Exclusive breastfeeding - does size matter?

[Kyliebump]

DS is nearly 16 weeks and I'd really like to try and carry on with exclusive breastfeeding (ie no solids) until as close to 6 months as possible. However, he is really big - was 9lb 7oz at birth and is now 16lb 6oz and I'm wondering if I'm being unrealistic? He has started waking in the night having previously slept through but this isn't too much of a problem as he only wakes once and goes straight back down when he's been fed. However, if he starts waking several times then I guess it might be time to think about solids. He also got his first two teeth at 13.5 weeks, so that is a challenge in itself to my breastfeeding plans!!

Nobody I know has exclusively breastfed past 4 months and I'd really love to hear some experiences. Thank you.

[Eulalia]

Things are getting better ? its taken 10 days but dd has finally eaten some food. Went back to pear and mixed it with baby rice and today she actually opened her mouth and swallowed it ? didn?t take much but it?s a start. I think it was just a case of getting the right taste/consistency/temperature. She seems to like the rice cakes too so maybe more solid food is required. I am relieved as she is waking at 4am every morning now (but not too bad as we sleep together) and 'grazing' (as forest said) till it's time to get up. My boobs need a bit of a rest!

Kyliebump ? I think women returning to work would find it hard to b/feed exclusively for 6 months as many need their babies to be onto food by then. So if the health profession is going to be serious about promoting 6 months exclusive b/f then maternity leave should be extended!

[Kyliebump]

Thanks Eulalia - I can understand the reluctance for HV's to advise 6 months, as I can imagine it putting people off as it seems quite a daunting target, whereas 16 weeks seems more achievable. It might lead to people not bf at all as they don't think they'll make the whole way. I think the proportion of people that get to 6 months is pretty small and for the rest of bf-ders to feel bad that they hadn't achieved that target would be sad, rather than celebrating the amount of time they had bf'd. There should be a balance of giving the WHO advice but strongly supporting people to bf for any amount of time, even if it's just days.

DS took some more of his apple/rice mix tonight and seemed a little more impressed - maybe we'll try carrot tomorrow - exciting times!

[forest]

I haven't had dd weighed since 17 weeks so I don't know how much more weight she has gained but everyone that meets her says she is huge (I am taking this as a compliment!)
I try not to worry too much about routines and set times as long as dd is healthy and happy.
I personally think it is great that babies are exclusively bf for any amount of time - they are getting the best start in life.

[Eulalia]

Well done kyliebump - you've still gone a long way and maybe ds was ready. All kids are different. Even the extremely militant La Leche League state 5 months as the minimum and you passed that mark. I wonder if changing advice to 6 months maybe is too much of a radical change - perhaps 5 months as a marker or even 20 weeks which is considerably furhter on than the 16 weeks advised at our health clinic.

[zebra]

I feel quite bad I didn't even get to 4 months before starting solids with mine... I wanted DS to sleep more and DD was grabbing for our plates, by 17 weeks. I really meant, both times, to go 6 months exclusive bf. My kids are the biggest pigs, though, never had any trouble feeding them lots.

DS doubled his birthweight by 3-3.5 months, too, though it was easy as he was only 6 lb 8oz at birth .

[Joe1]

She says that it would not be accepted by most people and cause confusion.

[Clarinet60]

I wonder why over time, Joe1? I'm sick of the inconsistencies of HVs in our practice.

[Joe1]

I plan to feed dd to 6 months if all goes ok. I spoke to health visitor today at a brestfeeding support group they have started locally and they have been told about the new findings but are unable to introduce to 6 months all at once and it will be introduced over time, but she was all for it.

[SoupDragon]

I only made it to about 19 weeks with DS2 I think, but that was just before the "6 months" advice came in. On the other hand (and yes, I confess I'm simply boasting here and adding nothing to the thread) he doubled his 8lb 4oz birthweight in 14 weeks.

He refused to entertain the notion of solids for ages. Hipp organic pumpkin and rice was his big favourite. It's a lovely smooth texture but quite firm if you don't heat it up (and I never did). He still likes it now in a bowl with bread fingers to dip into it. Homemade roasted butternut squash was another fave with both mine.

Generally speaking, they do get the hang of it eventually, although it's heartbreaking when they won't touch your lovingly prepared meals.

[Kyliebump]

Well, we made it to 24 weeks, but DS became increasinly frantic during his evening feeds last week which became really upsetting to all of us (me, DS and DP), so we gave DS some baby rice and apple puree mix this evening. Hasn't been frantic during his feed this evening, but not showing any signs of wanting to go to sleep either so no magic cure there!

I know I'm being ridiculous and if anyone else told me that they'd fed to 24 weeks I'd tell them that it was fantastic, but I feel really sad that I didn't make it to 6 months. It would have helped if DS had lapped up his dinner, but he didn't really seem that bothered!!

[Clarinet60]

Don't worry too much Eulalia. We've been trying solids for weeks now and it's only in the last couple of days that ds2 has opened his mouth for the food and stopped looking quite so 'what on EARTH do you think you're trying to do?'. Before this I had to trick him into smiling to get anything down him.

[Eulalia]

Thanks - was thinking of chucking in the towel Jasper but after reading forest's post I am not so sure. It's been a week now and I'd say we are not further in that she isn't eating the food. However she seems to be enjoying playing around with it. I got some rice cakes (same ones you mentioned forest) and she's enjoyed sucking them (although slight tendency to choke so need to be careful). Trouble is she isn't quite good enough yet at holding things, tending to drop them so finger foods aren't a real option as a source of nutrition. I think I'll just play it by ear - try her once/twice a day so she doesn't forget but obviously rely upon the b/milk for nutrion. I've emailed a b/feeding counsellor to see what she says.

Crikey forest - doubling birthweight at 17 weeks that is some going! My dd was almost the same (8lbs 7oz at birth) and it took me 26 weeks and she looks fairly rounded as it is! Your feeding 'plan' sounds fine - I think we worry too much about getting into a routine with young babies. If they will take 3 meals a day as older ones like jasper's will then fine but to stress about it if they don't at these early stages is silly. I had a friend whose baby was about 6 months and we were out in the summer in a park, miles away from anywhere and she said "it's 12.30 - I must give Michael his solids" and she had to traipse back to the cafe (to heat the food up). I never bothered much about heating food after the first few weeks. Unfortunately he was bottle fed (my instinct was just stick him on the boob if he's hungry and that'll keep him going for just now) and get the solid food later.

I may start a thread about slow babies taking solids in due course ...

[forest]

Congrats to all the mums who made the 6 months exclusive bf. I had intended to but dd was so interested in food in that she kept grabbing at it and watching us eat that we tried her with solids at 22 weeks. I had doubled her birth weight of 8lb 6oz at 17 weeks so feel I acheived something On the plus side it was lovely that the whole family then had the chance to feed her - daddy, grandparents even great grandma. It felt like some great ritual, the passing of the newborn stage.
I have introduced solids very hapazardly - some days 2 meals, others 1 and other days nothing but bf. This fits in with my lifestyle (lazy!?!) but it also means I haven't got stressed about it. I have found that dd prefers her food more solid even though she has no teeth (she is 6 months). So even though there seems to be a bit of hatred in this thread towards baby rice I find it invaluable to thicken up her food. She also enjoys trying to feed herself so again that is easier when the food is thick as it sticks to the spoon. I also dip baby rice cakes (you can get organic ones in Boots) into her food if it is runnier and give that to her so she can suck off the food. I treat it more as a game than a way of giving her nutrition (I believe bf is still the most important source of nutrition for babies at this age).
I would recommend against going back to exclusive bf Eulalia. My friend did this and now her 9 month old won't touch food and 'grazes' from 3am till morning. She is beginning to get worried about this as well as exhausted, although I have to say her baby is the picture of health.
I am not a Scot but grew up in Scotland and yes I am far too mean to buy jars of food - it seems such a waste of money. Mind you dd is only 6 months and the ice cube trick is working a treat as she doesn't eat loads, I only have one baby and work from home so I don't have the same stresses.

[Clarinet60]

Thanks Janz, that's a really good tip.
I've got some sweet pots in too. This last couple of days, ds2 has been opening his mouth for his solids and looks as if he's starting to think about enjoying them.

[JanZ]

Another Scot who was too mean to buy jars!

Actually, it was more to do with taste and nutrition - and being in control of what ds was eating.

I did wonder at times if I was making a rod for my own back, as I was working f/t, still b/f (expressing at work) and then having to cook separate "meals" for ds.

I also learnt a few tricks from Microwave Gourmet (by Barbara Kafka) - like the simple ways to cook butternut squash (chop it in half, scoop the seeds out and if you want put orange juice or butter in the hollow, put into a dish a cover with cling film and microwave for 8 minutes - you can then easily scoop out and mush up the inside) and sweet potatoes (prick a few times and cook for 8 minutes uncovered - the skin then slips off easily and they're already almost mushed!).

[Clarinet60]

Eulalia, my 3 year old likes eating dry cereal with his fingers too. I thought he was the only one.

Jasper, I'm not a Scot, but I am mean

[jasper]

Eulalia, good point about cereal and water, I hadn't thought of that.
If I were you I would seriously consider chucking the solids and going back to just bf for a few weeks! Anything to make life simple. This wasn't an option for me as ds was on three wee meals a day within a week of starting

So that's at least 2 Scots willing to admit to being too mean to buy jars...anyone else prepared to reinforce the national stereotype?

[Eulalia]

Thanks jasper ? at the moment dd is still going too slowly to make up batches of food. But will certainly freeze things once she?s a bit further on. I am wondering if I should stop as she?s hardly eating anything - most of it seems to be spat out ? however I guess I should let her practice. Some babies obviously take longer than others. I do have plastic cups and that is a very good idea to use them. I also have lots of little plastic pots which will be used. I?ve only ever tasted the sample packs of jars (I am too mean to buy them) and on the whole they were pretty yukky! Sounds like you?ve got a good production line going there ? Annabel who? Never read her but seen some stuff on the boards round here.

I thought it was OK just to mix cereal with water as a baby is still getting so much breastmilk at feeds. Ds is only just having cereal with milk now (he is 3) ? he always preferred eating dry cereal with his fingers. He likes to ?help? too with cooking? its good for them.

[jasper]

Eulalia, have you got any freezer space?
Like you I am trying to not rely on jars ( too bloomin expensive and have you ever tasted them? )so every couple of weeks I boil up a whole pile of different vegetables, and some rice, chickpeas, lentils etc and then just whizz them up in the magimix in various combinations ( I have added chicken and fish too)and spoon them into disposable plastic drinking cups (he has too big an apetite for the old ice cube tray trick). Each morning I take two out the freezer ( usually one which looks green and one which looks orange)and he gets one at lunch and one at teatime, sometimes with abit of cheese added or else something we are having for dinner if suitable. He usually also gets a mashed banana or an apple smushed up in the hand blender with some yogurt at either lunch or tea.
He gets either porridge or a weetabix with cows milk( never was any good at expressing) for breakfast.
I know it's not exactly Anabel Karmel; but it is no bother to prepare, other than the evening on which I do all the cooking.(when I am "helped " by my 3 year old )

[Eulalia]

Maybe I'll just keep her in the suit then - I was trying to keep it clean so she could wear it two nights running. Alternatively bath her in evenings (but its awful cold here in the evenings). Oh well it will work out somehow. I am just giving her a late breakfast and then trying more food again about 4pm as she's hardly really eating properly yet. Not sure what to do next week when playgroups start again after the holidays - will have to take food out with me... don't want to buy jars. Life is complicated with two children

[Demented]

Eulalia, I know what you mean about getting into the routine, I have been giving DS2 his puree at lunch and then I have more time to get organised. However the last couple of days we have started on a breakfast again but we are using a baby cereal which makes life a bit easier, the cereal is supposed to be mixed with milk but I seem to have lost the ability to express so we are just using boiled water. I don't even bother with a bib at breakfast as immediately afterwards we take the sleepsuit off.

[elliott]

eulalia, ds (10 months) always has breakfast in his sleepwear (in fact sometimes isn't dressed until after he's had his morning sleep). Mainly because he is a very messy eater, so doing it this way means that lunchtime is the only meal when he has to stay in the clothes he's eaten in!!

[Eulalia]

Now I am finding it hard to get into a routine with preparing dds food. Today not good. Decided that I shouldn't give dd breakfast in her sleepsuit (may change that though) and that both children needed shower/bath. By the time I'd done that and prepared the apple puree dd was v grumpy and starving and in no mood for eating so she is currently plonked on breast - will try food afterwards. I am finding it hard this time with elder child who is constantly interrupting/getting in the way and taking AGES to do anything. Now I'd better get him dressed ...

Sorry this is just a bit of a rant really ...

[Eulalia]

Thanks tiktok - I know I really needn't worry - just one look at her - she's the picture of health

[Clarinet60]

Thanks tiktok