tired of nursing

Amanda - posted on 01/03/2010

I have never been able to truly nurse my son because he never took to it well from day one. I had to return to work when he was only 8 weeks old, and I work two 24-hour shifts a week as a paramedic so it was a constant fight to get him to nurse just part-time. Since then, I have been giving him EBM by bottle (he's 5 months now) and the occasional formula bottle when I don't have enough for him. I have thought about quitting many, many times since it is very annoying and time consuming having to pump 5-8x a day. I haven't kept up enough supply to give him only breastmilk, but he gets at least 85% EBM which is far better than nothing at all. I feel guilty sometimes for not being able to nurse and give him only BM, but I feel even more guilty when I get upset about having to stop what I'm doing to pump because it's what he deserves from me as a mother. I keep pushing through though because I know BM is best for him, and I want to give him the best start in life that I can offer. I want to make it to the year mark, but we'll see how that goes. Sometimes I count down the days until he's 6 months because I just get that tired of pumping ALL the time.

Kacy - posted on 12/26/2009

"This Too Shall Pass" Is what I tell myself with every unpleasant part of parenting, from sore nipples to two year olds to teenagers, and every time I'm right.(and they usually change for the better)
There will be many times when you feel overwhelmed and just want to quit, (I'm thinking of the dozens of times my oldest broke my heart with something she did) but your the Momma, and you have to do your best. What that means to you, only you can say.
Best of luck to you

Nicole - posted on 12/26/2009

never been that way but I see breast feeding as a childs birth right. it is not my choice to take that away. human milk for human babies- even if it is a "pain".

Sophie - posted on 12/26/2009

Yes in the beginning she was having trouble latching on and I was close to giving up but the fact that I was doing the best for my baby and everytime she smiles at me encourages me to continue. The most important thing though is that you are not stressed out or unhappy, breast is best as they say but not if you are unhappy your baby would rather have a happy mummy and fromula than a stressed one with breast milk! Just make sure you are sure you want to stop

Sarah - posted on 12/25/2009

i wanted to stop because i was tired all the time and bottle feeding sounded easier. i tried it for a little while and kept pumping just in case. he didn't like it as much and i missed the closeness and that special bond i had with him. i love coming home and reconnecting with my baby the way only a mother can

Lise - posted on 12/25/2009

YES - and I have been so close to giving it up many times (ha! I've only been doing it for 10 weeks, but bfing and I have a love/hate relationships). But I KNOW it's what's best for my little girl, it's cheaper, it's easier, and I love that it's something JUST I have with her.

Rachel - posted on 12/25/2009

sometimes I get tired or irritated but I have never thought about giving up because it just isn't an option for me :) I will not give formula. I'm a firm believer that my child should have the food designed just for him and so both my boys got nothing but breastmilk for their first six months and then breastmilk and healthy foods after that. My first son weaned himself at 27 months and my second is seven months and going strong. I figure if I don't eat chemicals and artificial foods, my children shouldn't either, especially when they are this young.

Amythyst - posted on 12/23/2009

i got like that around month 4. my little girl ate every hour and it was egtting tiresome and i didn't want to be doing it. my feelings were upsetting the milk and causing her to be sick so i started supplimenting with formula to give myself a break. now she's almost a year and i still breastfeed at least 5 times a day but i enjoy the quality time with her.

Rachel - posted on 12/23/2009

Babies 1 & 2: 6 months each (about when their teeth came in)
Baby #3: 9 months
Baby #4: we are at 9 months and still going, she bites a lot though so I am having a tough time with keeping on.

Sometimes I wanna quit b/c I want my body to be mine again ;) LOL But I know it is better for her so I will keep nursing her and let her try cows milk every once in a while just to get her used to it. Plus it helps me have a calm time too ;) I will miss the cuddle times with her too, so I wanna keep this up as long as I can.

Jamie - posted on 12/22/2009

I do especially since my daughter refused a bottle and is slowly working on sippy cups with built in straws. I just kind of pretend that once upon a time there wasn't an option. Just hang in there you're giving your baby the best milk you can. Before you know it you will have to nurse baby less and less and you will miss this time. Mine is 8 months old and only stops by for a nursing session maybe 6 times a day and they are so quick. Then she wants to crawl and play the rest the day.

April - posted on 12/22/2009

There have been several times I've wanted to quit but I think I was mostly going crazy because of lack of sleep!

What helped me through? Taking a deep breath and reminding myself why I wanted to breastfeed in the first place. For instance, I was one of the only kids in my elementary school who was breastfed . . . guess who hardly EVER got sick while the other kids had every cold and flu known to man!

India - posted on 12/22/2009

Just keep in mind that only you can do this for your child and it is the BEST thing for your child. Also I just kept thinking that I felt that I and other mothers and babies were special because not many breastfeed, so I felt like I was doing something great and wanted to continue with it.

Clarissa - posted on 12/20/2009

Yes... It happens but you just have to have your mind set that there is no other way. It is a minor speed bump that you will not remember. I am now going on over 8 months breastfeeding and couldn't be happier. It is the best thing you can do for your baby. Just know it always gets worse before it gets better. :) Don't stop, be strong.

Elizabeth - posted on 12/20/2009

I must say it is tiring being the most important person in your childs life. I have been nursing Mady for 15 months now and I plan to nurse till she is 2. What keeps me going in my sheer exhaustion with nursing, tending to a soon to be 4 year old, finals school work, house work is the fact that I know that I have not given up, or given into a formula company I give my child what is best and what she is suppose to consume. My bond with my daughter is completely different from my son, not only that health wise there is a huge difference Madisyn hasnt even had a cold nor any antiobiotics and she is 15 months. Knowing there is no difference between how much sleep I will get with a formula fed baby or a breast fed baby; my son woke just as much when he was switched over( due to medical reasons and not by choice) and all the fixing, mixing and washing of bottles etc are just as overwhelming. I am determined. When I had to switch Cam to formula I cried, although it was medically neccessary and meant life or death it still hurt so bad. Not to mention we were spending $175 a week on his formula. I wish you lots of strength to endure this moment of exhaustion so that you can manage through and you will. Soon you will be thinking wow has the time past and miss those moments.

Courtney - posted on 12/20/2009

Yes. When she got teethe, when she was sqeezing pinching and slapping my breast, when it was EVEY hour as we transitioned from our bed to her crib, when in public and she didn't want to be covered, when I leaked several times through the pad bra and shirt, EVERY time I pumped. What kept me going were the amazing times I was the only thing she wanted, her beautiful face pressed to me, the calm that comes over both of us as we relax, reconnecting with her after missing her all day. She is 1 now and drinks soy milk except for first thing in the morning when we wake up and that will probably last a while, because every moring she nurses for about 5 minutes and then pulls away looks up at me with a big grin and says "Hi" so sweetly before going back to nursing. It is worth it and every time you start to fade this group will be here for you as they were for me several times. :) Good Luck

Michelle - posted on 12/20/2009

Yeah I think I go through that faze every month. It is hard work breasfeeding, you have to eat right, drink enough water and it is so time consuming but in the end it is so cheap and easy to whip out whenever and where ever you are. Formula is so expensive I would continue to nurse unless you have to work and don't want to pump. I hate pumping so I understand, I'm in the situation where I don't have quite enough milk and am sick of always nursing she she doesn't like baby food that much yet. I just keep reminding myself that it gets better soon or later. : ) I can give all this support and sound confident but I need the help and support too lol so I guess we just have to be there for each other.

Nicole - posted on 12/20/2009

in the first few days i was in so much pain that i was shaking with adrenelin everytime it came to a feed! it was so increadibly painful!! but hubby and i went to the shops liooking for a solution and the best thing i came up with was pigeon nipple covers. it made breast feeding painless and i managed to continue breastfeeding my son. as soon as my nipples were back to mormal i tried with out the covers and it was only slightly sore - but i got used to it quickly. it's much easier that cleaning all the bottles and having to cart the formula and flasks around etc..

i am hoping to breastfeed till he wants to wean - whenever that might be- i dont mind. he's 5 and a half months at the moment and were still going strong

Hannah - posted on 12/19/2009

I have kept going through painful nipples, mastitis, a sickness bug, swine flu..... she wakes up twice anight and at 5 months I am emotionally exhausted. Yes I am absolutely tired of breastfeeding! But what keeps me going is having had the experience of bottle feeding, and knowing that it actually isn't any easier.

Yes my partner could give her the odd bottle, but then there is all the preparation to worry about, mixing formula, taking a huge bag with you when you go out.

Just today I was thinking 'gosh I don't want to do this anymore!' but your post has reminded me that actually, yes I do!

Sadly for me I haven't found breastfeeding to be the big emotional experience most mothers find it to be, but I still wouldn't change it.....yet!

Victoria - posted on 12/19/2009

What keeps me going? I like it... I think its such a cool system. Yes, maybe I feel anxious like I should be doing this or that... but if I take the time to live in the moment... well gosh I love when baby's hand touches my chest when feeding, I love when baby "whale"-eyes me (one big eye looking at me), I love when baby snaps off and bit of milk dribbles out of the mouth (I made that, that's totally nourishing the baby) and I love when baby falls asleep at the breast (Wow! I did that!). Yes its hard sometime, but it really makes me feel powerful and loving. I say keep with it!

April - posted on 12/16/2009

my son will turn 1 on tuesday. we are still breast feeding! and there have been MANY times that i've wanted to quit. So far, I have experienced blocked ducts, nursing strikes, marathon nursing, cracked/sore nipples, and milk blebs (blisters). But each and everyone of them was only a hurdle that i eventually jumped over!! so there have been some obstacles, but it is soooo worth it!! and it DOES get easier. as your baby gets older, the easier it gets because the two of you become one together. you know each other well and you know what each other is capable of!! you can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ASHLEY - posted on 12/16/2009

Quoting hanan:

hi silvia
my d is 10 month naw and i realy regret not giving her a bottle earler coz she is only breastfed so, i realy like the bond and so but bottles will give u a break ..
good luck

me too! my son is almost five months and I love breastfeeding but I wish I had given him a bottle more because he refuses to drink from one now. My fault :(

Hanan - posted on 12/16/2009

hi silvia

my d is 10 month naw and i realy regret not giving her a bottle earler coz she is only breastfed so, i realy like the bond and so but bottles will give u a break ..

good luck

Theresa - posted on 12/16/2009

I got that way the first few months, just because it was alot more work than I had expected. But now I absolutely love it, and don't plan on stopping anytime soon. I think that if you just remind yourself WHY you're breastfeeding and that it really is the best to do, it'll encourage you to keep going.

It does get tough, but it's very worthwhile!

Teresa - posted on 12/16/2009

Not yet I haven't.... :)

Carla - posted on 12/16/2009

I've had painful times when I have almost cried at the thought of feeding my son (I've had thrush and now have severely cracked nipples due to a bug called SA) but apart from the fact that I know its the best thing for my son, I gave up BFing my DD early and I felt so guilty. I also know that its so much easier (and cheaper) to BF rather than make up bottles, buy formula, sterilise bottles etc. I also quite enjoy breastfeeding my son.

Becky - posted on 12/16/2009

I have to say I went into motherhood with the desire to breastfeed for at least the first year and it's been great so far. We are just at a year now. How far into it are you? I did have some soreness during the first couple of months and that was tough, I used a nipple shield a few times to get past that. I sometimes would get really frustrated at night when I was getting up 4-5 times and sooo exhausted and angry that my husband didn't have to get up...but I just kept at it. It felt really hard whenever my son was going through a growth spurt or was sick and nursing more frequently at night. He ate every two hours on the nose during the day up until 6 months, but the night time feeds backed off and that's what made it easier for me. Just remember that you are giving your daughter the best thing possible right now through your EBM. The immunities will help her get through the winter (especially with the swine flu and RSV season) and in the milk are all the nutrients she needs. You know those special moments you have when she is nursing and you are sitting and relaxing and just enjoying the simple beauty of her? Don't forget those times. It goes fast, even though it might not feel like it right now. these are your memories....no one else will ever have that part of her. Don't give up, you are doing a great job!!

Casey - posted on 12/16/2009

I got to that point with my first daughter. I tried everything I could to keep myself going, but eventually I started to become irritated when I had to feed her because I didn't want to breastfeed anymore. At that point, I switched to formual because I never want to be upset with my child because she's hungry.

Kim - posted on 12/16/2009

i did but I wanted to do what was best for our baby so I stuck with it and am very glad I did. I talked to the Doc couse he wasnt sleeping threw the night and that is the biggest reason I wanted to stop. He is now a year and I no longer breastfeed and I miss it.