Extended Breastfeeding Check-in, 12/22

[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. What is something about extended BFing that surprised you?

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: Share one of your favorite holiday recipes.

[sunfrogger88]

1. 13mo on Monday!

2. 4-6x

3. No

4. How much more is about the bond!

[billyhorrible]

1. How old is your LO? 18 months

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

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

4. What is something about extended BFing that surprised you? that he's still nursing so often at 18 months. My first child was only nursing one a day at this point.


Non-BFing question of the week: Share one of your favorite holiday recipes.

Latkes
2 lbs potatoes - use a mix of different types: sweet, Russet, Yukon, red, and purple. This is key!
1 onion
2 eggs
1/4 cup flour
salt and pepper
oil for frying

1) Grate the potatoes and onion with a large grater into a bowl of cold water.

2) When everything has been grated, drain the water and place the potato and onions on a kitchen towel. Wring out the excess moisture. You want these as dry as you can get.

3) Mix in eggs, flour, and salt and pepper to taste.

4) Heat oil in a large skillet until hot and shiny. Mound potatoes and onions in your hand to form small patties. Place patties in hot oil and cook, about 5 minutes per side, until brown and crispy.
Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and serve.

[lilyelayne]

1. How old is your LO? - 21.5mo

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

4. What is something about extended BFing that surprised you? - how necessary it seems to both of us.


Non-BFing question of the week: Share one of your favorite holiday recipes. - this snickerdoodle bread except I sub yogurt instead of sour cream & do a mix of whole wheat & AP flour

[shellyr]

Its been awhile since I've checked in here.

1. How old is your LO? 16 months.

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

3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going? I didn't come close to quitting but I struggled big time in the beginning. I wanted to breastfeed for immunity for my LO. Keeping her healthy was my main goal and still is.

4. What is something about extended BFing that surprised you? She has been sick one time even though I've had a whole host of ailments since she has been born. I'm so thankful I've been able to breastfeed, especially for this reason.

[geners]

Yay for recipes!

1. 12 mon
2. Just a.m. and p.m. on work days, 4-6x otherwise and usually at least once MOTN (2x/ night this past week, b/c teething)
3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going? No, though I was surprised by how hard it was in the beginning.
4. What is something about extended BFing that surprised you? How much I feel like I still need it.

Non-BFing question of the week: Share one of your favorite holiday recipes. Mashed potatoes are my favorite. Yukon gold potatoes, heavy cream, salt & pepper and a little bit of olive oil. If I'm making a large batch I use a hand mixer, but leave some lumps.

[vvvvvfee]

1. How old is your LO? 17 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? I did come close a few times with DS1- he was a pretty high-needs baby, we were using a nipple shield, and I just was not prepared for how often he would want to nurse (i.e., constantly).
4. What is something about extended BFing that surprised you? Again with DS1, I was surprised by how determined he was to keep going through my pregnancy with DS2. Also I figured that if I just waited long-enough he would self-wean, but I finally had to step in once he was past 4 because I was just so over it by then.

Non-BFing question of the week: Share one of your favorite holiday recipes. I just made these Gingerbread cookies with DS1 and they came out really good. We made some gingerbread houses and iced others with royal icing. They were nice and soft and spicy.

[packmomma]

1. 16 months
2. 6ish
3. Anyone who has read some of my posts here knows that bf really triggered my ptsd and anxiety and that I thought about quitting many times. Add to that a high needs baby and a bad latch and sometimes it was hard to continue. However, I stuck it out because he loves it and now that he's over a year I love that the pressure is off and we can cuddle and have our time together.
4. I was surprised at how hard it was but also how attached we both are to it.

I don't really have a holiday recipe but I do love making easy monkey bread out of canned cinnamon rolls. Just break each roll into 4th and toss in a bit of cinnamon/sugar. Place all of that in a tin (I use a loaf pan) and bake until they're slightly browned and ice with the frosting. I found the recipe on pinterest. It's super easy and delicious.

[BabyStandish]

1. How old is your LO? 23 months
2. How many times per day does your LO nurse? 4-6
3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going? Kind of. I never got close, but the thought crossed my mind during the first 2 weeks. Having such a good support system in my husband and mom helped me push through.
4. What is something about extended BFing that surprised you? How normal it is for us. I never thought I'd be nursing an almost 2 year old.

Pregnant & BFing Moms: How are you doing this week? Any issues with supply, pain, aversion? Questions for other moms? The pain on the left is getting unreal. I cringe when he asks for "oh boob"..short for "other boob". I'm getting close to just saying no from now on. The right one feels okay still.

Non-BFing question of the week: Share one of your favorite holiday recipes. Pumpkin cookies:
Preheat oven to 350.

Ingredients
•2 1/2 cups flour
•1 teaspoon baking powder
•1 teaspoon baking soda
•2 teaspoons cinnamon
•1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
•1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•1/2 cup butter (softened)
•1 1/2 cups sugar
•1 cup canned pumpkin (not pie mix)
•1 egg
•1 teaspoon vanilla

Icing: 
•2 cups powdered sugar
•3 tablespoon milk
•1 tablespoon melted butter
•1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon,  nutmeg, cloves and salt in medium bowl. 
2.  Cream together the butter and white sugar.  Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla.  Beat until creamy.
3. Begin adding dry ingredients, a little at a time. 
4. Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoon full (ungreased sheet). Flatten slightly. 
5.  Bake for 15-20 minutes in preheated oven.  Cool cookies then drizzle glaze with fork or spread with knife. 

Note: you can also add cream cheese to the icing if you want.  

[seamonster]

1. How old is your LO? 22 months

2. How many times per day does your LO nurse? 0-1

3. Did you ever come close to quitting BFing? What made you resolve to keep going? Early on with milk transfer issues, supplementing, and lack of support. I really wanted to BF (and a bit was an FU to H) and finally got an amazing LC. Now it's just (mostly) self-weaning

4. What is something about extended BFing that surprised you? How much DS has weaned himself. MOTN and naps are the only times I've had to do refusal to get him to drop

Non-BFing question of the week: Share one of your favorite holiday recipes. Scones from this Irish store: www.irishcentral.com/culture/avocas-famous-irish-scones
I do cranberries for the holidays instead of raisins

[lilyelayne]

packmomma I love making canned cinnamon roll waffles! I have a 4 Belgian waffle maker; put one cinnamon roll per waffle and cook as usual for a waffle. Put the icing on when they're done.

[packmomma]

lilyelayne that sounds delicious!