Re: OT- how long to breastfeed only?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/21/2005 at 2:53:20 PM Central Standard Time,

Algaveda@... writes:

I hate to keep asking off topic stuff but i Know if anyone can help me with

these things- this group can and I DO NOT trust the doctors at all. I am

breastfeeding and Skylar is 5 months. How long should she be on breastmilk

only? I thought it was just for 6 months but the Dr. said she could do

this for

9 months before starting solids- any ideas?

Amy,

Some do fine until 16-18 months.. you know your child best.. and the later

you start solids the less allergies you are inclined to have.

[Guest guest]

Thank you guys so much for all your emails and advice!!!

)Amy

[Guest guest]

Sounds like a pretty good doctor.

My third child got no solids until she could pick up pieces of real

food and make it to her mouth. I stopped all the baby food jar stuff

after my first.

As far as when my kids had interest, that has all varied. One was

4mos and another was 15mos. I did not stress about it because I knew

BM was the best thing for them, anyway. The boy that was 4mos when

he showed interest was sitting up early and did not spit food back

out when he was fed.

What I find interesting is that my early one was 20lb by 6mos and my

two later ones were 18lb and 20lb by one year. I think the second

two were just less hungry than the first one. Even now, with all

three pretty much on solids (my almost three year old still gets 2

nursings a day), they follow the same habits. My oldest eats

everything and fast. My second two take an hour to eat and sometimes

leave half on the plate.

Also, they had different nursing patterns. My oldest would suckle 20

minutes every 2-4 hours. My second two would want to nurse every

hour for less than 5 minutes.

Anyway, I am glad this is OT, because I am rambling. You will know

when your child is ready - mine grabbed food from my plate and

stuffed it in their mouths. I do suggest skipping the whole baby jar

food thing, though. BM is much better than that.

> I hate to keep asking off topic stuff but i Know if anyone can help

me with

> these things- this group can and I DO NOT trust the doctors at

all. I am

> breastfeeding and Skylar is 5 months. How long should she be on

breastmilk

> only? I thought it was just for 6 months but the Dr. said she

could do this for

> 9 months before starting solids- any ideas?

> Amy

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi! I breastfed my child til 2. I had to go in the hospital and it was not

the way I wanted to wean her,but I had no choice. I was in for 14 days,had 2

surgeries. It is your decision,not your doctors or anyone elses. Dont let

anyone make you feel strange or bad for doing it. it is the best thing for

them.

It is your decision. the longer you can do it the better for them.love Janet

[Guest guest]

also ignore friends who tell you three months, how many people told

me that when i was nursing Amber...oh isn't she on solids yet, she

should eb on solids blah blah. Theres no set should about it anyway.

People have mentioned extended bfg for 2-3 years etc etc.

definately try to wait the 6 ms, it's government advised here now

not that thats anything to get happy about, but at least something

to mention to support it.

Also when you start take it really slowly and carefully. I didnt do

any protein till 9 ms and bf most of the first year and my baby ate

like a horse (still does).

A

In Vaccinations , " LJL " <laura6307@y...> wrote:

>

> Sounds like a pretty good doctor.

>

> My third child got no solids until she could pick up pieces of

real

> food and make it to her mouth. I stopped all the baby food jar

stuff

> after my first.

>

> As far as when my kids had interest, that has all varied. One was

> 4mos and another was 15mos. I did not stress about it because I

knew

> BM was the best thing for them, anyway. The boy that was 4mos

when

> he showed interest was sitting up early and did not spit food back

> out when he was fed.

>

> What I find interesting is that my early one was 20lb by 6mos and

my

> two later ones were 18lb and 20lb by one year. I think the second

> two were just less hungry than the first one. Even now, with all

> three pretty much on solids (my almost three year old still gets 2

> nursings a day), they follow the same habits. My oldest eats

> everything and fast. My second two take an hour to eat and

sometimes

> leave half on the plate.

>

> Also, they had different nursing patterns. My oldest would suckle

20

> minutes every 2-4 hours. My second two would want to nurse every

> hour for less than 5 minutes.

>

> Anyway, I am glad this is OT, because I am rambling. You will

know

> when your child is ready - mine grabbed food from my plate and

> stuffed it in their mouths. I do suggest skipping the whole baby

jar

> food thing, though. BM is much better than that.

>

>

>

>

>

> > I hate to keep asking off topic stuff but i Know if anyone can

help

> me with

> > these things- this group can and I DO NOT trust the doctors at

> all. I am

> > breastfeeding and Skylar is 5 months. How long should she be on

> breastmilk

> > only? I thought it was just for 6 months but the Dr. said she

> could do this for

> > 9 months before starting solids- any ideas?

> > Amy

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Well thanks- and to all of you for your help. It is hard to breastfeed and

work full time, but I want to do what is best for my little angel. The thing

is Skylar is not a great nurser. She always nurses in the morning when she

first wakes up. She is bottle fed while I am at work...and once I get home

she sometimes will not nurse (will cry and turn away- talk about hurt my

feelings, I used to cry but am used to it now!!!) but I know she is hungry b/c

she

will take a bottle. I wish she would nurse 100% of the time when I am there

but what can I do (half the time she will and half the time she wont)? So I

pump- and pump- and pump (I HATE IT!)...I guess the important thing is she

is getting breast milk...right? And as far as her thrush goes- her tongue is

not white and her spots seem to have disappeared...AMEN

Do you know someone had the audacity to tell me she needed to be on a diet

and I need to make sure she is not one of the 60 pound 1 year olds on talk

shows!!! She is just a fat healthy girl (5 months, 18 pounds)- I was

mortified...how rude and ignorant!

Thank you all for the support. I think I will just stick with the

breastmilk and hold off on solids until she seems to want them...I hope I know

when

that is???

Amy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/22/2005 10:29:51 P.M. Central Standard Time,

samandjordan@... writes:

The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months,

breastmilk for a minimum of 2 years

THANKS for the info and support!

Oh my.....my goal was 1 year but the more I read the more I think I need to

do it for at least 2 years...but we are trying for another at the end of this

year- that means I will be a prisoner to this pump for the next 3 years of my

life, lol! Hopefully my next baby will want to nurse more than Skylar

does. Is pumped breast milk still good for babies that dont nurse all the

time?

Amy

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy,

> Do you know someone had the audacity to tell me she needed to be on

a diet

Hehe - sombody asked me if my healthy breastfed daughter if she had

gigantism. She breastfed until she was 3 years and 2 months and now

at 4.5 yo is fighting fit and regular sized )

You will know when she is ready because she will ask for food and when

given it swallow it rather than spit it all out. While most babies

take food happily at 6 months mostly they are only having tastes until

their second year and getting most of their nutrition from breastmilk.

Breastfed babies are normally larger than formula fed babies during

their first year then slim down in their second year.

From: http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/growthcharts2/f/breastfeeding.htm

" exclusively breast-fed infants tend to gain weight more rapidly in

the first 2 to 3 months. From 6 to 12 months breast-fed infants tend

to weigh less than formula-fed infants. "

The charts most people, including GP's and baby health centres, refer

to are based on formula fed babies but if you go to

http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/growth/growthcharts.html you will

find growth charts for breastfed babies.

The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months,

breastmilk for a minimum of 2 years and for as long there after as the

mother and baby are happy doing so. You can't please everybody so

don't worry about anybody who would criticize you for doing what you

know is best for you baby girl and don't let anybody talk you into

doing less than the minimum recommended even by conservative health

professionals.

You only have to answer to yourself.

Cheers

Sam in Sydney

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/23/2005 5:41:02 A.M. Central Standard Time,

mum2mishka@... writes:

As above - offer a cup and stop the bottles - she'll probably be more

willing to nurse.

Oh my sitter will love this one, lol- how does this work..how do you do it?

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I would love to get her nursing again.

Another thing I am confused about- I have to pump once in the night b/c they

hurt- how do I get to where I dont have to pump all the time?

AMy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/23/2005 9:03:49 A.M. Central Standard Time,

mum2mishka@... writes:

Amy, forgive the blunt question, but why don't you feed Skylar instead of

pumping if you're doing it for comfort? Apologies if I'm missing something

obvious - have a heavy head cold and am not thinking too straight today!

)

oh gosh, no problem. ok- this is our schedule...she gets up and i nurse

her- she only takes one breast. i pump the one she didn't nurse from- and

sometimes both- before i go to work. i pump once while at work (she has

bottles

at the sitters). Like i said, when i get home and all evening- she sometimes

will not nurse (screams when i try and arches her back and turns away) so I

pump and give her bottles. She goes to bed at 9pm and sleeps ALL night in her

crib until 8 am. I got to bed around 11 and I pump once before I go to bed

and once in the middle of the night- around 4. So as you can see I feel like

a prisoner to this pump (every 5hours or so b/c she wont nurse). I

obviously have lots of milk to freeze for her sitter- but i have too much. But

I

dont know how to slow it down, i have to pump b/c they get so big and they

hurt.

THANKS so much- your help is priceless. I am going to buy a sippy cup

today, and some small dixie cups...will try it! I miss nursing her!!! So the

sippy cup wont cause nipple confusion b/c they suck it differently? ANy

recommendations on a brand of sippy cup?

)Amy

[Guest guest]

HI Amy,

Me again! )

>

> Well thanks- and to all of you for your help. It is hard to

> breastfeed and

> work full time, but I want to do what is best for my little

> angel.

In actual fact, many women do it. As Skylar gets older, she will take less

and less milk anyway. By the time she's about a year old, she'll probably

be having a good range of solids and may only have three or four feeds a

day - which you should be able to fit easily around your work schedule.

Many mums I've known that have gone back to work have found that their

babe's have changed their feeding patterns, often sleeping more during the

day when little and nursing more when mum's around after work. Many nurse

more during the night too.

> The thing

> is Skylar is not a great nurser. She always nurses in the

> morning when she

> first wakes up. She is bottle fed while I am at work...and once

> I get home

> she sometimes will not nurse (will cry and turn away- talk about hurt my

> feelings, I used to cry but am used to it now!!!) but I know she

> is hungry b/c she

> will take a bottle.

Hate to say this, but it sounds rather as though she has some nipple

confusion going on here. I know she's older but some babes do not take well

to mixing breast and bottle. A good way around this would be to offer her

milk during your working hours in a cup rather than a bottle. Because the

muscle action needed to breastfeed is diametrically opposed to that needed

to bottle-feed, and because the bottle is so much easier and less work, many

little ones get a bit confused and decide they'd rather have the bottle -

they prefer to do less work for it!

> I wish she would nurse 100% of the time

> when I am there

> but what can I do (half the time she will and half the time she

> wont)?

As above - offer a cup and stop the bottles - she'll probably be more

willing to nurse. Let's face it - if she wants her milk, she'll have to!

Babes aren't daft but they do try it on, even at this age. Once she works

out a bottle isn't forthcoming, she should happily take the breast all the

time. Could you have an intensive *babymoon* weekend - just rest, relax

and do nothing else but feed?

> So I

> pump- and pump- and pump (I HATE IT!)...I guess the important

> thing is she

> is getting breast milk...right?

Yes. The WHO guidelines are to exclusively breastfeed for the first six

months of life, but to then breastfeed until two and offer complementary

solid foods along with the breastmilk to get her used to tastes and

textures. Logically, as she has more solids she'll want less milk. There

should be no need for you to continue pumping as she drops more feeds - just

try adjusting your feeding times so you are there when she wants milk and

she can nurse?

> And as far as her thrush goes-

> her tongue is

> not white and her spots seem to have disappeared...AMEN

That's good then.

> Do you know someone had the audacity to tell me she needed to be

> on a diet

> and I need to make sure she is not one of the 60 pound 1 year

> olds on talk

> shows!!! She is just a fat healthy girl (5 months, 18 pounds)- I was

> mortified...how rude and ignorant!

Breastfed babies are often heavier in the first year of life, but then tend

to slow in weight gain. Mine was always average for weight gain, but she

didn't slow the growing. At 7, she needs clothes for 10yos. She is already

up to the shoulder of her head teacher!!! (

> Thank you all for the support. I think I will just stick with the

> breastmilk and hold off on solids until she seems to want

> them...I hope I know when

> that is???

She'll guide you. As a b/f counsellor we always advise waiting until they

lose the tongue thrust reflex - that pushes out stuff taht shouldn't be

there, thus meaning they don't gag out the food you offer; to wait until

they can hold their heads up well without support; to wait until they start

grabbing food off your plate and start eating it. Not just showing interest

because when little they want to play with it, and explore it - not eat it.

When she starts taking it from your plates and eating it, she's ready for a

wider choice! )

HTH.

Love, light and peace,

Sue

" It is not unfair to conclude that medicine is the only branch of science

that has based its structure on opinions and suppositions rather than on

laws and principles. " - Vithoulkas, " The Science of Homoeopathy " .

MMRcontactnetworkUK - putting non-vaccinating

UK parents looking for naturally acquired immunity for their children in

touch with each other

Imperfectly_Natural_Parents_UK - for all

imperfectly natural parents everywhere!

[Guest guest]

> In a message dated 2/23/2005 5:41:02 A.M. Central Standard Time,

> mum2mishka@... writes:

>

> As above - offer a cup and stop the bottles - she'll probably be more

> willing to nurse.

>

>

> Oh my sitter will love this one, lol- how does this work..how do

> you do it?

> THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! I would love to get her nursing again.

> Another thing I am confused about- I have to pump once in the

> night b/c they

> hurt- how do I get to where I dont have to pump all the time?

> AMy

Amy, forgive the blunt question, but why don't you feed Skylar instead of

pumping if you're doing it for comfort? Apologies if I'm missing something

obvious - have a heavy head cold and am not thinking too straight today!

)

Now she's older, you should be able to get her an ordinary *sippy cup* type

of feeding cup - at her age, it's pointless trying to sterilise it so I

wouldn't worry. It always seems senseless to sterilise bottles/cups when

everything else goes in their mouths! Just put her in a sitting position as

if you were going to offer a bottle and let her sip it. The ones with soft

spouts are quite good, but unnecessary - you'd probably do just as well with

letting her sip from the edge of a feeding cup.

But my best advice to you would be to nurse as often as you can - limit the

pumpings to providing milk for work time and at any other time nurse. Best

for your supply, best for you both. Don't know if you do this already, but

you can always express what she doesn't take at a breast feed. You'd be

surprised at how much is left!

HTH.

Love, light and peace,

Sue

" It is not unfair to conclude that medicine is the only branch of science

that has based its structure on opinions and suppositions rather than on

laws and principles. " - Vithoulkas, " The Science of Homoeopathy " .

MMRcontactnetworkUK - putting non-vaccinating

UK parents looking for naturally acquired immunity for their children in

touch with each other

Imperfectly_Natural_Parents_UK - for all

imperfectly natural parents everywhere!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/23/2005 2:03:55 P.M. Central Standard Time,

sburke2345@... writes:

Do you not think that Skylar will take the breast after work if you

persist? Like if she refuses, then leave her, and then try again a

little later, rather than giving in with the bottle straight away.

I know this sounds cruel, but maybe if she is really hungry/thirsty

then she will accept it if you persevere and don't offer the

bottle? Maybe you have already tried this?

Well...I have not really tried it...she gets so fussy and I know it is b/c

she is hungry so if she doesn't nurse I never have the heart to make her wait

it out...I justgive her a bottle and I sure dont want her to be upset. Today

she did great nursing this morning and when I got home (early today)...so

you never know with her. I will try the sippy cup thing- but what is to say

she wont prefer a sippy up? And while I dont love pumping- pumped breastmilk

is as good as if she nursed right? I just want to make sure she is getting

the full effect of it.

Amy

THANKS for your help- I am grateful for all the advice you guys have to

offer.

One more question- she used to poop ALL the time...but the last few weeks

(she is 5 1/2 months old) it has slowed down and she poops once a day- is that

normal???

Amy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/23/2005 3:04:04 P.M. Central Standard Time,

mum2mishka@... writes:

Yes. Quite normal - they usually slow down as they get older. Gut is

maturing all the time and doesn't need to eliminate as often.

Thanks- i am sooooo the paranoid new mom )

Amy

[Guest guest]

Oh Sue...it is terrible being away from her all day at work and I will never

be comfortable with anyone watching her all day (I am in Alabama and ALL my

family is in NY and my husbands mom works full time so we dont have family to

sit her, my next door neighbor does and she is sweet but it is not me or

family which bothers me). I love her so much and she is only little once...I

wish I could stay at home with her. My husband is away at law school- it is 5

hours away so I am here with her all week by myself, he has class Mon-Thurs

and he drives home every single weekend and he is here Thursday night-Sunday

night. He graduates May of 2006 so- we are trying to hang in there...he

misses her more than I could say.

AS far as nursing- yes, I love it and want it to work and AM going to try.

I think she does do better when she is sleepy- which is why when she first

wakes up she always nurses. It IS a battle of the wills I am sure- and I

should not start letting her win at 5 months old, lol. I just need to tough it

out and wait until she is hungry enough b/c I am sure she will eat...I

truthfully didn't know that was ok b/c the lactation consultant at my OB said

not to

ever withhold feeding her. I was totally not doubting the sippy cup thing- I

was just questioning if she can prefer a bottle of the breast- why would she

not start preferring the sippy cup over the breast (I just want to

understand). I am going to load her up and go to walmart and buy some sippy

cups and

dixie cups. Wish me luck- is this pretty easy to do - to get them to use a

sippy cup? ON a GOOD note...she has nursed VERY well today...only one bottle

at

the sitters and she nursed when I first got home and then from both breast a

little bit later. Thanks for your support- I have lost confidence in my

ablility to nurse her and when she rejects me it breaks my heart. Your support

means alot.

Amy

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/23/2005 4:54:04 P.M. Central Standard Time,

galah_1@... writes:

You're doing a great job. Good luck with the sippy cup!

awww thanks! Good luck with your new baby!!! I am still learning )

Amy

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy, I am not a breastfeeding counsellor, but I have breastfed 3

children.

Do you not think that Skylar will take the breast after work if you

persist? Like if she refuses, then leave her, and then try again a

little later, rather than giving in with the bottle straight away.

I know this sounds cruel, but maybe if she is really hungry/thirsty

then she will accept it if you persevere and don't offer the

bottle? Maybe you have already tried this?

Can you express a little bit of milk just to relieve the pressure in

the middle of the night rather than pumping. It sounds like the

amount of pumping you are doing is increasing your milk supply and

therefore causing you to feel engorged. Of course if Skylar would

feed in the night instead then that would (possibly) be better.

I have never experienced this sort of problem myself before so

please feel free to ignore this advice if it is not appropriate to

your situation. Just my thoughts...

Good luck, Deb

>

> In a message dated 2/23/2005 9:03:49 A.M. Central Standard Time,

> mum2mishka@t... writes:

>

> Amy, forgive the blunt question, but why don't you feed Skylar

instead of

> pumping if you're doing it for comfort? Apologies if I'm missing

something

> obvious - have a heavy head cold and am not thinking too straight

today!

> )

>

>

> oh gosh, no problem. ok- this is our schedule...she gets up and

i nurse

> her- she only takes one breast. i pump the one she didn't nurse

from- and

> sometimes both- before i go to work. i pump once while at work

(she has bottles

> at the sitters). Like i said, when i get home and all evening-

she sometimes

> will not nurse (screams when i try and arches her back and turns

away) so I

> pump and give her bottles. She goes to bed at 9pm and sleeps ALL

night in her

> crib until 8 am. I got to bed around 11 and I pump once before I

go to bed

> and once in the middle of the night- around 4. So as you can see

I feel like

> a prisoner to this pump (every 5hours or so b/c she wont nurse).

I

> obviously have lots of milk to freeze for her sitter- but i have

too much. But I

> dont know how to slow it down, i have to pump b/c they get so big

and they hurt.

> THANKS so much- your help is priceless. I am going to buy a

sippy cup

> today, and some small dixie cups...will try it! I miss nursing

her!!! So the

> sippy cup wont cause nipple confusion b/c they suck it

differently? ANy

> recommendations on a brand of sippy cup?

> )Amy

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

> One more question- she used to poop ALL the time...but the last

> few weeks

> (she is 5 1/2 months old) it has slowed down and she poops once

> a day- is that

> normal???

> Amy

Yes. Quite normal - they usually slow down as they get older. Gut is

maturing all the time and doesn't need to eliminate as often.

Sue

[Guest guest]

> In a message dated 2/23/2005 2:03:55 P.M. Central Standard Time,

> sburke2345@... writes:

>

> Do you not think that Skylar will take the breast after work if you

> persist? Like if she refuses, then leave her, and then try again a

> little later, rather than giving in with the bottle straight away.

> I know this sounds cruel, but maybe if she is really hungry/thirsty

> then she will accept it if you persevere and don't offer the

> bottle? Maybe you have already tried this?

>

> Well...I have not really tried it...she gets so fussy and I know

> it is b/c

> she is hungry so if she doesn't nurse I never have the heart to

> make her wait

> it out...I justgive her a bottle and I sure dont want her to be

> upset.

Amy, it sounds as though you are having a confidence crisis here. This can

and does happen from time to time - especially when a babe has become

confused from being offered breast and bottle. The bottle is easier so she

will try and get you to give her a bottle. She does not need to work for a

bottle. It makes them lazy. That's why I suggested a feeding cup - she'll

have to do more work to get her milk from that than from a bottle. Makes

them think and *do* something for it.

If you go on giving in she'll never take the breast full-time again. If

she's hungry, and there's no physical reason why she shouldn't be

breastfeeding, she'll have the breast eventually - but you have to accept

that this may turn out to be a battle of wills. Even at this age, she is

capable of enforcing her will and that is *just* what she is doing by the

sound of it. If you want to breastfeed then don't give her the option -

even if she puts up an argument initially. She's not going to starve

herself, I promise!

> Today

> she did great nursing this morning and when I got home (early

> today)...so

> you never know with her.

Was she sleepy from a nap when she nursed well? Before she had time to

think about it? So she nursed instinctively rather than consciously? ;o)

> I will try the sippy cup thing- but

> what is to say

> she wont prefer a sippy up? And while I dont love pumping-

> pumped breastmilk

> is as good as if she nursed right? I just want to make sure she

> is getting

> the full effect of it.

You seem confused about what you really want to do, Amy. Earlier that

seemed like an excellent idea - now you're not so sure? Yes, expressed milk

has the nutritional goodness although you are losing protective antibodies

if you are freezing it - but you're both missing out on the emotional part

of it, the nurturing. Nourishing is one thing, nurturing is another

entirely. Don't cheat yourself - you're missing enough of her already by

going to work - don't make yourself a slave to a breastpump when you could

be breastfeeding. You'll regret it in the end...

Do you suppose that part of this need not to upset her is because you aren't

comfortable being away from her all day? Just a thought...

Love, light and peace,

Sue

" It is not unfair to conclude that medicine is the only branch of science

that has based its structure on opinions and suppositions rather than on

laws and principles. " - Vithoulkas, " The Science of Homoeopathy " .

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/23/2005 at 9:27:13 AM Central Standard Time,

Algaveda@... writes:

But I

dont know how to slow it down, i have to pump b/c they get so big and they

hurt.

Amy,

Please please consider donating to a milk bank.. your liquid gold could

save a baby's life.

Check your local hospitals for one.

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy,

Just thought I would add that in Australia, we are being advised that

up until 6 weeks it is " not possible to spoil a baby " . And dh's

Dutch books say 3 months. After that age, the baby will 'learn

behaviours'. Demand feeding and comforting until this age seems

like a good idea, after that you have to 'take control'.

Having said all that, it's a theory I don't know about yet, as my

baby is about -3 weeks old.

You're doing a great job. Good luck with the sippy cup!

Cheers

Naomi

NSW, Australia

> wakes up she always nurses. It IS a battle of the wills I am sure-

and I

> should not start letting her win at 5 months old, lol. I just need

to tough it

> out and wait until she is hungry enough b/c I am sure she will

eat...I

> truthfully didn't know that was ok b/c the lactation consultant at

my OB said not to

> ever withhold feeding her. I was totally not doubting the sippy cup

thing- I

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/23/2005 9:34:35 P.M. Central Standard Time,

MomSchumm@... writes:

Please please consider donating to a milk bank.. your liquid gold could

save a baby's life.

Check your local hospitals for one.

I really dont have that much to spare...Skylar is away from me while I am at

work all day and goes through about 3 frozen bags a day at the sitters...and

I need to keep some on hand for emergency (in case something happens to me

that i cant nurse for a few days). And some days I can pump a lot out and

other days I cant...it is so strange. I have to eat a LOT to keep it up well.

And while I would love to help out and donate some ( I WILL call the

hospital tomorrow)- I would also like to not pump as much and just produce what

she

needs b/c it is so frustrating pumping when it is not necessary- every 4 or 5

hours.....I was so afraid I wouldn't have enough milk and i pumped to get

more...they say your breast adjsut to what the baby needs so I must be able to

adjust it but I am not sure how...if I dont pump/nurse they get so engorged.

GOOD NEWS- I didn't have to give Skylar ANY bottle tonight- she nursed so

well...it made me so happy!!!! I think I need to feel more confident- I think

somehow it helps...

I will have my sitter try the sippy cup tomorrow...

THANKS!!!!

Amy

[Guest guest]

> Demand feeding and comforting until this age seems

> like a good idea, after that you have to 'take control'.

I do believe that the parents should be " in control " and help guide a

child with gentle dicipline until a child has developed

self-dicipline. However, I disagree with the above comment.

A child knows when and how hungry s/he is by recognising the signs

within their bodies. If we dictate when they eat and how much they

loose their natural instincts when it comes to food and the ability to

be " in-touch " with their bodies messages. With so many eating

disorders in modern society e.g. over-eating and anorexia I think

letting a child self-regulate their eating is a healthy thing that

will serve them well long-term.

My chldren have demand fed until they have self-weaned and I don't see

it as controling me...once they reach around 12 months a bit of

negotiating goes on but I feel that since breastmilk is the healthiest

of all the foods they are taking I wouldn't dream of withholding it

from them any more than I would withold any other healthy food.

I see breastmilk for an older child as so valuable I would never

withhold it. Imagine if a child lived only on bananas....then

gradually introduced other foods into their diet until they were only

eating one banana a day...that banana would be such an important

component of their diet because it would offer unique nutrients. So

when my children are older and eating many different foods I see

breastmilk as an important and unique component of their diet.

I also offer comforting on demand at any age. In return even my kids

are very empathetic and even my 1yo will cuddle, pat and kiss family

and friends who are in distress. I thnk by offering unconditional

comforting whenever a need is expressed for it is called love. And

after all, if my husband was upset I would naturally comfort him, so

why on earth would I not do the same for my children?

Sam in Sydney

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy,

First, let me say how I admire you for expressing where others

wouldn't bother. The harder our mothering is the prouder we can be of

our efforts.

> Oh my.....my goal was 1 year but the more I read the more I think I

need to do it for at least 2 years

Well, when she is older, perhaps 1yo, you can probably leave her for 6

hours plus and she will make do with other fluids and you may not have

to express at all. She my just have a breastmilk before and after

your work.

> ...but we are trying for another at the end of this year

Great! You may find your milk dries up during the 4th or 5th month of

pregnancy (mine did). Will you be working once your new baby arrives?

S/he will take milk through the night so you won't have to pump at

night at least. Many women tandem feed. I co-sleep so that

breastfeeding during the night is easy. Co-sleeping takes some

getting used to but now I actually sleep better with at least one

child in my bed snuggled up to my.

At some point a lactating women's breasts don't store milk the same

way they do when they have a newborn feeding but produces most of a

feed as it is needed on the spot so to speak. At this point you can

skip feeds without getting really engorged and probably not have to

express during the night. I found this happened for me at around 6

months (babies age hehe). I could feed from the one breast all night

without concern and then my babies would have a big breakfast from the

other breast. I always look out for signs of mastitis with any age

breastfeeder.

>Is pumped breast milk still good for babies that dont nurse all the

time?

Breastmilk is simply very nutritious very easily absorbed food.

Doctors are now even using it to feed cancer and aged patients.

If you have extra milk that your baby is not taking but you have to

express anyway you could consider donating it to a milk bank.

Take care

Sam in Sydney

[Guest guest]

Hi Amy,

> adjust it but I am not sure how...if I dont pump/nurse they get so

engorged.

Try expressing only enough to relieve the engorgement rather than

draining the whole breast. Also you could try sleeping on your

stomach (although I believe ths is not great for one's neck) so your

boobs get squashed or wearing a too tight bra to bed just until the

night production is reduced (this is the opposite of what is

recommended when you are trying to increase your milk supply). The

thing is that more prolactin is excreted at night and breast

production is more efficient. This is generally a good thing because

the boobs will be full and ready for a speed feed for baby during the

night and as baby gets older and is more distracted/active during the

day they do a lot of make up feeding during the cosy quiet night feeds.

> I think I need to feel more confident- I think somehow it helps..

It may be that after a few rejections you were anticipating more of

the same and sensitive being that Skylar is she picked up on your

anxiety. Anxiety itself is not great for a fast letdown. The best

mindset when yo set off for a breastfeed is total confidence that it

will all go smoothly but total acceptance if it doesn't and just try

again next time. What age is the teat you are using suitable for?

The older the baby the bigger the holes. If the sippy cup doesn't

work - and that does sound like a good idea - maybe try to find a teat

that has tiny holes so she has to work harder to suck the milk out so

there won't be so much difference in the effort involved between

breastfing and bottle feeding.

Take Care

Sam in Sydney