Why does it have to be so hard

[Sweetbabs]

It has never been easy for me to breastfeed. Poor latch, G.E.R.D, food sensitivity now my dd has a cold with a stuffy nose plus I have my period and she refuses to nurse once again. For the past going on two months now it has been miserable every week it is something new. I have not had a break. Do I not deserve a break were my dd will nurse great and my milk will be plentiful. I can see why women give up. This shit is hard!!!!! 6 months 3 weeks I have been breastfeeding and I really want to make it to a year!!!!! Why the hell can't I catch a break?? Am I being punished for making the right choice to breastfeed?? I am totally serious about the never ending battle of my dd not wanting to nurse and my milk being low. I think this last time I had 3 days that my baby nursed well and my milk was great then it all went into the fucking toilet. What am I doing wrong here??? Why do some have it so easy and I have the non stop problem and up hill battle just to keep it going. All the while hearing everyone around me say it is not the end of the world if she goes on formula full time. I need support please or suggestions on what I can do to make it better.

[trylyn5]

You are doing something awesome for your child! And it is hard! I hear ya. My guess is you've already tried all standard advice--more water, oatmeal, fenugreek, blessed thistle--I just wanted to encourage you.

[jodyvo]

You are doing a great job momma. Breastfeeding is f**king hard and your journey s definitley harder than most. I agree that maybe some supplements may help the production.
What ever you decide you have done something wonderful for your baby despite alot of obstacles. You should be proud

[bfmomworries]

I understand your frustration sweetbabs. I wish I had more advice, but will just offer encouragement. I know I have gotten to the point of wanting to throw it all in when my daughter won't stay latched on, or seems to prefer the easiness of a bottle, or when I am lugging that pump back and forth to work every day. I figured the easy days would eventually outweigh the challenging ones, but now she has teeth and is stuffy and you are right, it's hard. Then she has this one feeding or this one day where I am reminded of why I go through all the hard stuff. Yours will get there again, just be patient and don't give up. Scream to us at the boards anytime you feel that, I know I do:)

sounds like our daughters are close in age! Mine is just about 6 months 2 weeks I think (will have to check my sig LOL). May baby for you? Mine was born on the 18th:)

Hang in there, they just through these phases where everything changes in their little body, and hopefully we can stick it through with them. My goal is a year as well, and I hope everyday to be able to make it.

[Sweetbabs]

Thank you ladies. Without my supportive husband and this website I think I may have given up long ago. I have come this far and I will get to a year. I am determined. Nothing is going to get in my way. My dd was born May 9th. I love breastfeeding just wish it would let up and let me breath a little. I am on Mothers Milk Tea and More Milk Drops and they are helping but there really is not much I can do when my dd refuses to nurse other then pump and my pump seems to hate me. I drink more water then I care to say. I think I may live in my bathroom. I feel like I am pregnant again. Gone any longer then have an hour from home and I need to make sure I know where the nearest clean bathroom is. Thank you ladies for letting me yell. Last night was awful. My dd couldn't nurse and my pump and my boobs decided to only let me get an oz out of each full breast. Ggggrrrrr!!!

[whitnessforhim]

I think more women than not actually have a hard time with BF. It is freakin hard momma!! It really is. I spent 4mo. exclusively pumping for a DD who wouldn't latch. I battled through several clogged ducts because pumping isn't as efficient as nursing...It sucked so bad. In order to keep my supply up to meet her standards I spend 4mo waking in the middle of the night pumping. DD has always been a 2hr eater...even at night...and she still is at a year. Everyone around me thinks im nuts for still nursing a 1yr old who still wakes every 2hrs at night to nurse. You are right momma it is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life but nothing has been so worth it!

I have a friend who hates the fact that she can't exclusively nurse. She feels extremely guilty because of it and I tell her to get up in the middle of the night and nurse him instead of having your DH fix a bottle of formula. She says she just can't do it...well then you don't want to nurse exclusively that bad then. There are no short cuts here...its hard!!

[nycmama]

I totally understand where are you coming from... I have 4 DS 9, 8, almost 3 and the baby. So there are alot of distractions here. I try and God knows how many nights I've cried because of a nursing strike ( we've dealt with OALD, dairy sensitivity, nursing strike because he had gotten scared, one because of food with too much garlic, I can't drink orange juice etc etc etc.) Plus, he will ONLY nurse in the side-lying position ocassionally in the cradle hold but that is so rare. My babe will reluctantly take a bottle and hates formula so I have no choice. But that is the BEST choice. Right now this will be and is the longest I ever breastfed because with DS3 I quit cold turkey and I was supplementing with formula regularly. So everytime we go through something difficult I just scream, cry and vent. It doesn't last forever and they grow up sooo fast.

Everytime someone says WOW that baby is so big I smile inside because I know it was my milk that is making HIM GROW. Example the other day at my local WIC office the own receptionist couldn't believe that I was EBF my babe. She asked twice if he was having formula or baby food and I said no. That makes me proud and makes all the hardships worthwhile even if I hate them. :D

[Nipple_nectar]

All of these posts are very inspiring, I offer {{{hugs}}} to everyone who has to struggle with BFing. I agree that it is not as easy as it looks for most. In the big picture, I feel it is the least I can do. A priceless gift that will last a lifetime that only I can offer, this gets me through the day.

I was visiting my sister for Thanksgiving and we all got to meet her DS's new rabbit, very sweet. Everyone loved him. We noticed he one eye was very red and my sister grumbled that she would probably have to take him to the vet.

I pulled her aside and whispered that I had a cure. She was skeptical but willing to try, did you know that breastmilk has antibodies in it that will cure most eye infections? Even RABBIT eye infections! Sure enough, I expressed a teaspoon or two for her and in 48 hours her rabbit was completely cured! www.freedompondmoonworks.com/pb/wp_2e517814.html

This stuff is liquid gold~ it has magical properties, I tell ya!

[Sweetbabs]

Wow thanks Nipple-nectar. I have bookmarked that page. I have heard about these things but was unsure if they were true. I have a enormous pimple right now so I will be testing this out for sure. Also my dd has a plugged tear duct so I will also be testing that one too. Good things to know!! :-)