Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Flip

Original poster

Struggling with giving up breastfeeding

19 replies

lla · 28/03/2011 20:57

I have been bf for 8 months and although enjoy feeding I am really struggling with the fact that he wakes so much in the night (ever 3 hours), this is something he's done from day 1. Added to that I have been diagnosed with an under active thyroid so I keep experiencing terrible tiredness.my doctor has now prescribed me citalopram because I am anxious and down most of the time and advised me to stop bf if I take this medication.

I'm in 2 minds, I feel worn out and would like to give up bf to give myself a break, maybe I may feel well and less drained if I give up but emotionally I am feeling really sad about giving up and keep crying. So far I have reduced the bf to 3/4 during a 24 hour period.

Not sure what I'm asking you all but just feel really down :(

OP posts:

HotGiggity · 28/03/2011 20:59

I feel for you I really do. Is there anyone else who can help you at night?

DS is 8 and a half months now and we've stopped night feeds all together, and DH goes in to him now he wont settle for me without boob.

rubyslippers · 28/03/2011 21:00

It can be wearing but an enforced stop to feeding can feel wrong for lots of reasons

I know there are several more expert posters on here, who can advise about medication and feeding

Do you have a partner who can help at night and maybe give you a a chance to rest a little?

Original poster

lla · 28/03/2011 21:03

My DH can't help at night. I do get to nap at weekends but feel like I'm missing out on spending time with my 3 year old. I do feel like I wouldn't be giving up if my 8 month old slept.
How often do you feed during the day?

OP posts:

rubyslippers · 28/03/2011 21:19

My DD is 18 months now but at 8 months we were feeding on waking, before lunch, 2 pm and before bed. She also had a dream feed at 10 pm

I night weaned her at 6.5 months as I was going back to work FT and couldn't deal with it - she was waking every 3 hours for a feed

The night weaning saved my sanity TBH and am still feeding DD at 18 months old

Original poster

lla · 28/03/2011 21:22

Maybe I should try to tackle the night feeding first although haven't bf much during the day for the last few days. Feel a bit all over the place :/

OP posts:

japhrimel · 28/03/2011 21:26

Plenty of anti-depressants that can be compatible with feeding - don't feel it's one or the other.

Maybe some of the ideas in 'the no-cry sleep solution' would help you reduce night feeds without reducing bfing?

Original poster

lla · 28/03/2011 21:27

Ruby slippers - how did you night wean?

OP posts:

rubyslippers · 28/03/2011 21:41

Slowly!

It took 2 weeks

I reduced the time of each night feed by 1 minute every other night

She fed for 10 mins a time, so we id the first night 10, second night 9, third night 9, fourth night 8, fifth night 8, and so on until we got o 3 mins and then I didn't feed - she slept through from then

I kept the dream feed until she was 11 months and then stopped in the same way

irregularverb · 28/03/2011 21:55

I'd also consider stopping bf at night (this can be done gently!), while making sure that you bf more often / on demand during the day.

Do you think that you'd still need the medication if you were getting more consolidated sleep?

I hope things improve for you lla.

Original poster

lla · 28/03/2011 23:04

I think I would be coping better if I got sleep at night. Thank you all for your support

OP posts:

MamaChocoholic · 29/03/2011 09:07

then night weaning sounds a useful first step. we night weaned ds1 around 10mo I think. he was in his own room, I would go in and sit with him, talk/sing and pat him in his cot, or cuddle if he got really distressed (wearing a high necked top). It was absolute hell the first night, I don't think I slept at all. But it got better although it didn't eliminate night waking. Can you pick a time to start when you can have help in the day to let you catch up on sleep?

MamaChocoholic · 29/03/2011 09:08

when I say it didn't eliminate night waking, it went from every 40 mins to about every 2-4 hours. but if you're already at 3 hourly it will hopefully go much better for you :)

Original poster

lla · 29/03/2011 13:07

Thanks i think I'm trying to do too many things so will start with tackling night times first. I'm not going to take the anti depressant just yet and see if I can keep going.
thank you

OP posts:

TruthSweet · 29/03/2011 13:20

lla - LactMed's info on Citalopram. The database says if citalopram is required by a mother it is not a reason to stop breastfeeding.

I'm not sure why if you have a thyroid problem this isn't being treated instead of one of the known side effects of an underactive thyroid of anxiety being treated.

It's a bit like giving immodium to someone having diarrhea because they have bowel cancer instead of treating the bowel cancer itself.

Not having a go at you of course but the treatment you are receiving from the gp.

Night weaning would help with the tiredness though according to the NHS tiredness is a symptom of UAT too.

narmada · 29/03/2011 14:31

second truthsweet, you should really, really be getting thyroid treatment. Depression and anxiety is a known symptom of hypothyroidism.

Sertraline is considered the antidepressant of choice in breastfeeding mums. Low transfer rates to BM. It's in the same class of drugs as citalopram.

TruthSweet · 29/03/2011 15:09

I second Narmada on the sertraline I've been on it for 4 years now and had no problems with bfing (though of course that is just me!).

Have you got another appointment to see the GP re. the UAT?

narmada · 29/03/2011 15:58

I BFed on sertraline too for 2 years, again no problems.

SharkSkinThing · 29/03/2011 20:45

My heart goes out to you - my DS is of a similar, er, spirited nature, and had never slept more than 2 - 3 hours in a row. He is also 8 months, and tbh, I was in tears most days through sheer tiredness.

How is the daytime eating? Is he eating a lot?

I almost had a meltdown at around 7 months because I just couldn't see a way out, and I wanted to stop bf too.

What worked for us was DP going in with a bottle of ff on the 11ish wake-up - no reason why you can't do this? He still wakes normally once again but I at least felt more confident in being sure he wasn't hungry! Last night was the very first in 8 months that he hasn't had boob. It's taken about 3 weeks (with a bit of regression as always), but he seems to have sussed that he won't get me for food every time he wakes, and I just settle him with a dummy.

It's really hard, the sleep deprivation, but you mist absolutely do what is right for you and your sanity. 8 months is brilliant going on BF.

Sorry I can't help with the other stuff, but PM me if you want to discuss the night thing more. It was a slow and gentle process for us, but even getting 4 hours of sleep in one block and made an enormous difference to my sanity!!

Hang on in there. xx

Original poster

lla · 29/03/2011 22:18

Narmada and truth sweet thanks for your advice, my thyroid issues are taking ages to sortout because they have to increase the medication levels so slowly so the doctor thought that the citalopram would help me in the interim. I have been on it before after having my first child, I suffered mild pnd. Just feel like there is so much happening at once.

Thanks sharkskinthing tonight I'm going to try a dream feed and then refuse any further feeds in the night and see what happens. I've also given him some supper to see if he stays fuller.fingers crossed x

OP posts:

Flip