I just got my first 'time to think about weaning' from a HCP

[EauRouge]

Do I get some sort of badge now? Bit peed off, also with myself for not just saying "it's not negotiable" instead of getting all flustered and saying something about it just being bedtime. I shouldn't have to defend myself

[Startail]

How old is your DC?

Suffice to say DD2 was BFing when she went to the GP aged 5 months and wasn't the next time she went aged 11 years.

Fortunately the nice orthopaedic surgeons who fixed her broken arm in the mean time didn't ask

[EauRouge]

Eldest is 4.6yo, youngest is 2.2yo. It's never really come up that I've had to mention it before, I usually research all the drugs myself.

I've got to see another HCP tomorrow, I'll have the DDs with me this time so I am preparing myself to say 'not negotiable' and just change the subject. There is medication I can take that will not affect BF so I have no medical reason to wean.

[EauRouge]

I know, I think people just don't get it. I've been going 4.6 years, it barely even registers to me now- it's as normal as eating and drinking myself. I don't see it as an area of concern at all, I did say as much but I suppose people must think there's a reason why you would breastfeed a 4.6yo.

[midori1999]

Well, yes, there is a reason to BF a 4.6 year old, they want to, you want to and it's good for both of you healthwise and otherwise. But of course, you know this.

It's a shame they said anything to you. If it makes you feel better I had to discuss breast surgery with a plastic surgeon when DD was about 9 months old and was told I would have to stop BF for the surgery. I asked about how soon after the surgery I may be able to relactate and he looked horrified and said 'your milk would have dried up', so obviously didn't have much of a clue, but I just burst into tears... Embarrassing.... I have since found a surgeon who is supportive of me breastfeeding and said 'it's your daughters right, just come and see me again when you have finished breastfeeding and completed your family' as I may not be able to breastfeed after the surgery. If only they were all like that...

[EauRouge]

I wish I'd just kept my mouth shut now. I had surgery a few months ago and I don't think I even told the surgeon I was BF because there was no need. I'm annoyed with the NHS at the moment anyway, this is not improving my opinion at all! 4 months, Harriet? :(

[midori1999]

4 months is so young, even if you went by the 'EBF for 6 months' it's still well under that.

I know it's easier said than done Eau, but I'd just try and forget it, remembering that they are a sad product of our culture and ignorant.

I have mentioned breastfeeding to all the health professionals involved in my pregnancy care (there are lots of them, I am very high risk) and except the stupid midwife at booking, not one has so much as frowned, they seem quite approving. DD is 22 months, which isn't ancient, I know, but still. The booking midwife was awful, but when I quoted the WHO guidelines to her she backtracked, so she must have known she was in the wrong.

Odd though, how they want everyone to BF, but just not for 'too long'...

[EauRouge]

I might take my copy of Breastfeeding Answers Made Simple with me tomorrow, it's got loads of good stuff in there and hefty enough to double as a weapon

[5madthings]

I would gather some info on natura
L term bfeeding and the natural weaning age of between 3-7yrs? And the stuff about MILK teeth and how weaning occurs naturally as most lose their latch as they get their permanent teeth.

I horrified a Dr at hospital by bfeeding ds2 age two and a half ish.I had already been feeding ds3 who was a few month s old, the Dr had already said I couldn't have enough milk for ds3 (big baby) which I ignored and then he was all "you are still feeding him, you do know he should be eating solid foods by now"....cos obviously a whopping great big two and a half yr old is still going to be solely bfed....

[EauRouge]

Well if they think I should wean then the onus is on them to come up with the evidence. They'll have lots of fun looking, I'm sure Gah, I'm so annoyed that I didn't stand up for myself a bit more.

[TrinityRhino]

dont be annoyed with yourself, its ok

just be ready next time

[Kveta]

BAMS will make a fine weapon :o

[harverina]

Grrrr very annoying eau.

My dd fed until she was 2.5 when she self weaned. We had moved in with my in laws temporarily and I think she was too busy to bother with bf so just stopped.

Anyway, when she was 9 months she had a terrible sickness bug for 9 days. At one gp appointment I was told not to breastfeed her at all as this would just make her sick and the gp said "don't worry about your supply, it shouldn't matter if she stopped now anyway"....actually it would have!!! Anyway thank goodness for mumsnetters telling me the correct guidance for nursing sick babies

[EauRouge]

Harriet, yowch! I've got an e copy now on my phone, very handy and not as heavy.

It seems to be quite common for mothers to be told to stop BF if their baby has D&V I think GPs must get cows' milk and breastmilk mixed up. Doh.

[EauRouge]

I don't know, it was a present from DH. I can't imagine it would have been more than about £20. Not as handy for hitting HCPs round the head when they tell you to wean though

DD2 had D&V recently for 8 days and breastmilk was the only thing she could keep down for more than 5 minutes. She probably would've ended up needing medical treatment if I hadn't been BF. I was like Lady MacBeth that week, I was so determined not to catch it. Knackering enough exclusively breastfeeding a 2yo without getting D&V yourself!

[EauRouge]

Ha, all that worrying over nothing. GP was lovely and quite grateful that I'd done all the research on which drugs were safe.

[eagerbeagle]

This is interesting. DD (18mo) currently had a horrific D&V bug. Was at hospital earlier this week and they did not know what to make of her BFIng. The ward nurse advised me not to Bfeed and swap to dioralyte as milk was not advised for D&V. I explained that I knew diary should be avoided but that breastmilk was not dairy and that NICE guidelines said to keep nursing. They were trying v hard to work out how much breastmilk she was getting. Again I had to explain that 18mo were very efficient feeders and time on the breast would not tell you much about how much was going in but that I was confident that she was getting a fair amount. Later on the doctor was befuddled as he thought DD was exclusively Bfed (heaven knows why) as he was asking if I made enough milk to sustain her. I had to explain that yes, she did eat other food as well

Unimpressive lack of knowledge from the paediatric ward.

[ShowOfHands]

A hcp asked me the other day when ds would start having things other than breastmilk. He's 19 months old and obviously because I'm still bfing him, he hasn't had any solids . Wonder what she'd have made of dd who fed for years. Would she have assumed that I nipped into preschool at lunchtime whilst shrieking about the horrors of chewy food?

Anyway...

You're only doing it for yourself
Keeping them a baby
No nutrition
Blah blah zzzzz

Just, y'know, in case...

I am considering contriving a meeting with my hv. I saw her first time round when dd was 19 months and she was horrified I was still bfing as I would waste away, die of anaemia and dh would leave me due to lack of sex. The mind boggles. Really, what do people think extended bfing IS? Not that 19 months is even extended. Now I have another 19 month old, I'm alive and dh is still her and getting his oats. She's pop.

[ShowOfHands]

*here