Breastfeeding Chatter #17

[MummyNaomi]

MN - Miss A does the pulling on and off too and its always worse on her really crap attachment side. Drives me nuts because she sometimes doesn't let go when she does it and drags my nipple with her.

Yep, I could have written the above, my poor nipple just recovers from a graze (or mastitis from last week) and she'll swing her head around with it firmly attached - agony!! My poor Righty, its a much maligned booby, dodgy attachment, slower let down, and used and abused by my Miss A!!

[little_O]

Thought I'd try dd without the shields a bit today. She took it a bit then gagged on it. Now whenever I try she just gags!! Don't understand why when I have flattish nipples and her shields are huge!

Anyone got shield weaning tips?

[Kmn]

try in the middle of a feed rather than right at the start - it may be the faster milk flow without the shield that is causing the gagging.

[little_O]

Thanks. Tried that but no difference, except she got really annoyed. It's like she doesn't know what to do anymore

[~TT40~]

*hugs* Little_O, she will get there in time. xoxo

[PumpkinZulu]

Try not to stress little_o, my DD used the nipple shields from 2 weeks to 5 months. I too thought she'd never come off them, worried there was something wrong with me, with her, with my milk. Everything was fine. I would offer her the nipple every feed, and then put the shield on if she refused. Also tried giving half a feed then taking off the shield. At the end of it, it happened when she was ready. And we never looked back. Some periods of time were too stressful to even bother offering, so I wouldn't. Don't pressure yourself or her What shields are you using? I tried a few and settled on the Medela ones. They were by far the thinnest shields I tried, and they had a cut out so baby could smell your boob, not plastic. I never had any supply issues or any issues from the shields

[Ladylove]

Little O you are doing such a great job! Don't let her confusion with the shields get to you. As the others have said you will both get there (no shields) in time. Using the shields doesn't make you any less of a breastfeeding mother to your baby. You are doing it and doing it perfectly.

[Arimeh]

Hi everyone - back for some more advice!

Sahti is now 17 months old, and her feeding style has gone from having good feeds a few times a day, to wanting more feeds (like every time I sit down!) but she will only suck once or twice and then she's off. During the night she can do this for up to an hour, never triggering my let down, so I think my milk supply has dropped a bit? She just never has big long feeds any more. I usually get over it after a while during the night feeds, and I turn my back on her so she can't get to my chest (otherwise she just scratches and head butts me) and she will cry for about a minute and then snuggle into my neck and fall asleep.

So I'm not sure what to do - try and stop the feeds completely and night wean, in the hope she will feed more during the day again? I can't stand this on/off crap either - she has a couple of sucks and then sticks the dummy in her mouth. If she hasn't got a dummy she will go away and then come back again 5 seconds later to have another couple of sucks. I can't do this all day because of the other kids, so I have to find a solution that suits everyone. Any ideas?

[little_O]

Try not to stress little_o, my DD used the nipple shields from 2 weeks to 5 months. I too thought she'd never come off them, worried there was something wrong with me, with her, with my milk. Everything was fine. I would offer her the nipple every feed, and then put the shield on if she refused. Also tried giving half a feed then taking off the shield. At the end of it, it happened when she was ready. And we never looked back. Some periods of time were too stressful to even bother offering, so I wouldn't. Don't pressure yourself or her What shields are you using? I tried a few and settled on the Medela ones. They were by far the thinnest shields I tried, and they had a cut out so baby could smell your boob, not plastic. I never had any supply issues or any issues from the shields

Thanks pz! You have no idea how reassuring 5 months is! At least I know you got there so I can too!
I'm using the Aventi ones which have the skin contact for nose and chin. I might check out the Medela ones too.

Thanks for the all the support from you ladies!

[onthefly]

You still have lots of time to sort it out Little O

MrsN - it's the age. it drives me mad too. DD has come out of it recently.
Set boundaries for yourself and communicate them to her. It'll take a bit of time, but she'll get the idea. What boundaries you set are up to you

[HotI]

Little O, are you in the ABA? The latest Essence magazine that just came out has letters from women who have used nipple shields. If you are not, and would like a read, PM your e-mail address and i can scan and send it to you.

MrsN, I agree with MadB, its ok to set boundaries for your LO.

[Arimeh]

Thanks guys - what kind of boundaries though? I'm clueless with this kind of stuff lol

[Kmn]

Something like "once you leave me there is no more booby until the oven timer blings" - and then setting it for an hour or more. Or just doing your other things, and being willing to say to DD "you have to wait until the washing is hung out and the dinner is cooking and I've finished reading stories to your sisters" Or whatever you want to get done.

Also, she may actually just be wanting to reassure herself that you are there - so giving her a cuddle rather than something to suck might work too.

[onthefly]

Something clearly delineated is good. Not while I'm cooking. After x happens.

I've been telling DD the past few days - we're not having mooky during the night, only cuddles. Tonight I reminded her at bedtime and she says:Yeah. Cuddles. I still fully expect her to wake up and ask for mooky but the message is obviously getting through

[Ladylove]

Mooky! So cute.

DD recently discovered my nipples. As in if they are out after a feed she loves to look at and touch them in immense detail. Only thing is, she hasn't yet learned what it means when I say 'gentle please!'

[Mum2twoBoys]

Had to share this. Got my DH to bring in my DS on saturday to work, because I could feel that I was getting a blocked duct due to him not feeding well in the morning. And one of the ladies turned around and said, "what he's 14 months and you are still bf him, you are sick!!" I was quite surprised that this response came from a nurse. It didnt actually upset me at all coz I have found I am quite proud of my bf. But I did feel the need to point out to her that WHO recommends bf til at least 2 years. I am quite surprised that other people who have bf their children feel this way. I am not bf to get my rocks off, it is in no way sexual. It is natural, and exactly what the bb were made for. Too bad that it makes you uncomfortable, but I'm totally fine with it. And I have a beautiful healthy boy to show for it.

[buffy1]

How bizarre, especially coming from a nurse. Love your reply.

You should be very, very proud!

[Netix]

I just need to vent. Had a cruddy afternoon of extremely active kids in the backyarf, scaring the dog, and leaving the gate unlatched. All a nice combination. Not. Plus whingey mack, and trying to cook dinner. Needless to say, dinner came off worst, and didn't really get done. So, when I eventually managed to get something cooking for the kids, mack was crying, but i couldnt pick him up, cos i was trying to get the other two something so they can get to bed. The man and boy eventually get home, and over the crying, the man said that he thinks its time i start making bottles for mack. Um, what the? Could you not perhaps pick a moment when i'm obviously not struggling so much to bring this up? I just feel like crying, even though he meant it as a help, so that if mack is hungry and im cooking or something, he can feed mack. And all mack wanted was to be picked up.