Oh God..I am like a frigging zombie. DC4 has always been crap at sleeping and after a year it is no better. I have co slept with all my DCs but had to stop this after many 'escapist from the bed' nightmares. Having said that, I still give in and drag him in with me after a while, out of sheer desperation, although he doesn't really settle for long and spends all night grabbing boob out, yanking them around, etc..Which has resulted in me feeling pretty sore now.
So consequently Catbus is done in, and with 3 others at home, I am one ratty mama.
DC4 I believe is teething, but has been for MONTHS: he still just has the 2 teeth. I have been nipped several times now and a big part of me wants to just give up feeding now, as it can often now feel sore from gumming, amongst other things.
However, he will not drink hardly a drop from a beaker: I held out all day not long ago, not feeding him at all, until the evening: he drank NOTHING until I fed him.
Do I just assume that he will eventually drink when needing it, even after all day, especially if he realises that the breast has gone`??
I realise this is a bit of a mixed question, but I think that the waking up thing is getting to be about wanting the comfort, which I wouldn't begrudge, but it is now affecting me so badly, I am bumping into things and feel horrible in myself.
It feels like the feeding and sleeping go hand in hand (duh!!) and that if the feeding aspect was removed, he might sleep for longer? Or is it wishful thinking?
I am not sure what I am asking here really, other than does anyone have any experience of stopping breastfeeding and babies having improved sleep? I am 99.9% sure I want to stop altogether now: the 1% is about comforting him if he's feeling off colour, with the breast...
I think it is as simple as needing to be a less pissy mama, and feel like myself again, even if that means stopping feeding. (I am so aware this is my last DC.)
Thanks for bearing with me!