I only thought strikes were for people who hated their jobs or hated what the government was doing. Boy was I wrong! Wyatt is on a nursing strike! He has gone from loving the breast to screaming bloody murder if I even try to offer it to him.Help! Has this happened to anyone?
I think he is getting used to the bottle so much and that the milk flows more easily. My letdown reflex is slower and who knows how many ounces he gets. The dr. got me so worried that he wasn't gaining weight so the first day we literally were trying to "stuff" the kid. I have tried everything: skin to skin, feeding with a syringe, offering the breast then waiting, different positions, when he is still waking up/half asleep, walking around with him at breast, etc. I might be here all day writing all the things I've tried. :) Every day he eats from the breast at least once so that is a plus but he is getting used to the "other" nipple.
I've called my dr., the peditrician, the lactation consultant, breastfeeding store, La Leche League, family, and friends. All of them have told me to stick with nursing but I'm kind of at my witt's end.
Here is our schedule:
he wakes up,
offer breast,
screams even if I try switching sides (I think he hates the position),
give him bottle-try to slip nipple in,
screams,
finish bottle
and then he is......
content.
Then what do I do? PUMP, PUMP, PUMP, and more PUMPing!
Like I said earlier, I'm not ready to give up nursing but this is dang difficult. I know I might regret it if I stopped and then he took it up again and this was just a fluke thing. I think he is teething so technically he is "sick" but still! The books and google say that it can last a few days or up to a week. AGHHHH!!! I might be bald by then.
I was loving motherhood and enjoying it (finally after the newborn phase) and now this. I know that motherhood is not for wimps (my mom keeps telling me that) but maybe I'm a wuss and can't handle it. It's difficult because I feel like our "playtime" is decreasing because I spend most of his awake time getting him fed and then pumping.
I told Jason that I'm taking the week off of household duties and dinner will most likely be take out because by the end of the day I'm exhausted. I feel like he is a newborn all over again.
I cry and cry.
But then I see his smile and I love him all over again and makes it all worth it.
8 comments:
I wish I had some good advice but it sounds like you have tried everything! I know people who have pumped for a whole year and I don't know how they did it. Just keep trying and hopefully he starts nursing again! Good luck.
Kate, I really hope I don't offend you with this comment, but stop making yourself crazy! If Wyatt is happy eating from the bottle and he is getting full feedings - then that is what is important! I have seen too many mother's who beat themselves up because they feel inadequate because their baby quit nursing and took a bottle! I think the most important thing is for you to be happy, for Wyatt to be happy and growing, and for you to not drive yourself crazy!
You are a GREAT Mom who loves her little boy and you should be enjoying the journey - not stressing over where Wyatt's nutrition comes from. Just be glad we live in a time when formula is so good! Wyatt is lucky to have a Mom who loves him so much she stresses about all these things but don't make it harder than it needs to be, just do what works for you and your family!
Good Luck!
You are NOT alone. Dallin did the same thing to me!! I am working full time so I pump A LOT and give him bottles when I'm gone. At one point about a month ago EVERY TIME I tried to nurse he screamed and wailed, it was horrible! I tried a lot of the things you did and nothing worked. I also felt the same way; I was frustrated, upset, sad, etc.
I decided to buy another bottle brand and made sure it was newborn (the slowest flow possible). He started taking to me again but only about 5 minutes or so on each side. Sometimes he still cries (not nearly as bad as before), but as long as I am "full" he is pretty content the entire time.
I don't know if that helps at all but that's what I did. Hang in there, I know how hard it is to nurse/pump all the time!
Good luck!
I can't believe how old he's looking these days! Cuter and cuter every day!
Giving up breast feeding at two months was the happiest day of my life. All I did ALL DAY LONG was feed one, feed the other, supplement both, pump, and then start over again. And they never got enough from me. I was supplementing from the very beginning. It wore me out. I think I'm in the Folsom Family camp on this one.
It's hard to 'give up' breastfeeding because of the guilt you feel--sometimes self imposed, sometimes imposed by outside pressure. No matter what you decide to do, make sure you're doing what you feel is best for YOU (and your stress level)--not to try and please other's opinions of what you should do.
You're doing a great job!!
I feel your pain. Seriously...hang in there. It is worth it in the end. You are a darling mom!
you are SO funny!! love the strike pictures...i hope things are going better, or that you are at least feeling better! he maybe "skinny" but he's SO cute!! and btw...hazel hasn't hit 12 either!
You need to do what makes you happy! Every baby is so different. Nicholas was an awful eater from day 1. When he turned 6 months he wasn't interested in bfing anymore. He could care less about it. So i stopped. He was happy and I was happy. Sammy never did well with the boobs. I honestly don't know what was wrong. I cried the first month of her life because it was miserable. I finally gave in and did the bottle. it was great. With Parker breastfeeding was easy, wonderful. and he loved it! We were both happy! So do what makes you and Wyatt happy k?
The bottle is just quicker satisfaction for them. It has pretty much happened to all my friends who did a little of both. Good luck. :)
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