By: Jenna Lee
As a new mother, I’ve come to realize that my infant has developed a strong preference for breastfeeding, rejecting any attempts to use a bottle—even when it’s filled with my own milk. The moment anyone other than me tries to give her a bottle, she responds with furious cries and tears, leading to a complete feeding strike.
My partner, Mark, doesn’t seem to understand the stress this attachment brings. How could he? I’m constantly in a haze of sleep deprivation. Even a quick trip to the store brings on a wave of guilt—what if my baby gets hungry, or worse, what if she cries uncontrollably while I’m gone?
I would find it amusing that my once modest B cups have now become so vital if I weren’t so utterly exhausted. While breastfeeding can be a beautiful experience, it loses its charm during the third wake-up call at 4 a.m. Mark assures me he’ll help the baby learn to take a bottle, but so far, his promises have gone unfulfilled. After a particularly tough night, his comments often make me want to scream:
- “I’m so tired.” Really? You just enjoyed a full night’s sleep on the couch, while I was up and down with our little one.
- “She was only up twice? That’s not too bad!” Unless you were the one tending to her, which you certainly weren’t.
- “You should just let her cry it out.” Fantastic idea! That’ll surely create a symphony of a wide-awake baby and an irritable preschooler.
- “I understand how you feel.” Nope, you really don’t. How do I know? You’ve never had to pull an all-nighter with our kids.
- “Just cut her off. She doesn’t need to eat for half an hour.” Sure, I’ll explain that to her and we’ll all go back to sleep peacefully.
- “Thanks for the update.” Yes, he actually said this at 5 a.m. when I woke him in tears after our baby had been up every two hours.
- “She has to learn to take a bottle.” Absolutely, but when are you going to start working on that?
I just can’t handle it sometimes.
What’s the most irritating thing your partner has said to you after a night of nursing? For more on this topic, you can check out this resource that offers insights on home insemination. Additionally, Make a Mom provides valuable information on fertility options. For further reading, News Medical is an excellent resource on pregnancy and related topics.
In summary, navigating the challenges of breastfeeding while coping with a sleep-deprived partner can be overwhelming. Understanding and communication are key in these situations to ensure both parents feel supported and acknowledged.