Breastfeeding Hurts

I had to tweet the title above last night because I was in real pain after having been bit while nursing. Confession time: Breastfeeding hurts! I hope you don't get me wrong. Even before I found out I was pregnant, I already knew I was going to breastfeed my baby. Aside from being breastfed myself (beyond 2 years), I believed in all the benefits of human milk. I prepared and expected a lot of pains in the process.  I went through engorgement so many times, a really nasty nipple crack, and best of all, numerous bites from a toddler with almost a full set of teeth.  It's been two years and I'm still breastfeeding. My plan is to let him lead the weaning.

With this new set-up of working from home, I find myself stuck in a very hectic schedule. Although I have househelp, I still insist on doing most of the chores---cooking, bathing I., feeding I., putting I. to sleep, etc.  As soon as I put I. to nap, I rush to my netbook to get my work done, for about 1.5 hours, or 2 if I'm lucky. When he wakes up, he asks to nurse, and if I'm lucky again, he goes right back to nap. By the time he's fully awake, I'd need to attend to whatever it is he wants or call the yaya (when she's anywhere to be seen) to take him outside and play until I finish work at around 4:30 pm. By that time, my husband would wake up and I'd have to cook dinner. When we're up for it, the three of us would go to CCP to stroll around while the husband runs.

It's not exhausting on some days but you know how it is when you find yourself stuck in some stressful situations like for example, potty training a two-year old for days and all you get is just one success in the potty and the rest are all misses? By the time I turn off the lights and get some rest from a long day of catching poops and pees, I get a bite...that excruciatingly painful bite from a sleeping two-year old and I feel helpless and all I can do is cry. Sniff :(