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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Does bf sap your energy?

17 replies

specialagentmeh · 30/12/2011 19:01

Does anyone else find that bf is really taking it out of them?

Feeling a bit frustrated with lack of energy to do anything other than feed. DS, 8 weeks is a reasonably good sleeper and eater aside from a couple of hours a day when he's colicky. DD 2.9 is energetic & doesn't nap.

However DH is between jobs & giving me loads of help, gets up w Dd so I can lie in w DS, lots of cleaning, shopping & Xmas prep. So where is my energy?

Some days I feel I acheive nothing beyond breastfeeding & existence. Also I am catching every cold going &have an ear infection thats finally going after 3 weeks. Is this normal- I can't remember?

OP posts:

bagelmonkey · 30/12/2011 19:11

Are you eating enough cake/chocolate?

Original poster

specialagentmeh · 30/12/2011 19:22

Tons of cake & chocolate! I've already finished the whole tin of chocs from Xmas plus half the Xmas cake that was left from Xmas day...

Maybe this is the problem.

OP posts:

TruthSweet · 30/12/2011 20:16

Having a new baby and a toddler/older child is very tiring whatever the method of feeding. At least with bfing you have to have a sit down!

RecursiveMoon · 30/12/2011 20:26

at 'really taking it out of them'.

DS (16 months) usually BFs twice per day (in the morning and before bed). At night, I relax in his room while DH gets DS ready for bed - I think it is tiring, so I don't feel too guilty for having a little time to myself in return.

OlivesIncubator · 30/12/2011 21:00

Are u getting enough iron?I feel that way when my iron levels fall and it it dreadful. As vital a part of the diet are the chocolates (2nd box of Lindts since Xmas) and Xmas cake (about to start on the as yet uncut 2nd Xmas cake, complete with marzipan icing), there is nothing like a big juicy fillet steak and a large glass of O.J. for sorting out the tiredness.

Iggly · 30/12/2011 21:07

Agree re iron -'worth taking some spatone.

I'm BF DD who's 4'weeks and have a 2 year old. I am TIRED!! it's the lack of sleep plus you do need extra extra calories in the early months of BF - try high energy decent food like porridge etc instead of cake when BF DS I had to have porridge every morning and doing the same againwith DD. Plus flapjacks to snack on, regular snacks and I'm drinking ovaltine instead of tea. Helps a lot. Oh and make sure you drink to thirst - don't let yourself get parched. I need water day and night.

Chubfuddler · 30/12/2011 21:08

Drink more fluids. I find I need loads of water/squash.

Original poster

specialagentmeh · 30/12/2011 21:13

Ha ha, yes, taking it out of me in all senses

Will try the OJ and steak to supplement all the chocolate.

OP posts:

Original poster

specialagentmeh · 30/12/2011 21:17

Oh yes porridge & flapjacks - was doing that, but switched to Xmas food. Good reminder. And now you mention it, he's dropping back to sleep quicker at night than in the first weeks so I have just been choosing tiredness over thirst at night & dropping straight back to sleep without drinking my water.

OP posts:

MummyAbroad · 31/12/2011 20:09

Agree that iron supplements will help. Did you lose a lot of blood during the birth? What were your iron levels like beforehand? Tiredness is more likely to be related to these factors than breastfeeding itself. I was dead on my feet for months with DS1 and he was formula fed, this time with DS2 I am ebf-ing and taking a good iron supplement every day and feel great.

PPPop · 31/12/2011 20:11

I felt knackered at the start until I upped my water intake and then my energy levels increased massively.

ReduceRecycleRegift · 31/12/2011 20:15

That was my experience, in hind sight I wish I'ld stopped and enjoyed the babyhood. It was just a blur of feed - feel drained - recover a bit - feed - collapse...

if it's constantly like that as the weeks go on, not just at growth spurts, then maybe its re-assess time?

ReduceRecycleRegift · 31/12/2011 20:16

and I ate, took Iron, drank fluids at every feed (even night ones). If you are REALLY drained from each breast feed those things don't touch the sides much

OneLittleBabyGirl · 31/12/2011 21:25

I only have one and I feel hungry and knackered all the time. I make sure I have two cooked meals a day plus a decent breakfast. (Things like weetabix, not cake). I also take a multivitamin for bf women. Probably a gimmick and can get normal calcium and iron supplements. But I reckon it's only a short time of my life and I'm saving money from not buying formula and bottles.

Babaj · 31/12/2011 23:56

Yes i definatley feel it saps my energy! I have a 20 week old ds and I'm constantly eating!!!!

DillyTante · 01/01/2012 00:16

Firstly give yourself a break woman! It's early days yet.

But I'm afraid to say that even at 15 months I still feel a bit depleted by it. Not as much as in the early days, but I never feel quite right when bfing.

LCarbury · 01/01/2012 00:17

God yes. Every feed felt like giving blood until my firstborn was 4 months, then it got a lot easier. With my second, it was easy as anything. I think it's a matter of your body adjusting. I am pretty sure I had enough iron etc. First time round I either over or under produced and second time I only seemed to make what was needed and never leaked. Both babies full term, healthy size. I just went with the flow, as it were, and realised I was fairly sofa-bound for the first couple of months, and enjoyed watching DVD box sets.

You'll be OK, it's definitely within the realms of normal. To be honest, at 8 weeks post birth your body might still be doing some work recovering from the birth which you might not otherwise notice, and that can make you even more tired.

I ended up feeding both of my children until they were 2, no idea how that happened given I went back to work FT before they were a year old!

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