Breastfeeding

Enough

I’ve forgotten how strong I am. I’ve spent far too long thinking I’m weak, that I can’t do things, and I realised that’s just not me; it’s not who I am. I am, and always have been, a very strong character, and it’s time I not only remembered it, but celebrated it too. It’s my…

Joke

Tomorrow, Annie goes away for a week with Tom. It will be the first time she’s been away from me for more than a night at a time. I really didn’t want to agree, but I didn’t think it fair to deprive Tom and Annie of time together, and his family time with their grandchild….

Link

At my counselling session today, we discussed something that’s become a bit of a problem recently – my use of the internet. My eyes open, I go downstairs, and almost every day I turn on my laptop before I do anything else. Some mornings we’re late for school because I’ve spent time on there. Often…

Attachments

It’s so strange how things creep up and take me by surprise when I least expect them. Annie is staying over at Tom’s tonight for the first time. It’s also the first time she’s ever slept away from me; we’ve shared our lives almost 100% for the last four years, and shared our bed for…

Heavier

Why won’t Tom ever have sex with me? Am I that ugly? Is my body really that disgusting to look at? Is it because I’ve had four children and my stomach isn’t flat, or because my breasts have been full of milk for the last two years? I know I’m a bit heavier than when…

Stop

After twenty-nine months, I’m going to stop breastfeeding Annie. I kept it going for so long partly because I didn’t want to rush her, but also because I was scared to stop in case he carried out his threat to take her away from me. Annie feeds loads during the day and even more at…

Bliss

Today was one of those days that I wish happened much more often. Tom, feeling guilty for going out most of the weekend, said he wished that I would go out for a whole day and night and have some fun. With Annie still feeding so much, I don’t feel that I can do that,…

Net

Tonight, for the first time in so long, Tom and I had sex. He’s been rejecting my kisses and cuddles for months now. If I try to talk to him about our lack of sex life, he tries to avoid the conversation, or says it’s all I care about. I’ve tried telling him that it’s…

Snoring

Annie’s been really unsettled for the last few weeks, even more so than usual. I’ve been feeding her at least five times a night, every night, sometimes more. I’m managing on three to four hours of broken sleep, and I’m completely exhausted. Tom keeps complaining that we’re disturbing his sleep. Today, he even said that…

Fever

I have mastitis, and I feel awful with a fever and lethargy. Tom has been so good to me all day. He stayed home from work, took the older girls to school and cared for Annie all day. He made me a bed on the sofa with a duvet and pillows, and told me to…

Break

Sometimes when Annie cries, I just need a bit of a break. I need to cook dinner, or do some washing, tidy up, have a shower, or just have five minutes to be me again – to recharge my batteries so I can go back to holding, playing, feeding, comforting. I wish Tom made that…

Backseat

Tom’s family are coming to visit tomorrow. Since Annie was born, I’ve struggled to keep the house as clean and tidy as I used to. Annie’s a very unsettled baby, so housework has had to take a backseat for a while. I asked Tom to give me a hand. I thought he would, as it’s…

Beg

I am such a fool. I thought Tom was changing; I was wrong – he hasn’t changed at all. I feel sad so much of the time. The health visitor thinks I may have postnatal depression. Tom said, “You’re not depressed; if anyone is depressed around here it’s me, you’re just putting it on.“ Annie…

Host

It’s just one month until our baby girl is due to arrive. The older children are so excited; they’ve been talking about what they’re going to do with her, who’s going to change her nappy, and how they’re going to play with her. Tom is equally as excited, but today, after he’d taken photographs of…