Teething has hit us hard over here the past few days. Crying. All day. Wanting to be held. Then wanting to be put down. Then crying because I put her down. I'm exhausted, as I'm sure she is too. I can't imagine the pain she's in.
Last night she woke up more than usual, and wouldn't nurse back to sleep like she normally does. Only once or twice I was able to get her to nurse, all the other times she woke up she just needed to be pat back to sleep or if that didn't work I let her lay there and she eventually fell back asleep. But she was obviously uncomfortable and in pain.
So this morning I thought for sure she would be hungry after not nursing all night. But nope. She still refused. And I freaked out.
Jesse left for work and I was left to fend for myself with the teething striking monster. And it wasn't 5 minutes until we were both in tears.
I posted a picture on Instagram asking for advice, and I got a ton of awesome feedback! It's so beautiful to know that nothing we go through in motherhood is unique to us, someone somewhere has gone through the same thing.
So what we did:
Kept trying. I made the mistake of getting stressed and frustrated, but one commenter said to keep it a playful and positive experience. If anyone saw the way I made it a "playful" experience after that they would think I was crazzzyyyyy! But I think it helped.
I pumped. Because I didn't know how long this strike would last and I don't have a lot of milk stored anyways.
We went on a walk, drank a smoothie together, came home, took a bath together, did some skin to skin, more playful attempts at nursing, then I let her drink the milk I pumped through a straw (because she's obsessed with straws). Then, it was naptime, so she cuddled with me as I stood and rocked her while singing, shirtless I might add, and eventually she decided it was time to nurse. So there I stood, shirtless, belly to belly with my upright nursing babe, feeling like such a hippie, and praising the Lord for answering my prayers. Oh, I also cried.
Some commented saying that maybe she was self-weaning, and reading that broke my heart. Because I was scared it might be true. I'm not ready to give up breast feeding, and I knew deep down that Ever wasn't ready to give it up either.
So if ever you find yourself in the same situation, keep trying, make it a positive and playful experience every time, and give yourself and your babe some grace.
There's bound to be some bumps on the road on this motherhood journey.
And now some pictures of Ever in the tub.
