Coming up for air. Breastfeeding amendments.

A few days ago I admitted defeat over exclusive breast feeding. It hasn’t really worked for Bene and I all that well; he has gained weight brilliantly (he’s over 16lbs at just short of five months, which given he was 5 1/2 lbs at one point is quite impressive) and he sleeps all night which is also amazing, but he feeds for maybe 10 hours of the day, never really seems full or satisfied and I was starting to go crazy. Without Max working form home for large parts of the week it would have been unsustainable; as it was I got to the end. It was evident he wasn’t latching brilliantly, he dribbles and whines and chews all day and sleeps in fits and starts. A small amount of solids helped but not enough and I was just getting to the point of not really coping that well with doing nothing but lying on my bed feeding him for 10 hours a day. My room is opposite the living room, so thats okay, but it wasn’t great. I’m more or less housebound as if we go out he fusses and snacks and can’t latch on to me well enough o get a satisfying feed.

For whatever reason, we aren’t a great match so I decided it was time to move on. This last few days he’s had morning, night and mid day feeds and bottles of formula or ebm, which he was suddenly happy to take again, the rest of the time. We are both happier, he’s dribbling less and so far I have expressed nearly enough to give him all he needs. I could manage all of it but I don’t really want to become a slave to that in my head either. Given I’m able to express about 12oz four or five times a day, it is really no wonder he’s so big now. At last weigh in he was on his way to jumping the 4th centile line since birth, going from 0.4 to 50th. 😆

I love mothering my babies but we are a busy household and I was beginning to get bored of 10 hours a day on my bed. I think it was time to be realistic.

It’s been nice to do more with the girls (major Hama bead project under way) and I’ve had time to do some things I wanted to do.

I finally hung the dragon picture I made for Freddie’s first birthday on the wall. It’s stuffed full of family of 7 numbers. I’m not sure whether to alter it or not. Maybe it will just have to be 7 plus the dragon, since that is clearly him. It even has his look in its eye.

I finished this, which I’ve been stitching in odd moments for Bene’s room, when it finally gets finished (or even started!)

There was even time for a big boy fall asleep cuddle on my lap while he watched the football. (So like a man 😉 )

And I went for a run. Life feels a little better. The house is tidier, some things have been done, made, played with, finished, used and attempted and the boy and I are doing okay.