I Need Strength!

Why don't you try pumping and going back and forth??? Because then he could help you at night...i didn't breastfeed my twins, but i did pump. So you would not be giving up completely, and she will still be getting the milk she needs.

Wow! You have a lot of great information to go thru so I'll just tell you what worked for me. I started pumping early on so that my husband could not only help out in the evening but also so he could bond with his son. It worked out perfectly for both of us. The best part was that my son took to the bottle early on and we never had to worry about that transition when the time arrived to stop breast feeding.

Best of luck!
L.

Tough as it sounds, my advice is to hang in there. It does get easier. The first weeks and months were tough for me too. I found taking it one week or one day at a time helped a lot. I did give my son a bottle of formula maybe once every few days at night just so I could get some sleep.
H.

Dear M. My name is L. I am a mother of four amazing boys, all of which I nursed for a year. The last two are twins. Let me tell you that was hard I was determined not to supplement at all, my oldest was 3 and a half when they were born and my middle turned two a month later. Nursing does seem like a burden sometimes but the bond that you develop is amazing. My children all have beautiful teeth, healthy skin no allergies and it does help the baby fat come off. My husband was a medical resident through all of this so I was alone for the most part in a new town all of our family was hours away, but if you set your mind to it and you really want to do it then it will get better. The first two months are really the hardest.

I have a love/hate relationship with breastfeeding. and the hate part is the first 6weeks... the whole engorgement, nonstop feeding, spit up, waking 4times a night, you name it!!! breastfeeding is the only thing that made me break down in tears after each of my children were born. but i know that if i make it through those first 6wks, it gets better. then i can't imagine not breastfeeding, its free, its easy (once both you and baby get it), convienient (you never forget it at home), and it really is the best thing for your baby. there are resources like the la leche league, if you can't make a meeting you can always call a leader most any time, the league also has a great book "the womanly art of breatfeeding". lactation consultants are great and some birth centers/hospitals have them on staff to help. most of us who breastfeed go through this, its not as easy as they make us believe in the beginning. we just have to get through the beginning.

if it helps M. my son was born nov 18 2006 i breastfed until 2 and a half weeks ago because i too felt a little overwelmd but i believe that doesnt make us bad mothers if u really want to bottlefeed i suggest u try it take it easy i dont think baby will have a tough time adjusting in my case i guess my baby didnt matter where it came from as long as he ended up with a full tummy by the way can u answer me a question how much did ur baby weigh at birth and how much does she weigh now im concerned my baby is geetin big fast well good luck and best wishes

I don't think you're a bad mom. Was it your idea to breastfeed in the first place? If you started just because of outside influence I don't blame you for feeling this way. As long as you can make it through the first 6 weeks - they say that that is better than nothing - any time spent nursing your baby is better than no time at all!. I nursed my oldest until she was a year and a half and am currently nursing my 4 month old and plan to until she is at least a year and believe me, not having to mess around with formula ESPECIALLY in the middle of the night is great. When my daughter wakes for a feeding during the night I lay her down next to me and nurse her and we both fall right back to sleep, this works for me I don't know if it would work for you - but I work full time & need as much sleep as I can get, any new mama needs as much sleep as she can get! P.S. read the ingredients in a CAN of formula you might just change your mind about artificial feeding! Good Luck!

Please continue breast feeding. The benifits are not only for your child but they are also for you. Reduces breast cancer, helps you loose pregnancy wieght, etc. It is really hard at first that is true but even if you breast feed for 3 months it will do wonders for the 2 of you. Maybe your husband can help. Mine gets me water and sometimes changes the diaper or brings the baby to me. There will be no regrets with breast feeding but there might be with not. Good luck! And any other questions about breast feeding go ahead and contact me!

I see you already have a lot of requests and most of them seemed positive, which is good. My son was born in May, and at first I absolutely hated breastfeeding! I felt like he was sucking the life out of me. At his 2 week check up the doctor said to try giving him a bottle of pumped breastmilk, so I did, and as he was sucking on the bottle and not my breast, I felt like the weight of the world was leaving me. So, then I comitted to pumping 5 times a day and feeding him breastmilk via bottle. I felt so much better, although the pumping was a huge comitment. Then, I felt like pumping was such a chore. One day when he was 12 weeks old, we were out and I forgot the bottles and breastmilk and mentioned to my husband we needed to go to the grocery store and get formula and a bottle, and he suggested I try and breastfeed, so I did, and wouldn't you know, the little guy latched on like he'd been doing it all along. So then I went back to breastfeeding, and now I like it. He's 6 and a half months old and I'm still doing it and enjoying it. The first few weeks of having a new baby are so difficult. I can honestly tell you though that it goes by so fast, and you will be feeling better before you know it.

My duaghter was born in September, so I am by no means an expert, but I resent the pressure some Moms put on you to breast feed. Yes, it is so good for you and your baby, but some Moms are just not cut out for it. My pediatrician has said MANY times that formulas are SOOOO much better now than they used to be that the best thing for your baby is what YOU feel comfortable with. I tried really hard to brestfeed but could not get my daughter to latch after my milk came in. I cried and cried, saw a lactation advisor, and it helped a bit. We got to the point where she finally did OK, but my milk supply was so poor by then, that it became a huge struggle for her to get any nourishment at all. I did feed her a few times by breast, per day, but she's now been bottle feed for about a month now. She is healthy, happy and a great baby who sleeps (as a rule) through the night. My Mother in Law can come over to sit with out the pressure of pumping, my husband feeds her when he's home from work and we ALL share in the responsibility of feeding.
I know now that if I get pregnant again, that I would not breast feed exclusively anyway. YOUR sanity and health are VERY important!!! If you don't feel comfortable, neither will your baby. Don't let anyone bully you into thinking you are a bad Mom because you choose to stop breast feeding. Just remember - Bill Gates was bottlefed! So was almost every successful, smart middle aged Amercian. Breast feeding just wasn't done back then, and the formula was not even close to as good as it is today. I resent these selfrighteous La Leche League types who make you feel less of a woman because you choose not to breast feed. Don't you have enough to deal with when you have a small infant? They should understand that they are contributing to the depression of new Moms who just can't or choose not to breast feed. How dare they!
Make the decision that's right FOR YOU!!! It WILL be the right one for your baby.

What if you pump some and your hubby can maybe help a few nights. That could at least get you some sleep.

You are not alone. I felt the same way. I just thought of the positive things for me too. Not washing bottles, not getting my period, saving money. I would also make this my time for catching up on tv shows that have been tivo. I would take my son into my room and lay down with him. I think once your daughter starts on cereal it might get easier on you. BUT you need to do what is right for you. My son is 9 1/2 months and I am still breastfeeding him. My daughter on the other had lasted 5 days. I couldn't take it with her. So do what is right for YOU. Good luck and know WHATEVER you decide is the best decision.

Hi M.,
My sister breast-fed too. She bought a breast pump and would pump her milk to put into bottles so her husband could take turns with getting up at night with the baby. The baby still got the breast milk but my sister also got to sleep because her husband didn't have an excuse not to get up with the baby. Hope this helps!

M., everyone gave you some great advice, so I dont really have much to add. I just want to let you know all of what you are feeling is normal. Your hormones which control your feelings and emotions are NO where NEAR back to normal and things right now are overwhelming. That will ALL change!! Then you will be able to enjoy every moment of your little one! Just stick with it as best as you can. Dont let the guilt of this wear you down...do what you can. If you need to substitute a bottle, do it! Just stick with it, it will all be much brighter soon!!

PS. I TOTALLY agree w/ the post of making night time feedings TOTALLY uneventful! Feed her w/ lights off, no noise, no talking, and I even went farther than I am sure some will agree with, NO DIAPER! All of this led to my son sleeping entirely thru the night by 6 weeks old. He slept from 10pm until 5 or 6! It was AWESOME!!

I think the first 3 months are the hardest...there is just so much going on and so much to adjust to. I nursed my son for 17 months and am still nursing my 2 1/2 year old daughter. It WILL get easier, I promise. I always thought that nursing in the middle of the night was easier than dealing with making a bottle and felt lucky that we never had to deal with formula or mixing stuff.
One thing I did when my son was a baby was have my husband go get him and bring him to me so that I didn't have to get out of bed...I also felt a little less like the whole burden was on my shoulders. It helped me.
I'm sorry...I know how rough it can be and how hard it is but it will get easier, I promise.
By the way...you aren't a bad mom for feeling the way you do. It is completely natural.

Hang in there! It seems at the time that there is nothing worse than seeing your husband sound asleep while your up nursing and changing diapers, I remember....it's really hard. Have you tried nursing lying on your side in bed. I liked doing that because I could still keep my eyes closed and felt like I wasn't fully awake.
The one thing that got me thru those first couple of months of night time feedings was that I knew my baby would be sleeping thru the night in only a few months. Give it a little bit more time.
My son fully weaned himself by 5 months and oh how I wish I could get him to nurse again...it really is a time to cherish with your baby.
Good luck and God Bless.

It is a chore....everything about motherhood is! Just remember, hubby might not get up at night even for bottles..so you'd have to get up, make the bottle, feed the baby, change the baby and miss more sleep. Remember, just go in the room, nurse, no talking, diaper, and put down awake. Baby will not think "fun" and soon will sleep longer. Take 5 minutes to go into baby too, sometimes will sleep again. It doesn't last forever, and soon they're dating, so enjoy it now. God bless, and kisses to young one. Merry Christmas. W.

Breastfeeding does not have to be an all or nothing thing. What about pumping and letting your husband take over a feeding during the night? This might take some of the pressure off that you are feeling.

My first was bottle fed breastmilk because of medical reasons. My second was breastfed for four months and then bottle (formula) and breastfed. My third was bottle fed during the day and breastfed at night. I was a mother who wanted very much to breastfeed but felt overwhelmed so this was a solution that worked for me.

You are not a bad mother. If you are happy and not overwhelmed, your baby will be happy too. Take care of yourself too so that you can take care of her. Good luck. HUGS!
-Barbara

You are both still getting used to each other. The first 6 weeks are the hardest! It does get better.

If you don't already know how, learn to nurse laying down. It is so much easier to nurse like that when you are completely exhausted. If you are comfortable with it, go back to sleep like that. I co-slept with all of my children and it made nighttime feedings so much easier. Neither of us really had to completely wake up for feedings once we got the hang of it. Even if you don't fall back asleep, laying down is much more relaxing than sitting up.

Also. Like many others have said, La Leche League is a wonderful resource for advice and support.

Keep up the great work! It does get easier!!!

This is all good advice. It is so hard in the beginning--especially since it takes them so long to eat. It really does become faster and easier once your baby starts eating more quickly and discovers more of the world around him. We just started solids at 6 months and I now long for the time when he just breastfed. It was so much easier than cleaning sweet potatoes and oatmeal out of the inside of his nose and ears several times a day.

Hang in there.

Hi M.,

Hang in there! I know how you feel because I exclusively breastfed my daughter too. (She is now 9 months old). Once your baby begins solids, usually around 4 months, it gets MUCH easier. They're less hungry so they eat a little less often and it seems to take less time. Before I started solids, I would nurse every 2 hours for 30-45 minutes each time! It's your life at this point, but I promise it will get better soon. I love nursing now. She nurses about 5 times per day and it only takes 10 minutes. If you have any more questions at all, I'd love to answer them for you or just support you in any way I can.

-C.

Congratulations M. on your new bundle of Joy. My advice to you would be to try giving her one bottle of formula during the day and at night you can give her formula at one of the feedings. If you do this and she takes well to the bottle it will be easier for you to take her off of breastfeeding in 6 months. There is nothing wrong with the way you are feeling. I felt that way with my twins and they were on formula. My husband work nights so I had to do all of the feedings at night and they got up every 3 hours and it took me an hour to feed them.

I would definately try to give her a bottle once in awhile. If you did not want to do formula yet pump the breastmilk and freeze it until you want to use it in the bottle. So at night your husband can get up and do the first night time feeding with the bottle and you get a couple more hours of sleep.

Just try to enjoy the breastfeeding with your daughter and keep up the good work. Just hang in there.

hello there,
in no way are you a bad mother for thinking about not breastfeeding anymore...it is very very hard work...i tried to breastfeed my son 3 1/2 years ago and could only do it for one month..he was born 10 9 ozs (i had gestational diabetes)and i had to supplement with formula since the day he was born since he had problems with his blood sugar dipping too low...i just wasnt able to produce enough for him...and nursing and then following with formula at every 2 hour around the clock feeding was getting to be too stressful...now,i just had a little girl in august..and i wanted to nurse her for at least three months...more if possible..i thought about stopping many times...i felt like it was all i ever did...but it does get easier...trust me...once they get into a schedule...or sleeping more thru the night it gets alot easier...it didnt happen till my daughter was over two months...but i was so glad i kept up with it...of course, i had to stop when she was three months old because of other reasons..lol..i dont know how long i would have actually kept up with it if i had the choice...i always said i would never do it once she got teeth..lol..but never feel guilty for going to formula..whether it be because of choice or necessity....i know at first i felt it was great to nurse...but just like you after a while it became a chore...and i felt like alot of burden was put solely on me.. your little girl is going to be fine and will never know the difference...dont let anyone or any book make you feel inadequate as a mother for making the choice that is right for you...as long as you give that little baby love,guidance and nurturing,what you feed her wont even matter..i wish you the very best..and i hope you feel comfortable in whatever decision you make..R.

First, you get a pat on the back for at least thinking about it rather than just giving up. When my daughter was three weeks old, it seemed like a chore for both of us. I had a lot of people tell me to just give her a bottle. If it is important to you that she nurses for six months or more, then take it one day or week at a time. I'm still nursing my daughter at 8 months, and I remember when I said that I would only go six months, if that. I haven't read the other responses yet, so forgive me if I duplicate one.
There are a number of things that you can do to make things easier on yourself. First, don't hate yourself because you had thoughts of wanting to stop. There is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes it hurts and others it is just a darned pain.
Second, remind those around you to support you. When youi get up to nurse in the middle of the night, wake your husband up. He only has to stay awake for a few minutes, but have him get you something to drink or to snack on, make sure the remote is nearby, and that you and the baby are comfortable. I made my husband do this after he told me to just give my daughter a bottle. It seemed to help in more than one way.
Third, make friends with Nick at Nite (or some other channel). I would put the tv just high enough to hear because I feared falling asleep while in the rocking chair, and I hadn't developed enough experience with nursing to do it in bed yet.
Fourth, keep pumped milk on hand. Use a bottle if you must.
There isn't anything wrong with it. Most of the lactation consultants I spoke with were too militant about how to breastfeed, and I found that once I stopped listening to them, I could do it easier. When my daughter was about three weeks old, I called the breastfeeding helpline, and a lady there was actually very nice and very helpful with many suggestions.
fifth, there is nothing wrong with using formula sometimes. I think we only bought three or four cans of powdered formula, and we used GoodStart. Some breast milk is better than none, and if you feel the need for formula sometimes, use it. Just be sure that if you are nursing and using formula, you pump sometimes to keep your milk supply at a healthy level.
Sixth, I found nursing easier when I called it nursing instead of breasfeeding.
I hope this helps you. As long as you feel that you have given it your all, then whetever you decide is ok. Don't worry what others think. nursing/not nursing your child is not a debate. It is a private decision between you and your child. No matter how you choose to nourish your child, just make it a bonding experience. Hold her close. Look in her eyes, and talk to her. That's all that matters.

It's well worth it M.! My son is 18 months now and I breastfed him for 11 months (till he started utilize his new teeth to humor himself- OUCH!) Yes, it was very difficult at times, but I must say, it was SOOOO worth it!! I have 4 friends who all had babies at the same I did and believe it or not, I was the ONLY one that breastfed! Plus my own mother didn't support it and that was difficult as well. However... now that my son is a year and a half, I can't help but notice that he's only been sick ONE TIME.. much unlike my friends babies who seem to be sick every single time I talk to them! They constantly get ear infections, stomach viruses and other congestion issues that require multiple doctor visits. Only one of the children attends a daycare (where I know kids tend to contract viruses from each other) and the rest stay home. My son frequently spends time with all of these children and while they all seem to pass their illnesses back and forth...he doesn't seem to catch them! Now I really can't tell you if it's just because he was breastfed, but it does seem ironic, doesn't it? My advice is to try your very best to hang in there! Try to find a lactation support group through the hospital where you gave birth and connect with other people who will support you. Oh and just remember... if you show your love to your child each and every day, then you are an AWESOME MOM...whether you breastfeed or not!

I am due any day now with my second daughter. I also have an 8-year old stepdaughter that my husband had cared for primarily on his own from infancy. So when I had my first daughter and chose to breastfeed, he was lost as to how to help with feeding since all he knew was bottles and formula from his experience with his first child.

After a few weeks of exclusive nursing, just to develop a good schedule for both the baby and my body, I started to pump every so often, just to keep a small supply for him to be able to help with feeding. I didn't invest in a huge, expensive electric pump. An inexpensive, single manual pump will do the trick if you are only going to pump every once in a while to keep a supply on hand for "daddy feedings" or emergencies.

When I went back to work after 2 months, I then started giving my daughter formula during the day and nursed only in the evenings and at night. The week before I went back, I just started to wean her off the breast during the day. That also gave my body the opportunity to slow down milk production during the day.

I say all this to let you know that you have options. My daughter was so healthy during her first year. We had maybe one or two trips to the doctor for colds/ear infections. She is also a great eater now...not picky at all. I tend to attribute some of that to nursing. Formula is also SOOOO expensive, it was killing my budget and I was only giving it to her part-time. Anyway, it's OK to figure out what is best for you. I encourage you to keep nursing and supplement with formula or pump so that your husband can help, especially at night.

*One tip with the formula...my daughter only took Carnation Good Start as it has a lighter smell and taste than some of the other traditional brands like Infamil or Similac. Don't get discouraged if she takes a little while to warm up to formula if that is the route you choose to go.

GOOD LUCK!

Hi M.,
Congratulations. I have read the other responses so I will be breif. What worked for me was I pumped for the night ones and started mixing in formula so my son would sleep better. Than he went to a straight formula bottle before bedtime and I nursed the rest of the time. It does get easier. And it is sooooo much cheaper not to mention there are no bottles to clean!! Best of luck!
Diane

My daughter is now 4 and I did breast feed her for 6 months. You are going threw the hardest part now. I remember I felt the way you do, Plus my nipples were killing me. I did stick with it and by month 3 it was no big deal. Just stick with It and trust me it gets easier. You will be glad you did for your self and your baby. You will question tons of things you do as a parent first its breast feeding then it may be solid feedings then questions about "am I potty training right". Just do what comes naturally and what feels like a good decision for your family. Good Luck and I'm sure you daughter appreciates the effort have you smelled baby formula YUCK!

You sound just like me. I wanted to quit so badly but was afraid that people would think I was selfish. First off, it does get easier and soon. They can go longer between feedings, any soreness you may have will subside. I know it seems like you are trapped while nursing unable to move about. It got easier for me when I let him stay in the bed with us. I know that a lot of people say not to, but only you know what's right. I finally got some sleep because I could drift off while he nursed. He slept better too. While I was getting out of bed to fetch him and going downstairs to the recliner to nurse him I hated it. So I started nursing him in the bed. I was so tired at that point, I kept falling asleep anyway. So that's what we do, and now I'm a corny hippy sounding mom going on about how I enjoy it. Good luck, whatever you decide. You sound like a great mom!

How about pumping and giving your daughter breastmilk in a bottle at night. That way your daughter will benifit from the breastmilk and your husband will get to help. And NO you are not a bad mother for feeling this way. We all feel this way sometimes!

OH Gosh! You ARE in the chore stage!!!!!!! I breastfed my daughter for 13 months and for the first few I went back and forth resenting it because it was ALL I did and I was so tired. But you know it really really does get easier and if you make it to 6 months you won't quit. Don't have expectations to do anything else right now. She is so tiny. Just get some movies you have been meaning to watch and plop down on the couch for your nursing marathons!

You can do it!

I can totally relate. My son was born on 10.8.06 and has just started sleeping through the night. Sleep deprivation is HARD... and the first 6 weeks were so tough. I felt the same way, getting up in the middle of the night while the rest of the world (except the other Moms feeding their babies) was sleeping felt so unfair. But in the end, at least for me, it been worth it. For so many reasons... the breast milk, the bonding, the $ facor... Whatever you do, you have to do what's right for YOU. If you want to keep breasfeeding, just know that it WILL get easier. And maybe pumping could help ease the burdon a bit. And if you want to start formula, that's fine too. You're a wonderful Mom!!

Hi M.,
First, congratulations on the birth of your daughter. Similar to you I have been married for 5 1/2 yrs. and had my first child, a daughter in May. I exclusively breastfeed and felt like that was all I did for a while. It would take my daughter an hour to eat and then an hour later she'd be hungry again. I don't work, so that did make it easier for me during the day. . .I didn't have other things that absolutely had to get done. Let me say, it does get better. Now she eats every three to four hours, and sometimes for only ten minutes at a time. When your daughter begins realizing how much there is for her to learn she's not going to want to take lots of time to eat, unless of course she's tired.
As for the nighttime, I took my daughter to bed with me. It was the only way I could get sleep, even when she wasn't eating. She wanted to be held all the time! So, I bought a bedrail for our bed and took her with me at night. It was a great arrangement for us! You could also consider pumping so that your husband can share nighttime feeding duties.
Hang in there. When I first started breastfeeding I always wondered what the heck people were talking about when they said how wonderful it was to look into their child's eyes while they nursed. . .I can happily say that now I know what that is, and it is wonderful! Best wishes! J.

Welcome to mommyhood! My first born was a shock to me and I struggled the first year. I breast feed him and am presently breastfeeding our second son born 9-23-06. The first few months are simply hard, its a transitional and adjustment period for everyone. I found this true for both children. What I did to make it through the first son was to bring him to bed with me and feed at night. I know, mom's are gasping right now. It worked for me to get my sleep. This time I read Baby Wise and am using some of the techniques in there. My second slept in the bassinet in the begining and now he's in his crib. I get up once a night to feed. I go to bed earlier to compensation for the night feeding. Know that its hard, and do what's best for you.

I breastfed my daughter for a whole year and I loved it. I wasn't even thinking about it. My daughter got sick right from the begining. She was a c-section and was put in the NICU right from the start for a bunch of things. They told me the best thing to do was breastfeed her. It will build up her immune system so fast. I tried and it took about 20 times before she would even latch on to me. I was really having a hard time with, but I knew in the back of my head it was the right thing to do. I brought her home and she was doing fine, then she got a terrible cold that would not go away. It became very serious, So we took her to the ER and come to find out she had RSV-Respitory Synthetic Virus- I was so scared. She was in the hospital for 3 weeks. I pumped every three hours, because in my heart I know it was the best thing for her. I bottle fed my son and I wish I would of breastfed him. She is so healthy right now and I am so proud of myself for sticking with it. She would nurse from me every hour sometimes for three hours at a time. I would cry and cry, because I was so sleep deprived, but after the first three months she slowed down alot more. It will get better believe me. YOU can do it!! I also gave her a 1 ounce bottle after she nursed from both sides of me. It helped alot, but you need to wait after 3 months, because of the nipple confusion. Try to hold out... I use to feel the same way you did. Have faith in yourself!! I do and I don't even know you. Take care and keep it up!

Hang in there! It can be so hard--I have been there. I thought breastfeeding my first child was tougher than labor and delivery! Painful, time-consuming, etc. It DOES get better! The first several weeks are the worst, and you will be a pro after the first few months--especially when the baby stops nursing so often and starts sleeping through the night. I felt that no one really prepared me for how difficult breastfeeding was going to be--even though I went to all the classes, etc. It is hard at first, but it does become easy. I felt just like you do now, and I went on to nurse my first child for fourteen months and am currently nursing my six month old. Kudos to you for reaching out for help and advice. Being a new mom can really be overwhelming. Good luck!

You can do it!!! I am so proud of you for the goals you have set for yourself!! You *can* make it, I swear.

for me- the first couple of weeks was the worst. It hurt, I was exhausted, and even though my daughter was a champ- I was struggling.

Very quickly it became wonderful. I swear. I breastfed her exclusively until 9 months of age, and still breatfeed her now- although it is not as much fun now because I am pregnant again... but that is another story! (she is 16 months old)

But that first little bit, I did not think I was going to make it. Use resources like this to vent, the local Leleche league, the hospital breastfeed support groups, internet commmunities like the community breastfeeding on livejournal. (they are great, by the way) It helps just to see others that are having the same problems, successes, etc and are trying. It really does.

I found co-sleeping made the night nursing thing so much better. I HATED getting up and having to go to the crib. We got a co-sleeper crib and that was nice for the first few months, but then she just stayed with us in the bed. Especially in the beginning when she was up all the time. Once your hcild is a little bit old, you can begin to work on block feeding in the evening, so they get pretty full tummies and can sleep longer. Dr. Sears has some good information, kellymom.org is also a good resource... uhm... I'd have more if I wasn't hungry...

Oh- and I am a full time student too... and work part time... so I understand the never-ending demands and the stresses related to all of that in combination with family life. I have managed to-since becoming pregnant with my first, get all a's while going to school full time and having my daughter and being pregnant again. It is hard work. Feel free to contact me back if you ever need anyone to talk to.

I can completely relate. My daughter was 15 months by the time I completly weaned her (althought she would only nurse right before bed by age 1). I thought that it would never end, now she's 2 and 1/2 and I miss it. They are only little once. At the time it did seem like such a chore, she wanted to nurse every other hour during the day! She would never take a bottle and I nursed her exclusively for the first six months. I had friends and family offering to keep her for me to let me and my husband have a little alone time, but couldn't because it would become the end of the world when she got hungry. There were some days that I would dread the time that she would wake up because she would want to nurse again. It is over SO quickly, I know it doesn't feel that way while you're there, but they get big so quick. I start to cry a little sometimes when I realize what a "big girl" she has become. I wanted to quit so many times, but looking back, I am so glad I didn't! I am pregnant now and planning on breastfeeding again.