feeling shitty

[FindingNormal]

My lo is 9 months. She's gorgeous and fun and full of life. But I'm finding maternity leave / bring main carer really hard. She doesn't sleep well which I know impacts on how I'm feeling- and I feel a failure because I haven't managed to get her sleeping well. She's breastfed which has to started to make me feel trapped and sometimes frustrated. Because we're so tired, my relationship with my husband isn't what it was- sometimes I'd cheerfully punch him in the face and really he's done nothing wrong. Does anyone else feel this way?

[OddSocksHighHeels]

Not anymore but I did at that stage.

She finally started to sleep properly at some point in toddlerhood - it's all hazy now! I went back to work full time when she was 10 months old and didn't want to express but worked shifts so sometimes wouldn't be there when she woke up or when she was going to sleep so introduced formula.

Do you have plans to return to work? If not, can you afford a few hours of childcare to give you a chance to rest?

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

I'd cheerfully punch him in the face

Perfectly normal!!

[FindingNormal]

Yes going back to work in May and will be full time. She's never taken a bottle so worried about leaving her atm- although she's making progress with a cup so hoping by the time i go back she won't starve without me. I just feel drained and a bit like a harpy. Thanks kind folk for replying.

[GasLightShining]

I'd cheerfully punch him in the face
Wouldn't worry about too much. My DC are 20& 17 and I still feel like that almost daily!

You still have time before going to work to sort out the milk side although my friend went straight from formula in a bottle to cow's milk in a a cup and in all honesty I wish my DS had done it that way.

Try not to think of yourself as a failure just because she is sleeping well. You will hear some mums saying their child was sleeping though from a day old blah blah. Each child is different. My DD was a dream and then I had my DS. What a shock that was.

You may find that going back to work and DD going to childcare may help the sleep?

As my DS says - chill!!!!

[Eminado]

Totally normal.

Around 10 months i believe i googled divorce a lot!

My DD slept finally around then but I well remember the feeling. She was also ebf.

Do whatever you can to give yourself a break incl. paying for respite.

[FindingNormal]

Holding out for some sort of 10 month miracle now that she'll sleep and give me a break!!

[Eminado]

Lol i hope your hopes are rewarded.

Is she mobile yet?

And how often is she feeding? Can you up the daytime feeds to reduce the night ones?

[FindingNormal]

Oh yes very mobile indeed! Crawling and cruising- always on the go. She only does about 3 hours between feeds and has 3 meals a day so not sue I could get anymore in her although tying to give her both boobs each feed where previously she's just had one.

[Eminado]

I was hoping the mobility would tire her!

[FindingNormal]

So was I!