Twelve Days of Snots

12/12/2018

On the 1st day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, a toddler whose nose is runny,
On the 2nd day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, an ‘up all night’ cough and a toddler whose nose is runny,
On the 3rd day of Christmas, my true love sent to me, no sleep and a toddler whose nose is runny….

Hands up who has yet another poorly baby with the 5,000th cough and cold? I love Christmas. Hate winter bugs.

I honestly feel so sorry for Rafe. He was just getting better and then bamb another cold and cough! And yes, I know this is all good for his immune system and he will hopefully not be ill much when he is at school but fucking hell – give the poor lad a break. He’s been so blocked up, had to stand in the bathroom, running the hot tap and shower to unblock his nose throughout the night. He’s understandably not sleeping great but hoping he is coming out the other end of it. He was much better for nursery on Wednesday but if he picks up another bug I may have a nervous breakdown. Okay, slightly dramatic but it’s awful to see your baby poorly and there’s nothing you can do. I have been recommended Sambucol Kids to give Rafe over the winter – it’s basically like a vitamin tonic (for over 1’s), which is supposed to boost their immune system I think. So worth a try! PLEASE WORK.

So yes, been a bit of a rough beginning of the week but thankfully my husband is working in the North East before his Christmas leave so he has been able to help out at night. And only wanted to kill him a couple of times while he was snoring and I was feeding. While he is back, I’m thinking of trying to replace Rafe’s night-time boobie feed (still feed morning and before bed too) with cow's milk. I still want to carry on breastfeeding but honestly, I’m just bloody knackered and I do think that he doesn’t need (unless he’s poorly and needs comfort) even my milk in the night as he can and does sometimes sleep through and eating plenty too. But it’s hard as I am torn because I know especially when he is ill, boobs are great for comfort. So I’m not sure – anyone else give a bottle of milk in the night? Any advice? Or does he even need a bottle in the night? Just don’t know what to do for best, just a bit conflicted at the mo – think I’m just a tad frazzled. And I look like a troll. And with my husband home for a decent stint, I was thinking it might be the time to try and drop another feed while he is home. Help! Or maybe just having one of those weeks!

Next week will be my last post before Christmas and was going to have a little break (still post pictures on Instagram and here) from the blog till the New Year. Just wanted to be reassured that people are still enjoying what I am writing, the format week by week, or they want more/less content? Obviously some weeks I can write an essay – but other weeks not so much – so I know I’ve asked this before but don’t know whether to still keep the same format (weekly blog if I can), as well as sharing more photos on both Instagram and here?? Let me know what you think, value all your opinion. I actually can’t believe I have almost 2,000 followers! Amazeballs. You’re all legends.

Till next week,

Faye x

11 Comments

Fay

12/16/2018 12:08:45 am

Still very much interested in the blog over here, in any shape or form that you can manage.

I was feeling the same about dropping the night feeds for William (same age) but then read this: https://www.laleche.org.uk/thinking-of-weaning/ and reminded myself that actually I won't feel less tired (it may actually only take me longer to get him back to sleep with no breast!), he's likely to be getting fewer colds than he could have without breast milk and also I don't know the reason he's wanting/needing that milk in the night so I wouldn't want to try and guess that he doesn't. Each child is different and I think it's really easy to blame ourselves when they aren't doing something: walking, sleeping through, eating stuff that others are and actually when we are tired and have had yet another night if little sleep we look to changes we can make. But actually they will do it in their own time.

Hang in there, you arnt alone although it feels like it at 3am with a noob covered in green snot :-/

But at the end of the day, you are his mum. You have done amazingly to feed from you through the night to this point. Whatever you choose to do, is the right thing for you and Rage.

FX

Faye

12/17/2018 12:43:39 am

Hi Fay,

Thank you, as always for your advice and encouragement. It is just so hard to know what to do sometimes and I think when I'm in a fog of exhaustion I think of anything to try and get more sleep! And it's such a guilt to think about weaning, although I still want to breastfeed - it's the night feeds that are so hard - but I think you're right about not being any less tired. And he must want boob for a reason when he wakes up. Will see how he is this week and go from there. Hope all is well with you and your little one - and you have a lovely Christmas x

Ruth link

12/16/2018 02:05:12 am

I love your blogs and enjoy reading it weekly. Even if you don't write as much. Every week it just feels like it could be me writing it and it's so reassuring.

Still full of cold and cough here! It's been 4 months now! I keep wondering if it's an allergy but who knows?!? I just think it's going to go and then it gets worse again! We've had to postpone the milk ladder (he has a dairy allergy) as I don't think I would know if he was reacting or not!

I'm in the process of stopping breastfeeding. The mum guilt is incredible though! But I'm lucky that he loves his alternative milks and has always taken a bottle well. Plus he's not feeding through the night now. I went to my local breastfeeding support to ask about stopping and just ended up feeling more guilty as they said that a nursing strike at about a year is common and really we should breastfeed until they are three or four!

I just think we will always feel guilty for whatever we decide to do so may as well do what we feel is right rather than what others say!

Have a lovely Christmas and New year and hope rate is better soon xx

12/17/2018 12:50:52 am

Thank you Ruth - sometimes I forget that it's not just my friends who read my blog so it's just so lovely to know that I have people reading every week who can relate to how I am feeling that week. Makes me feel less alone/less like I haven't got a clue what I'm doing! The guilt for thinking about/starting weaning is so hard - even though we have both done amazing to nurse for this long. Massive high five to you for breastfeeding for as long - I know how hard it is and without sounding patronising - you should be really very proud xx

12/17/2018 12:51:49 am

P.s And hope you have a lovely Christmas too! xx

Aimee

12/16/2018 02:19:06 am

Definitely keep up with the blogging, I look forward to reading it with a slightly cold cup of tea every week! And as a fellow breast feeder I love to know I’m not alone, especially with the ‘you’re still feeding her?!’ Comments now that she’s 13 months 🙄🖕🏽
No advice really on the night time feed, we’re still every 2-3 hours through the night here, more lately thanks to teething and at one point I thought ‘I can’t do this anymore, I’m going to die from exhaustion’ but the thought of trying to settle her without the boob and potentially just being awake for longer, my head isn’t in it at the moment so am just going to continue boobing but you’ve got to do what works best for you and if replacing that feed works and you get some more rest then bloody hell try it!
Have a lovely (fingers crossed germ free) Christmas!
And remember you’re doing amazingly. 😘 xx

12/17/2018 12:55:41 am

Ahh Aimee - your comment has made me smile. I've just said in my comment above that it is so nice to hear from people who read my blog every week - and who can relate to what I am writing about. Makes me feel less like I don't have a clue what I'm doing! And thank you for the breastfeeding advice - oh I know those comments so well. Yes I am still feeding him myself thank you. As if people ask us that?! 'I can’t do this anymore, I’m going to die from exhaustion' is literally what I say most nights at the mo - but I think like you, I worry that feeding him any other way is just going to make me even more tired. But might be worth a try. Will see how I feel and obviously be sharing how I get on - whatever I decide to do! Hope you have a lovely - and also germ free Christmas too! xx

Justine

12/16/2018 03:31:51 am

Loving the blog so please do keep doing what you're doing, as much as you're able to obviously.

Feel the pain on constant colds/coughs etc big time! We've started giving our little man liquid multivitamins every day (1x 5ml) and the difference in him is so noticable - his eczema is almost completely cleared up, he seems a bit perkier akd although he still gets little bugs from nursery etc, they don't seem to take him down quite as hard or last as long. His diet isn't exactly super varied food-wise so we figured it couldn't hurt to give him the extra boost and so far, so good! :) xx

12/17/2018 01:00:09 am

Thank you Justine. Means a lot to get these comments and reminds me it's not just my mum reading! And there are other mums out there who are feeling just like me. I've been looking at multivitamins actually so think once this sambuca (I can't stop calling it that!) has ran out will invest in some as you're right - an extra boost can't do any harm! Hope you have a lovely Christmas xx

Karen

12/16/2018 01:53:38 pm

Oh Faye, if you can manage it, please keep going with the blog, I look for your new blogs all the time and I feel your pains! Still breast feeding my boy at 14 months, 2 - 3 hour gaps at most between feeds at night and I’ve read all sorts of advice on weaning him off but like others. I can’t bear the thought of even less sleep with a screaming crying baby when I know I could just pop a boob out and make all peaceful again :/ xxxxxx

12/17/2018 01:03:00 am

Thank you so much Karen - it means so much to know I have mums coming back to read my blog every week - mums feeling just like me. Makes me feel less alone to know there are others out there just as tired! You're so right on the bf front - I know boobs can settle him so quickly and trying to wean may cause even less sleep. So hard to know what to do! Will keep you in the loop whatever I decide to do. Hope you have a lovely Christmas xxx

Twelve Days of Snots

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