1 month tomorrow!

[wishing4ababy]

well i made it to 1 month of breast feeding.
but I am v sad to have to stop. I feel as though i am totally neglecting my other 2 children (who are only 2 and 3) so need to be able to do stuff....other than sitting on the sofa constantly feeding charlie. they don't understand and it is breaking my heart that they are craving my attention but i can't give it to them.
I have just been googling stuff and saw a post on another website that said to just give them one feed a day off you if you wanted to. I just wanted to see what you all thought - is it natural for me to still want to give him something? if i can give him a feed in a morning - what do you think girls?

Also want to thank you all for your support over the last month....i have loved feeding my boy far more than i ever thought possible and I am so sad to be stopping. It has been hard work though (but worth every tear and cracked nipple!) and there were times where i could've just given up. Your support has gotten me through - thank you.

 

[thelilbump]

well done for getting through the first month, you've given Charlie a great start

Many women combine between formula and breastfeeding, giving 1 feed in the morning and 1 at night. I haven't done it myself so can't say how to go about it i'm afraid.

 

[Mervs Mum]

Oh sweetie! It's your choice obviously but when you get past 6 weeks it gets even easier and you wont feel tied to the chair!!! Hevz has 4 kids and I've been round there and believe me they dont miss out when she's feeding.

Oh I'm so sad to read this - I thought we were going to be celebrating and you'd be getting this blinkie...........https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m220/benandgeorgialee/Breastfeeding%20Milestone%20Blinkies/1-month-boy.gif ........

I understand if you want to stop but it's such a shame when you've come so far. Of course you can still do the odd feed so long as you try to keep it regular

 

[wishing4ababy]

Oh sweetie! It's your choice obviously but when you get past 6 weeks it gets even easier and you wont feel tied to the chair!!! Hevz has 4 kids and I've been round there and believe me they dont miss out when she's feeding.

Oh I'm so sad to read this - I thought we were going to be celebrating and you'd be getting this blinkie...........https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m220/benandgeorgialee/Breastfeeding%20Milestone%20Blinkies/1-month-boy.gif ........

I understand if you want to stop but it's such a shame when you've come so far. Of course you can still do the odd feed so long as you try to keep it regular

I just feel so guilty. I feel guilty for stopping feeding him, guilty for feeding him and neglecting ds and dd..... If I thought that charlie would get into a routine of feeding for less than 1 hour at a time i would carry on because i do really want to do this. But he just carried on and on. I have wondered many times if i have a less than average production but sometimes it is all over him (and me) so pretty certain that he is getting a fair amount. He gulps his way through the first 10 or 15 minutes of a feed too.
It is just too hard....i am so proud that i made it this far...but just don't know what to do from here.

 

[thelilbump]

The feeding time does reduce for most as they get older and more efficient at suckling. Does he fall asleep on you is that why it's currently taking an hour per feed? If that's the case there are things you can do to help him along, like just wobbling your boob a bit to remind him to feed. hunny x

 

[Mervs Mum]

You should be very very proud honey!! Hebe fed for hours at a time too. At the end of the day it's totally up to you. You have nothing to feel guilty for. I know how you feel though. I still feel bad that I gave up after 6 weeks with my DD. I dont even know why I did. If you do carry on remember this. It's such a short amount of time in all your children's lives. You might get a bottle down her quicker but you are going to have to spend extra time on the washing a sterilising etc. You could but some good books or toys for the other 2 to read with you while you feed - you have saved a fortune on formula already so you can treat them!!

Big honey. Well done on your achievements so far - we are very proud of you xxx

 

[Mervs Mum]

The feeding time does reduce for most as they get older and more efficient at suckling. Does he fall asleep on you is that why it's currently taking an hour per feed? If that's the case there are things you can do to help him along, like just wobbling your boob a bit to remind him to feed. hunny x

Yes! Or feeding in a sling so you can move around and play with the others too.

 

[wishing4ababy]

The feeding time does reduce for most as they get older and more efficient at suckling. Does he fall asleep on you is that why it's currently taking an hour per feed? If that's the case there are things you can do to help him along, like just wobbling your boob a bit to remind him to feed. hunny x

he falls asleep on me eventually....but it is usually after about an hour...and sometimes even more. And he is sometimes wanting a feed every hour. so i can literally be penned in by him for an entire day. Nothing else gets done. Kids are left to their own devices and they are just babies themselves. Tried expressing but get 3oz off if i am lucky.
when he falls alseep i have tried tickling him, blowing on him, wobling my boob about, but sometimes he just goes to sleep and then an hour later he wants more.

 

[wishing4ababy]

Sometimes i just cna't see any other way - but there seems to be lots of different options for me - without me giving up altogether! Maybe we will live to fight another day.....and get that blinkie after all!!!!!

 

[thelilbump]

i think you deserve the blinkie anyway, your days off

 

[Mervs Mum]

That's your blinkie!!! Get it on before bed!!!

x

 

[UKMummy]

Just to let you know that it is possible!!! I have a 3 year old, a 22 month old and a 4 month old. My older two have got used the breastfeeding and they help by stoking the baby's head or reading a book with me or getting me the muslin or a cushion. I play board games with them whilst feeding the baby and I even cook them their dinner...because, needs must!! The baby only takes max 10 minutes to feed now so it doesn't have as much of an impact as it did in the beginning. I think your children would be trying to get your attention regardless of breastfeeding or bottle feeding. It's all about sibling rivalry and the new arrival. If you can , keep the breastfeeding going but I can appreciate it is quite hard. Well done for getting this far!

 

[wishing4ababy]

Just to let you know that it is possible!!! I have a 3 year old, a 22 month old and a 4 month old. My older two have got used the breastfeeding and they help by stoking the baby's head or reading a book with me or getting me the muslin or a cushion. I play board games with them whilst feeding the baby and I even cook them their dinner...because, needs must!! The baby only takes max 10 minutes to feed now so it doesn't have as much of an impact as it did in the beginning. I think your children would be trying to get your attention regardless of breastfeeding or bottle feeding. It's all about sibling rivalry and the new arrival. If you can , keep the breastfeeding going but I can appreciate it is quite hard. Well done for getting this far!

I take my hat off to you hun keeping going with babies who are pretty much the same age as mine! It is fantastic.
I couldn't give up completely - i felt too guilty. So we have compromised. Charlie now has 3 feeds a day off me and the rest are formula. Already i am getting more sleep and more importantly more quality time with ds and dd.
we are only 2 days into this (3rd day today) and we are all much happier. Even Charlie seems more settled. and i am glad that we could find a way that meant i didn't have to completley give up on bf.

 

[Mervs Mum]

So glad it's working out honey!!

 

[Hevz]

Oh sweetie! It's your choice obviously but when you get past 6 weeks it gets even easier and you wont feel tied to the chair!!! Hevz has 4 kids and I've been round there and believe me they dont miss out when she's feeding.

Oh I'm so sad to read this - I thought we were going to be celebrating and you'd be getting this blinkie...........https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m220/benandgeorgialee/Breastfeeding%20Milestone%20Blinkies/1-month-boy.gif ........

I understand if you want to stop but it's such a shame when you've come so far. Of course you can still do the odd feed so long as you try to keep it regular

Thanks Mervs Mum.


At least while you're breastfeeding you have a hand free to read books etc at the same time. You will still have to feed baby a bottle regularly even if your not breastfeeding and you won't have any hands free coz it'll be baby in one arm and bottle in the other. Erin is 3months now, Toby 17months, Abi4 and Lauren 6 and they're great helpers....fetching me muslins, nappies etc and they feel really involved. When I'm making tea and Erin cries I ask one of them to bounce her gently in her bouncy chair and they feel really involved. I never tell them not to touch the baby etc....just say to be gentle if they're a bit boistrous as I don't want them to resent Erin.

Use feeding time as time for a cuddle on the couch and have one of the older ones either side while you're feeding and put on a special dvd or one of their favourites, or read a book with them. Mine love that. They think it's their special time and barely notice the fact that I'm feeding.


In the long term too, it's so much easier when you're going out. With 3 small kids you'll have more than enough to carry in your changing bag without adding bottles etc to it all. I express once a day in the morning while the kids are munching toast and watching breakfast tv so that gives me the opportunity later on to have a bit of "time off" coz hubby feeds Erin


As Mervs Mum said....it's your decision but these are just a few things that I think have helped us along and have prevented any of my other kids feeling left out

Good luck

 

[momoflogan]

well i made it to 1 month of breast feeding.
but I am v sad to have to stop. I feel as though i am totally neglecting my other 2 children (who are only 2 and 3) so need to be able to do stuff....other than sitting on the sofa constantly feeding charlie. they don't understand and it is breaking my heart that they are craving my attention but i can't give it to them.
I have just been googling stuff and saw a post on another website that said to just give them one feed a day off you if you wanted to. I just wanted to see what you all thought - is it natural for me to still want to give him something? if i can give him a feed in a morning - what do you think girls?

Also want to thank you all for your support over the last month....i have loved feeding my boy far more than i ever thought possible and I am so sad to be stopping. It has been hard work though (but worth every tear and cracked nipple!) and there were times where i could've just given up. Your support has gotten me through - thank you.

I think you should try and combine being a mom to other two as well as breastfeeding ur newborn son.

 

[Mervs Mum]

I think you should try and combine being a mom to other two as well as breastfeeding ur newborn son.

Thanks for that!

 

[wishing4ababy]

Oh sweetie! It's your choice obviously but when you get past 6 weeks it gets even easier and you wont feel tied to the chair!!! Hevz has 4 kids and I've been round there and believe me they dont miss out when she's feeding.

Oh I'm so sad to read this - I thought we were going to be celebrating and you'd be getting this blinkie...........https://i105.photobucket.com/albums/m220/benandgeorgialee/Breastfeeding%20Milestone%20Blinkies/1-month-boy.gif ........

I understand if you want to stop but it's such a shame when you've come so far. Of course you can still do the odd feed so long as you try to keep it regular

Thanks Mervs Mum.


At least while you're breastfeeding you have a hand free to read books etc at the same time. You will still have to feed baby a bottle regularly even if your not breastfeeding and you won't have any hands free coz it'll be baby in one arm and bottle in the other. Erin is 3months now, Toby 17months, Abi4 and Lauren 6 and they're great helpers....fetching me muslins, nappies etc and they feel really involved. When I'm making tea and Erin cries I ask one of them to bounce her gently in her bouncy chair and they feel really involved. I never tell them not to touch the baby etc....just say to be gentle if they're a bit boistrous as I don't want them to resent Erin.

Use feeding time as time for a cuddle on the couch and have one of the older ones either side while you're feeding and put on a special dvd or one of their favourites, or read a book with them. Mine love that. They think it's their special time and barely notice the fact that I'm feeding.


In the long term too, it's so much easier when you're going out. With 3 small kids you'll have more than enough to carry in your changing bag without adding bottles etc to it all. I express once a day in the morning while the kids are munching toast and watching breakfast tv so that gives me the opportunity later on to have a bit of "time off" coz hubby feeds Erin


As Mervs Mum said....it's your decision but these are just a few things that I think have helped us along and have prevented any of my other kids feeling left out

Good luck

thanks hun.

 

[Hevz]

No probs....just thought it might help

 

[wishing4ababy]

No probs....just thought it might help

ah it did hun. thank you. I hated having to make such a final decision - so now we are doing both i feel so much better. Charlie is a lot more settled oo nd i really feel as though i am doing the best thing for everyone.