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I’m sorry for your horror stories!
Perhaps this will help some of you
…~laura
What If I Want To Wean My Baby?
©2000 Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC 136 Ellis Hollow Creek Road Ithaca,
NY 14850Breastfeeding your baby for even a day is the best baby gift you can
give. Breastfeeding is almost always the best choice for your baby.
If it doesn’t seem like the best choice for you right now, these
guidelines may help.IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR JUST A FEW DAYS, he will have received
your colostrum, or early milk. By providing antibodies and the food
his brand-new body expects, nursing gives your baby his first – and
easiest – “immunization” and helps get his digestive system going
smoothly. Breastfeeding is how your baby expects to start, and helps
your own body recover from the birth. Given how very much your baby
stands to gain, and how little you stand to lose, it just makes good
sense to breastfeed for at least a day or two, even if you plan to
bottle-feed after that.IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR FOUR TO SIX WEEKS, you will have eased him
through the most critical part of his infancy. Newborns who are not
breastfed are much more likely to get sick or be hospitalized, and
have many more digestive problems than breastfed babies. After 4 to 6
weeks, you’ll probably have worked through any early nursing
concerns, too. Make a serious goal of nursing for a month, call La
Leche League or a certified lactation consultant if you have any
questions, and you’ll be in a better position to decide whether
continued breastfeeding is for you.IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR 3 OR 4 MONTHS, her digestive system will
have matured a great deal, and she will be much better able to
tolerate the foreign substances in commercial formulas. If there is a
family history of allergies, though, you will greatly reduce her risk
by waiting a few more months before adding anything at all to her
diet of breastmilk. And giving nothing but your milk for the first
four months gives strong protection against ear infections for a
whole year.IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR 6 MONTHS without adding any other food or
drink, she will be much less likely to suffer an allergic reaction to
formula or other foods later on; the American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends waiting until about 6 months to offer solid foods. Nursing
for at least 6 months helps ensure better health throughout your
baby’s first year of life, reduces your little one’s risk of ear
infections and childhood cancers, and reduces your own risk of breast
cancer. And exclusive, frequent breastfeeding during the first 6
months, if your periods have not returned, provides 98% effective
contraception.IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR 9 MONTHS, you will have seen him through
the fastest and most important brain and body development of his life
on the food that was designed for him – your milk. Nursing for at
least this long will help ensure better performance all through his
school years. Weaning may be fairly easy at this age… but then, so
is nursing! If you want to avoid weaning this early, be sure you’ve
been available to nurse for comfort as well as just for food.IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR A YEAR, you can avoid the expense and
bother of formula. Her one-year-old body can probably handle most of
the table foods your family enjoys. Many of the health benefits this
year of nursing has given your child will last her whole life. She
will have a stronger immune system, for instance, and will be much
less likely to need orthodontia or speech therapy. The American
Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing for at least a year, because
it helps ensure normal nutrition and health for your baby.IF YOU NURSE YOUR BABY FOR 18 MONTHS, you will have continued to
provide the nutrition, comfort, and illness protection your baby
expects, at a time when illness is common in formula-fed babies. Your
baby is probably well started on table foods, too. He has had time to
form a solid bond with you – a healthy starting point for his growing
independence. And he is old enough that you and he can work together
on the weaning process, at a pace that he can handle. A former U.S.
Surgeon General said, “it is the lucky baby… that nurses to age
two.”IF YOUR CHILD WEANS WHEN SHE IS READY, you can feel confident that
you have met your baby’s physical and emotional needs in a very
normal, healthy way. In cultures where there is no pressure to wean,
children tend to nurse for at least two years. The World Health
Organization and UNICEF strongly encourage breastfeeding through
toddlerhood: “Breastmilk is an important source of energy and
protein, and helps to protect against disease during the child’s
second year of life.” It just makes sense to build our children’s
bones from the milk that was designed for them. Your milk provides
antibodies and other protective substances for as long as you
continue nursing, and families of nursing toddlers often find that
their medical bills are lower than their neighbors’ for years to
come. Research indicates that the longer a child nurses, the higher
his intelligence. Mothers who nurse longterm have a still lower risk
of developing breast cancer. Children who were nursed longterm tend
to be very secure, and are less likely to suck their thumbs or carry
a blanket. Nursing can help ease both of you through the tears,
tantrums, and tumbles that come with early childhood, and helps
ensure that any illnesses are milder and easier to deal with. It’s an
all-purpose mothering tool you won’t want to be without! Don’t worry
that your child will nurse forever. All children stop on their own,
no matter what you do, and there are more nursing toddlers around
than you might guess.WHETHER YOU NURSE FOR A DAY OR FOR SEVERAL YEARS, the decision to
nurse your child is one you need never regret. And whenever weaning
takes place, remember that it is a big step for both of you. If you
choose to wean before your child is ready, be sure to do it
gradually, and with love.Topic: Breastfeeding Stories
I have noticed so much comment re breastfeeding and formula feeding in the posts. Whatever people have ended up doing, every so called “professional” seems to have an opinion-
I would have dearly loved to breastfeed, but for various reasons wasn’t able. I thought I would share the comment I got from “well meaning” professionals.
When I finally decided to try a bottle with Alana- after 10 days of her screaming on the breast and 8 gavage feeds a day, i commented to the lactation consultant that I had been formula fed and hadn’t turned out to bad (I have a Doctorate in Psychology after all!). I think I was really trying to make myself feel better- it was hard making the leap afterall. Her comment was
WELL YOU PROBABLY DID NOT MEET YOUR FULL POTENTIAL!!!!
Any othes have some “horror” stories
Topic: Diet for babies with reflux
i thought this was interesting.
Ask Dr. Sears: Coping With Baby’s Acid Reflux
–“Feed tummy-friendly milk. If you are
breastfeeding, continue exclusive breastfeeding for as long as
possible. Breast milk has many advantages over formula, especially for
a baby with GER. It’s digested faster than formula, which minimizes
reflux, and it contains enzymes that aid digestion. Also, while babies
are not allergic to mother’s milk, they can be to many types of
formula, especially babies with GER. If formula-feeding, use a
hypoallergenic formula as recommended by your baby’s doctor. Besides
being tolerated better by sensitive intestines, some of these formulas
are digested more quickly so they remain in the stomach for a shorter
time. “http://www.parenting.com/parenting/baby/article/0,19840,1052 599,00.html?topic=12000&stage=01
OMG, Heather! I don’t know how you’re doing it. That’s why I gave up pumping after six months. I was pumping 8-10 times per day, feeding Myles (an hour long struggle each time), cleaning up his constant puke all day long, and trying to take care of his two older sisters. I just couldn’t take it anymore.
I hope things get easier for you soon. You have lots of breast milk stored for him, so maybe cutting down on the pumping soon will help take some of the burden off of you. You’re a terrific mom and when this is all behind you, you’ll be proud of yourself for getting through it and taking such good care of your children. That’s how I feel when I look back now.
Oh, and Myles gag reflex finally just got better (at about 11 – 12 months). He used to do the same thing. In the middle of a feeding or worse towards the end, he’d gag and throw it all up. It was so frustrating, but he almost never gags anymore.
Keep us posted on Bryce’s progress!
You’re right. I know it doesn’t really matter much if he learns to eat from a bottle. I used to worry that the lack of the sucking motion would affect his speech, but our OT told me it wouldn’t – that some babies just go straight to a spoon & sippy cup & never suck a bottle. And I honestly don’t mind feeding him with a spoon – if he would just take more than an ounce or two! I know – patience, patience.
Thank goodness for feeding tubes.I sure wish he could eat solids & he could get more calories in that way. It’s sure challenging having an 11 month old that still has to eat every 3 hours. That in addition to the oral feeds and the pumping – AND having 2 very active toddlers to chase after!
I sometimes wonder if my house will ever be clean again. Actually, I’d like to try solids again. Maybe after his mouth heals. Previously he would always end up gagging at some point and it all came back out. Our GI doc said his swallow muscles just might not be developed enough yet.
Anyway, sorry for rambling on.
I’m so glad to hear that Myles is doing so well with a straw! I bet that relieves a lot of stress. I’m sure he’ll be taking all his fluids on his own in no time. Good luck to you too.
Your welcome. I sure hope he heals quickly and will take a bottle when he does. You never know…somtimes they really surprise us!
Myles’ gag reflex was awful too and his reflux was a nightmare. He gave up the bottle at 7 months of age. I was frantic but I’ve kept him healthy and well by spoon feeding him all of his breastmilk. It was a chore at first but I adapted to it because it’s the only way he’d drink anything. He took one bedtime bottle but everything else was spoon fed. He’s finally taking water from a straw cup now and he’s doing better and better with that so I’m hopeful that he will be taking enough fluids himself soon that I can stop the spoon feedings.
So, either way I’m sure you’ll be able to keep Bryce healthy, and if he never takes a bottle, he’ll be fine. He’ll just move on to a sippy cup or straw cup.
Good luck. I hope he outgrows his reflux soon.
Thanks Christine.
Yes, the milk is less than a year old – most of it’s about 9-10 months old. And that’s exactly what I wanted to start doing – using the frozen and freezing the fresh. He’s eating a lot more now than he was when I started so I shouldn’t have to freeze it for as long. That’s so awesome that you were able to have so much milk left even after you stopped pumping!
Bryce is doing really well. They gave us the go ahead to start spoon feeding him his milk 3 days after surgery. His surgery didn’t really affect his oral eating (not that it was that great anyway). I was a little worried that having surgery in his mouth might cause an aversion. I can’t wait until his stitches heal up all the way so I can try the bottle… I’m really hoping I can teach him to suck again. He used to suck really well when we first brought him home from the hospital, but because of the cleft, he couldn’t get any milk out unless we squeezed it into his mouth. But then his gag reflex & the reflux got so bad that he just wouldn’t suck anymore – just kind of chewed on it.
Unfortunately I’m afraid that most of his oral eating problems won’t get better until he outgrows his reflux.
Thanks for asking about Bryce, and thanks for the advice.
So, what you have frozen is less than a year old now? What I would do is start feeding him the expressed milk and pump and freeze what you are producing now.
All of my frozen breast milk was used up by one year, so I can’t say if it would be any good after a year. I think you’d be able to tell if it was freezer burned…I had a few bottles that were not tightly sealed and I could see the freezer burn. I personally wouldn’t be afraid to use milk that was stored over a year as long as it passed the smell and taste test.
But feeding him what you have frozen now, and freezing the new stuff might be the best way to be on the safe side.Kudos to you for pumping this long!!!
I know how hard it is and I gave up after six months with Myles. Fortunately I had a great supply and had another six months stored, but I would have liked to have pumped longer.How’s Bryce doing?
OAL can cause reflux…
there are links from https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=853&am p;am p;am p;PN=1&TPN=1
scroll down to the ‘breastfeeding’ section
the majority of jonah’s story is from the above link
but yes, he was on pepsid & reglan, then zantac & reglan (then I realized from here that there was no need for reglan! see link!), then zantac & prilosec, then he maxed out on prilosec so he switched to prevacid & zantac & then once the dose of prevacid was ‘right’ then he didnt need the zantac except for some breakthrough acid at night and oh yeah there was also carafate that really helped during his worst times (it’s not a long term solution- carafate I mean)
it should all be there in the above link
~laura
Topic: Aidan’s Fundo Update
I wasn’t really sure where to put this, but this folder made the most sense.
Well, I took Aidan for her surgery follow-ups today, and we got good news and bad news. The good news is that she’s healed fantastically. The bad news is that she still hasn’t gained weight. She is now completely off the growth chart. So, starting tomorrow, we will be feeding her 12 extra oz through her feeding tube a day. I hope my supply can keep up with this, and I’m sure it can if I get busy with the pump and fenugreek… if not, maybe my doctor and I can figure something out. I really want to breastfeed to a year. I’m lucky that I’ve been able to keep it up through all this reflux stuff. Alot of relfux moms end up giving it up. Is that selfish of me? Maybe it is, but I feel like she has done the best with BM. And I don’t want to give up just because it may be difficult on me. Does that make sense?
Well, it appears that today he is finally catching up. I decided to pump instead of breastfeeding him this morning, while DH fed him a bottle. He took 7 ounces of breastmilk, without silently refluxing it and no spit up!! He hasn’t had any of his medicine since Monday morning. Oh, thank you God! After the 7 ounces, he has breastfed ALOT (no reflux, no hiccups, a dribble of spit up, no crying or drawing up of legs, no uncomfortability, etc.) and I know he’s drank alot of fluids today so maybe he is just making up for it. I really think the reflux is almost gone! I guess it is mother’s intuition…..maybe it was the physical therapy that made the biggest difference.
I thank you girls for your advice and for listening to me with my concerns. I guess I worry too much sometimes!!
Thanks again!
Myles has always struggled with constipation which I believe was caused by a combination of DGE (delayed gastric emptying) and his Prevacid Solutabs. Yes, I think the solutabs definitely cause constipation in some babies.
Myles was on breast milk for a year, and his constiaption did initially worsen once the breast milk ran out (I pumped and froze his milk). I only have used Good Start, so I can’t say if it’s any better than regular milk formulas, but it’s certainly worth a try.
Even with Myles’ persistent constipation problems I was usually able to keep it in check by including certain things in his diet every day. If I miss even one day (still) he goes back to being constipated.
1. 1/2 container of stage 1 prunes added to 2 of his feedings daily. For some reason the actual prunes seemed to help him more than prune juice. It dissolves very easily into warm formula and can be put right into the bottle.
2. 1-2 ounces of diluted pear juice daily. I add this to his pureed baby foods. You can also add it to formula.
3. 1 tablspoon flax seed oil daily. He takes it right from the spoon, but you can put in the bottle or any food once she’s eating solids.
4. Fiber Juice (she’s probably too young for this now, but here’s the website so you can look into it and maybe get some in the future. http://www.fiberjuice.com I give Myles about 1-2 ounces per day added to his pureed baby foods.
So, these are the things that work very well for Myles. Gabriella (a very pretty name BTW) is so young, so I’d just try one or two of the remedies initially and smaller amounts…..maybe a tablespoon of prunes and a teaspoon of flax seed oil.
Great news that the Prevacid is helping.
I hope it continues and I hope you find remedies for her constipation that will work well for her.Almost overnight, Jackson’s reflux is gone. I give him 12mg Zegerid every 2-3 days now to try to wean him. I don’t want the dreaded rebound to happen. I know he probably doesn’t need to be weaned on it but it makes me feel better to do so. It helps to control his spitting up if I give it to him every 2-3 days.
My concern is that he is now not eating as much. He would normally take in 24-30oz a day. Now, he is taking in an average of 20oz a day. I breastfeed so it’s hard to know exactly how much he is taking in but I know that he took in 16 oz by bottle today while I was at work (5oz of it was with oatmeal for a thickened feeding): 5AM-4PM. He has plenty of soaked diapers (an average of 7 a day) and poops every other day. He’s a very happy baby. I’m just still concerned. (I should add that he’s more than doubled his birth weight — he is 12lbs, 12oz and was 6lbs, 1oz at birth).
Did his appetite decrease because of a decrease in his meds? Or was it just coincidence? Do babies plateau with weight for a little bit, once they’ve doubled their birth weight? He’s not quite as active these days and maybe since he’s not burning as many calories, he’s not quite as hungry but I still worry. I would have thought his appetite would have picked up since I’ve heard that being on such a high dose of a PPI delays gastric emptying (and now that he’s not getting that high dose, I’d think he would have an increase in gastric emptying).
Any BTDT Moms that can help? Any advice or words of wisdom? I’m just concerned!!
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