A question for all you wench-moms out there...

[Leela]

How long did you breastfeed your li'l ones for (if you did). And what was your cue to start with solid foods?

Oh, and how long did it take to get comfortable doing it?

Ok. :D More than one question, then...

Am as ready as I'll ever be to start (once the wee one gets here). Just wondered what your experiences have been like.

Thanks!

Leela the Primigravida

[Rowan Culpepper]

Leela,

My son nursed untill he was over a year. At the end of that time, it was very seldom
and it seemed just for his comfort and security. I know of some babies who wean
themselves much earlier.

It took about a month to get used to it and several women from La Leche league saved
me through their help. They gave moral support and taught me what I needed to know.

I don't remember exactly how old he was when my son began with solids, 'though it is
written down somewhere. The cereal in formula or expressed milk never worked to
make him sleep. He didn't like the bottle. I did the thing where you introduce foods very
slowly to watch for allergies. As you are "Primigravida", when is the babe expected?
How exciting. :D :D :D :D :D
Rowan

[Athalia Jewel]

I breastfed my son for about 9 weeks. I didn't really have any problems getting comfortable with it, but after 3 weeks I started supplementing with formula because I was wearing myself out.


As far as solid foods, my son started with rice cereal at 4 months, and I added in fruits and veggies when he was 6 months. Do talk to the pediatrician about that though and see what they recommend.

[kendermom]

The kender-monster decided at 2 months that she was done. I was usually pretty comfortable with it.
My family starts their babies on solids pretty quick. Lala had cereal pretty close to the 2 month mark

[Leela]

As you are "Primigravida", when is the babe expected?
How exciting. :D :D :D :D :D
Rowan

Around Feb. 20th. Not long now!

Thanks!

[I'Cin]

I breastfed the first for about 6 weeks (I was in the Marine Corps and had to go back to work and expressing at work just wasn't worth the hassle). Started her on cereal probably around 3-4 months (or what ever the dr. recommended at the time)

The boy didn't breastfeed long - it just wasn't enough for him, and he started on cereal no later than 2 months - he liked to eat and was good at it (still is, in fact). He was on solids (i.e., baby food) way earlier than pediatricians suggest, but mine agreed that he seemed to need it.

The youngest was breastfed probably about 3 months or so, until we started her solids (also dr. recommended time frame)

I was always very comfortable with it, even in public which I did with some tact - not just whip out a tit which I've seen some people do. A lot of the time, no one around me realized what was going on until someone would reach for the blanket (or whatever I was using) to look at the baby and I'd tell them that I didn't really care but it wasn't a good idea unless they really wanted to see more of me than most people do. :lol:

Do what makes you comfortable and works for the baby. And don't let ANYONE push you to breast feed if you don't want to, or to bottle feed if you want to breast feed or feel guilty if you start with the breast, decide its not for you and change over. Its about you, your baby, and what your family needs.

I'Cin

[Rowan Culpepper]

Do what makes you comfortable and works for the baby. And don't let ANYONE push you to breast feed if you don't want to, or to bottle feed if you want to breast feed or feel guilty if you start with the breast, decide its not for you and change over. Its about you, your baby, and what your family needs.

I'Cin

True 'dat. Tell it like it is l'Cin.

[Dedeley]

I breast-fed my son for about 16 weeks - stopped when I had to go back to work. Like someone else said, I didn't want to go through the hassle of expressing at work.

It took the baby awhile to get the hang of "latching on." Apparently a lot of babies do that. Once we got the hang of it, he was an almost constant nurser. I would sit there from 7pm until 10 pm with the little bugger latched on. So we started to supplement with formula pretty early on to get him to sleep.

I was an uncomfortable nurser, and was only comfortable doing it in front of my husband. Not particularly comfortable with "whipping out a tit" (as someone else said) in front of the in-laws, who were not supportive at all.

Regarding solids, I think we started on that yucky rice cereal at about 3 1/2 to 4 months. Your doctor will tell you when, and the only advice I have is to listen to the doctor and no one else. I made the mistake of trying solids too early on the advice of in-laws, and the baby got constipated, which we tried to cure with prune juice in the bottle, which led to massive diarrhea . . . . . . the in-laws are NOT around to take care of poopy diarrhea diapers.

The important thing is to do what is comfortable for you and your baby. Breast feeding is fine. Bottle feeding is fine. They get older and eat dog food, anyway.

[Athalia Jewel]

It took the baby awhile to get the hang of "latching on." Apparently a lot of babies do that.


I had that problem too....fortunately, hubby's cousin is/was an OB Nurse...she came over when Patrick was a week old to help me.

[rosefaeries]

I breast fed all 3 of my boys. They each nursed for close to a year. When they decided biting was a good idea was when I quit. (Not all kids do this though) I nursed my younger two sons while set up at fairs & festivals. My youngest son is a market brat ( I was setting up at the Eugene Saturday Market on a weekly basis) I recommend a comfortable chair to nurse in, a supply of cushions to support the baby if necessary, (was a life saver at market . It would leave my hands free to make change & wrap up items), something to cover up with for discreet nursing (I highly recomend a piece of black lace for the warmer weather. Covers you up while allowing air flow. Especially if you pick a very ornate pattern)

But most important in nursing, is to relax, drink lots of liquids & to enjoy the time with your baby.

[Phoenix McHeit]

I nursed all 4 of my boys. Every one of them was different, time-wise, but I basically stopped when they got teeth. I ain't no masochist. Actually my last one is the one that threw me. You would figure I had the hang of it after 3 others, but that little guy just didn't want to latch properly, and would actually cause me to bleed from improper positioning. With my first, I tried this little trick, to help me get used to it. I took a bottle-nipple and held it over myself. He got the idea of latching on, cuz the rubber held shape better than my own body did, I got used to the feeling without all the usual soreness, AND no 'nipple-confusion' later on in life. After about a week, I stopped using the other one, but he had no trouble with the change... perhaps cuz the scent was the same.

I do remember learning 'how' from my Mom... she was with me in the hospital the first time I attempted. Silly, naive me, I asked 'how will I know when he's got it?' Mom was in the process of saying 'Oh you'll Know!" when he got it my eyes popped open and I can only imagine the look on my face, cuz Mom laughed and said "Yup he's got it!" Lemme tell ya, those little babes can pull HARD.

As far as solids - my family starts em early too... about 2 inches of very ripe banana, at 10 days old. If you do choose this method, remember liquids!! It works better if you're nursing, rather than using formula, because there's less chance of constipation. If they have full bellies from the solids, they are less likely to want the bottle or breast afterwards, so give the liquid first. It'll help. And keep an eye on the fontanel (soft-spot) - if the wee one is not getting enough liquid, it'll begin to look a tad sunken. That's a clue to help, before constipation sets in.

Anyway - I have very healthy, big, strong boys now (my 10 yr old is 5' 1" and 115 lbs) so it worked for me. But as I'Cin so eloquently said - do what feels right for You & Your Baby, dear. Mother-instinct is one to be trusted.

Babies are one of my favorite subjects, so if you have any more questions, I'm always here for an ear, shoulder, or take-it-or-not advice. Congratulations, sweets ! You're in for the Time of your Life! Enjoy it, revel in it, cherish it - for it passes all too quickly.
:grouphug:

[Margaret]

I breast fed Erin for one year - like many, I stopped when she cut her teeth and she thought that biting was funny. She was weaned fairly easily - no real issues with the transition to a bottle.

Her first 'real food' was at Thanksgiving, which would put her at 5 months. However, we really didn't start her on solids until she was around 6 months.

As for her readiness on such things, I mostly followed Doctor's recommendations and such and Erin helped by transitioning well.

[Leela]

Thanks, ladies!

I've already had a hint that my breastfeeding is going to be seen as a little strange by some of my family. I think some of the resistance is generational...I was raised on formula. I also had just about every disease I could get as a tot. So that may be coloring my decision to breastfeed as well. But as everything I've heard points to breastmilk building up immunities and just being (like the banana) "the perfect food" AND I'm in a situation where I don't have a office/job to go back to (which, quite frankly, is still a little strange. I've had jobs since junior high) I figured it's the right thing to do.

I'm not sure at this point how I'll respond to breastfeeding in public. I've seen it done discreetly, and if it comes to be an issue, I'll just try to use those women as a role model.
Any tips?

[Phoenix McHeit]

Get a Snuggli, or a baby hammock. Those position the tot close to you, and leave your hands free - it helped me when they got hungry and I was out shopping under a time-constraint that I couldn't just stop & sit. And you'll always have a blanket or something like that in the Diaper Bag. Drape the blanket over your shoulder, across the babe. Those big old diaper pins come in handy to secure it to the back of your shoulder, or you can enlist someone's help in holding it in place while you arrange yourself.

Position yourself under that cover, and babe can feed away to little hearts content, and no one the wiser. Oh and another thing - if you're going out - Always wear button-down tops. Lifting the shirt just seemed so indiscreet to me. Around the house, who cares - but going out, buttons are a must.

oh yeah - one more funny tidbit... if you choose breastfeeding... Always pack 3 sets of bra pads - ya never know when little one is going to sleep through a meal, and it can get embarassing to get over-full. :shock: :D

[DangerousCurves]

I would just like to say that although you may wish to nurse, it doesn't always work out and it is noone's fault. I wanted to nurse DESPERATELY, feeling that I was not a "good" mother if I couldn't. Well, the wenchlette was small (6lbs 12 oz) and I went from a 38C to a 44H when my milk came in. Needless to say, she couldn't latch on. We tried the plastic shields, bottle nipples, everything. No success. I pumped and pumped and pumped but I was so nervous and uncomfortable (my husband making jokes about my "udders" didn't help even though he was trying to make me laugh) that I could only get an ounce or two at a time. I tried sitting in the dark watching movies while pumping, yadayadayada. I eventually had to go to the hospital and get hooked up to the milk machine like a cow. I just couldn't relax...I was so tired with a newborn and all...I was feeling seriously unattractive all post-baby and such. Tasha ended up formula fed. She is bright and healthy and athletic. Everything I could have hoped for. If you do have problems nursing, perhaps it just isn't meant to be. Don't ever think you are a failure, as I did. Home remedy: I highly recommend putting cold cabbage leaves in your bra to relieve the tenderness. I know it sounds goofy but it does help. If you are like me...you will probably need more than one per breast! LOL And just say "No" to underwires at the beginning when you are still uncomfortable! Hope this helps!

[Lady V]

My daughter nursed until she was 18 months - I had told her if she ever bit me and drew blood, that was it, and the little stinker looked up, smiled, and *chomp!*.

Son went until the day he turned 2. *He* decided he was done. (He also gave up diapers the day before he turned 3, without any prompting on my part.)

Because of family history of allergies, I waited until they were 4.5 months old to start solids, and introduced new ones slowly. Like, waited for 2 weeks after intoducing Rice cereal, then intro'd a different cereal, then waited 2 weeks, etc. After I went thru all the cereals, I started on bananas, then applesauce...then mexican food. :D Seriously, both kids decided enough was enough and they wanted *real* food.

She's 7.5, he'll be 5 in March, so it worked.

[Mum Tarts]

Well, a topic I know much about. I had 4 little ones and breastfed all. They do tend to decide when they want off, but the longest I did was for 9 months and she had teeth.
No problem though cause the dr. said just flick my finger to her cheek if she nips and then take her away from the breast. It did work. But the best advice came before I had the baby and a Nurse suggested it. She said when taking a bath, take rough washcloth and gently rub your nipples. She said do this as often as you can and it toughens then up. Well I did and it was the best advice I ever had cause when I started nursing-no problems. I know you've already had the wee one but for anyone else interested it did help.
Good Luck!, Mum

[Lucy]

:shock: :shock: :shock:
UGH!!! MUM!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ....

I can't believe she had to reply to this topic....have you no shame.... :oops:


Sorry for the thread jack...but that was just WRONG! :shock:

[Emma nic Gunn]

I was just looking through the old threads, and here this was. I had my baby ironically just as this opened up, and I've been breastfeeding the whole time. I wish I had read some of this when I was starting, because I was sooo discouraged.

First of all, if you can't breastfeed, you can't do it. I think some babies just don't want to nurse. Other times, for physical reasons, mothers just shouldn't do it -- like if you are making yourself sick in the process. I think the saying "It takes a village to raise a child" starts the minute you have that baby. I certainly needed all the help I could get when I had Jamie. It was that early help, I think, that really allowed me to establish breastfeeding with Jamie.

Second of all, for any mothers who are trying, I would say, don't give up without a fight!! I thought it would come naturally, instantaneously, but nursing is hard business! Its like establishing skills, they don't come without hard work.

As per the solid food introduction, my doctor said four months for cereal, six months for solids. My dad, who is a pediatrician, said that you can start cereal when the baby gets really hungry -- I know, not very clear, but I think you know it when you see it. A caution about solid foods, though-- recent medical research has suggested that the majority of food allergies are caused by solid food being introduced too early in childhood. I think the longer you wait to introduce solid food, the more ready the baby is for it. If you try too early, your baby won't take to it at all.
So, even against my dad's advice (agh!!!) I'm waiting a little bit before I introduce.


As for breastfeeding -- if you can do it, by all means, do it!!!! We have saved so much, not having to buy formula and bottle paraphenalia. Also, it really helped me bond with my baby -- which, to be honest, didn't happen immediately (whole other subject... :roll: -- now wild horses can't drag me away :) ). Good luck to anyone who wants to nurse!!