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 Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 4:30 am
Ack, I feel bad that I only just discovered this subforum... heh.
ekorbaaz, you were asking about extended nursing? There is nothing wrong with continuing to nurse your little person for as long as it feels right for the both of you.
If you're a book reader, check out "Mothering Your Nursing Toddler", by Norma Jane Bumgarner. It's a nice read, and covers what to expect with a little nursling past the first year.
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Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 5:36 am
Thanks again gals. I am just super curious about these things because my mother never breastfed. She took a pill when she had me to dry up her milk and she never produced again. She took it because she was a single mother at the time and worked full time.
I myself, would like to have a career. However, I do not want to just leave my child(ren) stranded without mommy. I'd like to take the first few months off after I have my child and then go back to work. I would really like to breastfeed, but the enviroment I will be in would likely not permit me to do such. This is why I am so curious about pumping.
My mother has suggested that I could breastfeed/pump for those few months that I take off and then formula feed. Or pump during breaks at work and have it frozen so that it can be fed to him/her later. Something along those lines. I see this as extremely stressful, even though I am not anywhere near ready to have a child, it is just in the back of my mind... if that makes any sense. I am always analyzing and trying to figure out how things will affect my future family.
I was wondering if anyone has done anything simliar and would like to know about your experience?
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Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2006 7:31 pm
My mother BF my siblings and I and everytime she went back to work, she pumped while there. And this was back when they didn't have nice rooms for lactating mothers with chairs and fridges to do this in. She managed to do it for 18 months with me, so it must not have been *too* stressful or difficult. I know she also had issues letting down so she usually only got 2-3 oz at a time, but we're all still here, so it managed to be enough. I think she also started pumping before she went back to get her body used to it and make sure she had enough on hand at first.
I won't be working any time soon, so I can't help you out with any first-hand experience on that one. sweatdrop
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Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 6:29 am
I only have a couple of questions.
How long does one breastfeed?? My mom breastfeed us for about 18 months each, I know another woman who went only 6 months, another who went 2 years. Heck, I even know a woman who went 5 years (a bit ridiculous in my opinion right there). So how do you know how long to breast feed for??
And then, is there a webpage on what medications you can take while breastfeeding?? I know there's one for when you're pregnant, but I haven't been able to find one for when you're breastfeeding.
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Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:30 am
Hikari Aijuntani I only have a couple of questions. How long does one breastfeed?? My mom breastfeed us for about 18 months each, I know another woman who went only 6 months, another who went 2 years. Heck, I even know a woman who went 5 years (a bit ridiculous in my opinion right there). So how do you know how long to breast feed for?? And then, is there a webpage on what medications you can take while breastfeeding?? I know there's one for when you're pregnant, but I haven't been able to find one for when you're breastfeeding. Recommendations from the World Health Organization are to exclusively breastfeed for at least 6 months with no supplementation or other foods, and up to two years or beyond with complementary foods. After that 6 months it is not necessary says the WHO to feed straight from the breast. This is because antibody transfer is at it's highest for the first six months. So they can have it in a sippy or bottle. The World Health Organization ALSO deals with women and children though in countries where food and nutritious food might not be readily available. The American Pediatric Association recommends for at least a year. But again those are recommendations not RULES. Some children self wean at 11 months some don't wean at all and you'll have to do it for them if you personally can no longer do it, or are uncomfortable, etc. www.safefetus.com ALSO has the safety of medications for breastfeeding.
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Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 12:34 pm
http://www.kellymom.com/health/index.html Here another link with an excellent list for medications and other things. Like Nopen said there is no set in stone right or wrong answer. You just have to do what's best for you and your little one. Personally I believe if you can do the whole first year it's best. That's just my take on it though.
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Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:45 pm
I'm curious as to if anyone knows what things can delay one's breat milk from coming in??
I know stress is one of them, but I've been trying so hard to stay calm and merely let him nurse to stimulate everything like his pediatrcian told me to. But he's 7 days old now and I'm still having to supplement him with a bottle at every feeding.
The doctor told me it could have something to do with my thyroid but that he's never heard of that happening. And then he told me that there are some women who are just never able to breastfeed; which was incredibly upsetting to me as I know breat milk is the absolute best for a baby.
Does anyone else have any ideas??
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Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 2:22 pm
Sadly, there are some women who aren't able to produce an adequate milk supply.
Just so we have a better idea of what's going on and can answer accordingly, why do you think he's not getting enough to eat? In the beginning, they don't eat a lot and they nurse almost constantly. It takes a couple of weeks to gain back any weight they may have lost after birth.
I know the first 8 weeks or so I worried like crazy all the time. sweatdrop Because when you're BFing, you can't see how much they're actually eating.
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Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:28 pm
It took 8 days for my mature milk to come in with Isabella.
And this is going to sound asinine to you, but are you feeding him every two hours for 30 minutes.
I was told that if you feed them longer than 30 minutes they aren't getting anything more, period. So you do 15 minutes each side, call it a day.
AND YOU NEED to wake him. Everyone always tells themselves "if they wanted to eat they'd wake up" but it's just not true. In fact the less they eat the more sleepy they get, the more jaundiced they get, the more sleepy they get. It's a vicious cycle.
The MOMENT I started feeding Bella every two hours for 30 minutes at a time on the nose was the MOMENT she started being awake and alert. Consequently after seeing the doctor and having her tell me that and taking to that regimen my mature full milk came in.
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Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:32 am
Pirate Dirge why do you think he's not getting enough to eat? My gut instinct? I think it has something to do with my parathyroids not working anymore. Since they produce the calcium for my body to work off of and they don't work anymore, so I take tons of calcium+vit D supplments daily. So it makes sense to me that would cause a problem with my milk too as it causes problems with everything else. But again when I told my baby's doctor about that, again he just said he's never heard of that instance before but would check into it. Nopenname are you feeding him every two hours for 30 minutes? Yes, fifteen minutes on each side with a burp session in between. And he's still drinking a little over a full 2oz from a bottle every single feeding. Ever since my nurses at the hospital told me to wake him every two hours and then my pediatrician told me no longer than 30 minutes per feeding that exactly what I've been doing. But now my breasts no longer get hard and full from producing anything and he barely nurses on me anymore, its a struggle to get him to stay latched and nursing for 15 minutes.......and I think its because there's nothing coming out anymore. And its so incredibly depressing. I can barely get a few drops to emerge with I try pinching it out so he'll know there's something there to eat.
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Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 11:59 am
Hmm, that's kinda tough to say then. I know I read somewhere that even after BFing, babies will take another ounce or so if it's provided to them. I've read supplementation can cause a bit of a slippery slope early on in BFing...meaning sometimes because of being unsure and worrying, you can rely on the other method of feeding more instead of sticking with feeding and ultimately, that will decrease your supply...causing you to need to supplement further.
It takes 4-6 weeks of nursing to get in an actual full milk supply and I remember being engorged a little bit for a few days in the beginning, but it didn't stay. I'd only engorge when Ethan was spurting and eating more often after that and it would last maybe a day.
I had a similar problem at first in regards to that last part. Being stressed out makes it hard to let down. I thought I must not have been producing any milk because I sure couldn't get any out besides a drop here or there. I was wrong though as a warm shower and listening to Ethan cry taught me. xd I started dripping everywhere and I realized it was more a psychological issue then a physical one. But then again, even now, I can't let down for a breast pump either.
At this point, I would talk to a lactation consultant, because it's still early on and they can help you figure out what you need to do. The hospital you had Anson at might have one, or else you could try the La Leche League. Your son's pediatrician may have numbers for someone local as well. 3nodding
I was kinda stubborn and decided to figure out how to fix our issues myself. Ethan wouldn't even latch on until he was 9 days old or so, so I totally understand the frustration and having to formula supplement. I think had I tried talking to an LC, our problem could have been resolved much sooner and I would have been less stressed.
I made a promise to myself--before Ethan was born--that no matter how bad it was, I'd give myself a full month before giving up on trying to breastfeed him. The first 4-6 weeks are notoriously difficult and trying. Every person I've talked to who has breastfed all said that by far, BFing was the hardest thing they ever did with a first baby. And all of them said it just reduced them to tears...me included. sweatdrop
If at that point it hadn't gotten better at all, then I could say I gave it a good try and I would have been fine with that.
So don't give up just yet. See if talking to an LC doesn't give you some new ideas or help instill some confidence that you're doing just fine. I have a feeling you are. ;]
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Posted: Wed Sep 13, 2006 12:54 pm
The problem maybe the supplementing. Everytime you supplement that's milk you are not making. So you make less and less until you no long produce enough milk. Have you tried pumping? It helps to build up your milk supply.
You should also try to speak with a lactation consultant. I had so much stress with my first baby and breast feeding. I totally understand where you are at. If there is no concern over his weight, try giving him more of a chance to feed, and maybe supplement only every other feeding.
Give your milk a chance. I had to ween my first off of being supplemented. She was a premie, and had jaundice. There is no way to see how much they are eating so just trust your body. I you want it to work you have to give you milk a chance.
You should really talk to a laction though. Try to hang in there, and if it doesn't work out don't be to hard on yourself.
Also everything Dirge said is right on the money!
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Posted: Tue Sep 26, 2006 8:57 pm
How long does it normally take for a milk supply to dry out once you find out you can't breastfeed??
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 5:30 am
Um, I'm sure this has been asked like, a million times but I don't have time to look it up, I gotta get ready for work ^^;
So, my question!
What are the benefits of breastfeeding?
My fiance asks me now and then, "Are you going to breastfeed?"
Me- "I don't know. Do you think I should?"
Him- "I don't know."
Yep, that is our conversation XP
So? help?
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Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2006 6:49 am
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Reply
