Walking Therein

Breastfeeding Sorrows and Hopes ~ Abiding in the vine through my everyday challenges, part 2

Abiding in the vine through my everyday challenges, part 2

   Things around here are still pretty crazy for me. I am still learning a lot about what is God's will and how to step out of my comfort zone and how I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

As far as me personally, my responsibilities increasing, expanding, whatever you want to call it... I am trying to break them down into a few posts.   I don't think I can pick a major event that has been more of a challenge than the others, because they really all lump themselves together as daily life.

Breastfeeding Sorrows and Hopes

(this is about breastfeeding, so skip it, if you need to!)

   I have, for the first time ever, been having a hard time with breastfeeding. I am a BIG b/f advocate, and have b/f all of my children, the length of time for each child has grown increasingly as I have had more Littles.

   My 7ds, who is 11 months, is still b/f, and I expect him to for quite some time still. I am also tandem b/f his brother, who is going to be 3 in July. Not to be rude, but I am not writing this to exact opinions about b/f, when to stop, etc. I am merely telling a little about why neither I nor 7ds11m have gotten much sleep lately.

   So, I think he is hungry. I know when he was 5m and I was just getting used to tandem b/f, I did have a couple of times that my milk was gone and he would be hungry. I learned to not let 6ds2 nurse first. Simple solution.

   Now, not so simple. I think we let him eat too many solid foods already, so I am cutting him back on that. It is not that he really cares about the foods, but probably more that the Littles and even older girls ‘share’ with him.

    I am finally getting a clue and taking my supplements again. I can thank the public school system for the lapse in my memory when I compartmentalize and do things like forget that I need to take my zinc everyday, not just Chlorophyll. Or, I will sit down and have a huge glass of water when I do b/f, to replenish - I learned that trick a long time ago, and then drink caffeine all day.   I also usually take honey to get my B's (; 

However, I did forget my Pastor’s admonishment from 15years ago to kick the caffeine habit when b/f, He told me it works against b/f.  I say this, because I do have one addiction with food - well, drink - DR. PEPPER. I could - and sometimes do - drink a 6-pack a day. YIKES - YES, I know!

    So, I am cutting back and taking supplements and drinking a lot more water and iced tea. I am also letting 6ds2 nurse longer, like he wants to. I had been cutting him down, but I think that has contributed to my milk supply dwindling, because it is only replacing a little.

    After all of this change, I have finally been full again. YAY!! That was quite a stressor for the past couple of weeks. I thank God for bringing things to my memory about all this, and keeping BabyBoy and me sane and close as we went through this!

   Ok, that was yesterday, and it is going much better. There is another thing God has helped me to check off of my list.  When I don't sleep, I am cranky, short with my children and incapable of loving anyone unconditionally. That makes for a long day for me and even longer for my lovely, wonderful children.  So, yesterday and today have been much better since I have been paying attention to my body and its needs, and I asked the LORD to help me and BabyBoy with this. So, PRAISE GOD!

   The honey thing is something I really need to get back into.  I have found it to be close to a cure-all.  Now, if it would only repel mosquitos!! THEY ARE HORRIBLE right now!!!

Related Tags: Abiding in the Vine, Large Family, Tandem Breastfeeding,  Breastfeeding,  Supplements, Homeschooling, Homeschool, Home School

Untitled Comment

2:46 PM, Saturday, June 3, 2006 .. Posted by Anonymous

((((My friend))))) So sorry for the b/f trouble~I think I would FREAK ALL THE WAY OUT if I began having a problem! Make sure you're getting enough calories too, and when in doubt add ICE CREAM! YAY! I have another friend who had a problem b/f for the first time ever after #6. I'm sure you're right on~rest!!!!!(((((HUGS))))) sandi