Mom thinks I should stop breastfeeding...

Tinybride08

 For my own health..

I entertain the idea but I can?t bring myself to stop. I hated breastfeeding in the beginning, but now I like being able to feed my child and I really don?t want to give her formula. She has had it twice but it just tastes so gross. I also like not having to deal constantly with bottles. Not to mention the bonding.

The thing is I feel like I?m withering away. I feel so unhealthy. I?ve dwindled down to about 96 lbs. Most of my clothes are looking big on me, and even with my skinniest skinny jeans I find myself hiking them up. I have very high metabolism and it?s hard for me to gain weight. Even more so with the breastfeeding. I did gain 35 lbs this pregnancy so a part of me thinks maybe I can gain weight again. I am eating a lot but I?m just not getting anywhere. The other issue is my trapezius muscle strain that radiates on the right side of my neck. I spent the first 2 months apparently holding her wrong breastfeeding. By June the pain started and I was seeing a chiropractor twice a week in July. I still have the pain but its improving and I?m going to try and start physical therapy soon. The thought is by not breastfeeding I might start to heal faster now.

I?m still producing ok so I just don?t know. I don?t know of anyone else who has been in this situation before.

paramedicswife

I'm so sorry you're even being faced with this situation! I can't imagine having to decide between my health & giving my child the best he could have. I'll keep you in my thoughts & prayers that everything will work out for the best for both of you!

 edited b/c I can't type today :-(

miesl

You should see a doctor.

theaustins05

If BFing is really important to you I'd see a doctor about the weight and try pumping and giving her bottled BM a few times a day to help your neck problem

Tinybride08

miesl:

You should see a doctor.

I saw my family doctor on Saturday. He's the one who gave me a referral to physical therapy. He said 6 months of breastfeeding is best for her immune system but he's not in my shoes. I breastfeed my oldest for a month and a half but I was also supplementing and then I dried up becuase of it. So in other words I never made it this far before and I want to keep going but I also want to feel better.

He is checking all my bloodwork so I should hear something in the next few days.I pump while I'm at work so that has helped with the strain.

jazzyag

I have a friend who had to stop breastfeeding due to medication that she needed to take for a chronic condition. 

I don't know what her whole precess was, but she decided that she'd hold off on her meds until 6 months, and switch to formula when she introduced solids. 

I think it worked well for her, and even though she had some health problems she felt that what she was doing was best she could do for both her and her baby.  Whatever you decide will be fine, your baby can thrive on formula if that's what you feel you need to do.

tokenhoser

If you're losing weight you shouldn't lose, you've either got another health problem or you're really not eating enough. You probably need around 2500 calories a day. Are you really eating that much?

As for the shoulder injury, can you do some side-lying breastfeeding to get a break? I prop my hips and lower back with a pillow and am so comfy I can fall asleep, but still in a position where I don't roll. 

I'd also ask a LLL leader for advice, or a lactation consultant.

Lisa Frank

Have you had your thyroid checked?

Tinybride08

tokenhoser:

If you're losing weight you shouldn't lose, you've either got another health problem or you're really not eating enough. You probably need around 2500 calories a day. Are you really eating that much?

As for the shoulder injury, can you do some side-lying breastfeeding to get a break? I prop my hips and lower back with a pillow and am so comfy I can fall asleep, but still in a position where I don't roll. As far as the shoulder. I am doing alot more sidelying so taking pressure off but it's not that comfy for my neck all the time.

I'd also ask a LLL leader for advice, or a lactation consultant.

Token,

I probably haven't been eating that many every day but it's been alot. My metabolism is crazy high. I am going to start tracking what Im eating so we'll see. I also brought a bunch more snacks and am going to try to have 2 shakes a day. I'm going to give it a little more time but if I lose any more weight than we might have a problem.

Lisa, I did get my thyroid levels checked as well. I'll find out soon.

tokenhoser

I just find that what skinny people call "a lot" tends to not be a lot... kind of like what fat people call "a little".

I hope you're okay. You have to take care of yourself, of course.

JMU_Bride09

If I were you, I would talk to my doctor. He can give you advice and steer you in the best direction for you and your LO.

carishabob

Tinybride08:

tokenhoser:

If you're losing weight you shouldn't lose, you've either got another health problem or you're really not eating enough. You probably need around 2500 calories a day. Are you really eating that much?

As for the shoulder injury, can you do some side-lying breastfeeding to get a break? I prop my hips and lower back with a pillow and am so comfy I can fall asleep, but still in a position where I don't roll. As far as the shoulder. I am doing alot more sidelying so taking pressure off but it's not that comfy for my neck all the time.

I'd also ask a LLL leader for advice, or a lactation consultant.

Token,

I probably haven't been eating that many every day but it's been alot. My metabolism is crazy high. I am going to start tracking what Im eating so we'll see. I also brought a bunch more snacks and am going to try to have 2 shakes a day. I'm going to give it a little more time but if I lose any more weight than we might have a problem.

Lisa, I did get my thyroid levels checked as well. I'll find out soon.

By shakes, I'm not sure if you mean of the milk variety (mmm) or Ensure. If you didn't mean Ensure, that will do wonders to get some extra calories into your diet!