My little girl is 10 weeks old. We had a rocky start, below birth weight till 3 weeks, formula supplementing, low supply etc and thanks to mumsnet, breastfeeding helplines, lactation consultants ( private and hospital based) we managed to ditch the bottle and be ebf for the last 5.
But the evenings are still a nightmare. Despite feeding on demand the milk never seems to be enough. In the daytime it's relatively ok, feeds last around 20-30 mins, between 1.30 to 3 hours ( rarely and only early in the morning) they get progressively more frequent till around 6 when the marathon begins. She is attached to my breast with short gaps till around 11, napping in the breast a lot, sucking on empty, calm when asleep but then crying inconsolably. We cosleep and i'm in bed wirh her in the late evening) After 11 she will sleep til 2 or 3, feed (the best feed of the day as I have more milk and she is satisfied) and then again at. 6, at 8.30 etc.
I'm sure this is all normal but it's bloody hard work and I do nothing else but feed my baby. My 3 year old depends almost entirely on his dad and it feels like I have no time for him :(
We've been at my inlaws for christmas and , even though they are loverly, I hate every minute if this. Baby cries on the breast, I feel upset and exposed, retreat to our room and try to feed her while feeling awkward and upset.
If all this is normal when on earth does it get easier? When will she be able to sleep earlier than 10 or 11, when will I have more milk, or is this never really going to happen? I fear my milk will lessen more if I give her formula in the evening but I dread the cryIng in the night, I'm so stressed for half of the day and can't take much more if this :(