Des Moines Nesties
Dear Community,

Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.

If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.

Thank you.

Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.

BFing ? for moms of 2+

If you didn't BF both kids, or BF for different amounts of time, did you feel guilt?  If so how did you deal with it?

I BF Maya for 15 months with no supplementing.  As you know, I've struggled with supply issues with Cam and have been supplementing since December.  I struggled with the decision to keep pumping at work, but decided I would keep at it until I could no longer pump at least 1 bottle (6oz) for the next day.  It seems that time is coming.  

Weaning gives me feelings of sadness and relief.  Sadness because I love the bond we share, breastmilk is the best thing for him, and I was able to give it to Maya (not to mention the financial factor of buying formula).  Relief because I don't have to worry about pumping at work, stressing over how much I'm pumping, and the fact that I already have to take bottles and formula with us everywhere because even when I do nurse, a lot of times he's not satisfied and I have to give him a bottle afterwards anyway.  

I know I can't make everything equal for 2 kids.  That's just not realistic.  But I can't fight this guilty feeling of not giving him this gift and feeling like this is the one thing I can and should be giving him.  See, just typing this brings tears to my eyes :(

Can anyone relate?  Sorry for my constant whining on this topic.

image

Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers


Lilypie Second Birthday tickers

Re: BFing ? for moms of 2+

  • Mine happened the opposite of yours, but with Ella no matter what I did, I just could not BF after 8 weeks :-( After having Jovie I was determined to make it work and it did, actually now I can't find the off switch. I felt like I had failed Ella in some way, but she is a smart little girl that I think would have turned out that way regardless and we always still had a strong bond! Formula is a burden to buy, but so is the stress you are going through trying to pump. You have a happy, healthy, and handsome baby boy that you have done a GREAT job providing for!!
  • I can totally relate. I felt very guilty for weaning at a year. The thing that helped me was trying to remember that nothing is going to be equal, but in the end, everything does balance out.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • I can definitely relate! I BF'd Ella from when she was born in January to when I returned to work for a new school year in August. I was determined to the same or longer this time with Brody but that all went out the window when I had so many troubles with his MPSI and I ended up making the really difficult decision to stop nursing and formula feed. I felt many of the same feelings you are describing- such guilt for stopping so soon and not being able to "provide" for my little guy as well as sadness that we would miss our bonding time. At the same time I experienced great feelings of relief knowing that I would finally get to stop fighting the losing battle of trying to nurse him without making him sick. Then I felt guilty for feeling relieved lol! I think you have done a great job making it this far with supply issues and such and just wanted to let you know that I totally understand how you are feeling!
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • I ep'ed for Reese because there were lots of issues. I was hell bend on giving her breastmilk for a year because I felt that my body had failed her by having her early. Grier nurses really well, but won't take a bottle. At times, I think eping would be easier for me. But then I feel guilty for thinking that way. I feel like pumping ruined bfing for me. I just see it as a means to feed my baby. I don't feel like it's bonding, etc. And then I feel guilty for feeling that way and for thinking that I might not make it a year, like I did with Reese. Why do we beat ourselves up so much?!?! Lol!
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
  • I think as mothers we hear/read so much about 'breast is best' and 'liquid gold' and all of the goodness, so when we aren't able to provide in that way for our baby, we put all of that heaviness on ourselves (we did something wrong, our bodies failed, we didn't want to bf, etc etc!).  We can have a hope or expectation of what the BFing process looks like, but it may not mean that our babies and bodies will follow.  Many mothers are so hard on themselves for supplementing, not making it to a certain timeframe ... it's when the "all-or-nothing" thinking can create a lot of frustration.  We give ourselves some pretty harsh rules, too.  You wrote, "... one thing I can and should be giving him."  Be gentle with yourself and know you will always 'n forever give both children precious gifts, and this one simply had a time limit.  

    As far as moving and healing through the guilty feelings ... I would encourage you to recognize that part of you feels guilty, but there are other emotions that may be stronger.  Pride that you have been ultra-determined and stuck through a difficult period and continued pumping.  Admiration that your body endured a lot through this situation, and is still providing nutrients for your little boy.  A lot of what you described reminds me of grief -- not having what you once had -- like the closeness/bond.  You will find a very similar closeness and connection, it just won't look the same.  

    You are so not whining!!  It's hard to not recall the differences -- there will be a healthy balance in time :) BFing is an emotional topic and I'm glad you can reach out for support.  Take care -- let us know how you are doing.

     

     

    heroes
  • Thanks so much for your support ladies.  It really means a lot :)
    image

    Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers


    Lilypie Second Birthday tickers
Sign In or Register to comment.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards