Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Being a mom is HARD.

Recently I came across a blog entry on The Wonder Love (written by Indiana Adams of Adored Austin) that sort of hit home.  The resounding message:  Being a mom is HARD.  It was such a relief to hear someone else say it.  Such a rare occurrence in the world of mommy-blogging.  I mean....there are the occasional "I'm having a bad day" or "My kid is annoying me" confessions, but it's not often that moms admit the struggle.  The feelings of failure.  

So this is me admitting it too.   I'm struggling.

This past week was a rough one.  Lyla seemed to be crying (I'm talking red-in-the-face, can't-catch-her-breath kind of crying) every evening, allllll evening.  Not gonna lie, it sucked.  It is so frustrating not knowing what is wrong when your baby is crying.  Thankfully Amanda shared with me the "5 S's" (swaddling, side/stomach lying, shhhh, swinging, sucking) and they were a quick fix for a moment of relief during a crying spell, but I couldn't help but think there was something else I was doing wrong.
Sunday night (after much prayer and contemplation) I figured it out.  
I had been worried that I wasn't producing enough breast milk and had started taking a herbal supplement, fenugreek, that supposedly helps increase milk production. I googled "fenugreek, fussy baby" and sure enough, a slew of results showed up.  A definite correlation between the supplement and adverse reactions in babies.  So.  We're done with that.  Yesterday I had my pleasant baby back and I felt like super mom.  

Today she is throwing fits again.

Being a mom is HARD.

But then she curls on my chest after I've nursed her, and nuzzles her head under my chin.  Moments like that make it all worth it.


xo
Jayme

11 comments:

Maggie May said...

hey there :) it IS hard. my experience with fussy infants is that dietary changes are usually the answer. with Ever, she's 2 months, i cut out dairy, spices and chocolate and she stopped crying.

Miskabelle said...

It's the hardest and best thing we'll ever do! <3

GinaChick said...

It IS hard! But I can assure you that it does get easier, although it may seem as if that moment is far, far away at times. Hang in there, momma.

Katy @ Wiggle Wagon Blog said...

It's always hard. But it always pays off, more than anything else you do.

Jayme/Miskabelly said...

@Maggie May
Thank you for the advice! I am definitely laying off chocolate (after you wrote that I realized we had a bag of Valentine's chocolates that I kept snacking on in the past week...). Love hearing from other moms who have dealt with similar issues!

Jayme/Miskabelly said...

@GinaChick
Thanks for your encouraging words!! It seems to be getting easier as days go by....

Jayme/Miskabelly said...

@Miskabelle
Yes yes. Can't believe we are both MOMS. That is just too crazy.... xo

Jayme/Miskabelly said...

@Katy @ Wiggle Wagon Blog
I believe that!! Thanks for your kind words. : )

Anonymous said...

Yes it sure is! I'm finding what works one day doesn't the next. Super annoying! The most depressing for me is not being able to get out of the house with the freezing cold. You just want a moment out of the house but know it takes two hours to get out anyway and have to feed the baby in another hour so what's the point? Plus I'm pumping since my nipples are still destroyed after 6 weeks so feedings don't stop after he eats.... Takes an extra hour to pump, sanitize and clean! Then he fusses all day and people wonder why you are frustrated!! It doesn't mean you don't love your child... Just that its sometimes just plain HARD!

Unknown said...

I have a 5wk old, Raina, and i too have found that being a mom definitely is HARD and i now have much more respect and admiration for all the moms out there but although it is very hard at times it also is the MOST rewarding and full-filling job EVER!

Anonymous said...

I have twins & the oldest, by 1 minute, cries ALOT, but really loud screaming cry. Wants to be held and we have to stand up. I think he does this more around Daddy. Is he spoiled, how can we undo this. The younger is laid back. He is a bit larger, but not by much. How can we get TWO laid back boys??