Did you ever need a break?

[MrsAggie]

From breastfeeding? W will be 2 weeks tomorrow and I feel like I just need a break. I know he's hitting a growth spurt but a few times a day he'll want to nurse for 1-1.5 hours. I produce anywhere from 5-10 oz when I pump so it's not like I'm not making enough (usually 8 or 9 oz). Today I've been just pumping and bottle feeding. Do other people take mini breaks or am I just being a terrible breastfeeding mom?

[Ashley&Scott]

It's normal to feel overwhelmed. Try to make sure you're bfing in a comfortable place with entertainment for you so you're not bored. (So book, TV, phone, etc. don't just sit alone in a room staring at the wall.) Hang in there mama!

[anaps28]

Your not terrible. I felt this way too.

[MrsAggie]

@mrsbecky I don't pump regularly, just usually once or twice a day. I had postpartum preeclampsia so I had to go back on bed rest, back to the hospital, and back on mag again. My BPs still go up sometimes despite meds and it makes me feel like crap. H usually gives one bottle of EBM at night so I can get a little stretch of sleep and then I nurse and pump afterwards because my breasts are a little engorged.

[kams]

That was a really difficult time for me with DD1. I remember having days in the first month where we just didn't get out of bed, and I nursed what felt like around the clock.

I would probably try to reduce pumping if you can, and see if that helps ease some of the pressure/load. The spurts are really exhausting. I found that as soon as I was at what felt like a breaking point, things started to improve. Hoping the same for you.

ETA: saw your post right after I posted. And, just realized I'm on the wrong board. Wishing you the best.

[smock]

I felt that way a lot while breastfeeding, especially around 3 months when she decided to eat for 5-6 hours a day. And when she was refusing bottles.

It's hard, because it feels like a lot of pressure, and it's not exactly easy for someone else to step in and help (especially with a baby that doesn't like bottles!).

But I also found it easier to relax and enjoy the "down time@ while bf'ing--by reading, GBCN'ing, binge watching America's Next Top Model, etc.

[VillainV]

It can be pretty overwhelming sometimes to be the SOLE source of nutrition, and sometimes comfort, for another human being. Don't forget to take care of yourself -- make sure you get plenty to eat and stay hydrated! That might help some. And distract yourself while BFing by reading a book or mag, or GBCNing :-)

[Stingyshark]

Yes. Being able to pump and bottle feed saved us. We had a lot of issues and there is no way I would have made it (1 yr today) if I hadn't of been able to take breaks. I took a break every night. I nursed before bedtime, and then pumped through the night. I could not nurse around the clock until she was 12wks (that's when the excruciating pain stopped).

[rbp]

It gets better! When M was a few weeks old, I told H "I may never leave this couch again." He ate for 45 minutes every two hours...so almost half of my waking time was spent nursing! He's only 4.5 months old now but eats for more like 20 minutes every 2-3 hours. Much more manageable!

Ditto PPs on treating yourself while you BF. I watched Scandal on Netflix, which made the time more pleasant.

[redpenmama]

Agree that it's definitely overwhelming early on, especially during growth spurts. You feel like a milk machine. I generally love BFing, but I definitely had moments of "Omg, get this baby off of me" during the newborn phase. Hang in there!

[mlvmd]

I am 2.5 weeks in and it is tough. This little guy likes to eat pretty much constantly. I do try to get out of the house for an hour a day. I haven't mastered nursing in public (other than IKEA!) so I am still trying to get home before the next feeding (and limiting DS2's exposure to potential flu, etc).
My thoughts are with you!!

[Poppy]

It makes me feel normal to read this. There were a few times that I cried "I just can't right now" to my husband and left the room while he comforted my son and I could compose myself before going back in to breastfeed.

Intellectually I knew I would have to feed him throughout the day and night, but in practice, on very little sleep and while dealing with the discomforts of BFing and postpartum recovery, it was more than I was prepared to do.

Hugs. If it helps, it has gotten better (I am at 3.5w). I've adjusted and nursing is just easier and more efficient, which helps a ton.

[kershnic]

There is no such thing as a terrible breastfeeding mom, so you're definitely not one. If pumping and doing some bottles gets you through, then do it.

Find a show you really enjoy watching on Netflix and only watch it while you nurse. I went through about 6 seasons of Grey's Anatomy, a season of New Girl, a season of Always Sunny in Philadelphia, several seasons of Switched at Birth, a season of Parenthood... and probably some others that I'm forgetting about.

I also achieved perfect scores on every single level of Burger Shop for iPhone and made quite a bit of progress on Candy Crush.

It was draining in the beginning, but when they stopped taking so long to nurse I kind of missed all my putzing time.

You can do this!

[Velar Fricative]

The early days are so hard. The 3-week growth spurt was our most trying period and I posted here one day asking WTF was going on with my hourly-feeding baby lol. You are doing an awesome job!

I did not take pumping breaks as I had to EP the first week due to latch problems, so I really wanted to avoid pumping except for first thing in the morning when supply was highest (and DH would feed her a bottle at the same time). I was always very afraid of nipple confusion despite her bottles during week 1 not resulting in any confusion. But dude, do what makes you sane. I will say that I was never a great pumper so I myself would be concerned about supply issues, but it sounds like you're doing great.

[gibbinator]

You're in the thick of it right now. With ds1 I felt like he was attached to the boob 24/7. It doesn't last forever though. The constant newborn growth spurts and witching hour cluster feeding stop around 3 months (I know that seems like a long time right now). It'll get better! Easier! Maybe even enjoyable.

[undecidedowl]

I had a lot of trouble breastfeeding DS1 at first and we really benefited from occasional breaks. It was painful to nurse him for a long time, he was very slow, and I had a really tough time transitioning as a FTM. I remember how badly I would dread the next feeding and the feeling I would get in the pit of my stomach when he started giving feedings cues. As he got better at nursing I no longer needed the breaks and I started to really enjoy the time spent nursing and lounging on the couch. We went on to happily nurse for 2+ years. You have been through a lot in the past 2 weeks and this is really tough stuff. You are doing a great job.

[MrsAggie]

So I was pumping and W started fussing even though he had eaten 3 oz no more than an hour earlier. I guess I was feeling ballsy because I tried breastfeeding him without the nipple shield that I've been using since birth and he latched right on! He BF on both sides for a total of 30 min. This small victory might be just what I needed.

[heygrey]

yes. the early days sucked.

there was one particularly ugly day - the day he was 4 weeks old, it's seared in my brain. i was up nursing at 6:30 after being up all night and just reached this point where i was DONE. i basically dumped R on h (who was sleeping and really confused) and sobbed in the shower for a good half hour.

but at nearly 10 months i'm happy to report that nursing is such a normal part of our day, it hardly gets a thought now.

[cmarie11]

Dec 22, 2014 22:37:51 GMT -5 heygrey said:

yes. the early days sucked.

there was one particularly ugly day - the day he was 4 weeks old, it's seared in my brain. i was up nursing at 6:30 after being up all night and just reached this point where i was DONE. i basically dumped R on h (who was sleeping and really confused) and sobbed in the shower for a good half hour.

but at nearly 10 months i'm happy to report that nursing is such a normal part of our day, it hardly gets a thought now.

Been here too. I remember one evening, DH was downstairs with DD while I was taking a break in our room, and she was crying and he did everything he could to calm her down, but he finally brought her to me and said "I'm sorry, but she's hungry". And I sobbed, because I just needed a break. She would cluster feed in the evenings and I swear all I did was nurse her for hours from like 4-9pm. And it hurt.

But, it really does get better!

[gretchenindisguise]

Sounds normal to me. That's about when I broke down and wanted to quit.

I was also having issues with my pump that magnified it. A truly generous friend sent me her unused medela and things have been so much better.

[jewel]

I took a 3 month break.

So, yes. Lol.

If your baby is eating, and you're both happy, then whatever you're doing is perfect.

[pinotgrig]

Hang in there - the mental adjustment was the hardest part for me. As soon as he was born, my schedule went out the window and that was hard. I felt like leaving the house required hours of planning and he was such a slow and sleepy nurser. I dreaded each nursing session - he would eat for 20 mins on each side every 2-3 hours so I felt like I had no time where he wasn't attached to me.

It gets so much better though - just hang in there and do what you have to do.