Breastfeeding makes me feel...

[sparkswillfly]

...like a single parent.....

Im chained to the sofa day and night. She latched on really well and I have no sore nips so Im really grateful for that but I feel like a human dummy. Im struggling

 

[Zarababy1]

Awww! it was round about 2 weeks when i was thinking "i cant do this" its really hard i know but belive me when i say it gets easyer and stick too it! i was sooo glad i didnt give up!

 

[Vickie]

I can't imagine how hard that must be

 

[B4byAnge1]

Yeah it does feel like that at the start, but trust me, it does get a bit better! Hang in there

 

[ryder]

must be hard

 

[alio]

i felt like that. not to sound disheartening but i stopped and switched to formula. i wasn't going to struggle through it. i hope you can power on through if it means that much to you. there are some really supportive booby mums on here who can help xxxxxx

 

[sparkswillfly]

I know I will feel disappointed in myself if I give up now. Its early days I just wish I had more of a routine. Shes fine in the day just hits 10pm and its all down hill from there! I dont know what to do. It feels like she has her days and nights mixed up

 

[x-amy-x]

 

[Pyrrhic]

It will get easier, I promise. I felt exactly the same. Now Niamh feeds for 20-30mins every 3-4 hours. (She does get one bottle a day though last thing at night) I definitely feel that the first 6 weeks are the hardest. You've done so well so far You're almost 1/3 of the way out of the really demanding first weeks.

 

[sparkswillfly]

It will get easier, I promise. I felt exactly the same. Now Niamh feeds for 20-30mins every 3-4 hours. (She does get one bottle a day though last thing at night) I definitely feel that the first 6 weeks are the hardest. You've done so well so far You're almost 1/3 of the way out of the really demanding first weeks.

Do you give her a formula bottle before bed? Do you think she sleeps better as a result. My auntie said she used to do this. Was thinking of trying it in a few weeks.

 

[Plumfairy]

I feel the same... Its bloody hard eh.. Just hoping it'll get easier, and by the looks of things from what others have said it will soon... You're doing fab though Im sure. Layla totally had her days and nights mixed up at first too, but routine will set in soon Im sure and things will get lots easier! x x x

 

[Pyrrhic]

Yep, we do. I'm trying to stop using it though. It's because she was exclusively on forumula for so long, and when she started BFing properly I cut back each bottle one by one. So now we're just left with one (last week it was 2).

You can buy formula that compliments BFing.

At this age though, one bottle of formula won't help her sleep the night (Niamh slept through at 5 weeks, but does have some nights of getting up a couple of times). Formula also changes their digestive behaviour, and can stretch their stomach so that when they do feed they need more milk.

I'd talk to your midwife or HV about it, and see what they say.

Have you tried expressing a bottle for her? A lot of people don't recommend introducing bottles until BFing is established, but Meadow took to BFing so well that I'm sure one or two EBM bottles a day wouldn't hurt, and would give you a break.

 

[sparkswillfly]

I was going to try expressing next week. The health visitor comes on monday so Ill see what she says. Although Im sure they are all programmed to say no bottles/dummies before 4 weeks!

I know its just too early to expect to have any kind of routine. Would just be nice not to be up every two hours at night or have her on the boob for 2 hours straight.... which she did this afternoon.

 

[Plumfairy]

I was going to try expressing next week. The health visitor comes on monday so Ill see what she says. Although Im sure they are all programmed to say no bottles/dummies before 4 weeks!

I know its just too early to expect to have any kind of routine. Would just be nice not to be up every two hours at night or have her on the boob for 2 hours straight.... which she did this afternoon.

aaaw no.. ive had layla on the boob for about that amount of time today a
also... she's on it now as she just screams if i take her off... and wont take a dummy because we left it too late and now she's not interested!!! i've given her a bottle of EBM a couple of times and it hasnt done any harm, the only thing stopping me giving her more is the amount of time it takes to pump, and i dont seem to be able to pump more than 2oz.

 

[polo_princess]

It'll come right hun dont worry, you just keep at it

 

[emma_27]

Id say the first few months are really tough your doing great hang in there and it will get better!! Ellie was like that feeding constantly about the same age. she might be having and early growth spurt. You could try boosting your milk i ate loads of porridge that seemed to help and drink horlicks. Hope things improve for you

 

[alio]

girls, you all do wonderfully... i admire you for persevering, whatever the outcome. xx

 

[Gwizz]

I know I will feel disappointed in myself if I give up now. Its early days I just wish I had more of a routine. Shes fine in the day just hits 10pm and its all down hill from there! I dont know what to do. It feels like she has her days and nights mixed up

Im with u there

xxxxxxxxxxxx

 

[Starflyr]

The beginning was SOOO hard - once you get past the 6 week growth spurt, though, things get better, I promise! ANd round about 3 months, they learn to latch themselves on. Brayden still eats 6-8x a day but it takes him less than 10 min each feed (if he doesnt get distracted). It's SOOO nice not to have my whole kitchen taken up with bottles and sterilizers and stuff (we did that for a month when he was at daycare, it was AWFUL). If I have to go somewhere, I grab a few diapers, wipes, and a toy or 2, and that's IT.

Star

 

[Wobbles]

Good luck hun I can't relate but can imagine. Lots of Mummys here who can offer support, encouragement and experience though - hope you feel better about things soon x