Anyone already exhausted from breastfeeding???

Question

It’s only been 2 weeks and I can’t imagine doing this for 6 months or longer. My whole day feels like feeding my son, then pumping, putting the milk away, then time to change him, then the cycle repeats and it’s time to feed him and pump again. I’m exhausted physically and emotionally. Even when (on the rare occasion) that he might be sleeping a 4 hour stretch I still have to wake up to pump because I’m so engorged. 
Everyone stressed the importance of breastfeeding but I feel like people don’t talk about how taxing it actually can be for an already sleep deprived mom. And not to mention I feel guilty when I give him the bottle with breastmilk instead of nursing him because I’m just so tired.

Answer

Agreed. Seven weeks with my son and I don’t know how much longer I can do it. He wants to eat constantly and I started using the haakaa to have a little stash because cleaning and sterilizing my pump was draining me. Everyone keeps saying it gets better but I feel sometimes it’s so isolating... and it’d be nice to have help with feedings.

Answer

It gets sooo much easier. You’re almost to the home stretch. Do you mind me asking why you are pumping? I build my stash with a haaka on the other side while the baby nurses. It just suctions onto your breast and catches all the milk from the other side while your baby eats. I have almost 200 ounces in the fridge and my baby is almost a month old, and haven’t bothered touching a pump. Seriously though, if you can make it to 2 months... the baby gets so much more efficient at emptying a breast, your supply is finally regulated to what you need to produce, and you start to feel sorry for people that have to make and pack and clean bottles. Here’s a pic of the haaka. They are like $6 online.

Answer

3 weeks in and not really pumping much yet but definitely feel the same way. So sleep deprived and feel like all I do is feed and change my son all day long.

Answer

Same here!!!! My LO is almost 4 weeks and I've been on the same exact routine!! It's very tiring, I keep thinking to my self, when is my life going to be a bit more normal?!? Haha 😂

Answer

I am trying to stop pumping. I am down to pumping 1 time a day only. I am still producing about 6 oz in that session. I will continue doing this until it completely dries out. My daughter has adapted to formula very well. Only issue is in the last 2 days she is crying from what I think may be colic

Answer

My daughter is 3 weeks old and did fine for the 1st week of breastfeeding then randomly stopped latching 🙁 I’ve been pumping but now I’m not making enough to keep up with her. It’s all so exhausting, I plan to do it to get through the flu season. I just hope I can make it without completely being drained! Good luck mama! But don’t stress it, fed is best!

Answer

Same here, going on 3 weeks and I'm super exhausted. There are moments I feel defeated and I just can't imagine doing this for a year. No one talks about how difficult it is to breastfeed, I had no idea. Then it's dealing with the sore nipples, and not latching on correctly, and shooting pain and the engorgement and sanitizing everything for each use. I also use nipple shields which helps with latching but it's just one more thing to clean and use. Why do we feel so bad  using a bottle when it's still our milk they're drinking? There are moments where I want to give up and then other moments where everything just goes right. 
Breastfeeding is not for everyone and there is nothing wrong with that. I tell myself this each time I feed when nothing goes right. I'm trying to hang on. All I can say is don't feel bad if you decide to just pump and feed. It's still your milk.

Anyone already exhausted from breastfeeding???

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