Hi

Just thought I would pop in quickly. I am working 3 days per week now so not checking in as much and Ella is still not drinking any formula from a cup, only water.

Bec, I think you are fantastic expressing at work, and you have done such a great job for your bub. I know how hard it seems (see my current thoughts below) but just think, it is only a couple more months that you might be breastfeeding for, and in the scheme of things it is such a short period of time. I'm giving Ella cows milk because she won't drink formula at all, and started turning away her breakfast cereal. Robin Barker in Babylove does say that she can't find out any difference between a nine month old and 12 month old regarding drinking cows milk, so if it seems right for you, go with it. Just watch Xavier doesn't get constipated, which Ella does a bit, but I put a little brown (not raw) sugar on her weetbix and it seems to help quite a bit. I just don't see the point of spending money on formula when milk is not the main source of food. (Also goodluck TTC).

DS weaned totally out of the blue at about 10.5 months and he seemed like he would never give it up but just stopped one afternoon and never went back on. So, I try and cherish every feed now, and keep telling DH we need a photo of Ella breastfeeding, I can't believe I don't have one!! I only have one of DS at 2 months, but at least it is one.

I am breastfeeding when I get home from work at 5pm, again before bed, about 6.30pm, then usually 10pm and 2am and then when she wakes at 6am.
On the four days a week I am at home I feed her at 12noon, but when I go to work I don't express and my body seems to cope. I do have quite a lot of milk by 5pm but I think being tired from working and breastfeeding has helped reduce my supply a bit so it isn't too bad.

I haven't got mastitis yet - touch wood. And Ella just has cows milk on her breakfast cereal and yoghurt with lunch when I'm not home plus custard too. My MIL got her to drink a small amount of cows milk the other day so that was a bit of a step forward.

The community nurse said Ella probably didn't like formula because it had a metallic taste, but I think Ella just wants breastmilk. The nurse doesn't seem worried even though Ella hasn't put on any weight in 2 months (just under 9.5kg now, 76cm tall) because she is so active, and is standing up for a few seconds by herself. She said she won't let herself starve and will wake for more feeds if she needs them.

I know I should express, but I don't think I could cope. Ever since I started at work I have been unwell, with a cough or sinus infection and I think I am just happy to keep going how I am going for the moment.

I have noticed that Ella is feeding less as we give her more to eat, like vegemite sandwiches and she reaches for food we are eating so tried a spring roll yesterday and coped with one of Myles' nuggets one day too.

Finally, we are getting two top teeth, slowly but surely which will help with eating too.

Anyway, I am reading the other posts, but not all come through to my e-mail so I've missed a couple of posts. (Sorry for my long post).

Wishing everyone a great week ahead enjoying their babies...we are planning Ella's first birthday at Clown Town at Rosehill, so they aren't going to be babies for much longer.

Cheers,
MG