PDA

View Full Version : Time to throw in the towel?


Karianne1979
03-06-2008, 07:30 AM
Here's my sob story as it be:
I thought bf would be easy and everyone told me that the nurses would help at the hospital after my little guy was born. What a mistake! My nurse just shoved my boob in my sons face and said "thats what you do". Needless to say we had a horrible time trying to get him latched on. For weeks he was hungry and I was crying. I had a wonderful job where I was able to take him to work with me and we were at work 1 week after he was born. Then once he learned how to latch he was diagnosed with GERD. He wanted to nurse 24-7 because that was the only time he felt better. OMG! I lost my job when my son was 4 months due to a change in management (I am back there now as the manager was fired and the owner realized how much he needed me). We couldn't make it without my income and I was freaking out. Everyone told me I was drying up and I refused to listen. When the going got tough; the tough got pumping! Pumping got us through and my little guy learned about babysitters..unfortunately my first babysitter was a horrid mistake who was feeding my guy formula behind my back. But again, the tough got going and we made it through. Now my son is almost 9 months and I really do think that I am drying up. My Dad has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer throughout his body and his doctor has given him "a few weeks to a few months" to live. I don't have a great relationship with him; he is more proud of the classic car that him and a friend rebuilt than his grandson which is causing me alot of pain on top of everything else. I started taking fenugreek and pumping more but I just can't seem to get enough. I have no "emergency bottles' stashed up and everyday I am barely getting the quota for the next day. My little guy is with the babysitter from 9-4:30 and can get by with 1 bottle. I have had to send him with 1/2 formula 1/2 bm and most of the time he absolutely refuses to drink it. HE HATES FORMULA! I am at witts end..I try to relax while pumping and can't find anything to do or think that seems to help, the fenugreek isn't doing anything and yes, I eat oatmeal for breakfast every day. So, now that I have whined to y'all about this...anyone have any ideas to help? Even a formula (I know it sucks, but..) that he might accept? He is allergic to dairy and breaks out it hives everytime I eat it. Please help..on top of my Dad I feel like I am inadequate because I can't manage to feed my son!

whitnessforhim
03-06-2008, 10:59 AM
I'm so sorry...I know how hard it is when your trying your best to provide for your little one and it's not working out how you planned. And then all that other stuff on top of that, I couldn't imagine!! I commend you for sticking in there for so long...your an amazing mom.

As far as advice goes...prayer works best for me :)

Stephanie
03-06-2008, 12:41 PM
I am so sorry you are going through all of this.

Are you still nursing or exclusively pumping? My dd was a reverse cycler. She would not eat at daycare, but would wait until I was with her and play catch up. If you son is already doing this, I wouldn't worry too much about pumping and just send what you can. He can eat solids while he is away from you and just nurse when he is with you.

When you do introduce solids, your supply tends to drop. So that may be causing some of the decreased output.

You have given your baby a wonderful gift for the last 9 months, and if you do decide to stop you should feel proud of what you have accomplished. Any breastmilk is better than no breastmilk.