I honestly have loved breastfeeding, even with oversupply and leakage issues at the beginning, for the last six months of my DD's life. Recently I've become less than enamored with it. Nothing has really changed about our routine, it's just not the lovely time that it once was. I think the change happened when I started her on cereal and vegetables two weeks ago. Did this happen to anyone else and did you get your breastfeeding mojo back?
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Following. I feel the same at 7 months and can't believe I have five to go. Although I also had supply issues the pasta month that may have put a damper on things.
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@Raintreebee Me too with the supply! I had this wonderful supply that once seemed unlimited and while I think everything is still fine with the amount she's getting, it is much less when I randomly need to replacement pump a feeding if I am out. I also had some issues with the pump (replacing new parts and getting bigger flanges) that just started to irritate me in the last month.
I guess we'll just have to support one another through these next couple of months!
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@teawithpaloma: totally! I've replaced my parts a couple months ago but think I need to do so again. Maybe I sterilize them too much? I even have a script for domperidone that I am contemplating using. It's just so strange because my supply was great until a few weeks ago. And god knows LO isn't STTN!
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No sleeping through the night here either. I read a lot about it on Kellymom and it seems it could be normal to have dip in supply around 6-7 months. I kept putting my flanges in the dishwasher because I didn't realize that you shouldn't! Whoops. Anyway I've found no extreme heat to be best to keeping them working. Just hot water and the bottle brush.
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At six months I had a major dip. Between more nighttime sleep and solids and AF coming back, it was pretty predictable I guess. But I kept nursing for a loooong time, just had to pump a bit more at work.
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My baby got distracted and weird about nursing around that time, plus my supply dropped, so I remember 6 months being a difficult time. Eventually, things got better again though, and now at 11 months, nursing is usually very pleasant. It helps that she doesn't nurse as often, and when she does, she is generally calm about it. I am actually starting the weaning process somewhat (at least so I can stop pumping at work) and I am surprised at how sad I am that this is coming to an end. So at least for me, I did get back to enjoying breastfeeding.
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I bet how you are feeling is super common. I know for me, six months was the height of my stress about output for the pump, because LO wasn't eating much and was drinking a lot of milk. Plus, six more months of pumping seemed like forever! Her need for milk dropped a little as she ate more, and I ditched the pump at a year, and we are still happily nursing at 15 months, so things can get better!
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We just got to a year. I don't specifically remember six months being difficult, but I know I've gone through periods that were difficult for me mentally - feeling touched out, smothered, wanting a break (LO never took a bottle). But I think those feelings come and go. Overall I've been happy with our breastfeeding relationship.
Six months is sort of the pinnacle of breastfeeding. Once babies start eating solids they start decreasing the amount of breast milk they drink.
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It happened for me between 7-8 months. Part of it was that we went to see DH's family and there is a 10-hour time difference, so nursing (and sleep) ended up being really difficult due to her jet lag...and then, just as it was getting better, we came home and had to deal with it all over again. I was really afraid for my supply and was convinced she wasn't eating enough, and she seemed to want nothing to do with the boobs. Once things got back to normal, though, it's been nice again. Although sometimes I feel like if I have to clean those damn pump parts ONE MORE TIME I'm going to scream and throw them down the garbage disposal.
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Thanks it was nice to know that I'm not alone. @Wooly Mammoth I can especially relate as I don't do bottles all that much (though she will take them) and I just am starting to want my old body back. What was once so special can definitely feel like I'm being smothered. But this morning I was with her and just tried to focus on the positives and giving her my attention instead of spacing out with my phone in the other hand. It genuinely seemed to help. I'll just try to be more mindful and again it's great to know that I'm not alone.
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@Revel - I would love to make to 15 months and you are inspiring me to keep going!
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@teawithpaloma: @catlady: @mamimami: This is so comforting to read! I was crying yesterday because I knew something wasn't right (baby was waking up a ridiculous number of times to eat at night) and went to see a LC. We did pre and post nursing weights and baby only ate 3 ounces! I had terrible problems with oversupply in the beginning so this is a bit puzzling for me.
How did you mamas get through this dip in
Supply?? -
@Leah I drank mama's nursing tea, upped my calorie intake a lot, ate raw almonds and cashews, and tried to rest a lot more. I primarily nurse without bottle and don't weigh but I know that it worked because I went from having to nurse her 2x in 1.5 hours to only once every 3-4 hours. I had the same oversupply issues in the beginning. I think that your body eventually just catches up to the baby's demand as well. I also added in a pumping session in the morning and the evening to ask my body to make more milk. The baby only woke up ONCE last night as compared to 3-4 during that bad period so there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
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@teawithpaloma: thank you so much for sharing!! I am trying to do a few of those things too and will try the other things you suggested! I will maybe have to pump too though too. Baby doesn't take bottles either!
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