I can't imagine not nursing. I never thought I'd say that. But I miss it!
With Hazel, it wasn't easy. She latched fine and I never had any cracking or bleeding... but it DRAINED me. Physically, emotionally, mentally. I was drained. I didn't cherish it the way I should. I dreaded it. Probably because she refused to take a bottle (of pumped milk) or a passy. So I was her passy. Whenever she was just whiny, bored, or just wanted something to do NOTHING would calm her down until I started nursing her. I was constantly nursing for the first couple of months. It was exhausting. I've decided that as soon as Elouise comes out I am popping a passy in her mouth and duct taping it to her mouth until she loves it.
I really am looking forward to it this time. I know what a bond it forms and honestly I am too lazy to walk downstairs in the middle of the night to fix a bottle when I can just put her in my bed and go back to sleep.
Did you nurse? Or formula? I know that both are perfectly fine but which do you prefer?
I tried nursing for two weeks with my daughter and I hated it and will never try it again. the second I found out I was pregnant this time I said to my husband "we better start stocking up on formula now cause Im not nursing". it was not my thing at all. more power to those you can/do. it just is not for me and I hate nothing more then those who preach about how much of a better mom they are bc they do.
ReplyDeleteI pumped for about 1 month with Savannah, and then she was FF until she was a year. With Zoey I nursed for 7 months, and loved it. I also pumped too, so she took a bottl at least every 2 days, pretty much from the get go. I pumped enough that when I stopped nursing her at 7 months, she had enough breast milk to last until 10 months, then formula for the last 2 months.
ReplyDeleteI nursed Sadie and had no problems with it, until we found out that she had a milk protein allergy. I either had to cut all dairy from my diet or put her on Soy Formula. I opted for Soy formula, because it was the easiest and I didn't have to worry about slipping up on dairy and it hurting her. Steve was also deployed at that point, and I was exhausted! She was on soy formula until 1 year and is not on Soy Milk. We are hoping she is outgrowing it now though!
ReplyDeleteI plan on breastfeeding the little dude and will have to pump since I'll be going back to work. My goal is 6 months, but we'll see what happens. I don't really have any tips on increasing supply, but a great website is www.kellymom.com. My husbands co-workers wife told me to go there because she knew I wanted to breastfeed and she breastfed her daughter for 14 months. Sooo, it must have some good info haha. There is also a Breastfeeding forum on The Bump. I think someone asks almost daily how to increase supply and tips for pumping. From what I've read on other sites though, oatmeal helps and fenugreek. And drink lots and lots of water, and make sure you eat enough!
ReplyDeleteMy only piece of advice is drink a ton of water. I was emotionally and physically drained trying to breastfed Caden. I stayed home for 12 weeks with him and then went back to work. When I went back to work I could only do it for another month. So I only breastfed for 4 months totally. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done.
ReplyDeleteI am hoping that I will be able to nurse when our daughter arrives in January. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to nurse, but after doing a lot of reading I think it's the best choice. I too will be looking for ways to increase supply as I will need to pump when I'm at work and she will need to take a bottle at the sitters at least three days a week!
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