The Weekend I Almost Threw in the Towel

We've had a rough 4 or 5 days here nursing Little Man.  I swear he was up every hour.  One night in an hour and a half he woke me up to nurse 3 times.  By Saturday afternoon I was ready to go buy formula.  Glad to say I didn't.  I pushed through it and last night was back to normal, 3 wakings.  I'm fine with 3 wakings.  Anything more and there isn't enough coffee in the world!  It was really frustrating and there were times I just wanted to cry.  Times I wanted to give it all up.  I'm so pleasantly surprised that we made it this far before hitting a speed bump.  Almost 6 months of nursing!  For me that's a huge accomplishment.  I really want to make it to 11 months.  That's when I go back to work and I plan on only nursing at bedtime and maybe in the morning.  I really don't want to ever have to give him formula.  When I'm frustrated and tired though I set a smaller goal.  Let's get to exactly 6 months which is on the 27th.  Then, I'll say, let's get Christmas.  And so on.  I know giving him formula may be instant gratification but I know I will feel guilty about it long term. 

I just wanted to share that.  I can't wait until my next La Leche meeting so I can discuss this with some other moms!  I need a pep talk right now.

Pump, How I Despise You

Welcome to the Breastfeeding Blog Hop!

This Week’s Topic: Lame Breastfeeding Products – Things that DIDN’T work for you.

Did you buy a breastfeeding product or accessory that was totally useless? Have trouble with a particular product? Share your experiences here!

What products do I have... I have a breastfeeding pillow, a dual pump, nipple creams (two types), leak shields, nursing bras, nursing tops, ice packs, breastmilk freezer bags, bottles and bottle paraphenalia.  The only ones I could not live without are my nipple creams and my nursing tops.  I have dry skin so my nipples need ointment.  And I love nursing tops, hate the cost of them but love love love wearing them.  I love just being able to pop my boob out and no one knows. 

The biggest purchase was the pump.  I got a fairly inexpensive one but it was still $100.  I hate the pump, I hate pumping.  I do it because I just can't take Little Man everywhere.  I am greedy and like to have nights out for dinner with hubby or friends.  I'm also in a group for women who have lost children and can't take a baby with me when I go out with them.  The pillow, leak shields, bras, and ice packs are just here.  They're not great, they're not bad.  I could live without them but I don't hate them. 

On a side note, I have realized that I have never gotten a comment or even a dirty look while NIP.  I've been doing it almost daily for 5.5 months.  I have a bunch of snappy comebacks to use and haven't had the chance!  Everyone seems to either ignore me doing it or smile and look away like they are trying to give me privacy.  Why hasn't someone scowled at me or told me to put it away yet?  I live in a fairly liberal, yuppy neighbourhood (I am neither liberal nor a yuppy) and there are several children stores and coffee shops around that even go out of the way to encourage you to b/f in them.  One toy store has a whole section set up in the back with a rocking chair, pillows and change table.  Where do I need to go to get some unwanted feedback!?!?!

Blog Hop - Big Difference

This Week’s Topic: What I Would Have Done Differently

Whether you’ve been breastfeeding for a week or a year or more, I think we all have some things we wish we would have done differently. Share your stories here.

I am so so lucky that Little Man is just a born nurser.  He loves it, I love it.  We have our moments when I want to tell him to get to sleep and stop sucking my boob but in general it's pretty easy.  My only regret with him is that I supplemented a couple of times.  The second night home he was up fussing all night.  I thought he was hungry, hadn't yet learned about the night of transition.  So, I gave him a bottle and then a couple of more nights after that.  Each night he got really bad gas.  Then one night when he was a week old he spit up in his sleep and choked and woke up screaming.  I've lost a child and all I could think of was, he'll choke and die in his sleep.  I threw the rest of the formula in the garbage.  Do I want a baby with painful gas?  One that could choke in his sleep?  Heck no!  He has never had gas like that since and has never spit up since.  Occasionally if he gobbles his milk down to fast he'll spit up a little but not like the exorcism spit ups he got with formula.  It's just not right.  It was clear to me that it was not made for his tummy.  If I could go back in time I would have thrown that "gift" from the formula company out as soon as it arrived at my door.  

This is part of the Weekly Blog Hop hosted by Life with Levi...