I find my self sometimes struggling with breastfeeding and there are times that I want to give up. I know that breastfeeding is what is best for Colton, but I know that formula isn't terrible either. Colton gets a combination of both breastmilk and formula and sometimes I find myself just giving him a bottle instead of nursing because its easier and it fills him up faster. But I know that every time I give him a bottle and don't nurse him or pump him that I am hurting my supply.
I can only pump 2 times a day a work the way my schedule is and I am able to pump enough for about one bottle total throughout the day. So he ends up getting the rest in formula which is about 4-5 bottles. Sometimes I am able to get enough for 2 bottles, but he's a growing boy so he has been eating larger amounts now. I nurse him all night when he wakes up so I know that helps with keeping my supply up, but its still really hard sometimes. I've tried supplements to help keep it up and they help sometimes. I try to drink a lot of water but sometimes i feel like I am forcing the water down and I just get full from it. When i was still on maternity leave I was making lactation cookies with Brewers yeast, flaxseed and oats, but with working 8-10 hours everyday by the time I get home and make dinner and get the kids ready for bed I'm exhausted and don't have time to do it during the week, and weekends end up being so busy with everything, I'm lucky I have time to do laundry sometimes.
I try not to think of my pumping as struggling, that every little bit is better than nothing and I feel like if I can at least get 1 bottle a day of breastmilk thats something. With Bradley it would sometimes take me 2-3 days to get enough for 1 bottle of breastmilk. After 3 weeks of that I knew I had to give up. I really don't want to give up because I love nursing him and having that special bond with him. I feel like I am giving him a special gift and its special time for just him and I. I want to enjoy it as much as I can before its gone. They are only little once and I want to cherish all that I can with him. My goal has been to get to 6 months. Once I get to 6 months I'll reevaluate and see how things are going and then decide if I am going to continue or not.
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