Breastfeeding Blues

Heather - posted on 04/17/2012

You already got so many supportive comments with advice in them, I just want to be another person to say, way to go!!! You can do this!!! You have a lucky and well loved baby boy.It is such a hard time, and kind of a raw time too, but so very special. Thank you for sharing your struggles-- My daughters are 4 years old and 1 year old, and I appreciate you sharing because it reminds me of those early days when they were infants...

Angela - posted on 04/17/2012

I always let me son breatsfeed until he took himself off, could be 5 minutes or 3 hours. That was just how we did it though. I would say I spent half my time breastfeeding until he weaned at 14 months.

Jennifer - posted on 04/17/2012

He's just trying to establish your supply and that's totally normal. You are lucky to sleep so much at that age. Keep up the good work and try to relax. Watch some movies or read to pass the time.

Ania - posted on 04/16/2012

I just read some comments of moms and personally I would not give myself break by introducing bottle or pacifier...that is not the answer. It will only mess up with your supply. This does not last forever exclusive breastfeeding is the best and "good" advice that suggest formula is not so good....read more about benefits, about attachment parenting etc. As for a break and you will pump...well if you go somwhere you will have to pump when you are away anyway so that is not an answer. All I can give you is support, you are not alone, there are plenty of moms who have moments of resentemnt at those early months, but it is ok, be strong and give your baby the best...

Ania - posted on 04/16/2012

I know how you feel but this is normal course of breastfeeding, you are not the only one, it is going to get better. The positive here is that you get 5-6 hours of sleep straight at night that didn't happen for me for a year...every 2 hours for a year I was sooo sleep deprived and cranky...Just learn how to use sling and you can start doing much more. Good luck

Natalie - posted on 04/16/2012

This too shall pass! Your little one is growing so fast right now that he needs all those extra calories he's getting at night to build his brain and body. I respectfully disagree that you should unlatch him mid-feeding at this age. I know that those middle of the night feedings can seem like they last forever, but he probably is not really nursing that long. One thing you could do is time each feeding for one night and write it all down: number of times, time started, time finished. It is a real pain, but it will give you a better idea of what is really going on when you aren't so bleary-eyed. When I did this, I really got a much better idea of how much sleep I was (or was not) getting! I believe the book I read this in was The No Cry Sleep Solution. We co-slept for the first 6 months, and that really helped me get more sleep than I would have, also. I could doze off while my little one was nursing, and when he was done, slide him over to give me more room to get some real sleep.

Another thing you can do is cluster feed him before bed. About three hours before you want to lay him down for night time, start feeding him as often as he will take the breast, even if it means offering it when he's not giving you hunger signals. This will help keep his little tummy full for longer so you can get a good stretch of sleep right off the bat. And then, go to bed when he does so you can take advantage of that block of sleep :) Then, hopefully when he wakes up after that first stretch, you can give him another nice long feed, and get another big stretch of sleep.

Danielle - posted on 04/13/2012

I agree with Kelly. Take yourself off and give yourself a break :) even if it is only for a half an hour. You will feel loads better!!

Shelly - posted on 04/13/2012

You just gave me flashbacks to when my first was a newborn. In addition to feeding every 2-3 hours, it took me at least an hour to give her a full feeding. Yes, life revolved around nothing but feeding! I think it was around a month that she started nursing faster/more efficiently, and at about 3 months of age you can stretch the time between feedings to 4 hours, as their stomachs are a bit bigger by then and babies can get more at one go.



Nursing 3 hours straight is a bit much. I'd suspect that he's using you for comfort. You can try a soother or cuddling. Another thing that may help is trying to put him down to sleep while he is still awake, which will help him learn to fall asleep without nursing. That would enable you to get some sleep at night, instead of nursing for 3 hour. Good luck!

Jeannie - posted on 04/12/2012

At about 4 weeks babies go though a growth spurt, so they nurse more often and for longer to build your milk supply to the level they will need after the growth spurt. This is a natural part of breast feeding. At one month of age the American Acadamy of Pediatrics recommends using a pacifier for sleeping. Also most lactation consultants recommend every 2-3 hours during the day. If your baby is growing well one longer stretch at night is fine.



You are doing a great job!! I hope this helped.

Heather - posted on 04/12/2012

Try getting him hooked on a pacifier! I love the MAM ones and both my kids took to them right away in the hospital! They didn't like the newborn green one they gave us, but the kids loved the MAM ones! Your son is most likely using you as a pacifier in the middle of the night. Yes, it's normal. Yes, everything you are feeling is normal. Enjoy it while is lasts, because soon, he will start stretching out when he wants to nurse! Congrats Mama! Keep up the good work! Nursing is awesome for you and for your little baby boy. If you feel you can't handle it, then give him formula. Nothing to feel guilty about. It took my son almost 8 weeks to get him to nurse without me using sugar water to bribe him. He stopped nursing a week shy of 11 months. He was way to active to sit still. I weaned my daughter at 22 months, she would still be nursing if I hadn't stopped her and wanted my body back.



You need to do what you feel is right for you and your child. I was thinking of only nursing this baby for a year, then putting them on formula or whole milk, but after reading the labels and ingredients of formulas, the first major ingredient is Corn Syrup! Who the heck feeds that to a baby? So make sure if you do put him on formula, that you read the labels and possibly find a good organic one.

Marcela - posted on 04/12/2012

You are doing great!! I'm a breastfeeding Mom for 2yrs,3 months exact and at first is very challenging. I felt overwhelmed and had doubts of how long I could breastfeed for. With a lot of patience and dedication to your goal of strictly breastfeeding most stepping stones will come to pass. Every woman has different amount of milk supply and flow, and your baby will adjust to your breast and you to his feeding needs. Basically you are feeding 2 to 2.5 hrs because he has that demand for it. Sounds to me as if your baby is eating enough and it is very common for breastfeeding moms to feel the way you feel about if he is eating enough. If he isn't crying, sleeps fairly well and wets 6 to 8 diapers a day & pooping often you are feeding good amounts.I loved speaking to the counselors at LaLecheLeague.com Good Luck and feel free to ask me direct more more tips..

Lori - posted on 04/12/2012

Joy I think you're right it is one of the most rewarding and hardest things to do!



Keep going. It sounds like you're doing great. Those first 6 weeks really do feel like all you do is nurse nurse nurse.

Kelly - posted on 04/12/2012

Personally I think that bottle fed moms may have it harder. I could not imagine cleaning, warming them and preparing them (paying for them!!) in addition to all the infant demands and sleeplessness?! At least with breast feeding it is convenient, travels with you in an endless supply and is the right temperature...ha! At 7 weeks I introduced a bottle that dad gave. Had breast milk in it. Medella breast pumps the best! "They" say that is the right time to introduce a bottle not too late so they won't reject it and not too early that breast feeding is not well established. Dad does it because with mom it is more confusing. Mom is the breast parent : ) This gives you the abiliy to have a little freedom if you want to go shopping and leave the child behind. Sometimes a really nice needed break! Also nce for the dads to get to feed the child and have some bonding time. First few times they tend to take to much becasue it comes out of the bottle faster and easier but they adjust.

Joy - posted on 04/12/2012

Thanks for your feedback. Yes I know this will pass and everyday does get easier to be honest. :)

Joy - posted on 04/12/2012

Thanks for the support. I definitely have a new respect for breastfeeding moms because it is the most rewarding and hardest thing I have ever done :)



I am going to hang in there because I know it is the best for my little one!

Kelly - posted on 04/12/2012

Most kids get the nutrition they want in the first 5-10 mins. My guess is that beyond that you are just a pacifier. After 20 mins I would remove myself. You are tired, emotional and that will get easier in the second half of his first year so don't worry! You will get thru it! Infants are just naturally very demanding and those first 3 mos are the worst in my opinion! After three mos you start to get some long nights and by the second half of the year you get 10 hour nights and two naps. Whoo Hooo. Something besides a kid attatched to you boob can get done or addressed. Yeah! My best card advice for my shower...."remember this too shall pass"!

Celeste - posted on 04/12/2012

You're doing better than you think you are! You're dong fanstastic! And already sleeping 5 to 6 hours??



Yes, everything you've described is normal. Watch dipes-as long as he's getting 6-8 diapers (no matter content), he's getting enough.