Sunday, February 22, 2009

Nursing thoughts

I am reaching out to others mothers to find help. I have been nursing for two weeks and would like to know does it get easier after time. It has been so long since I last nursed that I don't remember feeling so emotional or stressed out. How do you juggle three kids when one is attached at all times and how to you make time for the other two and find time for yourself? He is a good nurser but I feel like all I do is nurse all day. That I have no time for anything else. It really has me in tears. Should I invest in a good pump or is that just a waste of time? I want to nurse but can't handle it if I am going to be doing this all day long for a year. I have to have time for my other children, my spouse and myself. When does it get better?

If I stop nursing are there mothers out there who have done the same thing and didn't feel guilty for too long. I fear it is too soon to stop but I have never made it a full year nursing ever. I am looking for answers and would like all the thoughts of other mothers to help me in this struggling time. To give me comfort in what ever I might chose and now I am not the only one who is struggling with this.

4 comments:

Unknown said...

I really struggled with nursing too! And it was a few weeks after my first baby was born. So, I did stop nursing. At first I felt really guilty and sad about it.... But I saw how it provided more time for my little one to bond with daddy as well. It was an emotional roller coaster! With me being stressed and in tears I could not provide the milk she needed - so when I stopped and started bottle feeding she was much happier and healthier! It's such a personal decision! Hope it all works out for you! :)

Mark and Bethany said...

You don't know me, but Jen asked me to write you. I have five kids, four bio, and my youngest is the only one I have nursed for many reasons. She is 8 1/2 months old and we have used a nipple shiled for six weeks and had to wean, I got mastitis three times, and just got over thrush. Point being, I have been through a lot nursing her. Looking back I am so happy that I have stuck with it. It does get easier!!! The first 6-10 weeks is the hardest. It does get easier, I know it seems like they'll never let go, but they will. Anyway, if you want to write me to ask questions or just for support, please feel free,
bgrundvig7@hotmail.com. I am a huge advocate of nursing now so I will tell any mother to keep going. With the right support you can do this!! Remember, we don't nurse because it's great 100%, we do it because it's great for baby and an amazing bonding experience. I obviously love all my kids and have a different bond with all of them. The one I have with my daughter through nursing her is amazing. I'll stop rambling, I hope I helped. Write me if you need to. Keep going, good luck!!!

Sarah Jayne said...

It will get better Debbie! With my first we had problem initially getting her to latch on and then it took a few days and she was finally getting the hang of it and then my milk came in, she had problems latching again but it took me a few days to figure out what was going on and we didn't get nursing down for weeks! Added onto that she had jaundice and was 3 weeks early so she was a sleepy baby and I had to spend a lot of time just trying to wake her up enough to eat! She was a constant nurser, she nursed for 45mins to an hour every 2 hours! It felt like we were constantly nursing and we were! Since she was nursing for 8+ hours a day. It gradually got better. The first 6-8 weeks are the hardest but then it will be so much better! Also I wouldn't recommend pumping yet cuz that will just give you so muchh more work right now. If you need a break I can watch your other kids for a little while or come do some cleaning for you or if you just need some support call me! I know it's tough those first little while but it will get better!

The Larsen's said...

Debbie I thought the same thing, but it did get better a few weeks later. I was having a hard time adjusting and many, many times I was crying especially to Mat on the phone. But here is what I did. I would nurse with the boys surrounding me on the couch and I would read books to them at that time and spend that kind of special time with them. After awhile we all got used to it and it helped them adjust and know that that was their special time with me. Make sure that when your other kids take a nap that you spend that time for yourself or with the other child that is not sleeping at the time. It does get better and easier over time. Don't stress over it too much. You are all trying to adjust to the new little one. I finally got in a good routine about a month and a half after Hayden was born. It will all come in do time. Be patient. Hope that this helped.