*hugs* Little_O, she will get there in time. xoxo
Printable View
*hugs* Little_O, she will get there in time. xoxo
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 :)
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.
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?
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!
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 :)
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.
Thanks guys - what kind of boundaries though? I'm clueless with this kind of stuff lol
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.
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 :rofl: but the message is obviously getting through
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!'
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.
How bizarre, especially coming from a nurse. Love your reply.
You should be very, very proud!
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.
:hug: Netix
Alternatively, he could offer to take over whatever you're trying to do so you can see to Mack.
Do you have a carrier you can put him on your back with? That's very helpful at dinner time.
That sucks William'sMummy! Nice reasonable response, though!
Netix days like that are so emotionally draining. Big hug to you.
WM go you! Can't believe a nurse said that!
So what's with this- 6 and a bit month DD has gone from 3-4 hourly feeds, mostly 3-3.5, to 2 hourly again and at a push, 2.5. It's lasted two days. A growth spurt? Or a sign I need to introduce more or different solids? She's on three solid meals a day but she doesn't eat that much. What she does it all gets digested though going by her nappies.
It may not mean anything at all Ladylove :) It varies and changes. You can offer her more food and see what happens :dunno:
She makes it pretty clear when she's had enough food so I suspect trying to give more may not work. But I could work on more smaller meals- tidbits to eat really- over the course of the day.
My DS went through stages of bf more regularly. I assume it was just to increase my supply, and after around a week he would go back to normal. A growth spurt could also explain it.
Sent from HTC wildfire using TAPATALK, so forgive any spelling errors its a small keyboard.
often it has nothing to do with nutrition and is just a response to developmental stuff going on wherre they seek out more comfort and reassurance.
Do you know what you could be right as today she's been so clingy and temperamental. Crying for no obvious reason, refusing be put down anywhere and she just woke up from her big sleep though she was out to the world when I put her down 20 minutes ago.
Hi all poking my head back in after 9 mths of being pg and now bfing again.
So different this time as DS2 is very very hiccupy and has a lot more trouble with wind and colic. He just want to feed/suck and feed some more. I'm already worrying about reflux (he is only two weeks old so I know it's too early to tell)
I think I need to look at my diet too, I've got some herbs for both DS2 and myself.
Any other suggestions??
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Congrats Loula :)
What are the herbs?
So he's unsettled, you mean? Often little ones are just like that. Maybe if you tell us a little more about what's going on. Is he doing well otherwise?
Ah, Ladylove, I'm often right.... ;) (in truth if you throw out enough guesses eventually one of them sticks)
Thanks! Well last night I got my old shield out to see if it would slow my flow and we had a great night. A little wind but nothing I couldn't get up quickly this morning has not been as settled. But still better. I know my attachment was bad this morning. I will post the herbs in my next post, I'm hoping to get some more zzzzz now bubs is down
i think DS is reverse cycling - feeds 2 hourly overnight and not much during the day. wondering if it's cos i don't move him after feed so less vomiting at night, whereas during the day he is on the move more. would be nice to get a longer stretch of sleep though. i have plenty of milk in the morning, and no baby wants it.
Oh Hotl how frustrating. :(
A selfish 'me' question again- I think I have supply issues on my right side. I have noticed that my nightly pump isn't yielding the same results from rightie in that I've always pumped 50-60ml almost exactly from each breast but over the last couple of weeks i can barely get 30ml from my right breast, sometimes far less. I know pumping isn't an accurate insight into supply but I've also noticed DD is less content on that side recently. Any ideas why? It's not lumpy or anything despite blocked ducts there a couple of months back.
I believe that babies tend to have a preferred side, and think that can cause different supply ob either side.
But all of a sudden?
My expressing has dropped off dramatically lately, was getting about 150-200ml per sitting. Last time only 20ml and couldn't get letdown. Think it just changes depending on your child's requirements and how old they are.
you could be right because her feeds are further apart then they used to be.
I am seriously considering dropping the bedtime bf. DS is such a struggle at that time. Kicking and pinching. Getting down and then wanting back up again. I thought they'd want that feed but might drop it and continue with morning, lunch and afternoon. Thoughts? Was this just a stage with others or is he trying to tell me to drop it? I'm just sick and tired of all the fussing.
How do reckon W would go getting to sleep without a breastfeed? I've been thinking about it too, because A has started playing around a bit more before bed.
At daycare for her nap, they give her a cup of milk, she lies down on her little bed on the floor and she puts herself to sleep. We've tried this at home but it turns into a game for her - up and down and up and down until I feed her and she goes to sleep. At night it's similar, she goes in her cot (she wants to go in there) and she plays a bit. We'll say "lie down, it's sleepy time" and she throws herself down on the mattress lol. Ten seconds later she's up again giggling. This goes on for a while, and I think she's down a bit longer each time, but eventually she stands up, reaches out and says "up". Really quick feed and she's out like a light, I put her back in the cot.
So I dunno, maybe he just needs to play around a bit before settling in? Or maybe he's ready to try other ways of getting to sleep, maybe if you just rubbed his back?
I had my first ever "maybe you should stop" comment today! We got to 15 months without one! It was because I've been sick so long, it was a "maybe you should get her off and focus on you" comment. Not that stopping will make me suddenly healthy, it's the stress of this ridiculous job that does it.
Kaytee, I had those comments several times - each time i asked them HOW stopping BF was going to "fix" me - how taking away a comfort item from DD was going to make life easier and less stressful for me, how adding further upheaval to the mix when her mummy is already not herself was going to help anyone. to be honest, it was BF that HELPED us get through with sanity intact - i was having to lay down after work every. single. day - and DH was having to cook - DD would come and lay down on my bed with me, and BF while DH cooked, and it was calm and easy on all of us. It was really a bonus at that point. We've had a hellish up and down 12 months (or more - and mostly downs) and to be honest, i'm glad i had BF as a "tool" to help DD cope with all the stress we were all going through
DD is now just shy of 3y4m, and has started to wean - well, i THINK she has. Up until she got sick about a fortnight ago, she BF to sleep every night of her little life. if she didn't go to sleep on the boob, she would feed and then snuggle me to sleep. last week she was so very sick that she couldn't feed - she couldn't breathe, and the poor poppet was coughing so hard for a few days that she was throwing up all the time. she just wanted cuddles, upright, and nothing in her tummy (which i get) - i was still offering boob, but she declined all the time, so i let her guide me. as she has recovered, she has chosen not to have boob at night any more - i think she's had it once in the past fortnight. she has had morning feeds every few days. i'm not sure whether to start offering again at night , or whether i should just wait until she asks (IF she asks) - i don't mind morning feeds in bed (i like those snuggles) and we haven't had day feeds now in several months (and i won't go back to that i don't think - unless she is sick) - i'm just not sure whether our BF journey is almost over. i'm kinda torn too - not sure if i am sad it's almost over, or relieved. I am currently on leave from work so morning feeds are no biggie - she just climbs into bed when she wakes up - but i'm going back to work on Monday, so i'm not sure we'll have the same ability as she is often either just waking up or still asleep when i leave for work - if she doesnt have those morning feeds, i think my milk will dry up pretty quickly so weaning may be forced on her by circumstance
argh - so torn!
He isn't difficult to get to sleep at all. He is a self settler, has been from about 6-7months. Not requiring a bf to sleep. I just thought he'd need it before going down. But maybe he's just full from his afternoon bf and dinner and doesn't need it anymore? I find it difficult dropping number of feeds, but maybe I just need to take his cues. I can't drop afternoon feed as he is screaming at me for it, and I don't want to deny him.
I give him a bottle/cup of milk with breakfast after his morning feed, and he has one when at daycare too.
Yep I've had it too kaytee, I'm getting to the point where ppl should just mind their own business. They can parent the way they want, and I'll do it my way. But sorry you've finally heard it. Hugs and keep strong.
Exactly BG, how will stopping something she clearly needs, calms her and gets her to sleep, help me stress less? I can only imagine how forced weaning would go - not pretty!
Maybe, if E is used to the morning feed every day but not having the night one, she'll swap if she can't have the morning one? Maybe offer on Monday night and see how she goes?
WM, sounds like maybe he is all full up. If he's not using it as comfort/to get to sleep, maybe the fussiness is a sign he doesn't need it so much anymore. You could always try a night or two without a feed and go back if it's not working :)
Oh, and I hear you on the sick kid not being able to feed BG! We had a week of A being sick and not being able to breathe properly. But because she still only feeds to sleep she still wanted it and she persisted. Resulted in a nightly vomit lol, it was pretty gross. She usually vomited again each morning due to swallowing boogers overnight. Ew.
i think E got sick of the night time feed making her sick - after 8 chucks in the space of four hours, she was just too sick to try again. and i guess i'm not pushing the issue of night feeds while she is still a bit chesty/snotty cos i don't want her to go back there. she has been dragging her old spew rags around with her for the past week and coughs in to them cos she is scared of being sick everywhere. poor bugger. i know milk would possibly sooth the burn but it wasn't what she wanted so we left it
Ladies hello! I have a question re water consumption. I've been giving DD (7.5 months old now) a little water from a sippy cup after her meals, but she really guzzles it down (she has to work to get it out as it is one of those cups you suck to extract water, it doesn't just flow out). I give about 30-40 ml after the meals and I'm not sure if she guzzles because she's thirsty or just because it is there? How much should I give her? I started with the water because some of her poos were not pellet like but more 'compacted' than usual and I've noticed she's taking less milk from me. I alternate solids with breast feeds.
I left a bottle of water out constantly for DS. He too had issues with hardening up due to food, this fixed it right up. As my DS got closer to one he dropped to 4 feeds a day. I don't think you have to worry about your LO drinking water instead of bf, it just might stop the ones where they just want a quick drink.
I think the mchn recommends before they're 1 you offer a bf before food, and after they're 1 you offer afterwards or when they request it.
Thanks WM. I've not filled her cup to the top to test my theory but I feel like she'd drink whatever was in there, not just what she needs.