I want to give up

norab2684 · May 2014

Repost from 0-3 months
My LO is 17 days old and for the past day/night she wants to nurse constantly. I have gotten very little sleep and I so exhausted and frustrated I just want to quit and give her formula. Need words of encouragement please!!! Feeling so down.

BootsOrHearts · May 2014

I know it's hard in the early days, but it will get easier. Hang in there. Baby will start eating less often and sleeping more, I promise! And honestly, I don't think formula is going to help much. You'll just be making up formula bottles constantly. I've been there and it really is not any easier. :-/

Unknown · May 2014

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norab2684 · May 2014

Thank you so much for the kind words of encouragement. It helps to hear that you have all been here in my shoes and that it will get better. Right now it is just so hard.
Unfortunately my DH is working 10-12 hour days with his landscaping company, so I can't ask him to get up every time she gets up- especially if it's every hour like it had been today.

I'm going to introduce a bottle at 3 weeks- so 4 more days, and maybe that will help because then other pple can feed her while I rest.
Thanks again for your kind words.

eggmankate · May 2014

I ditto what every PP says. It got a lot easier for me around 5 weeks. And as PP mentioned, the time has flown. DD is 5.5 months and I'm sure that seems like an eternity to you, but really--they're only this little and needy for a small blip of their life. Is the constant nursing all day and night? During the day can you put on your favorite show or movie? Or do you have Netflix streaming and a tablet? If she's going through a growth spurt I would think the constant eating would subside soon.

BootsOrHearts · May 2014

norab2684 said:

Thank you so much for the kind words of encouragement. It helps to hear that you have all been here in my shoes and that it will get better. Right now it is just so hard. Unfortunately my DH is working 10-12 hour days with his landscaping company, so I can't ask him to get up every time she gets up- especially if it's every hour like it had been today. I'm going to introduce a bottle at 3 weeks- so 4 more days, and maybe that will help because then other pple can feed her while I rest. Thanks again for your kind words.

Keep in mind you have to pump if you give a bottle otherwise your supply will dip. So not sure that really helps all that much to be honest. In a couple months when your supply has regulated and you have built up a bit of a freezer stash you certainly can get in a long nap or a few hours at the hair salon or something but in the short term I'm not sure if it helps.

norab2684 · May 2014

We tried the RnP in our room her first and it did not go well, but I think we will try it again tonight if this hourly eating continues. We are swaddling.

As for the pumping- I was just thinking one bottle per day, so hopefully wouldn't mess up my supply too much. I just need a break from her being completely reliant on me, even if just for one feeding.

mysticl · May 2014

eggmankate said:

I ditto what every PP says. It got a lot easier for me around 5 weeks. And as PP mentioned, the time has flown. DD is 5.5 months and I'm sure that seems like an eternity to you, but really--they're only this little and needy for a small blip of their life. Is the constant nursing all day and night? During the day can you put on your favorite show or movie? Or do you have Netflix streaming and a tablet? If she's going through a growth spurt I would think the constant eating would subside soon.

I credit that and a comfy glider for the fact that at almost 21 months we are still breastfeeding. Though I am starting to wean him.

SaltyDonut · May 2014

Hang in there mama!! Like all PP have said those first few weeks are difficult. Personally once I discovered the side laying position BF at night (or any time really) it was fantastic!! DS could feed and I could get small naps in.

RDK24 · May 2014

Hang in there, everyone is right, it gets so much easier. We are at 10 months and I originally thought I wouldn't make it long at all.

I ended up nursing sitting up pretty straight in bed with lots of pillows propped behind me, Boppy in my lap, and tons of "comfort food" tv on my DVR. I survived the early days that way. GL!

Brittlamarche · May 2014

Hang in there! I was in your shoes not that long ago. My little guy is almost 11 weeks old. I would say it guy better at about 9 weeks. It is super hard when they just want to nurse and you feel like an exhausted cow but there is light at the end of the tunnel! I also recommend having baby in with you at night. I am not a fan of co sleeping but it's the only way either of us get sleep. I try and put him down in his crib for the first stretch of sleep and then bring him in when he wakes up. That's anywhere from 10 min to 2.5 hours. And set yourself weekly (or less) goals. My goal at 9 weeks was to make it to 10 then I said 11 weeks and I'm almost there! Then before I know it we will be to rice cereal and I hear it gets even easier at that stage. Try and stay positive mama! We can do it!!!

Aliki · May 2014

I wanted to add what other PPs have said-- the early days seem to be so long and so tiring, but believe me as a STM, soon it will fly by! Before I knew it, my LO was not eager to nurse any more, and she weaned at 1 year after EBF, and I was surprised how much I missed that intimacy since I didn't think I'd be *that* kind of mother, but I did miss it!

Keep at it, and don't give up! you are doing great!

norab2684 · May 2014

Thank you ladies so much! Your words of encouragement certainly help a lot. Last night after fussing for about an hour she slept for two three hour stretches, feeding in between, so I'm thinking the growth spurt is behind us. Man was it hard though. Still totally exhausted but feeling better than before. Thanks again for your support!

Ardmhs83 · May 2014

I wanted to give up when I first had my son too. It's soooooo hard and exhausting! It will get much better though, I promise! The first several weeks are very trying. You can do it!! Like others said, I don't think formula would make a difference. A friend of mine formula fed from the get-go and her baby still doesn't STTN at 18 months old. It is all in their personality. I was always told to never give up on a bad day too!

Myaflowers · May 2014

I don't have much to add but just want to agree with everyone that it gets SO much easier. I remember feeling like DD was attached to my boob all the time and felt like I barely had time to shower or use the bathroom, much less leave the house and go anywhere. It gets so much easier after the first few weeks and even easier after you get past 6 weeks! I was so close to giving up but am so glad I didn't. DD is still nursing at 16 months, and it's so easy now! Just hang in there, and take it one day at a time. Get comfy on the couch and read, watch TV, play on your phone, etc. Take advantage of the chance to sit on the couch because before you know it, you'll be chasing after a crazy toddler!

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