Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To keep breast feeding

86 replies

Onescaredmuma · 16/06/2019 08:06

My DS is 19 months I'm being told mainly by my mum I need to stop feeding him now he's too old Sad.

The problem is I'm terrified to stop my DS has been repeatedly in hospital for respiratory issues (mainly chest infections) he was so poorly he spent his first birthday in a hospital away from home in the PICU coming off a ventilator. He's been into hospital for 3-4 nights another 3 times since then, one time we were back in the room they put him on the ventilator to transfer him to the other hospital and his right lung had completely stopped working.

When he gets poorly he usually first looses his appetite and will only accept the breast. I'm genuinely scared that without the calories he was getting from the milk we may have lost him as the problem was he was getting to tired and no longer had the energy to breathe for himself.

The other problem I'm having with him is every time he gets sick he gives up more foods. He used to eat everything before he turned 1. After the first illness he wouldn't eat any vegetables
next one he won't eat bread or apples and Bananas.
Next one he gave up milk other than breast and yoghurt.
He's just gotten over chicken pox and now won't eat cereal or cheese. Which is crazy as cheese is his favourite and was his second word!
I'm at a total loss he really won't touch anything in being told I need to stop feeding him but I'm worried he'll be going back to exclusively breast feeding at this rate.
I don't know if it makes a difference but he's in 2 daily medicines to help keep his airways open and an inhaler twice a day with a second inhaler for during the day if he needs it (he hasn't in needed it regularly since the weather warmed up)
Not sure how much sense this makes I've been up feeding alot in the night and my 2 dds have chicken pox so it's been a rough few weeks.

Sorry its so long my AIBU is in the tittle really is it on for me to just keep feeding him just until I know he's string enough to handle the the winter.

OP posts:
ethelfleda · 16/06/2019 19:29

I wouldn't give a shiny shit about whether is 99% sausages and chips - I'm pretty sure at that age DS was refusing all but pesto pasta. You just have to shrug your shoulders and keep making it cos filling their bellies is far more important than forcing them to like broccoli. We ate a lot of pizza and fish fingers and potato waffles around that age too. Fuck it! It changes as they get older

I completely agree with this.
At meal times, I worry more about getting fat, protein and carbs in to DS rather than veg - he gets vitamins from my milk anyway but needs the stuff required for him to grow now! And he is small for his age. My friend apparently would only eat heinz jars of baby food until she was three - she is now a total foodie and eats a great diet!

ethelfleda · 16/06/2019 20:25

Sorry for all the posts - just wanted to say how lovely it is to see a thread where everyone is supportive of this as well.

Onescaredmuma · 16/06/2019 20:48

It's so good to hear that others have fussy little ones too! (although I'm Sorry to hear it too as it's not fun)

I forgot that he also eats Pizza. I did have him on vitamins in his drinks but he started refusing to drink when it was in there, I can't blame him though I accidentally had a sip when I picked up the wrong cup it was awful Envy (not envy).

I think as some of you have suggested I might try changing his feeds a little during the day just to make sure he's hungry at meal times. He's had a good day today and eaten most of his meals and snacked a little too.
I actually feel confident to have a talk with DH about continuing feeding until after the winter when hopefully he'll be strong enough to manage or we'll know what is causing the problem and we can hopefully treat it. I think I'll probably just stop talking about it with DM and hope she assumes I've stopped as she's very opinionated about it and really seems to disagree with breastfeeding past 6 months. She's been mortified a few times when I've fed in public and asked me to cover up at her house and my own.

OP posts:
happychange · 16/06/2019 20:52

DS is 26 months and my parents drive me crazy too as everytime I see them they're like.. 'is he still breastfeeding!?' Hmm
I just ignore them! Do what makes you happy, life is too short

I'm still breastfeeding because I want him to have all the antibodies and because I love the snuggles Wink

CarrieBlu · 16/06/2019 20:53

You just have to shrug your shoulders and keep making it cos filling their bellies is far more important than forcing them to like broccoli.

Abso-fucking-lutely. I think this is one of my favourite threads.

CarrieBlu · 16/06/2019 20:56

OP, my DC has eaten tomato sauce spaghetti every single night for about six months now. I don’t worry about it anymore, she’s thriving, healthy and happy. She’ll eat other dinners when she’s ready.

Cornettoninja · 16/06/2019 20:57

I’m envious of the pizza - protein, carbs, veg, fat...easy to cook! Dd is yet to be convinced on the merits of pizza Grin

CarrieBlu · 16/06/2019 20:58

Tesco do a child size carrot pizza that counts as one of your five a day for any little pizza lovers out there!

Her0utdoors · 16/06/2019 21:03

Here to send a gentle shoulder squeeze of support, well done for sticking with it through what sounds like some really tough times. Both of you are benefiting from continuing your feeding relationship, I hope things look brighter for you both soon.

ethelfleda · 16/06/2019 21:40

I don’t worry about it anymore, she’s thriving, healthy and happy. She’ll eat other dinners when she’s ready

Fair play to you as well - best attitude to have IMO.

Aimadre · 16/06/2019 21:45

Just to echo the others here - keep going! You’re an inspiration and I hope I can feed my DS anywhere near as long!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page