| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Aug 05 2011 : 1:37:48 PM
My baby is 6 months old. Doc says she can start cereal and foods anytime-I just don't emotionally feel "ready" to cut down on breastfeeding! I just would like to know how long you breastfed for and if you wish you would've gone longer.
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Nov 06 2011 : 01:30:30 AM
I'm the same way too lazy for cereals and baby food. I just give them regular food that looks like something they can manage. Works great! lol haha Oh they do love puffed brown rice though (cereal, but not the flake stuff, it's regular adult type "healthy" cereal).
The only down side is none of them like mashed potatoes, or apple sauce. Even when we are eating it as a family none of them will eat it. They don't like it. I guess they never grew a liking for pureed foods since we didn't eat them. They liked baked potatoes, just noes mashed! lol
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| Lanna |
Posted - Nov 06 2011 : 12:15:30 AM
My oldest weaned himself at 27-28mo. We had a *very* rough bf'ing start - he didn't nurse until 3 weeks old due to the NICU insanity.
My second weaned himself at 25mo. A week after his sister was born. He had no idea what to do when I had milk again, he was so used to dry nursing
My third weaned at... 30mo. She was *thrilled* when my milk came back in after the fourth was born. I tandem nursed for about 10 months.
My fourth and last is 19mo and still nursing. He loves his milkies.
So, I even nursed partway through one pregnancy and all the way through two pregnancies. :)
ETA: I've found the Earth Mama Angel Baby Nipple Cream works much, much, much better for healing nursing nipples than Lansinoh/lanolin. I've only had a 4 month break of breastfeeding since 2003, so these poor puppies. It took until my youngest to get a hole in my nipple. Just before he turned 1yo, he kept resting his darned teeth under and wore a hole in. Ouch. Took a month to finally heal up - I used lots and lots of that lotion.
Solids... I only did a few things of purees with my oldest. After that, I got lazy. The kids only got solids once they started getting all grabby at our plates, and even then, it was literally from our plates. Little pieces of chicken, broccoli, carrots, peas, peaches, and granted, applesauce, but it's home-canned applesauce that we *all* eat. Or triangles of sandwiches, seriously, whatever. I just made sure things were somewhat soft, and smaller in size for little mouths. I started tossing sandwiches on the babe's tray around 12mo or something. Sorry, I'm bad, I can't even remember.
Another quirk is that we didn't do those flake cereals and such. Have you tasted them? Blech. I sure wouldn't eat them, so I didn't make my kids eat them. ;) It may be weird that I taste things before I give them to the kids, but eh, whatever. My oldest who just turned 8yo whines about being given canned-but-underripe store-bought peaches because the home canned ones are *that* much better. So I figure we're doing something right. Especially if the 19mo shoves aside jelly beans for steamed broccoli. :D
*****************
Lanna, homeschooling mama to four little monkeys that still try to jump on the bed |
| Sourceress |
Posted - Oct 19 2011 : 6:14:10 PM
My oldest son nursed until he was 15 months. In retrospect, he was probably just on a nursing strike, and maybe I should have hung in there, but I felt like if you're going to advocate child-led weaning, and the kid doesn't want to nurse anymore, you have to go with it. We gave him "solids" at an earlier age than we did with his brother, but it was few and far between, and mostly things that were edible by babies without any extra effort. My theory was always that if you have to go to a lot of effort and jump through a bunch of hoops in order to make something edible to your baby, your baby is probably not ready to eat that food yet. So he got things like yogurt and mashed bananas and applesauce. The first thing he ever tasted that wasn't breastmilk was lemon, though - he was an infant still, and my husband had squeezed a lemon into his tea at a restaurant, and then Corwyn started chewing on his (my husband's) fingers, and got this very startled look on his face, followed by a lot more sucking on the fingers. To this day, he *loves* lemons, and will happily eat them plain. I used to love lemons when I was a kid too, so maybe he comes by it honestly. I don't know.
My younger son nursed until he was almost 2 years old, although by that time he was also eating solid foods as well. The only reason he weaned when he did was because I came down with pneumonia a couple of weeks before his 2nd birthday, and the medication the doctor wanted to give me was not compatible with breastfeeding. If he'd been younger, I probably would have asked about alternatives, but since he was almost 2, and it really was a matter of life or death (pneumonia is not something you fool around with), I figured I had done a pretty good job, and he was just going to have to suck it up (as it were ;-) ) and deal. I tried to relactate after I got better, but in the interim, he'd gotten out of practice, and I kept ending up with toothmarks all the way around my nipple, so I finally decided that it just wasn't working, and that was that.
I wish I had been able to nurse both of them longer. I had fully intended to do the extended breastfeeding thing, and nurse them into their preschool years if they wanted (not as their exclusive source of nutrition, but as part of it - preschool-age kids still benefit from nursing, even if they're getting most of their nutrition elsewhere. The comfort factor is just as important as the nutrition factor at that age, plus as long as they're nursing, they're still getting antibodies from mom.) Unfortunately, my sons and the Universe had other ideas. Oh well. The best laid plans, and all of that... :-)
Lis
*the Sourceress*
pagan unschooling mama to home-waterbirthed, breastfed boys
Corwyn (4/99)
and Galen (5/01) |
| knittingmom |
Posted - Oct 15 2011 : 10:04:14 AM
Each of my children but the youngest breastfed until they were about 14-16 months and then they self-weaned. They were eating solids as well as breastfeeding. My youngest, I had to go back to work early so she only received breast milk until she was about 8 months.
My personal feeling is there's no reason to stop breastfeeding while baby is being introduced to solids. If baby seems really hungry all the time then they are probably ready to try some pablum to top them up.
"There is no foot so small that it cannot leave an imprint on this world"
"The things that matter most are not really things after all" |
| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Oct 15 2011 : 06:00:15 AM
Oh man. DD just turned 8 months about a week ago. She's gotten 3 teeth in the past few weeks. She used them while unlatching, and drew blood! My nipple bled EVERYWHERE! It was horrible! I'm heading to town today to buy shields. I haven't really had many problems nursing at all, and count myself VERY blessed to be able to nurse this long. But, if she keeps biting, I'm going to have to pump and feed, and I'm so sad about that.
When she bit I almost threw her off of me it hurt so bad! I SCREAMED (Couldn't help it!) and I said "NO BITING!!!!" very sternly. I then just let her sit there for a minute while I gathered my bearings once I saw the blood. DH went and got me a kleenex and I ended up putting lasinoh on it with a bandaid.
Today the cut looked better, and I went ahead and nursed her on that side. She didn't bite, but the whole time I was on pins and needles expecting it. I KNOW she didn't o it on purpose to hurt me, but I still feel emotionally "hurt" that she bit me like that. I know that sounds odd, but I just don't get it. Anyway, just thought I'd update everyone here!
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Aug 12 2011 : 10:29:43 AM
I am not saying you didn't do the right thing for you, but I think you may of misread what I said, you may not of even needed to of pumped and dumped is what I was saying. After I pumped and dumped for three days I found out I didn't need to do that after all! I didn't need to stop giving her my milk at all! She could of kept on nursing right through that that that radiioactive dye had very little to no effect at all on breastmilk is what I was trying to say. I was mad that the medical professionals told me I had to pump and dump when I didn't have to! I could of just went on and gave her the milk! I have learned that VERY few medical treatments and medication actually have any effect on mom's milk at all.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| WoodstreamDreambyNicole |
Posted - Aug 12 2011 : 05:50:15 AM
Heather, I know I didn't need to stop completely. I could have pumped and dumped for 3 days after the tests, but we were very close to the end when I found out that I would need the testing. I timed the testing for after my husband came home from an extended business trip so that he could start taking over the bedtime routine with our younger son. I was very sad with both boys stopping, but I think that stoping and starting at that late in the process would have been confusing for my little one. He did fine and didn't ask to nurse, so I know that it was fine. It was harder with my older son because it was more of a decision to stop nursing so we could try for another baby v.s. a medical need for me and I didn't know how many tests I would have needed. In the end, I'm very glad to have been able to nurse for as long as I did both of my boys. I don't take any offense for what you said, I was completely informed, but being so near the end of nursing it was right to end when I did with my younger one.
Nicole
Shop
www.woodstreamdream.etsy.com
Custom Creations
www.woodstreamdream.blogspot.com |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Aug 11 2011 : 8:23:01 PM
Nicole, please take this with care, and not judgement, but you may not of needed to stop for dye testing, I was told the same and pumped and dumped during that time, then come to find out Dr. Hale says you don't have to. He's been doing breast milk for years. He takes samples of breast milk after many medications and medical treatments and test for changes, etc, come to find out no need to stop breastfeeding for the radio active dye test, at least not for the ones I had. His book list just about every thing, so if you have another child and have some medical problems where "doctors" tell you to stop (I think it's just a blanket statement they say with every thing, cause they do not know!) check his book first! That's what I have learned! I was so mad about my pumping and dumping, I can't begin to tell you! I can tell you though there is VERY VERY few medications and/or medical treatments that have any signifigant effect on breast milk.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| Lieberkim |
Posted - Aug 11 2011 : 5:49:51 PM
I breastfed exclusively for 6 months then started adding in food very cautiously (lots of digestive issues in my family). Both my babies weaned themselves at a year. I was willing to nurse longer but they wanted nothing to do with it. So glad I did. |
| herbquilter |
Posted - Aug 11 2011 : 4:05:10 PM
Of all seven kids, I nursed 4 of them for 24 to 26 months. The others; 6, 7, 12 months and completely regretted it.
They are 16 to 30 years old and we now have 7 grandchildren, 6 breastfeed. And the one who wasn't has lots of colds, and other illnesses.
Womanly Art is the bible and has been for decades now.
Blessings,
Kristine ~ Mother of Many, Herbalist, Master Energy Intuitive
http://herbalmommasda.blogspot.com/
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| WoodstreamDreambyNicole |
Posted - Aug 11 2011 : 4:02:03 PM
I nursed my first for 2 years 2.5 months (stopped to start fertility treatments to conceive #2). My 2nd I nursed for 2 years 1.5 months (medically needed to stop to have radioactive dye tests for health concerns a year ago). With both boys they were "ready" - after 18 months were only nursing to go to bed at night and occasionally when ill or for a nap.
I introduced a sippy cup of water before I introduced cereal. That was around 5 months with both because they were both early sitters & showed interst. Most of the baby's nutrition will come from breastmilk, you won't cut feedings out for quite sometime. Babies need increased fluid intake when you start cereal & food to help their bodies digest. Once they had the hang of sucking out of a sippy cup, I introduced cereal mixed with pumped milk. I made 90% of my own baby food for both boys, it's really easy to steam in the pressure cooker and put in the food processor and then into ice cube trays.
I recommend the book Super Baby Food - she's what some would call radical, but it was very informative and of course, you take what you need and leave the rest! You'll learn to live by that with most advice you're given.
Nicole
Shop
www.woodstreamdream.etsy.com
Custom Creations
www.woodstreamdream.blogspot.com |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Aug 11 2011 : 3:31:10 PM
I wish I had the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding for DD1 as well! Ah well glad I had it for DD2.
Actually 4 is the world wide average. It only seems taboo in the industrialized countries where we have been pounded in for some decades that man made is better. (formula). I kind of cringed at that part of that movie, as really they were making fun of her, and it shouldn't really be any one else's business. It's sad that human milk for human children is taboo in the USA where as no one blinks a eye about cow milk for humans........which in really thinking about it seems a lot more weird! lol I know many who went to 3 and 4 and even 5 years old. I think a lot of it's normalization depends on the crowd you hang around, that and it doesn't bother me at all what others think about it! lol haha
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| Farmer Judy |
Posted - Aug 11 2011 : 11:49:32 AM
Both my boys went around 5 months and wanted more real food, the boys just seemed to still be hungry. I still like in the movie Grown Ups, one little boy was still breast feeding and when asked how old he was his father said 48 months, one of the other guys said "Wait isn't that 4 yeats old". It was hilarious.
God bless,
Judy
Born a city girl but a farm girl at heart!
http://farmtimes.blogspot.com/ |
| countrymommy85 |
Posted - Aug 11 2011 : 08:39:11 AM
After reading the newest edition of the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding I'm going to shoot for about 2 years. Give or take whatever feels good to baby and me :) I'm so glad someone on this forum told me about that book, it was sooo amazing! I think it was Heather but I can't remember. Anyhow I wish I had that book when I had my first! I think nursing would have went 110% different than what it did if I could have read it. Oh well, can't look back only ahead and I know I can do it this time :) My cousin nursed her baby exclusively until he could reach and grab food off her plate then she feed him (gave him his own food to feed himself) and supplemented with breastmilk until a year old now she is still supplementing his diet with breastmilk in addition to some water and of course baby feeding himself and she told me she wants to do that until age 3. I guess do what feels best to do you and baby :)
Mothers are those wonderful people who can get up in the morning before the smell of coffee. ~Author Unknown
http://countryrenaissance.blogspot.com
http://www.etsy.com/shop/SunflowersAndHoney |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Aug 06 2011 : 2:14:06 PM
Good point Sheila!
Also I believe there is a whole page of come backs in the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding book as well.
Too funny that you met online as well Megan! :o)
And yup Buggys sometimes people are just nosy or just are looking for something to judge you on, I don't figure those types need every detail of my life. They are usually just casual acquaintances any way, usually not my good/close friends.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| Ingrid |
Posted - Aug 06 2011 : 07:42:28 AM
All three of mine self weaned between ten months and a year. They all started to get food at about six months. My son was the shortest time frame but he was also a large baby and walked early and got teeth at two months. By nine - ten months he was chewing food and constantly hungry. He is now twelve and is still constantly hungry but he has always been a steady grower and is now 5'8" and still growing. As for the biting, I can relate, and all I did was just take them off for a couple minutes and then let them nurse again. Took a few tries but it seemed to work. Just go with your instincts and don't let other people's opinion get to you.
Give thanks to yourself everyday for all the wonderful things you do! |
| buggysmum |
Posted - Aug 06 2011 : 06:19:46 AM
It always amazes me how forward people are with their opinions, judgements, and that includes their ignorance. Why do people say such things????? Heather, you are very wise...avoiding the questions and changng the subject are great tactics.
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| SheilaC |
Posted - Aug 06 2011 : 03:50:18 AM
and for the "when are you going to start giving them real food" type questions, . . .you ARE giving them "REAL" food :) they're not growing so fast and so good on air! That was the question that always boggled my mind when people would ask it.
http://troutwife.blogspot.com/
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| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Aug 06 2011 : 03:49:43 AM
Heather, that is SO funny! My husband and I met online too, and we deal with the same thing! To this day, especially older generations, will flip out about us meeting online. Too funny!
I'm so glad I'm not alone. :) I mean, searching the internet reading stuff about other people is fine, but hearing it from you all just like counts more. :)
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Aug 05 2011 : 10:47:36 PM
Personally when people would ask me about things like that, you can feel them out of what their reaction will be. I have had to do this with a few things. For instance my husband and I have been married for 10 years now. However, till the last couple of years, it was very unusual for people to marry people they met online, and we always have gotten the how did you meet question-especially cause I'm from Kansas, and he from NYC. A lot of people would FREAK out when we said we met online. We found it best, and still do sometimes, to just avoid the question. It's really none of any one's business any way. And yes I know that true friends won't judge you, yadda, yadda, yadda, but at the same time some days I just don't feel like dealing with the judgement, so I just avoid the question and change the subject all excited like. Like WOW those are some beautiful earrings! WOW look over there at that giant buffalo! lol haha Get what I mean. I figure I don't need to tell them every thing! Same with drs if I think they will be judgemental and it has nothing to do with medical things.....avoidance works best for me! lol haha
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Aug 05 2011 : 8:47:36 PM
Megan- I understand completely too! I was emotionally devasted when Nora decided to self-wean. I think that if she isn't snatching food off your plate and cramming it into her mouth a la Cookie Monster style then she is content with the status quo. You know her and your own needs best. I don't think there is any deprivation if you don't give her solids yet. It's not like she will be on breastmilk for the rest of her life so she will still have those "first experiences" with food whether it be now or in 6 months.
My doctor always counseled me to go with my gut. If I thought she needed to be seen then I took her in, etc etc. He said that I would know well before anyone else if there was something that needed to change. *hugs* The Latch On sounds like fun!! How exciting! :)
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| woolgirl |
Posted - Aug 05 2011 : 7:33:21 PM
I totally understand! I blubbered like a baby when Rosemary self-weaned, my husband had no idea what was wrong with me...LOL!
Liz
Farmgirl #1947
www.militaryfarmgirl.blogspot.com |
| walkinwalkoutcattle |
Posted - Aug 05 2011 : 7:20:42 PM
I mean, I am not going to wean her yet. I wasn't thinking of weaning her. I'm just not emotionally ready to give her food!!! Even as a "fun" thing, I don't think. I mean, I guess it's the whole "Depriving" thing. I'm sorta treated like "Oh my, you're not feeding her foods yet?!" by a few people and my answer is always "Breast is best!" and I get the "wow." and the crazy looks. I'm going to a "Big Latch On" tomorrow and I'm excited to take part in setting another world record with my daughter! (The first was having her do the Great Cloth Diaper Change)
I didn't want to turn this thread into a contest or anything, I was just kinda putting my feelers out to see if anyone else had experienced the emotions of NOT WANTING to quit breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is hard work! It's a commitment, and for many moms (Myself included) a large time/money investment! (Pump, vitamins, storage bags)
Farmgirl #2879 :)
Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world.
www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
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| LuckyMommyof5 |
Posted - Aug 05 2011 : 6:56:43 PM
It was different with all my girls. My oldest stopped breastfeeding at around 18 months, my second was 22 months, my third was right after she turned 2 and I am still nursing my 4th (who just turned 1). They all self-weaned and just stopped wanting it one day. I've offered each of them "solids" starting around 6-7 months - some liked it right away and wanted more, some didn't and I tried to take my cues with how to proceed with it from them. Not one of my girls seemed to want to breastfeed any less after they really became interested in solids, even though I had been told they would.
All of my daughters were also biters - the best thing I could do was try not to react at all and gut it out because they all stopped doing it pretty quickly.
But, what it comes down to is that you have to do what works best best for you as a family and listen to your heart. And giving your baby solids will not necessarily make your baby uninterested in breastfeeding - as I said, it never did with mine!
Farmgirl Sister #3243
"The real things haven't changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong." - Laura Ingalls Wilder |
| MagnoliaWhisper |
Posted - Aug 05 2011 : 4:52:18 PM
oh and a BTW, children NEED breastmilk for at least 12 months. Solids will NOT give them all the nutrition they need. Solids before 12 months are only for practice. You are NOT to replace breastfeeding/formula for solids when it comes to nutrition. As the saying goes food is fun till you're one. Meaning it's just to play with basically till 1. Otherwise it is not to provide actual nutrition. They NEED the calories and fat of breastmilk. It's very high calorie and high in fat, compared to any solids out there.
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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