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milk supply, night weaning, pumping, and menstruation questions
My daughter, who is 22.5 months old, is an enthusiastic nurser, and I
look forward to continuing our nursing relationship as long as she and I both want to continue it. But, as the mother of an older nursling I now have some questions that aren't addressed specifically in the books. 1. I'm still not menstruating. I felt menstrual last week, and spotted a slight amount (there was some blood when I wiped, but nothing more). I don't have questions about this specifically, but it's related to further questions that I do have. 2. Kivi has started sleeping more at night. Ever since she started teething at 6 months, she quit sleeping so well at night. On bad nights she'd wake many many times, but most nights only twice. I resisted the doctor's not-so-subtle hints about night weaning to get her to sleep all night. I figure as long as it's only once or twice a night, I don't have a problem with it, and she'll sleep all night in her own time. I'm just lazy really, and night weaning seemed more trouble - and possibly traumatic-- than just nursing her a couple times a night. But two nights in the row she skipped her middle of the night feeding. I put her down around 9pm, and she didn't wake up until 4:30am and 5:00am two nights in a row. She did insist on nursing on both sides those mornings (her usual is to nurse just one side). Last night she woke up her usual twice. But if this becomes the norm, will this cause supply issues? And will my periods be more likely to return? 3. Kivi goes to daycare 3 days per week. At first I still pumped once about 1:00 in the afternoon, and gave her the expressed milk in the evenings when she came home (I don't bother to store it - she hates the taste after just a few days, and only takes it if it's fresh). But frankly, pumping is a lot of trouble! I'd rather skip, and she LOVES how milky I am when she gets home. But if I do this 3 days in a row every week, is this going to cause me supply problems? Between night weaning and this, is there likely to be a problem? I've never had milk supply problems - always seemed to have plenty. I want Kivi to wean on her own time, not because I no longer have milk in abundance, and if continuing to pump once a day on the days she's not with me, is something I'm willing to do, even though it's a hassle. 4. I'm curious how many 22 month olds don't sleep through the night like Kivi does? The No Cry Sleep Solution said that 40% of two-year olds doesn't, but that seems high from what I hear from other parents. Thanks, Cathy Weeks Mommy to Kivi Alexis 12/01 |
#2
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milk supply, night weaning, pumping, and menstruation questions
"Cathy Weeks" wrote in message om... My daughter, who is 22.5 months old, is an enthusiastic nurser, and I look forward to continuing our nursing relationship as long as she and I both want to continue it. But, as the mother of an older nursling I now have some questions that aren't addressed specifically in the books. 1. I'm still not menstruating. I felt menstrual last week, and spotted a slight amount (there was some blood when I wiped, but nothing more). I don't have questions about this specifically, but it's related to further questions that I do have. 2. Kivi has started sleeping more at night. Ever since she started teething at 6 months, she quit sleeping so well at night. On bad nights she'd wake many many times, but most nights only twice. I resisted the doctor's not-so-subtle hints about night weaning to get her to sleep all night. I figure as long as it's only once or twice a night, I don't have a problem with it, and she'll sleep all night in her own time. I'm just lazy really, and night weaning seemed more trouble - and possibly traumatic-- than just nursing her a couple times a night. But two nights in the row she skipped her middle of the night feeding. I put her down around 9pm, and she didn't wake up until 4:30am and 5:00am two nights in a row. She did insist on nursing on both sides those mornings (her usual is to nurse just one side). Last night she woke up her usual twice. But if this becomes the norm, will this cause supply issues? And will my periods be more likely to return? 3. Kivi goes to daycare 3 days per week. At first I still pumped once about 1:00 in the afternoon, and gave her the expressed milk in the evenings when she came home (I don't bother to store it - she hates the taste after just a few days, and only takes it if it's fresh). But frankly, pumping is a lot of trouble! I'd rather skip, and she LOVES how milky I am when she gets home. But if I do this 3 days in a row every week, is this going to cause me supply problems? Between night weaning and this, is there likely to be a problem? I've never had milk supply problems - always seemed to have plenty. I want Kivi to wean on her own time, not because I no longer have milk in abundance, and if continuing to pump once a day on the days she's not with me, is something I'm willing to do, even though it's a hassle. 4. I'm curious how many 22 month olds don't sleep through the night like Kivi does? The No Cry Sleep Solution said that 40% of two-year olds doesn't, but that seems high from what I hear from other parents. Thanks, Cathy Weeks Mommy to Kivi Alexis 12/01 I can't help with much of this, only to say that in my recent experience if you have been b/f for a long time your body seems to cope with changes quite easily. The other week when DS was ill, he fed every hour and when he wanted it, it was there. He hasn't fed at all in the night (Last feed 7pm , morning one after 6am) for 6 months but we had no problems with supply. Not much help, but a little I hope. Clare |
#3
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milk supply, night weaning, pumping, and menstruation questions
Regarding pumping for a toddler:
I quit pumping for each of my children at around 12.5 to 13 months. They all went to daycare--my sons were going four days a week, about five to six hours a day; my daughter goes five days a week, five to six hours a day. They drink whatever they drink at daycare--whole milk and juice. They nurse(d) at home. It never seemed to affect my supply at all, but then all three were frequent nursers (my daughter still is) at home. My daughter is two and she frequently will nurse once in the wee hours of the morning (we cosleep). Mary Ellen William (8) Matthew (6) Margaret (2) |
#4
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milk supply, night weaning, pumping, and menstruation questions
Cathy Weeks wrote:
1. I'm still not menstruating. I felt menstrual last week, and spotted a slight amount (there was some blood when I wiped, but nothing more). I don't have questions about this specifically, but it's related to further questions that I do have. Color me jealous :-). But if this becomes the norm, will this cause supply issues? And will my periods be more likely to return? P is down to one night nurse, with occasional sleep-throughs (last night was one). I haven't had any supply issues...he's been sick lately and nursing more and as far as I can tell, I'm keeping up with it. As for your periods...I'm not sure. But ISTR that people talk about night weaning as when periods come back. But don't quote me. 4. I'm curious how many 22 month olds don't sleep through the night like Kivi does? The No Cry Sleep Solution said that 40% of two-year olds doesn't, but that seems high from what I hear from other parents. Like I said above, P still isn't regularly. We did have one month, but then we went to the US and he hasn't slept through more than twice since then (August?). I know another 2 year old up the road who doesn't as well...and a 3 yo who is iffy :-). When's Kivi's b-day? P is Dec 23. -- 'Tis Herself |
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milk supply, night weaning, pumping, and menstruation questions
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milk supply, night weaning, pumping, and menstruation questions
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#7
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milk supply, night weaning, pumping, and menstruation questions
"Cathy Weeks" wrote in message
om... My daughter, who is 22.5 months old, is an enthusiastic nurser, and I look forward to continuing our nursing relationship as long as she and I both want to continue it. But, as the mother of an older nursling I now have some questions that aren't addressed specifically in the books. 1. I'm still not menstruating. I felt menstrual last week, and spotted a slight amount (there was some blood when I wiped, but nothing more). I don't have questions about this specifically, but it's related to further questions that I do have. You are so lucky!!! I got mine back at 4 months even when I was nursing around the clock! Sounds to me that as you're pumping when you aren't with her etc that your body is still thinking that you have a younger baby who feed so regularly. They may come back once you change your routine, some women don't get them back until they stop nursing though. 2. Kivi has started sleeping more at night. Ever since she started teething at 6 months, she quit sleeping so well at night. On bad nights she'd wake many many times, but most nights only twice. I resisted the doctor's not-so-subtle hints about night weaning to get her to sleep all night. I figure as long as it's only once or twice a night, I don't have a problem with it, and she'll sleep all night in her own time. I'm just lazy really, and night weaning seemed more trouble - and possibly traumatic-- than just nursing her a couple times a night. But two nights in the row she skipped her middle of the night feeding. I put her down around 9pm, and she didn't wake up until 4:30am and 5:00am two nights in a row. She did insist on nursing on both sides those mornings (her usual is to nurse just one side). Last night she woke up her usual twice. But if this becomes the norm, will this cause supply issues? And will my periods be more likely to return? Hey if she's showing signs of sleeping through I'd say encourage her, if only to get more sleep yourself. (And by encourage I mean follow her cue, no cry it out suggestions from me). Your milk supply is so established now that you mustn't worry about it. If this becomes the norm that she has that big feed in the morning, then your milk supply will adjust from having that milk at night to in the morning. It's a marvellous system. I do think your periods may well return as you'll be having longer gaps between feeds. I think the general rule of thumb (which is always broken by someone, myself included) is that feeding around the clock every 2-3 hours will prevent periods returning, so larger gaps will encourage their return. 3. Kivi goes to daycare 3 days per week. At first I still pumped once about 1:00 in the afternoon, and gave her the expressed milk in the evenings when she came home (I don't bother to store it - she hates the taste after just a few days, and only takes it if it's fresh). But frankly, pumping is a lot of trouble! I'd rather skip, and she LOVES how milky I am when she gets home. But if I do this 3 days in a row every week, is this going to cause me supply problems? Between night weaning and this, is there likely to be a problem? I've never had milk supply problems - always seemed to have plenty. I want Kivi to wean on her own time, not because I no longer have milk in abundance, and if continuing to pump once a day on the days she's not with me, is something I'm willing to do, even though it's a hassle. You will continue to have milk in abundance at the times when Kivi nurses. Yes, if you stop pumping at 1pm then your body won't make that milk for that expressing session anymore. But your body will adjust around your routine. Some women only feed twice a day during the week and then BF all around the clock at weekends - and their supply adjusts. Yours will too around your routine. You do not need to pump now to keep up your supply. Frankly you could probably leave Kivi for a few days and still come home full of milk. 4. I'm curious how many 22 month olds don't sleep through the night like Kivi does? The No Cry Sleep Solution said that 40% of two-year olds doesn't, but that seems high from what I hear from other parents. I don't know. Mine never slept and then finally did 10 till 6 when she was 20 months, following it up by sleeping through for 10 hours (she never did 12, still doesn't at 3!!) pretty shortly afterwards. i think that lots of babies, especially formula fed ones start of sleeping early and then by 2 are being little monkeys and causing sleep trouble. Nikki Thanks, Cathy Weeks Mommy to Kivi Alexis 12/01 |
#8
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milk supply, night weaning, pumping, and menstruation questions
I'm just lazy really, and night weaning seemed more
trouble - and possibly traumatic-- than just nursing her a couple times a night. Heh. I'm with you on that. With DS it was rarely more than once a night, and basically as soon as we put him in a bed rather than a crib, even that disappeared. If you don't co-sleep all the time, consider ditching the crib. Now instead of waking fully and standing up in his crib wailing for me to come get him, after which the only way to get him back to sleep was to nurse him down, DS just gets up and trots into our bedroom on his own, climbs into bed next to me, and goes right back to sleep without nursing. I don't even wake up. Plus, at bedtime I (or DH) can lie down with him and then get up after he's asleep, which is easier than nursing him down on the couch or elsewhere and then lifting him into the crib. But frankly, pumping is a lot of trouble! I'd rather skip, and she LOVES how milky I am when she gets home. But if I do this 3 days in a row every week, is this going to cause me supply problems? No, it's not. I stopped pumping altogether when DS was 13 months. I work full time. He still sometimes nursed during the day on weekends, and he never complained about the supply! (Like you, I never had a touchy supply to begin with.) He's now almost 33 months and still nursing quite regularly once, and sometimes 2-3x, a day. I'm sure I could wean him if I thought it worth the effort, but I don't, and I don't foresee him weaning completely any time real soon. 4. I'm curious how many 22 month olds don't sleep through the night like Kivi does? The No Cry Sleep Solution said that 40% of two-year olds doesn't, but that seems high from what I hear from other parents. That statistic sounds about right to me, actually. Maybe my friends are more honest about their toddlers' sleep habits than yours. ;-) DS sometimes sleeps through the night, but more often not. It's just that, as I said above, he usually no longer wakes *me* up when he gets up. I can live with that. :-) Holly Mom to Camden, 2.5 yrs |
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milk supply, night weaning, pumping, and menstruation questions
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#10
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milk supply, night weaning, pumping, and menstruation questions
Wow. How often was he nursing a year ago? (When he was Kivi's age? 22 months) Kivi nurses pretty frequently. She nurses when we wake up in the morning, before nap, after nap, and at bedtime. Those are the major nurses, but she of course likes to snack and comfort nurse. Mine never was a snacker. Good thing, because that would really annoy me! Also, I WOH, so most days he simply didn't have the opportunity to nurse before napping, for example. So, at 22 months, he was nursing twice a day -- bedtime, and first thing in the morning. Sometimes once during the night, and sometimes in the afternoon on a weekend, but usually just those 2x. He's been pretty much on that same schedule since 18 months, when we dropped the after-work session, until now, except that in the last few months he sometimes gets up without nursing in the morning. Holly Mom to Camden, 2.5 yrs |
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