Remind me why- It's over :(

[Mrs Coops]

There's nothing to say she'll be less gassy or irritable on formula. You're not hurting her, she loves it snuggled in to your breast. x

[becj86]

Topping up the hugs. Wish I had a magic wand. I can offer sleepy vibes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fingers crossed things come right for you soon, you deserve a break!

[Shiv52]

Hugs Jenn xxx

There's nothing to say she'll be less gassy or irritable on formula

^^^This.  My friends LO has multiple allergies and on advice on the paed changed to formula at 7/8 months and it was a disaster and after 4 weeks when back to EBF. 

That being said hun, there is no harm in giving formula, even a bottle a day to get a break.  EBF and that whole virgin gut theory is amazing and i see so so much sense in it BUT once you start giving solids the 'virgin gut' is  affected anyways and no longer holds.  So for me giving formula once you are offering solids anyways isn't as big a deal as before that six month mark.  KWIM?   That way you maybe will get a break as DH can do a NF when he's about and she's stil getting all the benefits of BFing.
Lots of love xx

[~Emma~]

There's nothing to say she'll be less gassy or irritable on formula

^^^This.

 I agree too. DD went on to formula and although her skin cleared massively and she was less gassy she was still gassy all the same. We had probs getting her to take it. The usual. 


 Thats not to say I'm discouraging formula as I am not. Society puts alot of pressure on women these days to be 'all-rounders' when it comes to mothering, feeding, working etc. Sometimes 1 element has to give as we are all only human and I suspect even during ther simplest of BFing relationships the Mummy would like a break.

 (((((hugs))))))

[Roseii]

However, I just cannot get over the feeling that I am hurting her. Hearing her screaming with gas pains makes me feel so guilty. Like I am selfishly inflicting pain upon her. Then I cannot stop questioning whether the formula would make her sleep better. I am desperate for just two hours of sleep. I just need something to change; I am drowning.

I soooo get this, I fought against my GP and my Paed to keep BF when they both (gently to be fair) suggested formula really was the best option, especially after a nappy full of blood, I couldn't function for the worry of what I had "done" to her to make that happen.

Hugs Jenn, I can't reiterate enough to you how well you're doing. i don't know many that would persevere as long as you have.

xxxxxxxx

[Jenn+Ethan+Emily]

Thanks all so much for our stories and encouragement. It is wonderful to feel like I have a cheer leading team behind me

I'm not sure what this little monkey is up too. She will not nurse. Not even for 10 seconds. She's just fighting against me, screaming, flailing, kicking. She has never been on a nursing strike and I don't really know what to do. I just keep offering but she won't have it and is plain miserable and soooo cranky. Is my supply gone? I don't know what's happening?!?

[kerry,(kaceys mum)]

I wouldn't say your suply has gone,,not if she won't nurse at all,,because she won't go on to find out.x

I don't know the reason though,,is she cranky?? Had bad naps today?? Maybe she's just having a bad day hun!X

[Jenn+Ethan+Emily]

She always has bad naps! She latches, sucks, comes off, screams, latches, comes of screams, and then screams if I keep trying but when I take it away she's looking for it, trying to rip my shirt down, and then screams some more She will stop screaming if distracted by something but is then starting the same thing all over again 30min later.

Maybe she's not feeling well. She's not all that into solids today but seems so hungry

[kerry,(kaceys mum)]

Oohh wee shame,,,she does sound OT,,, can you maybe hand express a little till letdown comes,some breast compresions when she's on,maybe she's impatient waiting on milk coming down!X

And easy for me to say but don't stress yourself out,,she'll go on eventually,she won't starve herself!X

[Fiver]

Keep offering, try not to get too tense/stressed (easier said than done, I know), pump to keep up supply.  If it is a nursing strike, hopefully it will pass soon.  There's also a sticky in the FAQ on nursing strikes.

Really hope this is over for you soon and she starts feeding nicely for you x

[Jenn+Ethan+Emily]

Thanks Amanda! I will take a look at the sticky!

[Erin M]

I'd go with teeth/not feeling well.  Hope it passes soon!

[Mrs Coops]

I remember J having doing similar. I swear he had impatience issues as the milk just wasn't coming fast enough for him!

Have you tried changing position? I think I ended up taking my top and bra off and just letting him at them! No top or bra for him to get angry with then!

I hope she settles soon. x

[teilvnav]

Are things better today, Jenn?

[Jenn+Ethan+Emily]

Ughhhhhhh. She was awake from 9:30pm-1:30am screaming. Absolutely screaming. I tried nursing her. We were skin to skin, in my bed, snuggling. It was awful ( the screaming, not cuddling!) and I just didn't know what to do. It was this awful scream I have never heard before. I almost packed her and DS up and went to the hospital I ended up giving her a bottle of formula. She drank it and settled immediately I am super worried about my supply. Giving a bottle obviously wasn't the thing to do to help her but I was starting to think something was really wrong! Nursing today is the same as yesterday except she's actually eating solids. So now of course in worried she is replacing milk with solids