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.

Thanks Kyliebump. He has been a bit better the last couple of days and I've noticed a stronger milk flow. He sleeps in quite late in the mornings between feeds, but early evening is still hell.
6:30am Kyliebump, you poor thing! Sounds like the middle of the night to me.Hope it passes soon.

I feel as if that last message was written by a different person. We're back to square 1 again. He has screamed every time I tried to put him down and fed more or less constantly all day, hence the Dizzyness thread.
The packet of babyrice is looking very tempting.

Droile, your boobs will be bustin' in a couple of days and he will settle down again. Hide that baby rice for now. Go on, you can do it

Thanks mears. I'll try. They'd better be busting good!

How are you doing Droile - I've been thinking of you.

My DS has settled down a bit and is now back to getting up only once in the night (well, that's what he's done for the last couple of nights anyway - who knows what tonight will bring!), but has now started biting me again - I guess I can't have everything!!

Hope things are improving for you Droile.

Hi Kyliebump, thanks. Things are a little pearshaped at present, see parent thread, so I've given him his first baby rice tonight. Funnily enough, I don't feel any better or worse for doing it. He's been chomping at his boob ever since, as usual.
Hope things are better for you.

He was sick after 1 hour and has screamed his head off even more. I don't think the rice was such a good idea. It might be coincidence, but there are drastic smelling farts and I think he has tummy ache. Oh well, since he was crying anyway, at least he now has something to cry about!

Droile - just skimmed through the parent thread - you poor thing - sounds like you're having a horrible time at the moment. For what it's worth, my DS (20 weeks) is going to a childminder for three 3 hour sessions per week - started off at three 1 hour sessions at 14 weeks. In this time I do a bit of work (to cover the childcare costs) and have the rest of the time as space for me. Even if this space time is spent catching up on the washing etc rather than relaxing, it still feels like space. I felt really guilty to begin with, but feel that DS has enjoyed having a mummy that isn't either trying to do a million other things whilst looking after him, or is getting depressed about not being able to do anything. Hope things settle down soon - am thinking of you.

Hi Kyliebump, glad to hear things are going well re childminder. I'm close to taking the plunge with ds2 too. It would make sense for me to get a good days work in rather than waiting for the nanoseconds while he's asleep. Its hard to make a change while I'm so drained, as I'm sure you know. Perhaps I can sort it for next week. The hardest times are still these endless, unsettled evenings. Thanks for thinking of me.

Hi everyone, I've got mastitis today, just to cheer everyone up. Ds2 cried himself mental last night and then slept for 5 solid hours, which is sometimes too long for my boobs to go. I'm just treating it by feeding, as I've had it before. What a lovely time I'm having! You have to laugh.

What did I tell you about those bustin' boobs!
Soory to hear what a terrible time you have been having Droile - take the opportunity to express milk off is ds is going to sleep longer so that you can bank it in the freezer for times you need a break.
Ibuprofen can be helpful with mastitis by the way - is anti-inflammatory - as long as you are not troubled with asthma that is made worse by such medication.
Things will get better for you soon - helpful for you to know that ds can go for 5 hours without needing fed. Best wishes, mears

Thanks mears. He seems a bit happier this morning so far and the soreness is going down.

Droile, glad to hear the mastitis is on the mend, it's horrible, isn't it?

I am beginning to think I may be joining you with the solids. DS2, now just 16 1/2 weeks, seems to be having growth spurts every couple of days. He goes for two or three days needing fed all the time then is really content for a couple of days, on these days he has about 6 feeds in 24 hours, then the continual feeding starts again a couple of days later. I am beginning to feel really exhausted and am wondering if solids would make a difference, as much as I understand and agree with the benefits of exclusive b/feeding until six months I don't know if I can do it.

With DS1 I ended up introducing solids at 12 weeks (on the advice of my HV) and he had been having formula since he was 5 weeks so this time I feel quite proud of myself as DS2 is exclusively breastfed but I really don't know what to do, I don't even enjoy the whole weaning business but don't know how long I can continue with these growth spurts.

Demented - you have hit the nail on the head with exclusive breastfeeding till 6 months. I only managed it with baby no.4 because I could cope with growth spurts and her feeding habits.
When exclusive feeding gets to the point that you are feeling strained and under pressure then you should not worry about introducing solids. Getting to 4 months is exclusive feeding is absolutely fantastic, if you can get further good and well. You need to have confidence in yourself otherwise I think the baby can pick up your worries about whether or not to start solids.
When it gets to the point you are worrying a lot then start the solids and you may well find that you will feel better and the baby will settle more. You might find that you only have to give a small amount and maintain it at that for a while. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Mears, I am so glad you have responded. Thanks very much, your advice has helped put my mind at rest. I am not sure if it is just a bad day, I have put DS2 down for the third time today and once again he is crying, he has not slept a wink all day and I have a splitting head, I would just love some sleep myself, in fact a sleep would probably make things better. If he doesn't sleep this time I think I will take us all out (have been out already today but it beats staying home listening to the grizzling) and go to Boots and buy the baby rice (hate that stuff) and a nice new weaning bowl. I don't know if we will necessarily start today things may just calm down in which case we will carry on with the exclusive b/f.

Thanks again for listening, it makes a difference.

Oh, the sound of silence is coming from DS2's direction, perhaps he has at last gone to sleep! If he has the trip to Boots is cancelled and I am going for a snooze!

Demented, kyliebump and Droile, allow me to put the cat among the pigeons, in a friendly helpful mumsnettish way!
Ds is now enjoying three meals a day, having got to six months on breastmilk alone.
Is he less demanding of the breast?
Is he sleeping better at night?
Am I feeling less tired and wornout?

Emphatically no on all three counts!
Aren't babies great!

Inspired by you all I decided to also try exclusive breasfeeding until 6m. DD (20weeks) has been having 2 x 7 oz feeds of ebm during the day at nursery, and bf at 7 am and 6.30pm. She has been perfect on this routine (proper little Gina baby), sleeping from 7pm to 7 am like a dream, until last night, when she woke up at 5.45am desperate for food. If this continues, would I be better off starting solids, or reverting to waking her at 10pm for an extra feed. Now taht I am back at work full time I really do need my full nights sleep. Any advice or opinions welcome

Well, I didn't get to Boots today! In a way I am glad I really do want to make it at least to 19/20 weeks to allow us to move house without the hassle of solids. Jasper your post is really reassuring ! You are probably right, if they are the type of child to be up at night etc then solids probably won't make much difference. I suppose when you are feeling desperate for a solution you'll try anything.

I am hoping things will be a little better after today, DS2 had gone to sleep earlier so I went to bed too. Poor DS1 was left with Monsters Inc for company, but I can't remember the last time I slept during the day so I don't feel too guilty. I haven't made any dinner either as I slept so long, DH has come in and said we can get an Indian so that makes things easier all round!

mears, I'm glad you said that about giving a small amount and leaving it at that, because that's what I had decided to do anyway. He happily took some v. runny solids again today, but as Jasper says (although it is early days), there has been no change in his demands. He hasn't slept a wink all day and in order to cook the dinner just now, I left him upstairs crying. Strangely enough, he seems better when we go out.
Prufrock, your DD could just be having a blip. Perhaps mears will know best.
Demented, sorry to hear you've been struggling too.
lol Jasper!

Prufrock - after a couple of days of more frequent feeds you may find she will settle again. If she doesn't I would probably offer the 10pm feed again prior to starting solids.
My dd would feed more frequently for a few nights then settle again so hopefully yours will stick to 5.45am. Nothing like an early rise

Hi thought I'd let everyone know how we are getting along. Been away for a 2 week holiday and busy so not been on Mumsnet for weeks. Didn't bother starting with solids for the holiday which was so handy and dd only seemed really hungry a few times. I nearly started before we went away though as she seemed really unsettled but it just turned out to be a cold.

She is now 23 weeks and still exclusviely breastfed so I think I'll make it to the magical 6 month mark. She's been consistently on the same centile except for today when she was weighed and had slipped slightly. I think its because she never keeps still! She's 16lbs 5oz so I am aiming for her doubling her birthweight (17lbs) , very nearly there ... so it all fits in quite neatly with the 6 month mark.

Jasper - I notice you started your ds on solids a few weeks back and now you have him on 3 meals a day already. What did you start him with and did you introduce diferent foods quickly and do you serve a different food at each meal?

My HV was amazed that I'd not started solids yet but encouraged me to do so soon so I mumbled somethinga bout this weekend but intend to stick the course. This thread has certainly helped

Eulalia at a few days past his 6m "birthday" I started him on a couple of spoons (well maybe six) of pureed carrots and he was on three meals a day by the end of the first week.
I never took him to get weighed prior to this at all.

I give him all the usual stuff - pureed carrots, corn, peas, potatoes, rice, bananas,apples, porridge, yoghurt, etc. I have no idea if these are strictly recommended by the experts as first foods but I just use my common sense.

I use one of those Moule legume thingies to squish up the food so he can have "normal" rice , porridge etc and not "baby" ones, partly cause I have those in the house and partly because I am too mean to buy special baby foods and think they are a bit of a con.
He has had a few jars of stuff too and has only once refused - Organix pork and Veg casserole! I tasted it myself and it was pretty horrid.
The only reason I am not big on jars is because they taste very watered down to me, and how come they are so orange??!

I am currently housebound following my foot op. so sitting at the kitchen table chopping vegetables is no hardship at the moment.

Yes I do try to vary it a little bit and he can manage a degree of "lumpiness" in his food.
He has had no trouble at all accepting food from a spoon . ( my midwife told me today some HVs claim if you wait till 6m to introduce solids babies may struggle to eat from a spoon - she also said this is complete nonsense)

He still gets lots of breastmilk and his sleeping pattern has not altered at all (sadly)
I must say I am thoroughly enjoying watching him eat his litle dinners.

Good luck with your daughter.

Good to see you back Eulalia, been missing all the b/feeding facts you post! Glad you had a nice holiday.

I am afraid we will be trying solids, probably this weekend, growth spurt now seems over, boobs bursting this morning but DS still not satisfied, still screaming etc. I think I will have to give in, still we have made it to 17 weeks which is quite a way from 6 months but much better than I did with DS1. Does anyone know do you have to start with the dreaded babyrice or could I just go straight to some carrot puree or something?

Jasper, I think that the babyfood manufacturers and washing powder manufacturers are in cahoots with each other! I have a personal dislike for packaged babyfood also, particularly the dried stuff that you put water into that smells and looks like sick!

Demented - neither of mine would touch baby rice. Can't say I blame them, looks like wallpaper paste to me. DS went straight onto jars of mixed veg. I tried making my own but never seemed to get it smooth enough and he'd end up coughing then bring it all back. Jars went down a treat though. Made a lot of my own for DD (new blender) and tried to keep foods seperate as much as poss as she always ate more that way.

Don't feel guilty about not reaching your targets. I'm hugely enthusiastic about BF but felt DS wanted more at 16 weeks and he certainly enjoyed it. I don't think you should feel bad about following your instincts and BF will still make up the bulk of the diet for a long time yet.

Thanks Katherine, I don't so much feel guilty as a bit daft, I've been telling everyone about the virtues of exclusive b/f to 6 months! No doubt they will take great delight in saying 'I told you so'.