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#1
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I'm back(vent, rant,,,,got long)
Hi to you all
I had a sick computer (well 2 actually) and between Jean, Herself and her dh we got them fixed and now I'm backed. I missed ngs! Anyway Liam is now 14weeks as of tomorrow. I am starting back at work next Tuesday week (the 18th) Liam is thriving. But there are a couple of things I am feeling low about now. I introduced a couple of bottles of formula (he'd usually take 4x4oz bottles a day) during the hours that I will be at work and am still nursing him in the mornings and evenings. (When I return to work I will be gone from him from 9am to 6pm....but won't be home and able to sit down and nurse until probably 7pm) I had started getting a stash in the freezer but was using them up. Then I also got lazy at pumping........I see it as a chore. Then Liam was rejecting bottles so we decided to give him regular bottles to get him used to them before I return to work. I used up the EBM stash and wasn't renewing it because I was too tired keeping up with my older 2 children and feeding him the bottles that I didn't have time to pump as well......I do sometimes fit in late night and the occasional morning pump. When I return to work I will be getting 3x20minute breaks to pump, so hopefully by then I can break the formula cycle and just feed him the EBM as long as I get enough out. But has anyone else managed to feed their baby ebm while they work without depending on a freezer stash?? I'm feeling sad in myself that I was not a better and more committed mum, to make myself make time to pump and also get him used to bottles without resorting to formula. Am I ruining all the immunities by feeding him formula? Luckily my supply is staying strong so far, apart from a bit of a dip in the early evening, but it has always been like that.......he is like a barnacle most evenings since day one. I am also finding it *really* hard to hold off spoon feeding him, please don't slate me, Caoimhe and Ciarán my FF babies were both being spoon fed at this age, and I am trying really hard to ignore the signs that are trotted out by weaning leaflets around here. He is waking more at night(he had been sleeping through), he lights up when he smells or sees what we are eating, and everything is going to his mouth, he has great head support and can sit upright in his pushchair, he has lost the tongue thrust(we know this because we had to give him medicine). My educated head is telling me that he is just exploring with his mouth right now and not necessarily looking for food. I know that if I was a less busy mummy I could nurse him more often him through the day, but I just find it hard to find the time. I suppose you could say I am token breastfeeding at this stage. I don't know what to do, I'm just hoping that going back to work clarifies the ebm v formula thing for me, so that I know how much I can produce each day and I just hope time flies until I can spoon feed ( I really can't see myself making it to 6 months) Do big babies at birth tend to need to wean early? I just hate the fact that he is not getting all his nourishment from me but I can't be as great a mum as most of you here are, I can't dedicate myself to breastfeeding exclusively. Sorry for the vent -- Marie Mum of 3 DD born 03/98, DS1 born 11/99 DS2 born 08/03 |
#2
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I'm back(vent, rant,,,,got long)
Irish Marie wrote:
I had started getting a stash in the freezer but was using them up. Then I also got lazy at pumping........I see it as a chore. It is a chore, especially when you're pumping instead of enjoying your kids. But has anyone else managed to feed their baby ebm while they work without depending on a freezer stash?? I think it's doable, as long as you can squeeze in a morning / evening / weekend pump to make up any shortfall. And really, the whole point of having a freezer stash is to feed it to the baby. So don't beat yourself up about having fed it to the baby. Am I ruining all the immunities by feeding him formula? Nope. If you want to cut back on the formula, you might try cutting the formula back to one bottle a day, and see if he's still willing to take bottles. He should be able to go back to multiple bottles when you got back to work. He is waking more at night(he had been sleeping through), I've been attributing that to a combination of teething and learning new skills. If we have a couple of particularly bad nights, Caterpillar usually has mastered a new skill at the end. And a dose of Tylenol before bed has done wonders on the days she's acting more pained than skillful, but Liam is on the young side to be teething. he lights up when he smells or sees what we are eating, and everything is going to his mouth, he has great head support and can sit upright in his pushchair, he has lost the tongue thrust(we know this because we had to give him medicine). Wow! Caterpillar only lost her tongue thrust within the last month (I want to say in the last 2-3 weeks), and she's 23 weeks old. Do big babies at birth tend to need to wean early? Caterpillar was 8 pounds 4 ounces (3.75 kg) when she was born, and has consistently been 80th percentile for weight, and hasn't been unsatisfied with no solids. I can't be as great a mum as most of you here are Sure you are. If you were a bad mom, you wouldn't be worrying about how to balance your needs and all 3 of your kids' needs and going back to work and still bf as much as possible. Phoebe -- yahoo address is unread - substitute mailbolt |
#3
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I'm back(vent, rant,,,,got long)
Do big babies at birth tend to need to wean early?
No. My youngest (13 lbs. 5 oz. at birth) was exclusively bf and showed little interest in solids until he was about 18 months old. Your milk is plenty at this point! Leslie |
#4
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I'm back(vent, rant,,,,got long)
{{{{Marie}}}}
You're not alone. I had to give formula early on because of low diaper counts. Plus I started solids right at 4 months. My baby was showing all the signs too. She is 5.5 months now, and it hasn't hurt her. She has always been months ahead at most things, including readiness for eating. She actually just cruised for the first time tonight, and has been standing at a short table since she was 3.5 months old and sitting up since probably 3 months too. If others want to go to 6 months even when their babies are showing readiness to eat, that is their business, but not me. You won't mess up immunities by giving some formula, as long as you keep giving breast milk the baby will get the immunities. I also think breast milk is the best brain food. I have nothing but my own anecdotal evidence to back that up, but even if you do have to give formula remember that giving as much breast milk as you can is still very important. It is not all or nothing. KC - buy or rent Whittlestone Breast Expressers at: http://www.alittlestore.com "Irish Marie" wrote in message ... Hi to you all I had a sick computer (well 2 actually) and between Jean, Herself and her dh we got them fixed and now I'm backed. I missed ngs! Anyway Liam is now 14weeks as of tomorrow. I am starting back at work next Tuesday week (the 18th) Liam is thriving. But there are a couple of things I am feeling low about now. I introduced a couple of bottles of formula (he'd usually take 4x4oz bottles a day) during the hours that I will be at work and am still nursing him in the mornings and evenings. (When I return to work I will be gone from him from 9am to 6pm....but won't be home and able to sit down and nurse until probably 7pm) I had started getting a stash in the freezer but was using them up. Then I also got lazy at pumping........I see it as a chore. Then Liam was rejecting bottles so we decided to give him regular bottles to get him used to them before I return to work. I used up the EBM stash and wasn't renewing it because I was too tired keeping up with my older 2 children and feeding him the bottles that I didn't have time to pump as well......I do sometimes fit in late night and the occasional morning pump. When I return to work I will be getting 3x20minute breaks to pump, so hopefully by then I can break the formula cycle and just feed him the EBM as long as I get enough out. But has anyone else managed to feed their baby ebm while they work without depending on a freezer stash?? I'm feeling sad in myself that I was not a better and more committed mum, to make myself make time to pump and also get him used to bottles without resorting to formula. Am I ruining all the immunities by feeding him formula? Luckily my supply is staying strong so far, apart from a bit of a dip in the early evening, but it has always been like that.......he is like a barnacle most evenings since day one. I am also finding it *really* hard to hold off spoon feeding him, please don't slate me, Caoimhe and Ciarán my FF babies were both being spoon fed at this age, and I am trying really hard to ignore the signs that are trotted out by weaning leaflets around here. He is waking more at night(he had been sleeping through), he lights up when he smells or sees what we are eating, and everything is going to his mouth, he has great head support and can sit upright in his pushchair, he has lost the tongue thrust(we know this because we had to give him medicine). My educated head is telling me that he is just exploring with his mouth right now and not necessarily looking for food. I know that if I was a less busy mummy I could nurse him more often him through the day, but I just find it hard to find the time. I suppose you could say I am token breastfeeding at this stage. I don't know what to do, I'm just hoping that going back to work clarifies the ebm v formula thing for me, so that I know how much I can produce each day and I just hope time flies until I can spoon feed ( I really can't see myself making it to 6 months) Do big babies at birth tend to need to wean early? I just hate the fact that he is not getting all his nourishment from me but I can't be as great a mum as most of you here are, I can't dedicate myself to breastfeeding exclusively. Sorry for the vent |
#5
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I'm back(vent, rant,,,,got long)
"KC" wrote in message om... {{{{Marie}}}} You're not alone. I had to give formula early on because of low diaper counts. Plus I started solids right at 4 months. My baby was showing all the signs too. I don't know exact dates but it looks as though the OPs baby is only 3 months old? She is 5.5 months now, and it hasn't hurt her. She has always been months ahead at most things, including readiness for eating. She actually just cruised for the first time tonight, and has been standing at a short table since she was 3.5 months old and sitting up since probably 3 months too. If others want to go to 6 months even when their babies are showing readiness to eat, that is their business, but not me. You won't mess up immunities by giving some formula, as long as you keep giving breast milk the baby will get the immunities. Sorry to correct you, but :-) While a child is exclusively BF one of the things that happens is that their gut is lined so that no other substances can get through the gut wall, it's a delicate balance in there. Adding in any foods or other substances breaks that barrier forever. This doesn't mean a problem, obviously they have to have food at some point, but it will change the balance in their gut forever. This is why giving 'just one bottle of formula' is a big decision not to be taken lightly because you cannot return to that level of balance in the gut. So the baby will still get immune qualities from the milk as long as they are BF, but things will change for the baby once either formula or food is introduced. Of course this is a moot point for this OP as she's only considering formula with food, but I wanted to explain. I also think breast milk is the best brain food. I have nothing but my own anecdotal evidence to back that up, but even if you do have to give formula remember that giving as much breast milk as you can is still very important. It is not all or nothing. Right on. And the BF is the best brain food thing has been proven, just not by KC! Nikki KC - buy or rent Whittlestone Breast Expressers at: http://www.alittlestore.com "Irish Marie" wrote in message ... Hi to you all I had a sick computer (well 2 actually) and between Jean, Herself and her dh we got them fixed and now I'm backed. I missed ngs! Anyway Liam is now 14weeks as of tomorrow. I am starting back at work next Tuesday week (the 18th) Liam is thriving. But there are a couple of things I am feeling low about now. I introduced a couple of bottles of formula (he'd usually take 4x4oz bottles a day) during the hours that I will be at work and am still nursing him in the mornings and evenings. (When I return to work I will be gone from him from 9am to 6pm....but won't be home and able to sit down and nurse until probably 7pm) I had started getting a stash in the freezer but was using them up. Then I also got lazy at pumping........I see it as a chore. Then Liam was rejecting bottles so we decided to give him regular bottles to get him used to them before I return to work. I used up the EBM stash and wasn't renewing it because I was too tired keeping up with my older 2 children and feeding him the bottles that I didn't have time to pump as well......I do sometimes fit in late night and the occasional morning pump. When I return to work I will be getting 3x20minute breaks to pump, so hopefully by then I can break the formula cycle and just feed him the EBM as long as I get enough out. But has anyone else managed to feed their baby ebm while they work without depending on a freezer stash?? I'm feeling sad in myself that I was not a better and more committed mum, to make myself make time to pump and also get him used to bottles without resorting to formula. Am I ruining all the immunities by feeding him formula? Luckily my supply is staying strong so far, apart from a bit of a dip in the early evening, but it has always been like that.......he is like a barnacle most evenings since day one. I am also finding it *really* hard to hold off spoon feeding him, please don't slate me, Caoimhe and Ciarán my FF babies were both being spoon fed at this age, and I am trying really hard to ignore the signs that are trotted out by weaning leaflets around here. He is waking more at night(he had been sleeping through), he lights up when he smells or sees what we are eating, and everything is going to his mouth, he has great head support and can sit upright in his pushchair, he has lost the tongue thrust(we know this because we had to give him medicine). My educated head is telling me that he is just exploring with his mouth right now and not necessarily looking for food. I know that if I was a less busy mummy I could nurse him more often him through the day, but I just find it hard to find the time. I suppose you could say I am token breastfeeding at this stage. I don't know what to do, I'm just hoping that going back to work clarifies the ebm v formula thing for me, so that I know how much I can produce each day and I just hope time flies until I can spoon feed ( I really can't see myself making it to 6 months) Do big babies at birth tend to need to wean early? I just hate the fact that he is not getting all his nourishment from me but I can't be as great a mum as most of you here are, I can't dedicate myself to breastfeeding exclusively. Sorry for the vent |
#6
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I'm back(vent, rant,,,,got long)
Leslie wrote:
Do big babies at birth tend to need to wean early? No. My youngest (13 lbs. 5 oz. at birth) was exclusively bf and showed little interest in solids until he was about 18 months old. Your milk is plenty at this point! Okay, that has to be the largest at-birth baby I've heard of. Wow. Nice one! -- 'Tis Herself |
#7
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I'm back(vent, rant,,,,got long)
Irish Marie wrote:
When I return to work I will be getting 3x20minute breaks to pump, so hopefully by then I can break the formula cycle and just feed him the EBM as long as I get enough out. First, I'm impressed with your company that they will give you the time...that's great! I'm feeling sad in myself that I was not a better and more committed mum, to make myself make time to pump and also get him used to bottles without resorting to formula. Whoa...in this country of any, the fact that you're *still* nursing is huge. And great. Don't you dare belittle that fact by saying you're not a committed mom. There have been many on this ng who have given their children formula in addition to/in place of bm. While a lot of us say "Why would anyone...", that's more saying it in a place that we feel is "safe" to discuss. I will NEVER look someone in the eye and tell them they are wrong for giving their child formula. It goes against *my* thinking, but that's not *my child* and I don't know the circumstances. I come across strong on the ng, but I'm a huge chicken in real life :-). Am I ruining all the immunities by feeding him formula? 14 weeks...(does math in head...pulls a few brain cells...) 4 months? IIRC, your family doesn't have allergy problems, right? I think that "ruining" is the wrong word. It will change the flora in his gut, no matter what. As for immunities, I thought the majority of that was in the first weeks? (someone please tell me if I'm wrong.) Luckily my supply is staying strong so far, apart from a bit of a dip in the early evening, but it has always been like that.......he is like a barnacle most evenings since day one. Well, that's great! Can you schedule time in your day (pick up C, start dinner, sit down and pump) for pumping? It's just as important as making dinner. Can hubby start dinner for you, and you do some pumping with that time? I don't know what to do, I'm just hoping that going back to work clarifies the ebm v formula thing for me, so that I know how much I can produce each day and I just hope time flies until I can spoon feed ( I really can't see myself making it to 6 months) This is an honest question...do you think spoon feeding will make it easier for you? Cause once we started P on food, our lives became more difficult (and this was before we realized he had allergies). Just dealing with his food, cleaning him up (and changing his clothes, most times)...ugh. If I could still only nurse him now, I would!! :-) I don't know how spoon feeding will be easier. I'd think it would take away your time more. Plus, he's still going to need bm/formula as well. I don't think food cuts down too many nursings with bf babies. Do big babies at birth tend to need to wean early? snort P was 9lbs 7oz...still nurses about 4x a day. I just hate the fact that he is not getting all his nourishment from me but I can't be as great a mum as most of you here are, I can't dedicate myself to breastfeeding exclusively. Stop it!! You are a great mom (and don't tell me different, I've seen your kids!!), and giving formula doesn't make you any less of one! Take a deep breath, and go put your feet up for a few minutes. I mean it. If you hate the fact that he doesn't get all his food from you, can we help you make a routine so that he can? Really. And big hugs. You sound overwhelmed...I can come out and visit some time soon if you want. Hey...a friend and I (and P) are going to hop the train to Sligo on Friday for the day. Want to come? -- 'Tis Herself |
#8
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I'm back(vent, rant,,,,got long)
"Phoebe & Allyson" wrote in message ... And really, the whole point of having a freezer stash is to feed it to the baby. So don't beat yourself up about having fed it to the baby. That made me giggle!! This is so true, thanks for pointing that aspect out. Am I ruining all the immunities by feeding him formula? Nope. If you want to cut back on the formula, you might try cutting the formula back to one bottle a day, and see if he's still willing to take bottles. He should be able to go back to multiple bottles when you got back to work. He is waking more at night(he had been sleeping through), I've been attributing that to a combination of teething and learning new skills. If we have a couple of particularly bad nights, Caterpillar usually has mastered a new skill at the end. And a dose of Tylenol before bed has done wonders on the days she's acting more pained than skillful, but Liam is on the young side to be teething. Thanks Phoebe, it's so easy to forget *why* he might be waking more at night........I'm just thinking of those Pampers ads that go on how baby needs sleep to make sense of all new stuff they have learnt! he lights up when he smells or sees what we are eating, and everything is going to his mouth, he has great head support and can sit upright in his pushchair, he has lost the tongue thrust(we know this because we had to give him medicine). Wow! Caterpillar only lost her tongue thrust within the last month (I want to say in the last 2-3 weeks), and she's 23 weeks old. Really? No, I am sure Liam has lost his as I distinctly remember Caoimhe and Ciarán's tongue thrusts and what they looked like. Do big babies at birth tend to need to wean early? Caterpillar was 8 pounds 4 ounces (3.75 kg) when she was born, and has consistently been 80th percentile for weight, and hasn't been unsatisfied with no solids. I can't be as great a mum as most of you here are Sure you are. If you were a bad mom, you wouldn't be worrying about how to balance your needs and all 3 of your kids' needs and going back to work and still bf as much as possible. Thanks for the comments and help Phoebe -- Marie Mum of 3 DD born 03/98, DS1 born 11/99 DS2 born 08/03 |
#9
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I'm back(vent, rant,,,,got long)
"Leslie" wrote in message ... Do big babies at birth tend to need to wean early? No. My youngest (13 lbs. 5 oz. at birth) was exclusively bf and showed little interest in solids until he was about 18 months old. Your milk is plenty at this point! Leslie Wow!! Was he on solids and just not very fond of them or did you not introduce them until 18 months. My 5 yr old is still not very into solids......lolol!!! -- Marie Mum of 3 DD born 03/98, DS1 born 11/99 DS2 born 08/03 |
#10
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I'm back(vent, rant,,,,got long)
"KC" wrote in message om... {{{{Marie}}}} You're not alone. I had to give formula early on because of low diaper counts. Luckily we don't have any issues with diaper counts here. Plus I started solids right at 4 months. My baby was showing all the signs too. She is 5.5 months now, and it hasn't hurt her. Well this is my problem, I can look back at putting Caoimhe on solids at 12 weeks and Ciarán at 14 weeks......and say that they have had no problems with allergies or food issues. But now that I feel more educated and did wean Liam earlier and then if he did develop a food intolerance I would beat myself up over it!! She has always been months ahead at most things, including readiness for eating. She actually just cruised for the first time tonight, and has been standing at a short table since she was 3.5 months old and sitting up since probably 3 months too. Caoimhe (now 5) was like that too! If others want to go to 6 months even when their babies are showing readiness to eat, that is their business, but not me. And that's fair enough as far as I am concerned. It's just getting to the point of making a decision that is hard isn't it!! You won't mess up immunities by giving some formula, as long as you keep giving breast milk the baby will get the immunities. I also think breast milk is the best brain food. I have nothing but my own anecdotal evidence to back that up, but even if you do have to give formula remember that giving as much breast milk as you can is still very important. It is not all or nothing. Thanks for your comments and advise KC -- Marie Mum of 3 DD born 03/98, DS1 born 11/99 DS2 born 08/03 KC - buy or rent Whittlestone Breast Expressers at: http://www.alittlestore.com "Irish Marie" wrote in message ... Hi to you all I had a sick computer (well 2 actually) and between Jean, Herself and her dh we got them fixed and now I'm backed. I missed ngs! Anyway Liam is now 14weeks as of tomorrow. I am starting back at work next Tuesday week (the 18th) Liam is thriving. But there are a couple of things I am feeling low about now. I introduced a couple of bottles of formula (he'd usually take 4x4oz bottles a day) during the hours that I will be at work and am still nursing him in the mornings and evenings. (When I return to work I will be gone from him from 9am to 6pm....but won't be home and able to sit down and nurse until probably 7pm) I had started getting a stash in the freezer but was using them up. Then I also got lazy at pumping........I see it as a chore. Then Liam was rejecting bottles so we decided to give him regular bottles to get him used to them before I return to work. I used up the EBM stash and wasn't renewing it because I was too tired keeping up with my older 2 children and feeding him the bottles that I didn't have time to pump as well......I do sometimes fit in late night and the occasional morning pump. When I return to work I will be getting 3x20minute breaks to pump, so hopefully by then I can break the formula cycle and just feed him the EBM as long as I get enough out. But has anyone else managed to feed their baby ebm while they work without depending on a freezer stash?? I'm feeling sad in myself that I was not a better and more committed mum, to make myself make time to pump and also get him used to bottles without resorting to formula. Am I ruining all the immunities by feeding him formula? Luckily my supply is staying strong so far, apart from a bit of a dip in the early evening, but it has always been like that.......he is like a barnacle most evenings since day one. I am also finding it *really* hard to hold off spoon feeding him, please don't slate me, Caoimhe and Ciarán my FF babies were both being spoon fed at this age, and I am trying really hard to ignore the signs that are trotted out by weaning leaflets around here. He is waking more at night(he had been sleeping through), he lights up when he smells or sees what we are eating, and everything is going to his mouth, he has great head support and can sit upright in his pushchair, he has lost the tongue thrust(we know this because we had to give him medicine). My educated head is telling me that he is just exploring with his mouth right now and not necessarily looking for food. I know that if I was a less busy mummy I could nurse him more often him through the day, but I just find it hard to find the time. I suppose you could say I am token breastfeeding at this stage. I don't know what to do, I'm just hoping that going back to work clarifies the ebm v formula thing for me, so that I know how much I can produce each day and I just hope time flies until I can spoon feed ( I really can't see myself making it to 6 months) Do big babies at birth tend to need to wean early? I just hate the fact that he is not getting all his nourishment from me but I can't be as great a mum as most of you here are, I can't dedicate myself to breastfeeding exclusively. Sorry for the vent |
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