First I had an oversupply and DD blistered my left nipple because she was clenching it in her mouth to try to cut off he milk. Now I am left with a milk blister I can't seem to break free and I have tried everything the LC told me to do. And now apparently I don't have enough of a supply because we spend the evenings with her nursing for two hours while she cries and beats at my chest until she finally gets enough. And that nipple with the blister is so sore by the time she is finished that I have tears In my eyes as she pulls and yanks on my nipples. I have another child who I am completely neglecting and I just can't do this anymore. She has not taken a single bottle so I don't know of she would even take formula but I swear I am five seconds from sending DH to the store.
Re: I am about done with BFing
I had no issues with BFing DS but I also didn't have another kid to care for so it didn't matter how long he took. I looked back over the last few days and she was like this two days ago. Both days she did not nap in the afternoon so it may be that she is just getting overtired and would be a bear no matter what. But getting my nipples pulled and punched while she has a fit is just not a good way to spend an evening.
I just got a new pump so I will try pumping and giving her a bottle and may pick up formula as a back up plan. I did a mix of both with DS after a few months and that worked out well, but he did get exclusively BM for 6 months and I was hoping to do the same again. I just don't think I can handle it this time.
Oh and thank you to the person who wrote "don't quit on a bad day". That is great advice.
I've had no issues with bf other than it giving me major anxiety and making me feel trapped and overwhelmed. I was sad to change to formula, but for the first time since dd was born I feel like I have my life back and not like I'm just the milk cow. It was making my relationship with dd and DH suffer.
Not encouraging you to give up though, just giving you my experience.
If weight gain is good and there plenty of diapers I wouldn't tolerate the abuse either but I also wouldn't give a bottle. When DS does this I give him 3 chances to latch and feed and if he continues to unlatch, shake his head, lick the boob, scream, flail, etc. then I pass to DH who puts him in a carrier and bounces/rocks/walks until he's asleep. It seems to mean he's overstimulated/gassy/tired and needs to shut it down. Even a brief sleep can be like hitting the "reset" button.
BFP#2 3/16/11, beta 138; 4/12 Baby/HB DS born 9/10/11 at 29w4d due to partial abruption and PTL
BFP#3 8/19/13 Another boy! 17P, modified bedrest and Nifedipine helped us have a termie! DS2 born 4/19/14 at 38w5d.
I've also offered the paci when LO is just being a nightmare and that has helped tremendously too. Sometimes DS is just overly tired and needs to catnap before doing his final nursing before going in his crib. It's like sometimes he needs to chill out as much as I do.
But honestly like the others said- do what is best for you and your family. If your LO received a month of BM then celebrate that he/she has had a month of BM.
I am not giving up yet but I just don't remember this being so hard with DS. Of course I may have just completely blocked it out. It is somewhat harder this time because I have to schedule her feedings to some extent to run DS around where I need to. So I'm sure that is screwing her up a little bit.