Looking for inspiration...

[Ks Mama]

Hey ladies.

I've been nursing now for 4.5 years (nursed through my pregnancy with DS & tandem nursed for nearly 1.5)!
And.... I'm tired.
I truly enjoy nursing my baby, who is nearly 2 now. And he enjoys it too, of course.

But he's still waking many times at night, and I haven't slept longer than maybe 3 hrs at a stretch for nearly 5 yrs now (I'm including my pregnancy with DD, because I don't sleep well while pregnant).

I know its the same story many moms share. And I know its just time. But I'm so tired.
I say I'm tired so often that my kids are starting to say "I'm tired" when they are out of sorts. My husband says its my regular response to "how are you"? I don't want to be a tired mom/wife and I enjoy my days, my kids, my work so much more when I'm NOT tired!

So what to do. I don't really want to nightwean... my children share a room, and DS wouldn't take it lightly if I didn't offer milkies at night, and DD needs sleep, and I don't want to change either of their nighttime routines, because they both go to school in the morning, so need to be up early, and well rested.

I guess I'm on the just wait it out plan... but much more of this, I don't know... I'm feeling absent minded many days, just out of sheer exhaustion.

Just looking for some encouragement.

[taterbug1999]

Hi momma,

So sorry you are in a rough patch...Just wanted to give reply and give you . I notice you WAH and OH, could you squeeze in a nap in the early morning after the kids are off to school on any day during the week? My ds was still an avid night nurser until welll after 2 and the only way I could have functioned was getting the occasional nap when I could. Sometimes I felt guilty cause I thought of all the things I could have accomplished, but I reminded myself I was no help to anyone if I was exhausted. You deserve a nap! Go take one!! Heck- when your hubbie gets home go lie down for just 1/2 hour... you'd be surprised how much a power nap can help.

Other than that I don't have other suggestions. I, like you, didn't really want to give up nursing. There were just times that the lack of sleep wore me down. I know you're there too. I'm so sorry you're worn out. I truly feel your pain.... My best guess is though, if you can hang on a few more months when you LO is a wee bit older, he may ease up on the night milk and you may find more sleep.

My best words of encouragement are that this seems omnipresent right now, but it will feel so fleeting when you look back on it. You will likely little recall the sleepless nights and more remember the sweet bond it was....look ahead to those days and find renewed hope . Good luck hon, I hope you get some rest!

[Ks Mama]

Originally Posted by taterbug1999

My best guess is though, if you can hang on a few more months when you LO is a wee bit older, he may ease up on the night milk and you may find more sleep.

My best words of encouragement are that this seems omnipresent right now, but it will feel so fleeting when you look back on it. You will likely little recall the sleepless nights and more remember the sweet bond it was....look ahead to those days and find renewed hope . Good luck hon, I hope you get some rest!

Thank you SO much for your reply. I really, really appreciate it. He's got just one more molar working its way through, then teething is DONE... and hoping the night nursing will lessen. Just hearing someone else has been there... when my thoughts start turning to, "I don't want to be nursing anymore..." is a good reminder that it will soon pass, and just to hang in there. Just good to hear that keeping going is really okay. I mean... I know it is. I know its the right thing for him. But when you're bombarded with messages of "if mama ain't happy, ain't no one happy" its tough to justify continuing to put baby's nursing ahead of my desire for a long night of sleep (even though I KNOW that even if I were to stop nursing at night, it wouldn't necessarily mean baby would sleep). Thanks again.