and practice to get comfortable with breastfeeding. Things you can do to help the process include:

Start breastfeeding your baby in the hospital, right after birth.
Ask for help from a lactation consultant or nurse to get you started.
Read about breastfeeding before your baby is born.
NIPPLE SORENESS

Most women are able to breastfeed with no pain. Sometimes, breast tenderness and nipple soreness will occur in the first week. Getting help with a proper latch right away from a breastfeeding support person can help this go away more quickly.

Nipple soreness may be caused by many things, including:

Poor feeding techniques
Wrong position of the baby when breastfeeding
Not taking care of your nipples
For many women, there is no clear cause of nipple soreness. A simple change in your baby's position while feeding may ease soreness.

You might have sore nipples if your baby keeps sucking as they come off the breast. You can help your baby learn to let go by gently inserting a finger into the side of the mouth to break the suction.

Skin that is too dry or too moist can also cause nipple soreness.

Bras made from man-made (synthetic) fabrics may cause moisture to collect. These fabrics may increase sweating and slow evaporation.
Using soaps or solutions that remove natural skin oils can cause dry skin. Olive oil, expressed milk, and ointments containing lanolin can help soothe dry or cracking nipples.
Some babies chew or bite on the nipples when they start teething.

Giving your baby something cold and wet to chew on a few minutes before breastfeeding can help avoid this problem. A clean, wet washcloth from the refrigerator works well.
Offer your baby another cold, wet washcloth before feeding on the other breast.
BREAST ENGORGEMENT OR BREAST FULLNESS

Breast fullness is the slow buildup of blood and milk in the breast a few days after birth. It is a sign that your milk is coming in. It will not prevent you from breastfeeding.

Breast engorgement is caused by back up in the blood vessels in the breast. The breasts are swollen, hard, and painful. The nipples may not stick out enough to allow the baby to latch on correctly.

The let-down reflex is a normal part of breastfeeding. Milk made in the milk glands is released into the milk ducts. Pain, stress, and anxiety can interfere with the reflex. As a result, milk will build up. Treatment includes:

Learning to relax and finding a comfortable position
Reducing distractions during nursing, performing a gentle massage, and applying heat to the breast

1 Like

Breastfeeding. The word itself seemed so simple, yet it became the most emotional and challenging journey of my motherhood. When I held my baby for the first time, her tiny fingers curled around mine, I felt an indescribable love—a bond that I thought nothing could shake. Little did I know, this bond would be tested in ways I never imagined. The first time I tried breastfeeding, it wasn’t the magical experience I had envisioned. My baby struggled to latch, her soft cries turning into loud wails. I felt helpless. Nurses reassured me, \"It’s normal, it takes time.\" But with each failed attempt, a shadow of self-doubt crept in. Was I doing something wrong? Was my body not enough for her? The days that followed were filled with anxiety. My baby seemed hungry, and every unsuccessful try left me in tears. I could feel her frustration as much as my own. My body ached—cracked nipples, the pain of engorgement, and sleepless nights. I felt like a failure as a mother. Everyone around me, well-meaning as they were, offered advice: \"Try this position,\" \"Drink more water,\" or worse, \"Maybe your milk isn’t enough.\" The loneliness set in. I watched other mothers breastfeed with ease, smiling serenely as if it were second nature. Meanwhile, I was locked in my room, crying in silence, torn between my love for my baby and the struggle to feed her. There were moments when I almost gave up, when I considered giving formula and letting the pain subside. But something in me—a quiet, stubborn resolve—refused to let go. I sought help. I reached out to a lactation consultant who, with gentle words, reminded me that this wasn’t about failure but learning. She taught me to take deep breaths, relax, and trust the process. “It’s a journey, not a test,” she said. I tried new techniques, different holds, and learned to listen to my baby’s cues. Slowly, the fear turned into hope. It wasn’t immediate. There were still setbacks, moments of tears and frustration. But one evening, in the dim light of my room, it happened. My baby latched perfectly, and the rhythm of her gentle suckling filled the silence. I looked down at her—content, peaceful—and for the first time in weeks, I smiled through tears. Overcoming this challenge taught me a lesson I’ll carry forever—that a mother’s strength lies not in perfection, but in persistence. My body wasn’t broken, and neither was I. We simply needed time to find our way together. Today, when I hold my baby and feed her without struggle, I remember those dark days, not with sadness, but with pride. Because in overcoming those challenges, I discovered my own resilience, my love, and my unshakable promise to my child: I will always show up, no matter how hard it gets. And that, to me, is what motherhood is all about.

JJ Mom of a 1 yr 4 m old girl 1 Year ago

Breastfeeding. The word itself seemed so simple, yet it became the most emotional and challenging journey of my motherhood. When I held my baby for the first time, her tiny fingers curled around mine, I felt an indescribable love—a bond that I thought nothing could shake. Little did I know, this bond would be tested in ways I never imagined.

The first time I tried breastfeeding, it wasn’t the magical experience I had envisioned. My baby struggled to latch, her soft cries turning into loud wails. I felt helpless. Nurses reassured me, "It’s normal, it takes time." But with each failed attempt, a shadow of self-doubt crept in. Was I doing something wrong? Was my body not enough for her?

The days that followed were filled with anxiety. My baby seemed hungry, and every unsuccessful try left me in tears. I could feel her frustration as much as my own. My body ached—cracked nipples, the pain of engorgement, and sleepless nights. I felt like a failure as a mother. Everyone around me, well-meaning as they were, offered advice: "Try this position," "Drink more water," or worse, "Maybe your milk isn’t enough."

The loneliness set in. I watched other mothers breastfeed with ease, smiling serenely as if it were second nature. Meanwhile, I was locked in my room, crying in silence, torn between my love for my baby and the struggle to feed her. There were moments when I almost gave up, when I considered giving formula and letting the pain subside. But something in me—a quiet, stubborn resolve—refused to let go.

I sought help. I reached out to a lactation consultant who, with gentle words, reminded me that this wasn’t about failure but learning. She taught me to take deep breaths, relax, and trust the process. “It’s a journey, not a test,” she said. I tried new techniques, different holds, and learned to listen to my baby’s cues. Slowly, the fear turned into hope.

It wasn’t immediate. There were still setbacks, moments of tears and frustration. But one evening, in the dim light of my room, it happened. My baby latched perfectly, and the rhythm of her gentle suckling filled the silence. I looked down at her—content, peaceful—and for the first time in weeks, I smiled through tears.

Overcoming this challenge taught me a lesson I’ll carry forever—that a mother’s strength lies not in perfection, but in persistence. My body wasn’t broken, and neither was I. We simply needed time to find our way together.

Today, when I hold my baby and feed her without struggle, I remember those dark days, not with sadness, but with pride. Because in overcoming those challenges, I discovered my own resilience, my love, and my unshakable promise to my child: I will always show up, no matter how hard it gets.

And that, to me, is what motherhood is all about.

Azza Mom of a 1 yr 6 m old boy 1 Year ago

I faced many challenges in breastfeeding.
My baby has extreme latching issues. Even after trying a lot , I am not able to breastfeed my baby because this issue still persists.
But? this doesn't means that I have given up on feeding my baby with my previous gold milk. I also faced low supply or no supply issues in between .
So, I switched to lactation program and I used to pump my milk and give it to my baby. I also started consuming lactobites, which proved to be a great help for increasing my supply. Currently, I hand express and pump my milk and provide it to my baby .
No matter how many formula milks come up in the market, the benefits of breastmilk cannot be beaten by any other milk. So, here I am trying to provide my baby with the best of the milk for my baby in the whole universe . It's called gold milk for a very big reason . It's value for a baby is like the value of the gold for us.

Akansha Mom of a 2 yr 1 m old girl 1 Year ago

After giving birth to your baby, you also birth as a mother my initial journey was stressful in terms of lacataion my baby she was not able to latch my flow was very good thn doctors told me to use philips breast pump it helps me a lot to give my milk to my baby simanteanously I met lactating doctors also as my baby was not able to her she gave me confidence to try again and again I did my level best one side to another side so finally after 2 months of struggle she was able to latch properly, so I will say when you become Mother you will be a super woman you can do anything just love yourself...

Shalini Guardian of a 5 yr 9 m old girl 1 Year ago

ossom