Do you ever just get sick of Bfing constantly? Need Support!

[Ldavis24]

Not sure where to post this since it isn't actually a challenge regarding BFing, or is it? I leave it up to you moderator!


I EFB my DD who is just turing 5 months and honestly given the nature of this country and the environment about BFing I feel pretty proud about being able to do it and having the resolve to see through the few rough spots we've had along the road. I plan on BFing as long as DD wants to, or at least until she is 2 but this past week I am feeling really really sick of it.

Usually I love it, it is so fun to sit there with her and she looks at me and we play little games while she is nursing, she'll stick her fingers in my mouth and I'll nibble them and she'll give me a milky grin and continue nursing. It is just such a close bond as cliche as that sounds.

This past week I don't know whats goin on with me though, I have been feeling down for some reason that I can't pinpoint or maybe it is a lot of little things and I have lost my patience with BFing. DD is teething fiercly and has been ultra whiny/clingy and wanting to nurse 24/7 but the catch is she will only nurse when we are laying down. This means that I have literally been spending half of my day in bed with her.

When I try to feed her sitting normally she just starts wigging out and crying and stiffining her whole body so I can't get her to latch on. It doesn't help that I have very large boobs and MUST use both hands to nurse. We are talking whatever the next biggest size beyond EE is. I don't know even know what that is actually.

It is just driving me absolutely crazy, I feel like my supply must be down or something, why is she nursing non-stop. She is also a snacker and will nurse for 2 minutes and refuse and then an hour later want more

Someone tell me this will pass, I really really don't want to stop BFing and I know I won't but is there something I can do to make it better? It has to get better, I want to love it again.

[lifeguard]

At different points in time I've gone through periods where I could just feel my skin crawl with agitation when ds wanted to bf, but those times always pass & I enjoy it again.

Last week ds had the flu & spent all day attached to me - would not allow me to put him down & spent 75% of the day bfing. By the end of the week I was seriously thinking about weaning but now he is back to his "normal" routine & we are all good again.

Teething is no fun at all & everytime we finishes a teething period it is a big relief for all of us.

[GoGoGirl]

Aw, mama, I'm sorry. DD is 7 months old and has only nursed lying down for the last 4 months. (She will nurse in the mei tai if we're walking around outside though). I know how it feels to spend all day, every day nursing in bed. Is there anything you can do to make spending half the day in bed any easier on yourself? I do all my reading (and napping!) now while I'm nursing DD. Actually, the napping is key. I stay up late to get stuff around the house done (it's hard to cook dinner when you're nursing in bed, right? ) and then nap a lot the next day to make up for it. I used to bring the laptop to bed, but DD gets too distracted by that now. Actually, the most important tip I have is pee before you get in bed to nurse, every time! I don't know how many times I got trapped breastfeeding in bed for what felt like forever when I really had to go to the bathroom.

I hope things get easier for you.

[Megan73]

I really understand - one day when my DS was about your LO's age I added up the hours he spent nursing. It was literally 8 hours - and just during the day because he STTN early.
All I can tell you is it does get better and if you switched to formula you might have to spend the same amount of time soothing a cranky baby. I'd take the nursing any day.
I couldn't tell from your post if you need both hands to nurse while lying down, too. If so, could you either put a TV in your bedroom or a mattress in your TV room so you could at least watch something? Otherwise, I read a lot.
Try to keep a glass of water, snacks and the phone nearby, too.
You will love it again, mama. My 15-month-old waking up nursing session in bed is the best part of my day

[Blessed_Mom]

Hijacking LDavis's thread just a little bit - Does the tanking of supply do permanent damage (as in drying up of breasts) until LO is done with teething troubles (probably 2-3 months)? OR does it get restored to its normal state? Do we (I am in the exact same boat. In fact I could have written this post) need to work extra hard to keep up the supply?

[rissa523]

At many different times my 16mo dd would have me ready to rip my breasts off. It seemed like all I did was nurse. We still go through phases like that for a few weeks at a time. Although, now she stressed me out more when she will nurse only 1 or 2 times a day, then after a week or so of that she is back to nursing like a newborn. I think this is a normal part of nursing, maybe teething or growth spurt or slight sickness we don't see.

As for milk supply, when my daughter was nursing non-stop it seemed like the breasts would stay just above empty. Sometimes I after a good long bit, my breasts will dry up to where I can't get any milk out. I don't worry because like 3 minutes later I can express plenty of milk. I think this is a sign of healthy nursing, although I can completely identify with the frustration you both feel.

I will say that while the phases will come and go your perceptions about it will change. Now, I welcome days that my daughter just wants to lay in bed a nurse. If she just wants to nurse when we are out and about, I put her in the Moby wrap and she usually goes to sleep. Nursing a toddler is the easiest way I have found to keep her calm and pleasant. I can't tell you how many times I have been somewhere without access to food or water for my dd and have been able to nurse her to get through those times. I know its hard but if you can get through this, better days are ahead.

Originally Posted by Blessed_Mom

Hijacking LDavis's thread just a little bit - Does the tanking of supply do permanent damage (as in drying up of breasts) until LO is done with teething troubles (probably 2-3 months)? OR does it get restored to its normal state? Do we (I am in the exact same boat. In fact I could have written this post) need to work extra hard to keep up the supply?

[KarlaC]

I'm pretty sick of it too at this point. Ds is 18 weeks old & I can't do anything but nurse him lying down. My house is a mess, he won't take a bottle/cup/spoon or anything with breastmilk unless it's my boob so I have no idea how I'm going to go back to school in Jan.

Yeah I'm pretty resentful these days. It has to get better, there's no way I want to end my bf'ing this long on such a horrible note.

[Ldavis24]

thank you for the support ladies!! I think my feelings on it were masking some other stuff that is going on in my life right now that I am trying to deal with.
DD as always makes me melt when I Look at her but sometimes the thought of BFing 1/2 the day in bed makes me cringe. It is getting better though and I know I will continue on and each day will bring its own challenges and joys as far as BFing goes.
I look at my neighbor who has formula fed from day 1 despite me trying to help her and I am in no way jealous of what she deals with just to feed her lo!

[ZoraP]

For any mamas feeling overwhelmed and touched out, often what you really need is just a little break, like a morning off to take a walk by yourself, go shopping, get a haircut, etc. Is there anyone that can babysit for a couple of hours so you can relax? I find that even going grocery shopping by myself recharges my batteries and makes it easier for me to handle my kids when I come back home.

[mamazee]

I go back and forth on this. It was easier when #1 became a toddler, because she didn't nurse as often. It became a nice way to reconnect. I look forward to toddler nursing with #2, because I do sometimes get touched out with the frequency of nursing. I kind of think I'd get annoyed with the frequency of mixing bottles and FF anyway. It isn't like the choice is breastfeeding or not doing feedings at all. It's one kind of feeding or another, and they both take a great deal of time. Eventually they feed themselves.