Extended Breastfeeding Check-in, 11/3

[vvvvvfee]

For the purposes of this check-in, we will define extended breastfeeding as breastfeeding beyond 1 year. Questions are repeated and suggestions are appreciated!

1. How old is your LO?
2. How many times per day does your LO nurse?
3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going?
4. Does your LO drink other milk besides breast milk? How did you introduce it?

Pregnant & BFing Moms: How are you doing this week? Any issues with supply, pain, aversion? Questions for other moms?

Tandem Nursing Moms: How are you doing this week? Any current challenges? Questions for other moms?

Non-BFing question of the week: What three things do you think of the most each day? (We'll assume that one is your kid(s) so skip that!)

[billyhorrible]

1. How old is your LO? 16 months

2. How many times per day does your LO nurse? 2-5

3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going? I've never been close to quitting

4. Does your LO drink other milk besides breast milk? How did you introduce it? he drinksome WCM. I had to transition by mixing it with breastmilk, and slowly decreasing the amount of breastmilk.

Non-BFing question of the week: What three things do you think of the most each day? (We'll assume that one is your kid(s) so skip that!) Yi. Ummm. Food, my to-do list, and my schedule?

[vvvvvfee]

1. How old is your LO? 15 months
2. How many times per day does your LO nurse? 4-5
3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going? Not with DS2, but I came close a few times in the early weeks with DS1. He was high-needs, wouldn't sleep, and had trouble latching so we were using a nipple shield. I was so sleep-deprived and overwhelmed I felt like I was losing my mind.
4. Does your LO drink other milk besides breast milk? How did you introduce it? He has about 6 oz of WCM at DC with lunch. For a while I was topping off what I was pumping with a little WCM, so I guess I unintentionally introduced it gradually. DS2 is not a super-fan of WCM, as opposed to DS1, who loved it from the beginning.

Tandem Nursing Moms: How are you doing this week? Any current challenges? Questions for other moms? omg, it's been about 3 weeks since DS1 nursed-- I think I can finally say he is weaned! Wahoo!

Non-BFing question of the week: What three things do you think of the most each day? (We'll assume that one is your kid(s) so skip that!) Food, how slow the day is going at work (assuming it's a weekday) or how much stuff i still need to get done (assuming it's a weekend day), and maybe DH because I chat with him a couple times a day. During the day after a broken night's sleep, one of the things is repeatedly fantasizing about the moment I can climb into bed.

[hurricanerek]

1. How old is your LO?
2y2m

2. How many times per day does your LO nurse?
I've been limiting her to 2x.

3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going?
Never came close. I'm really stubborn about not giving my kids formula.

4. Does your LO drink other milk besides breast milk? How did you introduce it?
We introduced wcm at 16 months old. I offered it infrequently and eventually she grew to like it.

Tandem Nursing Moms: How are you doing this week? Any current challenges? Questions for other moms?
I'm doing all right. Dd1 has really been struggling with me saying no lately. I can't help it that she only ever asks the second that I first latch dd2 on.

Non-BFing question of the week: What three things do you think of the most each day? (We'll assume that one is your kid(s) so skip that!)
Laundry, when dh will get home, how cluttered my house is.

[seamonster]

1. How old is your LO? 20 months

2. How many times per day does your LO nurse? 1-2. Most days just bedtime and we're trying to wean before weekend naps.

3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going? Early on I was just trying to make another week or even just another day. Bad latch, lip and tongue ties, reflux and having to combo-feed. The private LC was worth every penny.

4. Does your LO drink other milk besides breast milk? How did you introduce it? WCM. Put it in a sippy when the of the formula ran out. And he'd get it in a bottle if I was away from home.

Non-BFing question of the week: What three things do you think of the most each day? (We'll assume that one is your kid(s) so skip that!) Food, how much I need to get done, needing to do yoga for my various aches

[bluefairy5]

1. How old is your LO?
12 months 1 week

2. How many times per day does your LO nurse?
At the moment: a.m., midday at least once, p.m., overnight. This is about to change somewhat because we are starting Ferber by the literal book tonight, and will be phasing out nighttime feedings. I’m going to miss co-sleeping, but I think this is the best decision for this particular toddler and family.

3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going?
I had to do the dreaded triple-feed nurse/pump/bottle schedule for her first 4 weeks of life due mostly to poor latch and attendant slow ramp-up of supply. I really wanted to have the unique connection of a BF relationship, so that kept me going.

4. Does your LO drink other milk besides breast milk? How did you introduce it?
Not yet! Curious to see how others introduced.

Non-BFing question of the week: Currently, probably the election, what the hell to cook for dinner, and something relating to Christmas (we are hosting this year).

vvvvvfee Thanks for the checkin! That’s encouraging to hear that your experience with DS2 was much smoother than starting to nurse with DS1. That’s something that would be on my mind if we ever have another.

[lilyelayne]

1. How old is your LO? - 20 months tomorrow

2. How many times per day does your LO nurse? - 3-4/day, 0-1/night

3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going? - never came close

4. Does your LO drink other milk besides breast milk? How did you introduce it? - he has WCM on occasion. I gave it in a sippy cup sometime around 13-14 months? He drank it fine so I gave my freezer stash of breastmilk to my BFF for her preemie. Now he gets WCM with breakfast when he asks for it (once every other week or so) or at bedtime if I'm gone.

Non-BFing question of the week: What three things do you think of the most each day? (We'll assume that one is your kid(s) so skip that!) - food, friends, and (since it's November) the novel I'm writing.

[heartofglass]

1. How old is your LO?
Almost 17mo

2. How many times per day does your LO nurse?
3-5

3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going?
No, even though it was hell in the beginning. I had OALD and was basically choking him during every feeding in the first few weeks. It was just really important to me that I be able to BF and I really wanted that bonding time with him.

4. Does your LO drink other milk besides breast milk? How did you introduce it?
Yes, he drinks WCM from a cup during the day. I introduced it around 13mo I think. I donated my entire freezer stash before we moved so I just went straight to cows milk for cups. I did start him on lactose free milk since it has a little sweeter taste similar to BM and it seemed to help.

Non-BFing question of the week: What three things do you think of the most each day? (We'll assume that one is your kid(s) so skip that!) Food, our business and dogs.

[BabyStandish]

1. How old is your LO? almost 22 months
2. How many times per day does your LO nurse? many, many times
3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going? I never came close, but the beginning was super hard. If I didn't have awesome nurses/LC, a supportive husband, and Mom who came and stayed with us for a week or so and helped.
4. Does your LO drink other milk besides breast milk? How did you introduce it? We introduced it at 12 months and just gave WCM at dinner time. He wasn't too fond of it so we've tried coconut/almond/soy and he would take it sometimes, but never more than a few sips. Recently he's taken to WCM again, but never drinks a whole lot of it still. Maybe a couple ounces a day. 

Pregnant & BFing Moms: How are you doing this week? Any issues with supply, pain, aversion? Questions for other moms? Doing good, no complaints.

Non-BFing question of the week: What three things do you think of the most each day? (We'll assume that one is your kid(s) so skip that!) how sucky being pregnant is sometimes, running/training, what I'm going to eat/drink

[aves0708]

1. How old is your LO?
12.5 months

2. How many times per day does your LO nurse?
4-5 usually

3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going?
Thankfully we had a really easy time with BFing so I never considered it.

4. Does your LO drink other milk besides breast milk? How did you introduce it?
Right now it's still BM only, but I've been thinking about this quite a bit recently!

lilyelayne, If he gets WCM at bedtime when you're gone do you pump? Or just not bother at this point?

Non-BFing question of the week: What three things do you think of the most each day? (We'll assume that one is your kid(s) so skip that!) Food(what to make for dinner, why did eat that piece of junk I did not need, etc. ), how to organize my house better, how to get my ass back in shape

[lilyelayne]

aves0708 if he's overnighting away from me, I'll pump if I'm uncomfortable before bed (usually means I've missed 2+ feedings). Otherwise I'll pump in the morning.
If we're both at home and I just missed bedtime, I don't bother pumping. More than likely he'll wake MOTN and nurse.

[sunfrogger88]

yummeecookee ❤

[aves0708]

Nov 7, 2016 14:10:19 GMT -5 lilyelayne said:

aves0708 if he's overnighting away from me, I'll pump if I'm uncomfortable before bed (usually means I've missed 2+ feedings). Otherwise I'll pump in the morning.
If we're both at home and I just missed bedtime, I don't bother pumping. More than likely he'll wake MOTN and nurse.

Do you ever spend a day away from him ( Not sure if you are a SAHM)? Does he just have WCM when you're away? Sorry for all the questions! I guess I'm trying to figure out if I volunteer somewhere for say a 6-8 hour day would it be ok for her to have WCM that day even though she would normally have BM all day.  Should I regularly give her a small amount of WCM so she is used to it? I would pump if I were away that long, but I just feel confused about how to handle being away from her for a day.

[vvvvvfee]

aves0708, LO could absolutely have WCM if you were away for a day. i'd introduce it here or there to make sure she's okay with the taste. but if she doesn't, it's fine for her to just have solids and water to drink.

if LO is still nursing a lot at home, and being away for several hours still leaves you engorged and uncomfortable, then by all means, pump. but if you feel okay then just wait and nurse when you get home. it depends on what your body is used to- working moms are regularly away for 10 hours or so, so your body gets used to it. but if you're a SAHM and LO still nurses a lot, it might be more uncomfortable for you. but skipping nursing/pumping for a day here or there is not going to affect your supply.

@txaggie08, glad your LO's surgery went well, but sorry you're feeling conflicted! he may still come around and want to nurse. is he doing well with drinking other fluids, or is he fighting that, too?

[lilyelayne]

Nov 7, 2016 21:23:04 GMT -5 aves0708 said:

Nov 7, 2016 14:10:19 GMT -5 lilyelayne said:

aves0708 if he's overnighting away from me, I'll pump if I'm uncomfortable before bed (usually means I've missed 2+ feedings). Otherwise I'll pump in the morning.
If we're both at home and I just missed bedtime, I don't bother pumping. More than likely he'll wake MOTN and nurse.

Do you ever spend a day away from him ( Not sure if you are a SAHM)? Does he just have WCM when you're away? Sorry for all the questions! I guess I'm trying to figure out if I volunteer somewhere for say a 6-8 hour day would it be ok for her to have WCM that day even though she would normally have BM all day.  Should I regularly give her a small amount of WCM so she is used to it? I would pump if I were away that long, but I just feel confused about how to handle being away from her for a day.

Questions are not a problem! Happy to chat!

I SAH. If we are apart for a day, he just has solids/snacks/water as usual. I have water available in a straw cup all day long already. He's very verbal so has no problem asking a caregiver for food if he's hungry. He may eat a bit more at a meal or an extra snack or two to make up for the missed nursing sessions. I don't specifically ask for them to be replaced with WCM as he already eats a lot of yogurt, cheese, broccoli in any given week. I think when he stays with my mom she gives WCM at breakfast in addition to bedtime. I'd leave it to caregiver's discretion if they want to give a sippy of WCM before nap.
That said, if you feel like LO won't make up those calories with solids, totally okay to replace with WCM. 

DS typically nurses wake up, before nap, after nap, before bed. This week he's added another session midmorning but I think it's growth spurt/teething. He does not nurse to sleep so I don't have to worry about that aspect when we're apart.

DS gets WCM a few times a month, probably? He enjoys the taste and has shown no digestive sensitivity to it. I don't worry about keeping him used to it for those reasons. We always have WCM on hand because DH loves it. 

I'd pump if I got uncomfortable or if not pumping made me anxious about supply. DS won't take breastmilk from a cup or bottle, so personally I'm not motivated to pump. What I pump goes to friends, but no one I know is struggling with supply right now, so an extra few oz isn't a big deal to them. If I were away for 24+ hours, I would definitely pump multiple times a day because I'd be afraid supply would go away.

I feel like that was really long winded. But I think I answered your questions haha.

[aves0708]

vvvvvfee, lilyelayne, Thank you ladies so much for your very helpful info! It's been challenging for me to wrap my head around BM going from the main source of nutrition to being secondary to solids. It's relieving to hear that it's ok for WCM to be given periodically. This is kind of what the pedi said but she didn't elaborate and I didn't realize until after I left exactly how confused I was about it all.