Should I be bfing DD2 more or not?

[TruthSweet]

DD2 is currently unwell with a mystery illness (fr details see here). She is 3.2 y/o and only bfs once every few days for 10-30 secs each side (must have both sides though ). She can go up to a week between feeds.

I never offer and never refuse (excepting when asked if I'm the loo or getting something out of oven then I delay and remind her later that she asked for a feed). I realise 'never offer/never refuse' is a weanign technique but I don't know if I should be offering in this situation. I know it won't magically make her well but it might help to protect her frm tummy bugs like the one that possibly precipitated this illness.

I'm just not sure if I should leave her to wean (which I think she might do in the short to mid term) or if I should try to get her to have at least one 'proper' feed a day. Milk supply is no issue as DD3 is bfing at least 6 times a day at 15m.

What do you all think? Am I nuts or just clutching at straws?

before I read about what you have all been through (poor poor DD2!!) I did think you were a bit mad!

Now I've read your thread about her illness, I think I would be tempted to offer BF instead of waiting for her to ask, for mostly weird, motherly type reasons such as comfort, knowing that you are passing on some immunity and antibodies in the way that only you have the ability to do, and then for the nutrition/fluids aspect.

My DS has a heart condition and when he was seriously ill, BF really made him (and me) feel much better. I would say that it SOOTHED us and helped contain his distress and my anxiety in a way that other things did not. It helped me to think "I am your mother, this is what I do, this will not harm you in any way and might help a bit". He was 19 months at the time. I don't know if I am making any sense

I of course know that physiologically speaking you cannot cure your daughter, in the same way as I could not fix my son's heart problem, but I'm talking about the BF relationship as being something you could both lean on and use for your daughters overall benefit.

Maybe now you will think I am nuts!

Ditto to the above. I'd offer in your circumstances I think. Poor wee thing.

Yes, I'd certainly offer. But, you could also give cups of EBM to make sure she's getting plenty as opposed to just a wee sip.

Theids - I think I'm a bit mad too but I don't know what to do so am thinking of falling back on the tried and tested 'nurse the troubles away' method.

Hetty - to CUPS of ebm!

I can't express for toffee now at 15m pp so it might take about 10+ pumping sessions to get a cup. I tried recently as I was leaving the DDs with DH whilst I got my hair cut - I managed to get absolutely nothing out after pumping both sides for about 10mins each. I also have no freezer stash as had to defrost and dump the last lot as it was over 6m old We can't afford a new pump or to hire one (Symphony hospital grade is the only pump to have really worked for me) so I guess I'll have to do thinks the old fashioned way .

things

Oh, blimey, didn't mean to make you feel inadequate. Sorry.

You're doing a fantastic job! Just offer the breast.

FWIW I wanted to feed both DC to natural term (18 month gap so also tandem) but actually 'had' to stop at 14 months each time. I was lucky with expressing trained myself to 'enjoy' it by eating chocolate while expressing when DD was newborn and in SCBU

I'm ok I know I don't pump well even though I pumped for DD1 for 8 weeks before EBF, I've done stints expressing for NG tube fed DD3 and I've had to express whilst ill in hospital.

That may be my problem though - I only express if there's a problem not for pleasure or for going out and I get quite stressed doing it even if it's so I can go out.