Completely
totally
discouraged.
It’s day 16 of Leah’s strike. She turned 10 months today.
Nothing has improved and I’m getting tired of it. Every morning I wake up wondering if I’m going to give up or hope that maybe it will be my lucky day. It’s hard not to blame myself for giving into the bottle. She’s been particularly fussy at times and hard to comfort.
One day, I decided that I was going to give it 3 more days of a serious go. I had been to a La Leche League meeting and was feeling motivated. I was going to put away all bottles and pacifiers and deal with fussiness for 3 solid days. If she didn’t take me after that then I’d just give up knowing that I gave it my best. The day I decided to do it she came down with a fever.
Drats.
I thought I’d better get her healthy again. Whatever little bug she had, has cleared up and now it’s the weekend. I figure that I’ll wait until Tuesday when I have 3 uneventful days in a row. I’m so tired of this though. Honestly! I’ve had to have a couple crying break downs. Enough already.
Arggg.
My name is Manda and I love creating 
I am so sorry you are having a rough time. Neither of my boys would eat, and I pumped every three hours round the clock for months with both of them. Not fun. Once I realized I was losing out on quality time with them, I resigned myself to the fact that bottle feeding was going to have to be the way for us. I still lament not giving the little one (he is 9 months) my milk, but he is still happy, healthy and growing – and since I am not tied to that blasted pump, I am happier… I hope things get easier for you both and you are able to find a solution that gives you peace of mind…
You are not a failure. You have given Leah 10 months of a wonderful gift. Sometimes it is difficult as a parent to move on as your child grows into another stage quicker than you are ready to move. I always grieved a bit when my babies gave up nursing. Take care.
Definitely don’t be so hard on yourself! 10 months is a really great amount of time to have nursed her, and each child is just different. It’s okay to stop- she’ll be happier, you’ll be happier, and you can back to just enjoying the feeding process again.
I’m sorry you are experiencing this. Motherhood can be such an up and down, exhausting road. I hope things make a turn for the better. Thank you for sharing your struggles.
I have been following your posts about this nursing strike and I have to tell you, your timing couldn’t be better? worse? for me! My daughter just turned one and I had planned on weaning by the time she was 18 months. I just wasn’t ready to quit yet. Then one day, she refused me. And she continued and continued and continued to refuse… So basically, although I’m two months ahead of you, I can totally understand! I’ve been so bummed about it. You aren’t alone though.
Hang in there.
Manda I am sorry your are still dealing with this. It is not fun at all! I am thinking of you!
Wow, I can’t believe this is still going on. You are tough, and I’m sure you’ll get her back. Be strong.
That is so hard, I can’t believe she is still sick and not nursing! However, I would have loved Imogen to stop nursing on her own, I nursed her until she was 14 months! I wish my babies were like Leah:) I do hope she starts nursing again for you!
I had this exact same problem with my third child. My first two were fabulous nursers and they basically never had a bottle. My second son, nursed in the delivery room and I remember SO many sweet times with him and his older brother. I mistakenly always thought that mothers who said they had “problems” were just not trying hard enough or the problem was actually them. That was until Chris was born. BOY did I eat every word I EVER thought or said. PLEASE KNOW that this is NOT your fault! Some children are just not nursers, or give it up earlier than others. I have counseled hundreds of women over the last more than 20 years and you are definitely not alone. Please find comfort in the fact that you have given her 10 months of the best nutrition you could and then if she has really stopped, don’t beat yourself up and just move on. My Chris really never liked nursing. I finally gave up after a stalwart six months and now know that it was his problem, not mine.
Thank you for your blog. I am a digital scrapbookingaholic and your blog is truly one of my favorites. Hang in there. There is life after nursing.