I'm back(vent, rant,,,,got long)

wrote in message
...

"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?

14 weeks, but I am not thinking of giving him solids right now, I am
worrying now for when he reaches 4 months!!

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.


Thanks for explaining that.

Of course this is a moot point for this OP as she's only considering
formula
with food, but I wanted to explain.


No actually I am currently giving him supplemental bottles of formula.

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


LOL! Thanks Nikki.

--
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

"Herself" wrote in message
...
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!

HR said it's because it will becoming law soon anyway so they may as well
start now!

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.

Thanks, but I had all this romantic visions of me nourishing Liam with
nothing but my milk.......it was fascinating me for the past 14 weeks
watching his weight gain and it was all coming from me. And I had romantic
visions of me being an extended breastfeeder, I just feel like I am pushing
that goal further away.

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 :-).

I respect that you feel safe to say that here, I would never want anyone to
hold back.............!

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?

My brother has eczema, I had childhood asthma, my 2nd and 3rd cousins have
eczema, asthma and cystic fibrosis. My brother has ADD and has always had a
tendency to get hyperactive when he eats certain foods.
No egg or dairy allergies in the family.

I think that
"ruining" is the wrong word.

Thanks!

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?

C gets home at 2ish and dh leaves for work at 4, we start getting the dinner
about 3ish, so by right, I should have time there........but I always find
some other chores to do or end up nursing some days. I can normally fit in
a pump in the morning just after C leaves for school. You see I'm awful for
staying up late and then being really tired in the morning and just wanting
to veg on the couch!

It's just as important as
making dinner. Can hubby start dinner for you,

He'll only make dinner on his days off, but as soon as I go back to work
he'll be making his own.....obviously none of this will be relevant then
anyway!

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.

Logistically, no, it probably would not make things all that easier, but I
just envisioned him being more settled!?!

Do big babies at birth tend to need to wean early?

snort P was 9lbs 7oz...still nurses about 4x a day.

Fair enough!

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'm feeling that worrying about going back to work, maternity leave has
flown by and I feel like I am going back way too soon but I can't afford to
stay off any longer.

I can come out and visit some
time soon if you want.

Anytime next week hun, you are more than welcome to, after that it's back to
the grindstone and it'll be hard making time to meet friends......oh to be a
SAHM (with a nanny! lol!)

Hey...a friend and I (and P) are going to hop
the train to Sligo on Friday for the day. Want to come?
--
Sounds cool but I have dedicated myself to fundraising for Educate Together
that day.
Thank you for all the thoughts and advise, I really appreciate them,
--
Marie
Mum of 3
DD born 03/98, DS1 born 11/99 DS2 born 08/03

There was one I heard about on the local news which was over 15 pounds
delivered vaginally!

KC
buy or rent Whittlestone Breast Expressers at:
http://www.alittlestore.com



(Herself) wrote in message ...
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!

Okay, that has to be the largest at-birth baby I've heard of. Wow.
Nice one!

Thanks! :-) His birth was a peak experience for me, for sure!

Leslie

Wow!! Was he on solids and just not very fond of them or did you not
introduce them until 18 months.

I waited until six months to introduce them, and while he initially would eat a
few bites of baby food, he got to where he would refuse anything I put into his
mouth. He was probably 95% bf at 18 months, and then gradually added limited
foods. He still won't eat fruit, and only one or two vegetables. At 2.5, he
still doesn't eat three regular meals. It's been very strange, compared to my
other three, who were anxious to start eating and quckly and enthusiastically
began to eat a variety of foods!

Leslie

Irish Marie wrote:

I missed ngs!

Glad you back :-)

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.

Do not feel bad about that. I made a choice not to spend time pumping
outside of work and to supplement with formula once my stash was gone and I
wasn't pumping enough to meet his needs. I don't regret it one bit. I had
a baby and toddler that didn't get enough of me as it was. I wasn't going
to take another 30 minutes or more a day to pump.

Am I ruining all the immunities by feeding him formula?

Certainly not! The breastmilk he gets is still as good as it ever was. All
breastmilk is best but any breastmilk at all is wonderful!

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

I think it will. I found that being able to nurse and give breastmilk to my
babies when we were together felt very good, especially since I didn't feel
so hot about working to begin with. I was never tempted to quit
breastfeeding just because I had to use formula.

Do big babies at birth tend to need to wean early?

IME no. Hunter was born at 8 pounds 12 ounces and stayed at the 95-100+%
and he delayed solids by his choice until he was 10 months and then wasn't
very interested. He didn't get formula either, Luke is the one I needed to
supplement with formula.

I can't be as great a mum as most of you here are, I can't
dedicate myself to breastfeeding exclusively.

Well there is a *whole lot more* to being a great mom then exclusive
breastfeeding. You sound like a great mom to me :-)

Hang in there and good luck with your first days back!

--
Nikki
Mama to Hunter (4) and Luke (2)

"Irish Marie" wrote in message ...

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!!

Yeah, I did sweat the decision before I did it too. It's easy to
forget that now. Jessi was lunging at anything that was going to our
mouths though, so that made the decision easier. I think you will
know when it is time to start by your babies behavior, and then you
should follow your instincts.

KC -
buy or rent Whittlestone Breast Expressers at:
http://www.alittlestore.com

KC wrote:

There was one I heard about on the local news which was over 15 pounds
delivered vaginally!

More power to her. snort And my doc said my 9 pounder he didn't
think would fit!
--
'Tis Herself

Leslie wrote:

Okay, that has to be the largest at-birth baby I've heard of. Wow.
Nice one!

Thanks! :-) His birth was a peak experience for me, for sure!

How old now...and what weight? :-)


--
'Tis Herself

You know KC, there are just some things that you should keep to yourself.

:-)
Nikki


"KC" wrote in message
om...
There was one I heard about on the local news which was over 15 pounds
delivered vaginally!

KC
buy or rent Whittlestone Breast Expressers at:
http://www.alittlestore.com



(Herself) wrote in message
...
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!