Well, I decided that I needed a break from being on call around the clock 24/7. So I pumped a couple of ounces of breastmilk and left Tim a cup and instructions on cup feeding, since we don't use bottles.

Things went well at first. Baby and Daddy happily played around and had fun. Then I decided to go to town and go shopping. I came back from grocery shopping and Hannah was crying. Tim said, "You take her. I'm at the end of my rope." I picked the baby up and she stopped crying and was happy as a clam. Tim said that he rocked her and held her and nothing would calm her down. And she just screamed when he tried to give her the milk from the cup. I laid down on the bed with her and she eagerly grabbed me and latched on. She nursed away until she fell into a contented sleep.

I actually felt better and not worse. My baby likes me a LOT. She's smart and knows the difference between Mommy and a cup of pumped breastmilk. I realized that even on those days when I feel frustrated, I have a role in my baby's life that no one else can fill.

Have any of you other nursing moms had a similar experience?

awwwww

yeah there's nothing like the joy you see in your child upon your return
Yeah, we get tired, stressed, overwhelmed, need a break....so we go...alone...
Then we come back and our babies have missed us sooooooooo much, even if it was only 1 hr.
It was long enough for momma to feel herself again.
Long enough to be able to feel the love from baby. To truly see the joy in being a mommy.

I don't know if I expressed it very well, I don't feel I'm communicating very well this morning, I don't know that I'm *that* awake yet hehe
But, I know what you mean. Been there, felt that :)

Yes, that is so precious. Tara, you said it well. :D

How sweet! I loved that feeling...knowing that you are your baby's favorite and most comforting person in the World! Enjoy this precious time. Stephanie :D

yes, I love being needed, loved, and liked! It makes caring for my family a joy!

ITA about getting your batteries recharged. We all need a little me time, even if it's just a hot shower, or a trip to the grocery store by yourself!

Yeah, most of the time when Ben is making a lot of noise, nothing DH does can calm him, b/c Ben is saying, "Hey! I want to eat...NOW!" And he knows DH doesn't have "the goods." :lol:

But a couple evenings ago, Ben was going through a fussy time, and nothing I did worked. Finally, in exasperation I handed him to DH and said, "See what you can do." As soon as DH took Ben, he quieted. Guess he was in the mood for a change, or maybe he'd just missed his daddy (who'd been at work all day). I decided not to take offense. :wink:

Totally relate... Love It Love It Love It... ! I don't mind. I will get about 2 hours mommy time now and then.. which is great for both of us! We realize how much we need each other. Goes the same with my 3 yr. old.

Funny thing... I am going to ramble for a second bear with me. I suffer from realllllly bad migraines. I am to be taking an med called Amerge. Well I am nursing & cannot take it. Everyone is on my back to quit nursing & get on this med.... uh no! I will pray for strength for a couple more months and learn to deal with it. It kind of upsets me. I have never asked anyone to help so it really is between me & DH! Ok so that should probably have gone in the gripe box.

Sorry Ruth I so cut in on this joyous thread!!

Aden is now 16 months old. He is not attatched to me. I can go away for no matter how long and he never comes over to greet me. Now when my mom or sister come over he goes right over to the door and jabbers and wants up with them. This is breaking my heart. It has his whole life. I did have post pardum at the beginning and they were the ones that snuggled him and comforted him. So I have always tried to express my feelings about this and my whole family just says "Oh don't think like that, he knows you are his mom." I feel I am missing something out of this mothering experience and I am not wanting to ever do it again. Let me guess.... No one can relate. Right?

Aden is now 16 months old. He is not attatched to me. I can go away for no matter how long and he never comes over to greet me. Now when my mom or sister come over he goes right over to the door and jabbers and wants up with them. This is breaking my heart. It has his whole life. I did have post pardum at the beginning and they were the ones that snuggled him and comforted him. So I have always tried to express my feelings about this and my whole family just says "Oh don't think like that, he knows you are his mom." I feel I am missing something out of this mothering experience and I am not wanting to ever do it again. Let me guess.... No one can relate. Right?

When I went to have oral surgery and left Katherine with MIL, she was FINE all day (Which i was glad about), but when I came back and took her out of MIL's arms she started crying!! I was a little :( about it... My DH maybe says she was just overwhelmed because she realized she hadn't seen me all day, so when she saw me she got emotional about it and started crying...

Anyhow, most of hte time, Katherine doesn't care... as long as someone else is there... i think partially it's because she sees me ALL day everyday, i'm the one there when she wakes up and goes to bed.... so if i disappear for an hour to go to the grocery store she doesn't care... but when her dad gets home from work, she is all smiley and excited because she doesn't see him a lot during the day... so think it has to do with the fact that you are just "who, you? Yeah you are always here" but with her dad it's like "ooooh daddy's home I hardly get to see him!" sort of thing, not that your kids don't love you, just that they are so used to you, but people they don't see as often are more exciting, you know?

yeah... all three of my kids were like that. it really frustates dh that they won't calm down for long with him when they're breastfeeding. but, as soon as they are weened, that all changes. i really miss that reaction when i come home from my older one's. ds #2 is stil bf, so he can still light up my world with a reunion smile! :D