a bit fed up now

[palmtree123]

hey ladies,

hope you're all well. I've been bf for 7 weeks now, and too be honest I'm getting a bit worn down now.

don't get me wrong I enjoy it, it's not painful just uncomfortable when my milk lets down. and I love the convenience of it, even nursed in public twice today which wasn't a mum's and tots group lol!

but my lo is such a snacker, he'll feed for maybe 5-10 min max but almost every hour. I can stretch him if we're out and about but once we've stopped he knows about it lol. even if I try and give him milk from a bottle he'll only take an ounce.

I'm getting frustrated mainly because I know there's not much I can do about it. Been close to throwing the towel in this past week just so someone else can help and also to see if his feeds settle out. I do know however that they may not and this may be just how he is.

anyone else been through the same things in the early days and can offer some words of encouragement?tia xx

 

[susannah14]

Sorry, I haven't been through the same thing, but I wanted to say that you are doing a great job. To be able to say that you bf with no pain or other issues is a huge achievement.

IMO, 5-10 minutes every hour...well, it could be worse. If you switched to formula, wouldn't he still snack on a bottle? And it would probably be way less convenient.

As he gets older he will probably stretch his feeds out and take more milk at a time. I remember bfing getting a whole lot easier around 8 weeks.

Good luck

 

[Jaymelynn]

I have no advice, but for the past few days my son has been doing this too. He just turned 6 weeks. He spends only like 5-10 min on one side, falls asleep and wants to eat again in like 45-60 mins during the day. In the evening he comfort nurses for a long time. It makes it difficult to go out and to tell how much he is eating. I wish I could help.

 

[xsadiex]

I know how you feel!! It's bloody hard work, you're doing well though. I'd say wait a month and re-asses. Don't make any hasty decisions, there will be more time between feeds soon. Just keep going and accept that this is what it will be like for a while.
My son now goes 3 hours between feeds and can sleep for longer stretches. He had a 3 hour nap the other day yay! It's only a little portion of your life and you'll always look back on it and wish you could re-live it xxx

 

[DancingSheba]

Don't give up yet! My daughter was the same only it was worse because I had pain on the nipples too from cracking. So I would DREAD the next feed coming because I knew it would hurt. Anyway I kept at it because it DOES get easier and the time between feeds DOES get longer as they start doing more things. You can do it And it really does go by so quickly!

 

[palmtree123]

thank you ladies for your words of support, means a lot to me xxx

 

[justkitty]

Just see it as an opportunity to chill out as much as possible. My dd is 7 weeks as well and she only feeds 5-10mins. That's just how she is. I am rewarded by a 4-5hr stretch at night. But that only happened a couple of days ago so may not be permanent lol. Chuck a toddler in the mix too.

 

[palmtree123]

so pleased to hear youre still bfing just kitty after everything you've gone through x

 

[Sarah Lou 80]

I bf'd for 6 months and I had a right little snacker! He was having a constant growth spurt I think! Anyway, he did space his feeds out at about 3 or 4 months but, to be honest, even if he'd have carried on snacking, looking back I wish I'd not switched to the bottle. It's such a faff having to sterilise, and remember to take bottles out with you. Plus it weighs everything down! Urgh! And now at 9 months, he's only on three bottles a day so it would have been so much easier to have stuck it out. However, hindsight is a wonderful thing and I know how it can wear you down! Do what you think is best for you but I'm sure it will all change soon!