Hi Moms:
I have been sitting back and just reading other post and haven't sent a post in a while but this has been heavy on my heart. First let me mention that I am a worrier and have a mild/severe case of OCD. I know all mothers wonder if they are being good moms but sometimes it brings me to my knees. I breastfed my boys for almost 7 months but then I just felt depleted (no pun intended) so I stopped and thought I had stopped for good but there is a part of me that wants to start again but there is a part of me that feels like there is not enough of me to do it anymore. I hear about how great it is for the baby but how do you get over this hump? How do you nurture when you need to be nurtured a little? What makes it worse is that I am afraid that they are developing allergies to the milk and also I have introduced cereal and I have noticed them being more fussy. They are teething but I think I have a "feeling" that these things are affecting them (I have heard about foods contributing to behavioral problems/diseases) Has anyone had either of these experiences. Your insight would be appreciated.
Thank you everyone for your input and sharing. It feels so good to be nurtured in that way. I have decided to take a few days and meditate/pray about this and then make a decision and no more regrets and no more looking back. Thanks again.
i know exactly how you feel! when i was breastfeeding (just one) i got to the point that i was just too drained emotionally & physically to do it anymore. so i quit, i didnt feel bad about it (& neither should you), honestly the culture we live in doesn't make it easy for mom's who breastfeed & i felt the same. that i needed me back to myself again & thats okay!
I have a mild case of hypochondria and I fretted over not breastfeeding for a full year. I could only do about 9 months and only 6 mos of that was full breastfeeding...the last 3 months I supplemented and only breastfed twice a day.
It takes them awhile to adjust to the change and they will have to sooner or later anyway as you cant breastfeed them forever. 7 months is very good, especially for twins. Some moms are unable to breastfeed period so you should be thankful. If you think they have milk allergies,you may want to switch to soy, but speak with your pedi first. I,too,assumed my son was allergic to regular formula and later discovered I was overreacting. He digested Good Start formula the best. Its a very gentle formula.
Don't fret anymore. You sound like a wonderful,caring Mom and you're twins are very lucky to have you.:)
Also, I think most Moms go through a mourning period once they stop breastfeeding. It happened to me as well as with my sister.
It sounds like you have twins. Breastfeeding twins for 7 months is AWESOME!!! You did GREAT!!! Do NOT let anyone tell you differently.
Honestly, from what I know, it is difficult to restart breastfeeding, so it may be time to come to terms that you are done for now - until the next baby!!!
Did you introduce formula and cereal in the same week? If so, drop the cereal until they get adjusted to the formula. You might have to try different ones - mine kids always settled on Good Start. Once you find one that works, stick with it for a while. The last few months, you can probably switch to store brand if you want to save money, but stay with the same brand (and type: powder, concentrate, or ready to serve) for now.
You've done something amazing for your kids and you should be proud of yourself. It's always a little sad when they pass a new milestone - you'll be a little sad when they crawl, walk - and finally go to kindergarten! It's normal to miss that closeness. Just try to hold them while you give them their bottles - don't prop them up and do other things while they eat. They - and You - will love the cuddling.
Good luck!
I have never had this experience, but a mother's instincts are almost always right. If you feel that you need to still be breastfeeding them, then do it. Only you know what your children need.
And to answer you question "how do you nurture when you need to be nurtured?" We all need to be nurtured in order to nurture. When you get the boys down to sleep take a few minutes for you. Take a bubble bath with candles, bath salts, the works. Read a book, whatever gives you joy and helps you to relax and rejuvinate yourself. Perhaps your hubby can give you a little massage. Always take time for yourself whether you are breastfeeding or not.
Hope that helps.
N.
I struggled with the same issues. Let me tell you that the research says even 1 week of breastfeeding makes a difference. And you have already done 7 months!
As far as allergens, most kids at 7 months are milk-intolerant, wait until they are closer to a year to introduce milk based products.
Your question about how to nurture when you need nurturing, is a great point too. With that said, do something for you, so that you have an outlet and can be a great mom. Join a MOMS group or take a class at your local Park and Rec or YMCA.
N., first off, great job on breastfeeding for as long as you have. I also have a 7 month son that I am breastfeeding so I can definitely relate! But besides all the wonderful nutritional benefits of breastfeeding and the mother/baby bonding experience that it provides, it can be a very exhausting task. (Especially if you are a full time working/breastfeeding mother like myself!) I have to give myself encouragement to keep going everyday, because like you I do want the very best for my baby. And I do have to remind myself that when I feel like I am getting to that point of feeling depleted, I am WAY over due for some "me" time. It is so very important to take this time out - not only is it healthy and beneficial for you but also for your babies. Don't be afraid to ask someone for help watching the babies for a few hours while you go sit at the park and read a book, or go have a pedicure - anything to just take some time our for yourself to relax and refocus on who you are and what makes you happy. I do this every few weeks and it does wonders on my mental/emotional well being!
Also, I would not worry about the cereal giving your babies food allergies at all... at this age they need more than just breastmilk/formula to get the additional nutrition that they need on a daily basis and cereal is a great first food. Like you, my baby is teething right now and is fussier that he has ever been. Which is understandable with the pain he must be going through! But I would definitely talk to your pediatrician about your baby’s diet and what foods you can and can not introduce at their age. I have been using the book “Super Baby Food” as a guideline and I would definitely recommend it. It is an AMAZING book to any mother that wants the very best diet for their baby! And I also use babycenter.com for referencing as well. That site has answers approved by pediatricians to many of the questions you may have on the topic! Here is a link on babycenter.com which explains how you can recognize if your baby is having a food allergy:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_food-allergies_12409.bc?Ad=co...
Well, I hope that I have given you SOME piece of information that may help. But keep being the wonderful mom that you are, you are doing a great job!
You did fabulously to nurse your twins for 7 months! Heck, 7 weeks would have been great. And formula from the beginning would have been fine as well. My first was a formula baby and she's healthy, smart and beautiful. :)
Perhaps the switch to formula and the introduction of cereal is a bit too much for their tummies and you should cut back on the cereal? Please try to not feel guilty for giving the boys formula; it really is okay. I can't imagine it has been easy, nursing two babies; you must be a strong woman to have gotten through those first six weeks or so!! I had a hard enough time with one! :)
As a single mom of two little boys, you have a LOT on your plate. I'm sure the stress of doing this on your own doesn't contribute in a positive way to your anxiety/OCD; consider speaking to your doctor if it feels overwhelming. You may also think about applying for WIC http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
When I was single and raising a baby I had it and it saved me TONS of money; I never had to pay for formula or cereal. I also got juice, cheese, beans and milk.
I wish you the best and I hope you're feeling better soon. Go do something for yourself!! :)
You do what is best for your boys and you.
I just realized this was from a long time ago. I am new to mamasource LOL. Anyway if this were going to get to you back then this is what I would have said.
Hi N., I am a mom of two boys also breastfed. I know a ton about breastfeeding and so forth so I would be happy to help you. You should be able to start again if you want to. It sounds like you have twins?
The bottom line for me is that I have to get some time for myself too but breastfeeding has been much easier than bottle feeding would be. Cereal is not recommended as a good food choice for babies, it is basically nothing but sugar. It's a refined grain. So I would ditch it. The best solids for babies that age are fruits and veggies or even meat. I usually introduce easy things that do not need to be jarred, like bananas and avocadoes first. Even strawberries. But 7 months is pretty young and they really do not have to have solids if they are not reacting well to them.
They probably are teething, which makes them fussy. Since there is no local Frisco LLL I have gone to the La Leche League of McKinney in the past. They have a yahoo group called ____@____.com You could try to join and see what happens. Or send me your email and I will make sure you get an invitation from one of the leaders.
By the way if they are having formula too it might also be the formula causing fussiness. But sometimes babies do that during a growth spurt. Kudos to you for breastfeeding for the first 6-7 months which is definitely great for those little babies!!
Oh yeah also there is www.promom.org
You did so good breastfeeding twins for 7 months. That is awesome. With each of my kids I breastfed for about 5 months and that was all I could take. With my last ds after 5 months of bf, I was so exausted mentally and physically. I felt so much better after I was able to get more sleep. Just be proud of yourself for such a wonderful accomplishment and continue to bottle feed. Best wishes.
Seven months is very good! For milk allergies, there are several brands in the market (my son used to have Enfamil). Go step by step, first milk , then cereal. At seven months they are old enough to be introduced to some solid food, like cereal or veggies, but you have to go slow and wait for them to get use to the new food. Always ask their pediatrician.
I believe also that quality is better than quantity. I think that, when you are unhappy and stressed, it will be reflected in the quality of your milk. So I'm am sure your boys would prefer a happy mommy than more milk from your breasts.
