In short, yes. Loads of mums struggle with breastfeeding, so you're not alone. There's certainly nothing "wrong" with you or your baby. As with anything, breastfeeding is something that has to be learned. And as with so many things in life there are lots of things that can make breastfeeding hard. So, don't panic! Help is at hand.
Struggling with breastfeeding your baby
Nothing is likely to cause more stress or make you more insecure as a new mum than struggling to breastfeed your baby. There are loads of reasons why this might be, so don't struggle on alone. The best thing you can do is to talk to a lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist ASAP. They have the right training and experience to help you. At Manchester Lactation Consultants, we aim to have both mum and baby feeding comfortably and confidently in just one session.
Why is it so hard to breastfeed my baby?
There's a lot of nonsense around breastfeeding just coming naturally and intuitively to women. For some women it does. Others have to feel their way through it and learn as they go. There's no shame in finding breastfeeding hard. You wouldn't expect to just get in a car and immediately be able to hit the motorway without lessons. And the same is true of breastfeeding. In many societies, the knowledge of how to breastfeed is shared between communities. We've lost touch with this sharing of experience and this often leaves mums feeling isolated and incompetent. Don't just stay feeling bad and worrying, just ask for help from someone who's helped hundreds of others just like you. That's the most natural thing in the world!
I'm having a hard time breastfeeding, is there something wrong with me or my baby?
It is highly unlikely that anything is wrong with either of you that will render breastfeeding impossible. And there's certainly nothing wrong with you as a mum, if that's crossed your mind. However, there are a range of easily treatable medical conditions, such as tongue tie, that can make breastfeeding more of a struggle than it needs to be. Seeing a properly qualified and experienced lactation consultant and infant feeding specialist with a strong track record of addressing feeding issues will soon get to the bottom of it and get it treated quickly.
Is it normal to struggle with breastfeeding a second child?
Absolutely yes! We see this all the time and not only with mums who struggled to breastfeed their first child. It can really throw you off, especially if you found it easy the first time round. Babies are all different, even ones born to the same parents. Think of it like driving a new car. Sure there are lots of bits in roughly the same place, but you still need to get a feel for the new model before driving it becomes second nature. Additionally, we see lots of mums who breezed through breastfeeding a first child, only to struggle with the second because the second baby has a tongue tie and the first didn't. So don't struggle in silence, no one will judge you and the quicker you can get the help you need, the quicker you can go back to being supermum of two, three or four!!