EBF DS for 13 weeks, but am struggling big time, so am going to stop, but am beating myself up about.....HELP.

[mppaw]

Ds is 13 weeks old, has been ill with one thing and another since birth, gammy eye, really sore bum, boils around his bum, bronchilitus, cold after cold. This has resulted in him being really really miserable for most of the time.
This has then led to me having a touch of PND which the HV and my friends have really really helped me deal with.

Anyway, we are are now at week 13, he is alot happier, not wanting to be held and comforted all the time, so life was getting a little easier, but for the past 5/6 days, he pretty much feeds ALL day and is up every hour and a half during the night.
So we have started adding formula to my breastmilk in the bottle for his bedtime and dream feed. This has helped with bedtime and he has been settling lovely, but during the day he has started to be really miserable again, I dont think he is getting enough in 1 feed to sustain for any amount of time, probably about 15 minutes, then he starts looking for more food again !! IS THIS NORMAL ?

I just really dont know what to do. I have no pre-conceptions that Formula is going to make all this better, but it just seems to have so many pro's in keeping me sane at the moment. We (Have DD who is 3yrs) are finding it hard to go out due to DS feeding so much, plus feel like DD is now getting zero attention from me, and all these thoughts are not helping with my PND.

I BF DD for 5 months, and when I pregnant with DS I was adamant that would want to get to 1 year, but I can't see me reaching the end of this week !!!!
Not sure what I am looking for by posting this, but it just feels good putting down on here and hopefully to get some support.

THX

yes, it is normal,. it's probably a growth spurt. the more you feed him the more milk you make and the quicker it'll settle down

What a rotten time you've had, I think you have done well to get this far with EBF given all that has been going on. I'm not an expert though, so maybe someone will come along soon.

In the meantime, I wonder if it would help to talk it through with a trained BF counsellor? I found the NCT breastfeeding line really helpful when I'd reached the end of my tether, you don't have to be an NCT member to use it. The person I spoke to was really lovely and helpful. They will be open again in the morning and will hopefully have some suggesions.

Breastfeeding Line - 0300 330 0771
8am?10pm, seven days a week

Good luck x

mppaw - I agree, you've had a really difficult time I also agree it would help you to talk to someone. I am an NCT breastfeeding counsellor, and I know any of us would be happy to help and would find it easier to do so if you called to speak. Like you say, you really don't know what to do - talking it through would help you work this out.

Thanks guys...will give them a call and go thru everything with them and hopefully get a everything into perspective.