Is Tripp getting - enough milk????

mom2tripp wrote: I've posted several topics about how Tripp doesn't nurse much anymore because he eats SOOO many solid foods. Yesterday he only nursed once in the morning, refused it in the afternoon, and refused it before bed (which is very unlike him) So I thought for sure he was going to wake up in the middle of the night bc he didn't get to nurse before bed--NOPE and then this morning he nursed but barely. Has he had enough, and is it ok that he only nurses once a day now???

Jamison'smama replied: SInce breastmilk/formula is still supposed to be the primary form of nutrition until 1 it sounds like he may need to nurse more often. Do you nurse before meals? Can you feed him a little less and nurse again then feed more if he wants it? I know my Jack LOVES LOVES LOVES solids and I am afraid of this so I started skipping cereal in the morning and nursing a couple of times. At lunch he nurses (sometimes) then eats solids then nurses before nap and then he nurses a little through the evening--eats solids at dinner and nurses again at bedtime.

Is he drinking other stuff that can be cut out---juice, water etc?

mom2tripp replied: I offer nursing throughout the day before meals after meals whenever and he'll act like he's going to nurse and then he looks up at me and smiles--NEVER NURSES. It's like he has no want or need for it. I wish I knew how much he was getting in the morning. He eats three meals a day plus snacks so.....

Gammy2 replied: Does he drink from a sippy. Maybe try putting some BM in a sippy and see if he will drink some. Good luck. But it does sound as if he needs more milk.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Now like I've said before, I didn't BF for very long, so I am probably not one to give good advice there. But I will tell you this, and I hope for those of you who still BF, don't get mad. I stopped BF when Wil was 7.5 months. And I did it because I felt that HE was ready to stop. I couldn't get him to settle in to nurse, let alone latch on at all. He would take it for a couple minutes and then look around. And he never made any indication that he wanted to nurse throughout the day or even at night. It just suddenly stopped. Now I suppose I could have seen a LC to cure the problem, but I felt comfortable believeing that this was HIS way of telling me he was done. I pumped for about a month longer just so that he would get the BM, but as we all know, things eventually dried up. So that's my story. Doesn't mean you have to do it. But I prefer taking cues from Wil. I would much rather know he's getting enough by supplementing with formula. If you don't feel comfortable with that, I suggest seeing a LC.

Good luck!

coasterqueen replied:

coasterqueen replied: Also sounds like 'distractible baby' (for both you and Rae )

Here's some info on it that might help: Distractible Baby

Rae- that sounds a lot like what Wil's problem was. Very common and what DD1 was FAMOUS for, lol.

Jamison'smama replied: Jack is very distractable too--nursing is a challenge most of the time. What works for us is to go into my bedroom- no lights--no sounds and we side-lie nurse--I put a pillow behind his back so he doesn't go rolling all ove the place. I rub his head and try to get him to relax. This has seemed to help him eat more and be less distracted. He wants to eat but it's like he doesn't want to bother with it --afraid he is missing out on something around him. Jamison did this too and it was just a phase---by 9-10 months, she was efficient and more into it.

mom2tripp replied: Tripp is about to be 9 months and being in a quiet room doesn't seem to help him out very much. I mean, I don't mind at all supplementing with formula if that is what it's going to take to give him what he needs. I just wanted to see if there was anyone here that had a child self-wean so early

coasterqueen replied:
I'm not sure if anyone has here but self-weaning under the age of 1 is HIGHLY unlikely. They can be encouraged to wean under the age of one but they don't self wean. Encouraged to wean would mean more or less the "don't ask - don't offer" technique.

Weaning him is fine, he will be none the wiser since he's in the distractible phase, it's just not considered self-weaning.

Here's more on the subject:

"True SELF-weaning before a baby is a year old is very uncommon. In fact, it is unusual for a baby to wean before 18-24 months unless mom is encouraging weaning. However, it is very common to hear a mother say that her baby self-weaned at 9 or 10 months old, or even earlier. How do we reconcile these statements?


What is self-weaning?
A baby who is weaning on his own:

is typically well over a year old (more commonly over 2 years)
is at the point where he gets most of his nutrition from solids
drinks well from a cup
cuts down on nursing gradually
Child-led weaning occurs when a child no longer has a need to nurse - nutritionally or emotionally. The solids part should rule out self-weaning in babies under a year since, for optimum health and brain development, babies under a year should be getting most of their nutrition from breastmilk."

Here's the link to Kellymom's site which goes into more detail than what I copied above. Do Baby's Self-Wean under age 1?

HTH!

coasterqueen replied: Adding, did you see my link above on distractible baby? Was there any tips in there that you haven't tried that might help?

If you are fine going to formula that's ok. You have to do what's best for your family.

mom2tripp replied: Thank you and I appreciate the link boogerbearzmom, I guess I'm just wondering if I don't supplement and he just keeps nursing at the rate that he is going--IS HE GETTING ENOUGH MILK FROM ME?? I just wish I could measure it!!!

coasterqueen replied:
You are welcome. Is he having adequate wet and poo'ey diapers? Here's another good link to read on how you can tell: How to Tell if Older Child is Getting Enough

He could also be going through a nursing strike, also very common: Nursing Strikes See if any of this is helpful.

Sorry for all the links. I'd type out my own version of it but this says it better.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: Karen, so where were you four months ago??! The article was very interesting and I wish I knew that awhile ago...but I guess I don't always believe everything I read. I want to point out that although maybe it's uncommon for a child to self-wean under one, it isn't impossible. Maybe Wil was distracted, but I certainly don't regret what choice I made at the time. And who's to say that he would have ever got back on if I tried a million other positions or sat in the dark, etc. Your advice is great, but I'm just trying to show another side as you are.

Sorry to get off subject here. I don't know how to tell whether a child is getting enough through nursing alone. Maybe that was my problem. I suppose I always just had FAITH up until he stopped. Plus weigh-ins helped too.

coasterqueen replied:
I was here 4 months ago. I guess I missed that you were having this issue

I agree that even though it IS rare, it IS possible for a child to self-wean but there are about a TON of certified lactation consultants that will tell you the same thing I did as well as LLL and other Bf gurus. I was only passing on the information because I like to give out accurate information AND to help those who might BF again so they don't have the same issue/problem without any help.

I know first hand how distractible a baby can be and how they can go on nursing strikes. I couldn't go anywhere it seemed because Kylie was soooooo super distracted. I, too, had to nurse her in a VERY QUIET dark room where there was nothing to distract her and had to lay down to nurse her to keep her this way. When we'd go out I couldn't nurse anywhere, I had to go home to nurse her OR sometimes I was able to coax her to nurse in the car, but we'd lay down in the back seat. It stunk! And no she didn't just start automatically nursing once I did some of the things to help keep her from being distracted. It took a heck of a lot of effort on my part, stress, time, etc. It also took a very good friend of mine to be there to support me, she's a BF guru and she kept assuring me that we'd get through it, it was normal and do the best we can with the tips given to me.

You will find when it comes to BF, I will not give out inaccurate information intentionally and if asked a question I will give an honest answer. BF is very important to me and I don't post what I do to hurt anyone. I do it to inform those who wish to be informed and try to strike down the bad information that is out there.

I didn't mean to offend you, if I did.

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
No you didn't offend me at all. But thanks for asking. Your information can be very beneficial to some, but it's also a point of view IMO, obviously one from the LLL. So thank you for putting it out there. But I just wanted to put mine out there as well because I simply go off of my own experience. That doesn't make it inaccurate. I support BF, but when to stop and/or supplement is a personal choice. Not one that any book or person can tell me otherwise. I can always think "well what if I had tried this or what if I had tried that or what if I had put in more effort"...but I'm standing true to my belief that Wil self-weaned. Both BF and non-BF mothers need all the support they can get. So although you didn't offend me, I do admit that your articles hit a nerve in me that made me feel that I had somehow failed or that I should have tried harder.

Sorry to hijack momtoTripp!

NummyMommy replied:

Sounds like a nursing strike to me......sometimes those are brought on by teething (as with my DD) or illness. I personally had no problem maintaining my milk but I have heard of women pumping and dumping to keep the flow till the strike was over. I'd set aside a day to devote to JUST breastfeeding....I'd eliminate all extra fluid and food and see if he switches back. Also try nursing him as upright as you can....that way if its his ears or drainage it won't bother him as much. Measuring IMHO is pretty useless because some babies need more milk then others....so I guess I'd go by your gut....I'm a big supporter of BFing but I also think its a really personal choice....just like SAHM/WOHM/WAHM its what works best for you. If you really want to keep BFing I'd consult a LC or at least visit the LLL website BFing Info heres the webby for the main BF Info page. You're still a great mom either way!

mom2tripp replied:
Thank you all for your replies!!!! I think Tripp would go INSANE if I took away all of his food and liquid for a day and just breastfed--you have to see this kid when it comes to food he goes nuts!!! He nursed this morning, and then I got him to a couple times during the day for a few minutes and then tonight before bed so I think I'm just going to keep forcing it on him--LOL.. THANK YA"LL SO MUCH!!!

NummyMommy replied: LOL he'd go insane huh?....sounds like a meat and potatoes kinda guy hehe.....you can try just ditching ONLY fluids too.....but w/e works for you Just wanted to add (and forgot last time) that as babies get older they get better at nursing so a few minutes now is like 20 before....5 minute meals are not unheard of for really efficient nursers. Just thought you'd might like to know

mom2tripp replied: BTW Karen those links are awesome!!! I was reading one article and a sentence JUMPED OUT AT ME!!! A couple of weeks ago Tripp bit me for the first time and of course I SCREAMED. Now during the day and at night when he starts nursing he will almost always bite and then laugh, so I think he thinks it's a game!! After reading those articles I think I need to just act calm when he does it, take him off, and tell him no biting and then try again. You guys are the only support I have with this--my mother says "that child is ready for whole milk" and DH says "honey he's getting older he's not going to want it anymore with all the other food he's eating"

IT MAKES ME WANT TO SCREAM!!!!

mom2tripp replied:
THANK YOU FOR THAT--Sometimes Tripp will nurse for like 5 minutes and then he is completely satisfied and I'm like, did you even get anything boy???

BTW--he's totally a meat and potatoes kinda guy--such a little piggy. It's gotten to the point now where when we walk into the kitchen he grunts and throws a fit for something to eat---GEEZ

coasterqueen replied:
I am so happy that you found them useful!!!!!! Seriously jumping for joy! Just know that we are here for you. A support system is extremely important in having a successful BF relationship. I couldn't find that in my family and my husband wasn't always supportive - he swayed back and forth. So I had to go elsewhere to get that support I needed.

NummyMommy replied:
AWWWWW I hate hearing that....I think it breaks my heart more then anything to hear moms not being supported when it comes to BFing Its such a wonderful thing that most people dont understand. You re doing so good...I would do exactly the same thing with the biting too. Thats what my LC told me to do way back in the beginning Don't give up unless YOU really want to, they're your breasts after all.

mom2tripp replied:
Thank you so much for the support you really don't know how much it means to me, I was seriously going to give up BF and switch to formula but I really wanted to stick with it. Resources really help but you guys are AWESOME!!!

mom2tripp replied:
All I ever hear from my mom is "he's so ready for whole milk" "He needs more to eat than hot milk" "I know plenty of kids that self weaned way before Tripp"

I know she doesn't mean bad but it really hurts my feelings bc I'm trying so hard.

And the only thing my husband has to say is that I shouldn't get upset over it bc he's getting bigger and won't need it anymore--I'm like, "of course I'm upset this is my baby boy who I've nursed for 9 months and want to continue, I tried so hard for so long and DO NOT want to give it up!!!!"
Men, of course they don't understand

NummyMommy replied:
Think he might be chunking up for a growth spurt? Thats what happened with my little man...when he WAS a little man (my 11 year old is taller then me!)

mom2tripp replied:
He could be, but this has been going on for over a month now, not the nursing part but his wanted to EAT everything in site.

NummyMommy replied:
Yeah I hear ya....my ex hubby was NEVER on board....totally unsupportive (of course if you ask him he would say "of course I was supportive I LET you BF didnt I?" but not all men are like that.....DH is very supportive and happy for us. Its not really their fault, most people just don't have the right information. I would try to tune out your mom...she means well she is just wrong (even a Ped will say a baby under 1 shouldnt have cows milk) but a lot of moms believed that way. It just frustrates me and makes me sad. We are always here if you need support ok?

mom2tripp replied:
LOL--I hope I didn't make my DH sound bad--he's really sweet, but you're right most people just don't have the right info!! I try to tune mom out but of course she thinks she's right! Thank you for being there and being so supportive for me, it really means a lot!

moped replied: I was just checking in quick and Iwas glad to see that you found what you needed...................Kristi, he will get better...........I sort of wished I had kept going as well.

Hope it gets much better for Tripp!!!!!!

mom2tripp replied:
Thank you Jen