I know I shouldn't have asked a HV for advice on bf/weaning - but I did (stupid emoticon). Could I instead ask wise mners for advice as I feel it's going a bit tits up IYKWIM!

[hotmama]

DD2 is 71/2 months - was exc bf until 27 weeks. Was going to go down the blw route but chickened out and got out my old faithful Annabel Karmel book - which worked fine with dd1.

I only bf dd1 for 10 weeks so have never weaned a bf baby onto solids. It was 'easy' with dd1 as I knew how much was in her bottles!

I'm worrying that I'm not bf dd2 enough - so advice please.

Dd2 generally sleeps through - though has started waking more since I started weaning - hence my concern re not bf enough?

A normal pattern is bf at about 7 a.m. cereal at about 8.30 (often doesn't really eat much but sometime scoffs the lot) lunch at about 11.30-12 - savoury and fruit with water. Bf at about 2.30 (but she has started really messing around and doesn't always take a 'full' feed, then tea at about 5 and bf at 7ish and then bed - and then may wake up about 3ish for another feed.

The 'routine' gets tweaked accordingly if dd1 (2 next week) is not at nursery.

As I am panicking about dd2 not taking much bm during the day I have started expressing more regularly - I'm paranoid about my milk supply dropping - should I be?

I have tried offering for more bf - but she just isn't bothered and just wants to explore.

How does it sound to you? Am I worrying about nothing.

Any input will be hugely appreciated.

Thanks x

[Enid]

ah

she sounds like dd3 (5 months) she guzzles away at 7am but then just fiddles until aobut 5pm when she has another big feed

IS she gaining weight? DOES she seem contented and happy?

I would say she sounds fine?

[moondog]

Gosh,I never worried about a routine.
Just stuck 'em on the boob and offered them food (both at regular intervals)

Sounds like you are doing fine.By 8 months,my dd had no b/milk in day at all (was working) but we carried on b/feeding in morning ,night and w/end for 30 mths.

[hotmama]

DD2 does put on weight - but slowly - but does put it on. She was 9lb at birth went down to 8.3 and is now 16.10 (as of 2 weeks ago) I'm happy with poohy/wet nappies etc - and she is an active/smiley baby.

I just think she isn't bf enough - she can't be that an efficient feeder can she - she doesn't seem to be on long enough.

[FrannyandZooey]

I think you are generally advised to do bf first then food, up until a year. Breastmilk is really still perfect nutrition for them and should form the bulk of their calories. Food is more for fun and to introduce new tastes and textures at this point. Does that help a bit?

[moondog]

My dd basically hung on for 30 mths,while ds lost interest t about 9 months (but even before then,his feeds were veryfast.)

[hotmama]

MD - that is reassuring to know that it is O.K to not necessarily feed during the day.

I do try to ensure that she has milky cereal and cauliflower cheese that kind of thing - haven't introduced yogurts yet.

F&Z - should I be offering to bf before meals? I haven't been. - Is this what I have been doing 'wrong' Dd2 does scoff a lot of solids at lunch and tea.

[pupuce]

Hotmama - My DD BF at that age 3 mins on each side - she was that efficient and so were my breasts
Sounds fine to me what you are doing!

[FrannyandZooey]

Advice from kellymom on offering milk before solids

HTH - it says the aim is to have food complementing breastmilk not replacing it as the main source of nutrition for the first year.

[hotmama]

Thanks F&Z - I'll start bf before meals - perhaps dd2 won'r scoff so much and then may bf more.

I used to look at kellymom in the early days - haven't looked for ages - thanks for reminding me.

[FrannyandZooey]

Kellymom is fab - one day I will work my way through the whole site. It is so sane and has such great information.

[taffy101]

I remember telling my HV that I didn't think dd was taking enough milk and she told me I needed bigger holes in my teats - funny that for a breast feeder!! Anyway she told me to eat more biscuits and milky drinks to top my supply up - this actually worked. First thing is morning was always ok as I'd had long time to build up milk supply but afternoon was always difficult at the time.

[lemonaid]

I would have been expecting her to bf more, to be honest. DS was bf five times in the day and a couple of times at night at that age, and was putting away a lot of solids as well. I think the advice about bf before solids is good.

[hotmama]

PMSL - I aint stabbing my nips with a pin for love or money!

Does what you eat really effect your milk?

[taffy101]

Dunno really. It seemed to work for me but could have just been coincidence but I had been forgetting to snack as too busy with everything

[hotmama]

Right I'm def going to bf offering solids - I feel such a moose! Probably the reason dd2 doesn't have much cereal as I am in effect bf not long before - and probably why dd2 eats a lot at lunch and tea as she isn't bf before.

Thanks

[sweetkitty]

hotmama - my DD2 is 8 mo and on a similar routine to yours, only difference is she has a BF at 11ish too, so 6-7am BF, breakfast 8am, bf-10.30-11am, lunch 12pm, 2.30pm BF, dinner 5pm, BF 7.30pm, then it goes for want of a better word tits up as she won't sleep without boob so will wake and feed back to sleep 5-6 times between 7.30pm and 7 the next morning but I'm sure this is comfort not food.

[UniSarah]

Prob depends on the child... My lads not keen on eating solids, milk is easier and he likes it better so i do solids 1st then b-feed. If I do Breast 1st he fills up on that and refuses solids.
So his pattern at 6.5m/o is ish
b-f at 7ish and 9ish, solids followed by b-f at 12ish, b-f at 3ish, solids and water at 6ish b-f at 7.15ish and then into bed. late b-f at 11ish and middle of night feed at 3ish. hes never slept through and 4 hour blocks of sleep at night are normal for him, daytime naps are 45mins x2.
before we started solids he was b-feeding about every 2 hours during the day.

[BarefootJasnem]

Hm,
I'm in a similar situation, but I'm sure by this stage they are generally very efficient/quick feeders. DS takes very little water, but still has lots of wet nappies, so it must be coming from somewhere!

On a school day I bf at 5.30am, and possibly again at 7, breakfast (porridge) at 8. Breast at 11ish, lunch at 12 (takes almost nothing, but I offer fruit, toast etc) BF at 2. Tea at 4.30 (veg mostly) and water. BF at 6 and 7.30 then bed. He usually wakes at 3am for a feed, but has slept til5.30 the last 2 nights.

I worried that he wasn't taking enough at lunch, but have now decided the breast feed is more important, so just offfer, and try not to stress

[Lucy1977]

Hi

My DD is 7.5months and I too excl bf for 26 wks, so I still think I/we're in the early stages of weaning.

I used to offer breast immediately before solids but DD wouldn't take much solids this way so now I just offer breast lots during the day and she seems to take more solids this way. She takes solids better if I give her finger foods at the same time.

Up until Friday night I was pretty much bf on demand during the night as well but sometimes this was 3-4 times between 2am and 7am and I was walking round like a zombie and getting really fed up. So, now we're going down the CC route as I do think my DD was just comfort suckling during the night.

I'd try and find a place with fewer distractions as possible and offer the boob more during the day.

Lucy