breastfeeding question

beckamouse wrote: ok. recently maggie has learned to hold and work a bottle very well all by her self and since then she hasn't really been into breastfeeding unless she's fussy-tired and wants to go to sleep. I think she's weaning herself off of breastmilk (which sucks i wanted to go a full year w/ it )


could this possibly be what she's doing?

and if so whats a good way to get my breasts used to the idea of not producing as much milk because they hurt from being full all the time! I do hand express it out (because pumps suck!) but they keep filling right back up again and Maggie J doesnt nurse enough to completely drain them.

amynicole21 replied: If you really don't want to wean her, I would really cut back on the bottles you are offering. She's probably just realizing it's a lot easier to get milk out of a bottle quickly. Most babies don't wean themselves before a year, so I doubt she would give up on nursing completely, but you might start suffering from production issues sooner than you think, then you will HAVE to wean her.

If you are ready to wean, just continue offering the bottles more and more. Do it gradually, don't cut her off from nursing all at once. Your supply will start to lessen very soon and you should only have a few days of discomfort. Try not to pump until you are completely empty - just until the pressure is reduced.

Good luck, and I hope you can work something out with Ms. Maggie that makes you both happy!

beckamouse replied:
she's starting to teeth. i noticed a tooth pushing through a few minutes ago (because she bit me hard enough to make me bleed just a tiny bit) so i think maybe yeah letting her wean off is an ideal situation.


thank you though

coasterqueen replied: You CAN teach her not to bite and still BF . Kylie only bit me a couple of times and never bit me again. She got her first tooth at 4 months old and she nursed all the way til she was 2 years old. What To Do When Baby Starts Biting

Why are you giving her bottles anyways? Do you WOH? If you are a SAHM I don't even see the need for bottles unless you are really ready to wean. If you are just give her more bottles and you can use cabbage leaves on your breasts to decrease your supply.

Comfort Measures For Mom During Weaning

beckamouse replied: the reason i started giving her a bottle is because of the boy I babysit. He's 8 years old and he has a hard time remembering that when i'm in my room with the door closed and maggie j is in there with me he cant come in. I got sick of being walked in on while i was feeding maggie and all of the questions he'd ask me about what he saw (I'm not his parent i'm not answering that stuff) So i decided to just give maggie a bottle while he's here.

JAYMESMOM replied: Target and Babies R us carry really great nursing bibs that hook around your neck and cover the baby and breast up completely. For privacy and not having to worry about him seeing anything.

You can stop her from biting my daughter has six teeth. The first time she bit I said no we dont do that mommas nummies. She did it a few days later and I stopped nursing her and reiterated what I told her before. We only had to do this a few more times and sometimes she is so sleepy she will accidently catch me and wake up real fast and look like i'm sorry.

If you cut down on the amount of bottles you give she will turn back to the breast most likely.

Good Luck whatever you decide.

coasterqueen replied:
Have you talked to the boy's mom about nursing in front of him? If she's comfortable with it I don't see the problem. You can use a receiving blanket to cover yourself. I would be really afraid to go in a closed door room while an 8 year old is in another room . Hey, just a thought, you could get a sling to nurse in too. I'm just starting to master the sling for BF and it works GREAT for when company is over and I want to be a part of the group but "disguise" what I'm doing .

beckamouse replied: Brandon (the 8 year old) lives with his dad and his dad has already told me he's not ok with me dissapearing in a romm to feed maggie nor is he ok with me trying to feed maggie with brandon in the same room because he doesnt feel ready to answer the questions it could possibly bring up. (jerk also doesnt trust me, a 24 year old who's been babysitting since she was 10, to watch brandon and a friend play outside without getting hurt but thats another story entirely. so is his screaming his head off cursing the kid out for forgetting a school book which i've called the police on a couple times)


its a tricky situation with brandon. i cant send him outside while i'm feeding maggie, i cant feed her in front of him, i cant dissapear to feed her. I'm kinda stuck with bottle feeding maggie j with brandon around and he's around for atleast three or four hours a day.

TANNER'S MOM replied: Ok, I am mother of a 7 year old little boy. I find this completely odd.
My son who I admit is a farm boy has no problem seeing someone nurse. He see's animls nurse and mom's nurse.

His babysitter nursed in front of him for ever! I had no problem w/ it and neither did she. I am sure she didn't just hang a boob..but he did ask me some questions at first that I answered truthfully. That he was fed that way and that babies nurse. NO BIGGIE..this is just as big as WE make it

I for one would not stop nursing my baby for someone I am babysitting. It would be time for me to find another child.

BTW: I was raised by a MAN also. I saw women nursing as a child and my father was very straight forward about it.

We need to take the SEXUALITY out of it and make it about the babies!

Good luck in whatever you choose!

Mel

MomToMany replied: AMEN Mel!

I think it's ridiculous to have to stop nursing your baby because of that. That boy's father has some major issues. I nurse in front of my sons all the time (they are 11, 9, & 5). I suppose he is just a man, and sees them only as toys.

Good luck.

JAYMESMOM replied:
I breatfeed in front of my 6 year old step-son and my friends kids. When they have asked what Jayme is doing I explain that she is eating. Mommies have a special way to feed the baby.

It is people's pwn peverseness that makes them think its wrong.

I even BF in public. When a baby is hungry they deserve to eat like everyone else.

Do you have the option of finding another child??

amynicole21 replied: I would be VERY PO'd if some kid's father caused me to end my nursing relationship with my baby. What a jerk!

coasterqueen replied:
I TOTALLY AGREE. And there isn't no amount in the money in the world that would make me NOT BF my child because someone else isn't comfortable with it. That's just horrible of him.

I understand YOU have to do what you have to do. Just make sure it is what YOU want to do because you have to be comfortable with your decision. Don't do it because of someone else.

beckamouse replied: i've given things tons of thought and i've decided to 1: Quit babysitting for the kid because the dads an a$$. (not able to trust me with two 8 year olds...what an idiot) and 2: Continue Nursing my Maggie J. Thank you everyone for your advice.


now to get my milk production back up. Isnt there some sort of herbal ...thing...i can take for that?

coasterqueen replied:
Nurse, nurse, nurse, and nurse. Spend the weekend doing a "nurse-in" meaning let baby nurse non-stop as much as baby wants . You can try fenugreek too, but I think nursing will do the job much faster .

I'm glad you made the decision that was right for you.

JAYMESMOM replied: There is an herbal tea called "Mothers Milk". Call first but you can normally buy it at a health food store. That, water, and constant nursing should help.