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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

I need the BF Experts.

38 replies

fob · 06/03/2006 22:15

I hope this is not too long winded. I just need some clear advice.

I go back to work 2 weeks today.

My 5 month old son had been exclusively BF until just over 4 months, then I introduced fruit/veg purees and baby rice as he had began waking more at night.
As I've found out, weaning does not help him sleep better, despite my HV telling me otherwise.

I also didn't start expressing until 12 weeks as I was told my supply had to be established. even then, I only expressed if I was going out and DH fed him. The point is, he hasn't had much experience with bottles. Also - he won't take milk that has been frozen!

I'm nearly there..

DS wakes every 2 hours at night and I'm dreading this pattern going back to work.
I'm also worried sick that I wont be able to leave him enough milk when I'm out the house (8am til 5pm) and I've bought a bottle of formula as a standby but he won't touch it and I don't blame him it smells foul.

These worries are compounded by the fact that I feel as if my milk is drying up. DS is getting frustrated on the breast and I could not get any milk expressed off today!

What's going on?

I have searched the threads and found wee bits of advice, but I need something specific. I know there are some very very experienced mums out there who can help

many thanks in advance

OP posts:

NappiesGalore · 07/03/2006 12:37

personally, i completely agree with VVV.

i wouldnt describe myself as an 'expert', but i do have 3 v healthy boys under the age of 3, who were (and 1 still is) bf till weaning and ive done a 1yr intensive course in montessori teaching which touched on development too. dont think sleep training or whatever you wanna call it did my sons any harm at all. worked with 1 at about 5 months and not the other till much later, so yes, they are all individuals. you are the best expert on your own kids.

Original poster

fob · 07/03/2006 14:44

thank you again for all advice. it has been really helpful.
he got one feed at 3.30 last night and was successfully setlled for the rest.
he has had 3oz of ebm today , baby rice (with ebm) and parsnips and apple puree.
i'm feeling a lot more hopeful that i will be able to leave him enought milk for when i return to work.
soupdragon - thanks for that. i told my hv about the frozen milk thing and she looked at me as if i came from the planet zog! but maybe warmimg it through a wee bit more will help!

i'm so grateful for all the advice given here as i'm sure for a lot of you, you have seen this type of post again and again. please dont forget how helpful this advice is - it's very reassuring for a first time mother to even know that someone else has gone throught the same as you!

xxxxxx

OP posts:

VeniVidiVickiQV · 07/03/2006 15:05

It was my understanding that you can introduce dairy products when you start weaning but you dont give cows milk as their only drink until after 1 year.

Im sure someone can check up on that one though for us.

No problem fob

NappiesGalore · 07/03/2006 18:56

i think fob that anyone here will tell you as i will that you are absolutely and totally welcome
thats what mumsnet is for, isnt it?

pookey · 07/03/2006 19:55

Hi just thought I would add this link (stolen from a thread on expressing)\link{http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping\working, pumping, bottlefeeding}.Apparently you can store milk in the fridge for 8 days so that should help with the frozen milk problem. The most interesting things I have read about expressing are that the milk should be swirled not shaken (don't know why); the milk should be stored in the main part of the fridge not the door; and you should be able to tell if the milk has turned from sniffing it. I am going to work in a couple of weeks but giving formula so respec for expressing your milk and {{whispers}}congrats on the success with sleep

Original poster

fob · 07/03/2006 20:01

8 days in the fridge!
I thought you could only keep it for 3 days. maybe tik-tok can clarify!
I've been drinking so much water and i spent most of today away from ds, so when i came back home at 3pm-ish i could feed him and satisfy him on one boob and express 4oz off the other!!
what reassurance! i suppose my milk is not drying up!
dh gave him a bottle today but he fell asleep half way through it!
am i allowed to say thanks again!!
even my dh thinks mn is fab - quick, ready advice from people who are going or have been through it!

OP posts:

Smellen · 07/03/2006 20:31

Yep, shaking EBM damages the milk apparently - it's supposed to be swirled around the bottle before serving...

There is a really helpful site called expressyourselfmums.co.uk (or summat similar), run by a very helpful woman called Alison, who set up her business after her own working-whilst-expressing experiences. You might want to look her up and give her a call as she has loads of info as well as various useful products. (And no, I'm not on commission!!)
HTH

babaworshipper · 07/03/2006 20:41

about the frozen thing. I have heard of mums who need to scald their bm before freezing as it tastes vile once defrosted some enzyme I believe. Try tasting it yourself to see apparently it tastes rotten if this is happening.

HTH

Original poster

fob · 07/03/2006 20:45

i didn't know about the stir not shaken thing, nor about the enzyme, so knowing that does help, thanks.
pookey - great link, loads of info!

OP posts:

koolkat · 07/03/2006 22:10

Yes, defo. stir, do NOT shake. Bm has live cells and apparently some of the live cells die if you shake them !

Sorry, no experince with going back to work.

Just a note on sleep and the breastfed baby:

I tried a very gentle form of cc with my excl. breastfed son at 5 months and gave up very quickly as I felt he wasn't ready for it.

I did it not so much so that I didn't have to feed him in the middle of the night (I always think a 5 month old needs bm during the night), but the falling asleep was a problem. It would take anything up to 2 hours after feeding on and off, patting, rocking, you name it to get him to sleep.

When he was 10 months old + it all happened like a miracle though when we came back from a 3 week holiday abroad. By now I had read loads of books all of them recommending that cc should not be attempetd on a baby younger than 6 months. It's just too early before 6 months.

It took a while to get him adjusted to being back in his room in the UK. Once he was back to his old routine I tried cc again at 10 months old. Within a few weeks he was sleeping within minutes of being put into bed AND sleeping through. He continued to wake every now and then but it was due to teething and of course I never denied him a breastfeed if he woke up due to illness or fever.

He is now a 20 month old toddler, I still breastfeed, but he only wants it during the day. He rarely wakes during the night, but if he does it is due to teething or minor illness, and I always offer the boob in the middle of the night as it is better for him than water.

I am not an advocate of cc, quite the opposite I thought I would NEVER do it as I am firmly in the "Attachment Parenting Militant Breastfeeding Camp", but it worked for us with very, very little distress caused to DS.

He only cried for 16 mins. the 1st night, 16 mins. the 2nd night and 5 mins. on the 3 night. No crying at all when I left him in his cot on the 4th night I checked him every 3 - 4 mins. when he cried (most say check every 5 mins.)

Good luck with going back to work and I hope it works out for you !

Original poster

fob · 09/03/2006 15:08

thanks koolkat!

i've now started stirring the milk before using it.

the sleep thing has gone surprisingly well this week. he slept through from 7pm till 5.30am last night.

i agree with you about cc. my instinct tells me that you can't hold your baby enough at this age and his wants and needs are basically the same thing.

i like the sound of a three week holiday! maybe that's what i need ! ha-ha

OP posts:

lummox · 09/03/2006 15:15

sorry if this is v obvious, but I found that it made a huge difference to expressing if I was looking at ds whilst doing it. or photos if that wasn't possible. sounds a bit weird i know.

koolkat · 09/03/2006 15:19

fob - excellent news - so glad it's all looking a bit better for you and baby.

Just to add, the said 3 week holiday was with the in-laws abroad, and as I have a major clash of will with MIL who is a right old trout, it wasn't the most relaxing holiday I have ever had ! I think the only damn thing she hasn't criticised me about is my deciosn to bf for more than 2 years, but who knows, they are coming over this summer (dreading this summer already) and she may yet find a way to bitch about that too...

Sorry for major diversion...

Hope you can get a holiday with your baby soon after going back to work

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