Do you find breastfeeding a chore?

[Blah11]

I find it a chore sometimes, more so this time round because I've always for my eye on my toddler & don't have the luxury of feeding constantly and leisurely like last time. My sanity dictates I need dd2 to settle longer between feeds as I have so much to do for my family.... but then I have guilt for thinking about a full swap (I have had to supplement ff). The nights are the worst because of the frequency my bf babies need feeding. It's depressing being so exhausted, coupled with a toddler who has taken to waking in tbd night & needing my reassurance..... Plus not being able to sleep AT ALL in the day. Ph and not sleeping in the same bed as my oh due to because of bf frequency!

Ahhhhh actually I'm not sure why I'm still doing it! I'm going mad and not enjoying it.... It'll be the guilt that drives me on! Damn it

Its early days hun

 

[heather91]

The only thing I find hard is the nights, especially having a toddler as well. Im almost always exhausted. Its much more convenient than FF. I'd never prop up DS with a bottle anyway so at least with BF I have one hand free. Its also quicker than FF atm x

 

[Freya]

Thanks blah.... Having just read my post back, it was written from a sleep deprived place, eek! Heidi snoozed this morning which gave me valuable toddler time, so feeling positive this morning again!

Big respect for your long term bf! Wish I had been able to go long term with dd1 (congratulations on baby number 2!)

 

[Aunty E]

When Teddy refused to take a bottle I really resented BFing. I shouldn't because I've always found it pretty easy, both my babies latched well and it's never been painful, and they didn't even feed at night all that much, but I hated that my life was completely dictated by having to be able to take Teddy with me somewhere. And that I panicked about going back to work (which I love) because Teddy wouldn't take milk from anyone else. I also resented how much time I spent nursing Teddy and not being able to snuggle Imogen when she wanted. I really wanted to stop at five months and couldn't because of the bottle issue. Now that he will take a bottle, I'm much happier and much more relaxed about it. I feed in the morning in bed and it's actually really lovely having snuggly feeds (it always has been, I guess I just didn't appreciate it as much) and I feed in the evenings. I don't have as much milk, so he doesn't feed for very long now, but I'll carry on as long as he still wants to. And it is a brilliant soother. Last night we went out for dinner, Imogen fell asleep after a couple of poppadums, but Teddy was really restless. Boob in his mouth for five minutes and he was zonked and straight into the pram

I regretted Imogen weaning at five months (her choice not mine), and did want to carry on longer this time and I'm glad I have.

 

[summer rain]

At first I do, its only my second eldest where things were completely plain sailing in terms of feeding going well, right from the start, but I still have to think to myself and realise that BF is probably a lot easier than FF at 3am-now BF is a breeze xx

 

[moomin_troll]

The only thing I find hard is the nights, especially having a toddler as well. Im almost always exhausted. Its much more convenient than FF. I'd never prop up DS with a bottle anyway so at least with BF I have one hand free. Its also quicker than FF atm x

i no what u mean, definatly hard being so tired and having a toddler too but its definatly easier getting a boob out rather then making bottles, especialy when ur a single parent and theres no one there to feed baby when u sleep

 

[XJessicaX]

I am absolutely gutted to be a combi-feeding mum. I thought I would breast feed for years. I don't even belong in this section any more. My LO finds the lactose in my milk too much and writhes around all night in pain...so now i'm using *whispers* low lactose formula and expressing and putting colief in my milk.

I'm upset. I have become 'one of those mothers' that you see sneaking formula into a bottle looking embarrassed and even more so when her baby reaches for the bottle.

 

[moomin_troll]

I am absolutely gutted to be a combi-feeding mum. I thought I would breast feed for years. I don't even belong in this section any more. My LO finds the lactose in my milk too much and writhes around all night in pain...so now i'm using *whispers* low lactose formula and expressing and putting colief in my milk.

I'm upset. I have become 'one of those mothers' that you see sneaking formula into a bottle looking embarrassed and even more so when her baby reaches for the bottle.

theres no reason to be embarrased about FF. atleast ur feeding ur baby and thats what counts

 

[summer rain]

I am absolutely gutted to be a combi-feeding mum. I thought I would breast feed for years. I don't even belong in this section any more. My LO finds the lactose in my milk too much and writhes around all night in pain...so now i'm using *whispers* low lactose formula and expressing and putting colief in my milk.

I'm upset. I have become 'one of those mothers' that you see sneaking formula into a bottle looking embarrassed and even more so when her baby reaches for the bottle.

*hugs* I went through similar with my second youngest, its never been 100% clear what caused him his problems but judging by what makes him unwell now and how comfort formula did help him (back in the days when comfort had no extra stuff added) I am guessing soya and high levels of lactose; ideally I would have been referred but just couldn't get a referral for anything-with him he had been gaining only 1oz a week for 8 weeks and then lost all of that in 5 days, he also had the most horrendous nappies ever, a mixture of diarrhoea and hard almost stone like lumps of poo (when EBF!) coupled with really acidic slime, nothing I tried would fix anything. I did get a few people judging me for switching; strangely this included people who had FF but had given up-they seemed to think I was giving up for some spurious reason such as LO not gaining loads or him waking in the night when it was much more serious xx

 

[XJessicaX]

Thank you It is upsetting having to introduce formula (she still has 2-3 bottles of EBM a day) BUT my LO is so happy now! She's sleeping better and is much more content. I had to weigh up what was more important, and having a happy baby obviously won.

 

[moomin_troll]

Thank you It is upsetting having to introduce formula (she still has 2-3 bottles of EBM a day) BUT my LO is so happy now! She's sleeping better and is much more content. I had to weigh up what was more important, and having a happy baby obviously won.

my first was far happier on formula, i still feel bad but atleast i and u tried and they got some breastmilk.

a happy baby is very important

 

[kermie219]

Only a chore when I'm up from 1-5am every bloody night the rest of the time I don't mind it at all. I do feel really sorry for my 16 month old having to deal with a zombie mommy and I swear this new baby is never content he's like a grumpy old man all the time....oh well this to shall pass