Are you breastfeeding a toddler?

[flminivanmama]

You Rock!!

 

[DisneyPhD]

You mama's Rock! I am so envious of you all!

I was an exclusive pumper. Jonah would not latch on, and I have some physiological issues. So after a few weeks working with two lactation consultants, they suggested pumping. I also had very low supply, so I went on Reglan for a month. Boy, did that make a difference! I went from .5 ounce per pump, 10 pumps per day including middle-of-the-night pumps, to an average of around 70 ounces a day after 2 months! I even pumped within 10 minutes of waking up from gall bladder surgery, which was two months after I gave birth.

Jonah is now 10.5 months old; I stopped pumping two weeks ago. I expected it to be difficult, but it was no problem, I had already gone from averaging 4 pumps/55 ounces a day to 1 pump/15 ounces a day. I just tapered off by 10 minutes at the time, until one day I just stopped. At one time I had around 2500 ounces in the freezer, but now we're down to about 700.

My only regret is that I stopped two weeks ago! I know that if I had been able to successfully breastfeed, I would have continued until he was at least 2; I just got burned out with the pumping. 3-4 times a day, an hour at the time, attached to the pump is not much fun. But I was convinced it was the best thing for my family, and because of that, I would do it again and WILL do it again for any other children that we are blessed with.

Oh, and the other super side effect??? Weight loss, baby! When you take into account that lactation burns 20 calories per ounce reduced, and I was pumping at least 50 ounces a day, well, that's 1000 calories each day I burned! My baby weight melted off.

So although I am not officially "one of you", I'm with you in spirit. I will attempt traditional breast feeding next time, but if it doesn't work, I'll go the pumping route again.

You are one amazing mama!

We were going back and forth with the lazy mama thread. Lazy mama's bottle feed. No the really lazy mama breast feeds (no bottles, cleaning, can nurse laying down.) Pumping mamas babies get the best nutrition, but all the work(and more) of bottle feeding. What dedication. I am truly impressed.

Wow, and to be able to pump that much milk. That is great.

I am sure you will do great with your second child. I have known many moms who had trouble with the 1st, but were able to make it work with the 2nd. Plus you know your body knows what to do (and can make enough milk.)

 

[annie1995]

You mama's Rock! I am so envious of you all!

I was an exclusive pumper. Jonah would not latch on, and I have some physiological issues. So after a few weeks working with two lactation consultants, they suggested pumping. I also had very low supply, so I went on Reglan for a month. Boy, did that make a difference! I went from .5 ounce per pump, 10 pumps per day including middle-of-the-night pumps, to an average of around 70 ounces a day after 2 months! I even pumped within 10 minutes of waking up from gall bladder surgery, which was two months after I gave birth.

Jonah is now 10.5 months old; I stopped pumping two weeks ago. I expected it to be difficult, but it was no problem, I had already gone from averaging 4 pumps/55 ounces a day to 1 pump/15 ounces a day. I just tapered off by 10 minutes at the time, until one day I just stopped. At one time I had around 2500 ounces in the freezer, but now we're down to about 700.

My only regret is that I stopped two weeks ago! I know that if I had been able to successfully breastfeed, I would have continued until he was at least 2; I just got burned out with the pumping. 3-4 times a day, an hour at the time, attached to the pump is not much fun. But I was convinced it was the best thing for my family, and because of that, I would do it again and WILL do it again for any other children that we are blessed with.

Oh, and the other super side effect??? Weight loss, baby! When you take into account that lactation burns 20 calories per ounce reduced, and I was pumping at least 50 ounces a day, well, that's 1000 calories each day I burned! My baby weight melted off.


So although I am not officially "one of you", I'm with you in spirit. I will attempt traditional breast feeding next time, but if it doesn't work, I'll go the pumping route again.

You are such a strong woman to do what you did for your baby! I admire your persistance where a lot of people would throw in the towel.

 

[toesmom]

You are one of us. Your babe got breastmilk, whichever way it got to him. That says something for persistence. I'm not sure many would pump for that long. The benefits are many, not to mention the weight loss.

You did a wonderful thing for your baby when you could have been going out for walks during your breaks or through lunch. Instead you were pumping... says a lot for you as a mom. There are many benefits of breastfeeding for even a very short amount of time.

 

[LandChildWorldAdult]

I don't disagree AT ALL with the things you state and that 'the studies' show these things...but I'm hoping that someone here can show me an unbiased study that proves that it is the nursing that gave this babies those advantages...come on ladies - we live in the real world, we KNOW those who are more likely to extended-nurse and it is RARELY (although I know there will be someone here to who responds that she did it) those who work - those who work a lot (like multiple jobs just to keep food on the table and a roof over their child's head).

There are SO MANY OTHER similarities in nursing mothers that could EASILY contribute a significant amount to those findings. IE: economic situation - less $ may lead to less or lower quality medical care which could EASILY lead to more problematic health issues. In addition - SMART is often contributed significantly by parental education level and parental involvment in the education of their children...here again, most often a parent who is able to nurse for a long time is also able to provide the time and resources to see that their child gets a 'good start' in education at home and in programs, music lessons, etc.

So, just like when I was pregnant and was unable to find any study that eliminated the other similarities and still found the same benefits that were PROVEN to be based solely on the mother's milk - I'm still searching for this information today for curiousity sake and for those who are reading this and not nursing and feeling the obligatory guilt this type of thread produces.

Don't get me wrong - I think breastmilk is a great thing - I just think you're going overboard and ignoring the obvious other benefits many nursing mothers are able to provide to their children in concluding that all of those benefits are tied to the milk itself.

If you are aware of this type of study...please tell.

You can find the studies in the Journal of Human Lactation, or by contacting the Center for Breastfeeding Information. Google either of them. I do understand what you mean about "other" factors, I'm a trained statistician. But most studies *DO* try to control for these factors, but the summaries you will find in the popular presss do not include this kind of information. But many studies of breastfeedings benefits actually allow many subjects to be breastfeeders who only breastfeed for 3 months or 6 months or even less time, diluting the benefits of *normal breastfeeding* whose duration is measured in YEARS not months or weeks. Also I will note that there isn't much money for breastfeeding research, 'cause the stuff is free, so really, who stands to benefit from the research with $$$??

And for this thread's real purpose I will say, I'm looking at taking my family to DisneyWorld in a few years and I might well have a nursing toddler/preschooler at that time, since DS#1 nursed until just past 4 and DD nursed until about 3 1/3. DS#2 is "still" nursing at 14 months and might well still be nursing even if we don't bring him until he is 4, !

And on the "too long" front, I will say just this -- No matter how long you nurse, there are others who have nursed longer and they are "a little weird"

Back to your Disney Channel

 

[Monkeyfeet]

You are such a strong woman to do what you did for your baby! I admire your persistance where a lot of people would throw in the towel.

I could not agree more.

 

[HotMama]

I am also a nursing mama and love it! I'm glad to see there are so many here!!!!!

 

[aes74]

ITA. On the one hand we have the platitudes about breastfeeding and the hospitals shaming/coerecing women into breastfeeding without the support that is needed. Then we leave the hospital and have to deal with a society that views BF, for the most part, as weird. And a society that does not support moms staying at home with paid maternity leaves etc. Yes, I know some women have maternity benefits at their jobs, but they are few and are only good for a few months at best.

I can totally understand why women would not want to BF and would resent the pressure to do so from some people, while facing a society at large that looks down on it.

The mixed messages are insane.

I agreed to BF reluctantly, because I felt bullied into by my doctor, but then my first one latched on like an old pro and stayed their for a 2.5 years. I really did enjoy the convienence, the closeness of BF, and how much she loved it.

Then with my second child I thought it would be a breeze, but he did not latch on right and I had bloody blisters by the end of his first day. I was sent a "lactation consultant" who literally stood at my doorway in the hospital and chucked a tube of lanolin cream at me. Thankfully, when I took my son in for a check up 3 days later, the nurse at my HMO was able to fix his lachting problem and I was fine from then until he weaned himself at 18 months.

These last couple quotes were exactly what I needed to hear. I felt bullied and guilted into trying to breastfeed. I even had someone confront me about it at my grandfather's funeral...someone I'd never met. I tried and it was horrible. I wept everytime it was time for her to eat. I could not find help. I even went to a consultant who couldn't seem to help. I gave up at 2:00 in the morning and switched to bottle feeding. I would like to try with my 3rd, but terrified of what it could be like. And yes, I am one of those who would feel embarrassed and run for the blanket cover. Maybe my ****ies just don't work!!! What do I do the next time?

 

[ZanyToes]

I'm still nursing my 15.5 month old.. and probably will be for quite some time

 

[happypooh]

I have to tell something funny. I'm currently pregnant with baby no. 2 and my son (2yr) still wants to nurse. Since 23 months I've been telling him that my milkies have gone away but will come back again when the baby comes, and that he could only nurse when the sun was up..trying to wean was tough but I needed to do it as it really hurt to nurse and I started having major contractions way too early! Well, I caved in yesterday to my son's requests for milkies (I'm now 36+weeks pregnant) and he was sooo happy..first he insisted that there was milk there (maybe some colostrum?) and then he said that it was yummy and tasted like strawberries! Funny! Then he pointed in a matter of fact way that my right side was going to be his, and that the left side was going to be for the baby! It was so hilarious I wish I had the video camera on! But I sure made his day and he had a silly grin on his face for ages!
BTW, wow that reglan really worked eh? I'll have to look into it if I have supply issues this time round!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

You mama's Rock! I am so envious of you all!

I was an exclusive pumper. Jonah would not latch on, and I have some physiological issues. <snip>

I must say...you are AWESOME!
I, too, was an exclusive pumper for over 13 months for my DD (now 21 months old/19 adjusted). She was premature at @32 weeks and weighed only 2lbs 12oz when born. Luckily, she only spent 3 weeks in a NICU, but after trying for a couple of months (and seeing several lactation consultants) I turned to providing via EPing. No regrets. It was hard as hell much of the time but the benefits of breastmilk are ENDLESS!

And trust me, if I could have gone 2 years pumping I would have. I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. I'm hoping to breastfeed #2.


I even took two WDW trips with my pump!

 

[toesmom]

I didn't tell my obgyn, but my dd (who was 4 at the time), nursed through my entire pregnancy with my ds.

She just didn't want to stop and it didn't hurt me. No physical pain, no early contractions.

My dh thought it was strange, but it only happened near bedtime and occasionally during the day.

I've heard many people worry about nursing during pregnancy, and we had no problems.

In fact , because of my dd, my newborn ds had no problem getting started nursing.

And she did say it tasted great. Now at 8 years old she is disgusted by breastfeeding, so go figure.

 

[debbi801]

I am still here, still nursing. DS will be 5 next week. I keep hopng he'll self wean, but it just doesn't seem to be happening. I've curbed it significantly to only upstairs in bed before bedtime, but he still asks regularly.

For those of you exclusively pumping, you have my utmost respect. I pumped for a year after DS was born so that he's have BM at day care. It was the most miserable experience, I hated every minute of it (although I did do it for a complete year). I was always 1 bag away from having to supplement with formula, waking up in the middle of the night to pump, trying everything.

 

[toesmom]

Some people will read your statement about ds nursing at 5 as very strange. As another one of the moms whose kids nursed till (I can't even believe it now) 6 years old, I completely understand how you wait until they want to stop.

I think my dd stopped midway between 6 and 7, and only at bedtime really. And now at 8 she is disgusted by breastfeeding, so each child has their own time for weaning I suppose. I don't remind her of how much she enjoyed it, I think she is reminded just by seeing her little brother.

And for anyone who thinks it is strange, I see lots of kids carrying around their favorite little bear or little blanket, or using pacifiers still at older ages. My daughter never had anything that she loved as much as my b______.

 

[DisneyPhD]

These last couple quotes were exactly what I needed to hear. I felt bullied and guilted into trying to breastfeed. I even had someone confront me about it at my grandfather's funeral...someone I'd never met. I tried and it was horrible. I wept everytime it was time for her to eat. I could not find help. I even went to a consultant who couldn't seem to help. I gave up at 2:00 in the morning and switched to bottle feeding. I would like to try with my 3rd, but terrified of what it could be like. And yes, I am one of those who would feel embarrassed and run for the blanket cover. Maybe my ****ies just don't work!!! What do I do the next time?

Hugs

More likely then your ****s not working is you didn't get the support and information you needed. With my 1st DH and I would pray every time before we (I) tried to feed DD. It was not easy at 1st. In fact I think that is one of the reasons we lasted so long. I worked darn hard to make breastfeeding work and wasn't about to stop at 1 year when it was working great just because that was the norm. The pay off is really later. Planning a head of time is a good idea. For me after birth felt like I had been through a war, and I was really tried, so do your reading and planning now if you can. This time being a mom isn't all new and strange for you. You know you can do this, you have 2 other times. Confidence can really make a difference. Also while falling back on the bottle can sometimes cause mothers to give up on breastfeeding, or lead to supply issues. Remember breast feeding doesn't have to be all or nothing. The more breast milk the baby gets the better, but if you need bottles in addition, that is better then just going right to bottles.

Here is some good websites that have been listed before. Anyone else with advice and support to a pregnant mama who wants to breast feed????

http://www.kellymom.com/

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/index.php

can have a lot of breastfeeding help. Beware, some of the members are rather extreme in their opinions and outspoken. Not everyone is that way. There are a lot of members who are members here too!

As far as the embarrassment, you get over it in time. It just becomes feeding your baby, and can be done very discretely with practice.

Best of luck. I hope you get the support and encouragement you need this time. If you need more, you know where to get it. There are a lot of Dis members who are breastfeeding moms!

 

[emh1129]

These last couple quotes were exactly what I needed to hear. I felt bullied and guilted into trying to breastfeed. I even had someone confront me about it at my grandfather's funeral...someone I'd never met. I tried and it was horrible. I wept everytime it was time for her to eat. I could not find help. I even went to a consultant who couldn't seem to help. I gave up at 2:00 in the morning and switched to bottle feeding. I would like to try with my 3rd, but terrified of what it could be like. And yes, I am one of those who would feel embarrassed and run for the blanket cover. Maybe my ****ies just don't work!!! What do I do the next time?

This was my experience with my first. I had such a hard time and felt so much pressure. I went to a LLL meeting with my 7 day old baby and it turned out to be more of a gossip-fest than anything else. I spoke with one lact. consultant and it wasn't helpful. So I pumped as long as I could and then switched to formula. It was such a difficult time and I wish so much that I could go back in time and try it over again.

BUT- when I had my second baby, there was no 'try' in my vocabulary. I put her to my breast within minutes of her birth and nursed frequently. It was really rough for the first six weeks. I found a great LLL chapter and wonderful support there. I also found a different lactation consultant who was just awesome. I think a huge part of it is finding the help that you need. If one person isn't helpful, find someone else. Meet other breastfeeding mothers who you can rely on for support.
I have many theories about why it was so rough with my first (c/s, early pacifier introduction, etc.) and I have to believe that I did the best I could at the time with the knowledge and support that I had, but it's still hard. I know that I could have been successful if I had found the right help, but I can't go back in time and change things.
I wish someone had told me the first time that the first 6 weeks WOULD be rough. And I would be sore. And I would cry. But that it wouldn't always be like that and not only would it get better, but it would be amazing
This experience is why I became certified as a CLE (certified lactation educator) through CAPPA. I really want to help other nursing mothers.
Moms helping other moms is a beautiful thing Our society doesn't encourage that as much as other societies do, which is a shame. We're supposed to be able to handle it all on our own and be "super-moms" - never asking for help. We've gotta start leaning on and learning from each other

 

[emh1129]

Confidence can really make a difference. Also while falling back on the bottle can sometimes cause mothers to give up on breastfeeding, or lead to supply issues. Remember breast feeding doesn't have to be all or nothing. The more breast milk the baby gets the better, but if you need bottles in addition, that is better then just going right to bottles.

As far as the embarrassment, you get over it in time. It just becomes feeding your baby, and can be done very discretely with practice.

Totally agree with this. Confidence makes a HUGE difference!

I wasn't embarassed to breastfeed. Breastfeeding didn't come easily for me and I worked so darn hard to succeed at it, so I really felt proud to nurse my baby girl. It also helped me to know so many other breastfeeding women and to realize the amazing support that is out there for nursing mothers.
My DH was also wonderfully supportive and it helped to have him there with me in the beginning when I was getting the hang (and growing more confident) of nursing in public

 

[crazymomof4]

Just wanted to add my support here.

I breastfed all 4 of my kids well past 1 yr. The last two were 2 yrs.
They have excellent immune systems- never seem to get as sick as other kids I know. DS17 has NEVER been on antibiotics.
They have no allergies or asthma. Almost every family I know has one or more kids with allergies or asthma.

Never was anywhere where I didn't breastfeed- malls, restaurants, WDW, etc.. Just covered and was discreet and most in public never even noticed.
They way women dress now-a-days shows much more than I ever exposed!

 

[cats7494]

Just adding my experience.
My dd is now 13 months and still nurses and I plan to continue until she self weans. When I started - my goal was to get to 2 months! I made it way past that. It was not always easy but it has been a wonderful experience for us. It works for my family!
I did not breastfeed my dd13 - she was born very early and I did not have enough supply for her, I was very young when I had her, and had no breastfeeding support.
Now that my daughter is getting older - I have been getting more remarks from people about when I am going to wean her. I do not argue or show my irritation and I just say that I honestly do not know.

 

[bless7ings]

Did any one see the advertisement preview for super nanny last night? It sounded like she was giving the mother a hard time for nursing. She said, your 14 mth old is attatched to you like a kola bear. If I don't see it, can someone please post what happens? If so, I will be very disappointed in super nanny!!