How to bf & do everything else i need to!

[Shellywelly1973]

Are there any mums who have bf & ff?

I am pregnant with baby no6.

Ive previously ended up ff through absolute exhaustion. I found it much easier to ff then to bf but wondered if other mothers had a different experience.

How do mums who have large families, school runs, work, no family to help & a dp who works shifts bf for any decent length of time?

I would ideally like to EBF for minimum 6 months but realistically i have so much on, its impossible. Im self employed & will be back at work within 4/6 weeks. I do work from home. With my last dc i was so exhausted by week 5 i was crying with tiredness.

How do other mums manage to do everything?

All advice appreciated!

Bump

Rigorous time management and acceptance of all offers of help....and a mother's help from time to time. But you knew that, right?

Sorry that sent before I'd finished! I don't have a large family but I do juggle work and kids. But I ebm first thing and last thing at night which gives bottles for others to give whilst I sleep.

I am pregnant with DC7, but only have 3DC at home, 12, 9 and 2 years old. 9 year old has Downs Syndrome, so not like most 9 year olds. When I had my youngest, DH was living in another country for the first 2 months due to work.

I FF my first 3DC, then just prioritised breastfeeding, kept telling myself no matter how tired I was and in how much pain etc, it would pass and that I knew if I switched to FF I'd regret it later on. I got the DC to help with housework where possible, got easy stuff for dinner that my oldest could pop in the oven if needed, or we just made do with sandwiches some days, or takeaways. It didn't really help that DD wouldn't be put down at all for the first 3 months, even for a walk in her pram, so I had to hold/carry her in a sling constantly.

It was fine as I am able to ignore mess etc as long as the place is fairly clean. I am glad I stuck at it, it was much easier than FF after the first 6-8 weeks and I am still breastfeeding now, intending to carry on and tandem nurse.

I ff my oldest three, bf and ff my 4th and bf my 5th. Breastfeeding forced me to make time to sit down, still bfing now and he's 16mths. My dh is disabled and not much physical help in the house- I get my older ones helping (5yr age gap between no4 and no5- funny though that seems harder than when there was four 7 and under). I just have low standards and enjoy the chaos

Thankyou!

Midori my 4th child has ASD&ADHD so i can really relate to your post.

My life is not relaxed & chaos. Very structured due to Ds SN. To manage everything by myself its quite regimental.

Im feeling torn between the good of the baby verses the rest of the family. My oldest 2dc don't live at home as they are in their 20's. Dd11 already does alot. Ds8 has SN but Ive trained him to load the dishwasher & clear away his plate at meal times. Ds5 clears up after himself at meal times & run around doing little jobs for me.

Its so hard, i feel really guilty!

I wish i could have a year off work. A nanny, cleaner...