seeing thru the breastmilk propaganda

[thegauntlet]

Phew. It is really hard to see any impartial raw advice about the benefits or problems of weaning/ mixed feeding after 6 months.

Gorgeous girl is 5 and a half months, having a couple of teaspoons of baby rice now ( eek!) I am finding breastfeeding increasingly hard; since I had a horrid strep throat last week, and haven't actually slept for more than 4 hours at a stretch since she was born... my milk supply is duff. I am pumping like mad to try to get it better- and trying to get some rest and good food ( sod the diet for the time being!) so... I am thinking ( just thinking.... ) about follow on milk...

I dont want to feel guilty. Because once she has it I cant take it back....

My mum suggested cows milk ( i know!)
Im back to work when she is 7 months.I was planning on pumping.

So.... whats the evidence for the benefits of breast over anything else past 6 months please? ( be impartial.... breastfeeding milliants!)

Yeah. I agree, the breastfeeding industry has a lot to answer for.

The breastfeeding industry is swamped by the multi million dollar formula companies ...

Anyway, benefits past six months are the same as for the first 6 months
Also, the ease and convenienece comes into it's own when you are working
I went back when DD was 8 months old and I didn't have to worry about formula, bottles, sterilising etc
There has been research done on how mums who continue breastfeeding take less time off work because of the benefits of breast milk

You're not really going the best way about getting friendly responses by using terms like propaganda and militants. However; follow-on milk is a con - it's made to get round advertising restrictions on first infant milks. So if you want to use formula, just get the ordinary stuff. At this age I don't really see that it's such a big deal - she's 24 weeks, right?

If she'll be eating solids anyway, why are you so worried about formula?

Er, and which breastfeeding industry is that Stark?

i would say the benefits of breastmilk beyond 6 months are the same as pre-6 months!

Follow on milk is utterly unnecessary and a marketing thing

If you do want to use formula then stick to a first milk

TBH you are over the worst of it .... You feel ghastly as you have been I'll but your DD should start to drop feeds in the next few weeks as she takes more solids etc

Breatsfeeding is much easier and less intense post 6 months IME

Few x posts there

Oh, I am rubbish at picking up online irony

But the benefits of EBF are surely different, as it's no longer the exclusive means of feeing post-weaning, is it? So if the OP wanted to introduce formula alongside food and continuing some bf, you're not introducing the same risks as pre-weaning, are you?

some info on benefits of bf older babies

But don't beat yourself up if you decide stopping is the best option for you and your baby. You've already done an amazing job

By the way, my dd was on a bit of baby rice at 5 months too. She seemed ready.

fwiw I introduced some formula when dd was 10 months, I think (wanted to get periods back to ttc) - with ds I haven't bothered and it has been easier, but then I haven't had the OP's problems.

A lot of babies don't eat a lot of solids until they are 8 or 9 months

Breatsmilk can therefore still provide a lot of nutrients etc

yes perhaps Stark was being ironic, think I was reacting badly to the opening post - the expression "Breastfeeding militants" is quite unpleasant.

Anyway, Ruby's advice is good. Check out WHO for good reasons to continue and try and be a bit more open minded, esp if asking others for advice!

You might get some deals/points on follow on milk that you can't with first milk. I never bothered though, I stuck with first milk till he was 1, then onto cow.

the formula won't have the same risks no

but the positives of breastmilk will not decline, although you could look at it as the more breastmilk she gets the better, and if you are giving formula then she will get less breastmilk

milk (whether it's formula or breast) should make up her main source of nutrition until she is at least a year.

so breastmilk is good for nutrition, it is good for the health benefits that it still offers to baby and to mum, it is good emotionally- a great way to reconnect with your child after being at work all day

yy to nutrients/antibodies, etc, but I read the OP as looking for risks of introducing formula, which I thought would be pretty much moot post introduction of other foods, in relation to gastro issues, etc - assuming formula is prepared correctly, obv.

Why do people use phrases like breastfeeding militants ? I've even seen breastfeeding Nazis and Gestapo used. I find it really offensive, and I am normally pretty relaxed about things.

Just do what feels right for you and your family.

sorry, x-posts, tiy - yes agree that bf is better, but the general issues that people talk about re formula apply a bit less.

That said, glad that ds if over this particular teething spurt, as I am still sore from being the only damn thing he'll chew.

yep, the risks of formula must lower dramatically.

of course we could go into the politics of formula and supporting the manufacturers of it.... but this probably isn't the thread for that

My totally untrained take on this is that post 6 months you have to start thinking of yourself a bit more. The first 6 months are the most important - everyone acknowledges this. If you are finding it so hard, and you're going back to work in 6 weeks time, then I don't think you should beat yourself up about introducing some formula. The only reason I can think of not to do so would be if there was any likelihood of dairy intolerance or a strong history of serious allergies.

The above is my own reasoning, as I am trying to work out what to do wrt DD when I go back to work myself (she will also be 7 months then). I dislike the idea of pumping at work - I hate expressing at the best of times - so I think the solution I will arrive at is b/f morning and night for as long as I can and formula, if needed, during the day. Not ideal, but going back to work is going to sap my energy and I feel bad enough already. Perhaps a similar solution could work for you?

DS had 1st stage formula until he was one, btw, at which point I gleefully ditched it for full fat cow's milk. No follow on milk required.