Now that I am an "empty nester" (and I love it) I find it is important that
when I speak to moms they 'hear' me say that I understand how very tired
and overwhelmed they feel.  There was no time in my entire parenting years
when I was ever as tired as I was during those first years as parents.

Luckily our marriage was strong, but "quality" time - no, we had none.  As
for a sex life, my solution was to wake up my husband after the 3 am (or
thereabouts) feeding when I was a little more rested, and feeling less
"touched out".  I share this information with moms and they find that it
also works for them.  

As for "quality time" - it came much later, after kids were dating and we
were waiting up for them! <grin  ;-)>.

Right now I'm working with an 18 year old who is breastfeeding "a day at a
time" .  She only can handle breastfeeding "until tomorrow".  But in that
way she has been exclusively breastfeeding her baby through thrush,
mastitis, and exhaustion - for 3 weeks.  This may seem like very little to
some of you, but for us it is a success....  

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, IBCLC, LLLL
Vacaville, CA
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