The chains have finally lifted! I feel free again. Seriously, I never realized how much pressure exclusively breastfeeding can place on a person. I was constantly having to worry about pumping or breast feeding. It was like I was either chained to my child or my pump. But NOW I’M FREE!!!
I am still breastfeeding though. I’m just doing a 50/50 spilt. I nurse Noah as soon as he waked up, around 7:00am, then he gets a bottle (6 ounces) at 10:30 and then a small bottle with his lunch (4 ounces), and I nurse him at 3:30, then he gets another (6 ounces again) at 6:30 and then I nurse him one last time at 10:30 before putting him back to bed. Whew!! This is much more manageable!! And if, heaven forbid, I’m not there for one of his feedings I can pump whenever I get the chance, and I don’t have to worry about affecting my supply at my next feeding.
I know that this can affect my supply, and I could end up not being able to nurse for much longer. However, my original goal was to breastfeed for at least 6 months, no longer than a year. Well, Noah officially turned 6 months old last week!!! 🙂
Here’s hoping that my supply doesn’t suffer, because I honestly am enjoying nursing for the first time. With that pressure lifted I am able to enjoy these bonding moments with my son, rather than dread them. Unfortunately, in the past I pretty much resented having to nurse, I knew that I was just going to have to do it again in another 2 1/2 – 3 hours. Now I look forward to it! 🙂
Next time around I am not going to put quite so much pressure on myself to “exclusively” breastfeed. I will make sure that I don’t become so relaxed that he receives a bottle often, but giving him a bottle everyone once in a while isn’t going to hurt anything and will definitely help me.
-Tracy (Proud to have made it 6 months, but happily feeding Noah formula now)