Breastfeeding

[BonnieSeptember]

I feel like I cant bond with my newborn (5 weeks) because I spend all my time feeding him and not much else. Has anyone else had a similar experience? All the stuff about breastfeeding being a huge bonding exercise is nonsense in my situation

I definitely went through similar, and I remember thinking ds only loved me for my boobs! It will pass, ds is now 9 weeks and we're pretty consistently 3 hours in the day and 6 at night and he's a bit quicker too. Sometimes still a little clustery in the evenings but I can cope with that. A friend told me to stick with it for 2 months and see how I feel, I'm glad I did.

@kyles101

Thanks for your reply, and glad I'm not the only one! I'm determined to stick with it, I've been lucky that baby has been a natural since day 1, so I've not had the stress of him struggling to latch/feed to contend with. Also I know long term its far more convenient and easy for me!

I guess I'm just a bit disappointed how misleading and romanticised breastfeeding information is by the NHS - I feel like I could have been better prepared mentally for it if they were just honest, and not terrified of putting women off!

I agree actually. I think that's part of the reason why bf numbers are still quite low. It's "natural " seems to translate to "easy" which it definitely isn't. We had a few issues st the beginning, we both had a new skill to learn. When it's harder going than what's portrayed I think people get disheartened and give up.

But yes it's so very convenient, definitely one of the things I love - we can more or less get up and go any time without a military operation and it doesn't matter if we stay out longer than planned.

It does improve when they are a bit bigger. Although, can i ask what are you doing whilst you are feeding? Are you watching tv/on phone/thinking about things that need doing around the house? I found that it helped massively to accept early on that things around the house weren't important and they would get done at another point. I really started to enjoy it when there was no other distractions and that it could be time to rest and just focus on my baby. Hope it improves OP.

@doodleschmoodle

Hi, thanks for your reply. Generally watching TV, or on my phone. Babybisnt interested in looking to me while feeding so theres not much in it for me staring at the side of his head haha. I've had an rubbish time pose csection as well. Incision still hasn't fully healed due to stitches not dissolving properly (been back and forth to GP for nurse to try and pull them out as they're pushed to the surface of the wound) so I'm still quite tender and uncomfortable meaning I'm limited to what BF positions I can try.

I do try to ignore/not think about house stuff but I find it difficult. The house being in order and how I like it is part of my zen so it's hard to switch off.

I find it all a bit mind numbing to be honest. I thought about reading while feeding but I don't think I could properly get into a book if I were to be randomly stopping and starting! I'd be bored senseless of there wasnt something on the TV or if I didn't have my phone handy.