question about breastfeeding

[MamaMaiasaura]

I breastfed ds for 12 months and am expecting #2. Ds is 7 years so quite a gap. I remember bf wasnt very easy to begin with.

Couple of questions are:

1. When giving feed, once baby finished on breast do you offer other breast. If they then feed off this one (but not for as long as other breast) do you then offer the same breast for the next feed or go to the other one?

2. This BLW is all new to me. I was recommeded to start ds1 on solids before he was 4 months. I am glad that they have said that breastmilk contains all baby needs etc and that the solids offer no extra benefit at such a young age. My question is do you exclusively feed for first year of life or do you offer solids when baby expresses an interest in food?

Hi Awen, I am bf my 5 month old and i have a boy too who is nearly six. I too had lots of questions about bf the second time due to the gap!

Right -with the 2 breast thing (!) feed on the first side, when that feels emptyish, burp baby (well I do anyway) then offer the 2nd, and that is the side I start on the next time. It all depends how much lo takes, sometimes I feel both sides are empty and then start afresh, IYSWIM!

lol - ds has now started looking at them (norks) and advising me as to which side looks a bit full! Very unwelcome but hey ho!

Me too confused re - weaning advice....

Hiya, when I do it, I always offer both sides (because when she looks like she's done she'll quite often have quite a bit of side 2). I give her the chance anyway. Then start on side 2 next time.

Aim is to put off solids until 6 months. So somewhere around 6 months you start lobbing carrots at them, but milk continues to be the main part of their diet for a good few months after that.

HTH.

thanks for reply Out of interest how did your 6 year old react. My ds7 has alread said he wants to try my milk when baby is born.

The DOH guidelines are exclusive bfing for the first 6 months then introduce solids but bulk of their diet should still be bm until 12mo.

Q1, I'm not sure. Most of the basic info says give one side (eg L), when they stop feeding wind then offer the other breast (R) then start the next feed from that breast (R). There may be more expert advice that says that's not vital though.

If you've got a bit of time to read up on things the Kellymom.com site is an absolute mine of good, evidence based information.

the answer to 1st question makes sense. I remember being unsure about it with ds1. I used a little ribbon to help remember which side but always ended up lopsided .

Re the weaning, didnt realise you could start them on finger food from 6 months (well that it is recommened). Makes more sense because i cant see this next one not wanting to try what his big brother is having. Reassuring that the breast milk is main diet tho as it does contain all they need at that age. Takes some of the stress out of it all iykwim. I remember HV with ds1 berating me that ds wasnt on 3 meals a day at 4 months old. I felt like i was an utter crap mum then.

Awen, my ds asked me too, a little while after the birth, if he could please not have his milk in a cup but from me.

I'm sure many mnetters will think this is twisted but, I said, OK, as I was thinking that he was just saying it to not feel left out. He had a very quick suck and then said, 'oooh, delicious' (lol) but didn't want any more. As he didn't want anymore, I was sure to keep saying, are you sure, are you sure, as I don't want him to remember feeling left out. Now, as you can see from my other post, he deems himself a bit of an expert!!!!! When I had mastitis, he kept offering his wisdoms, 'be careful Mummy, that side is infected' [hmmm]

BTW, tried BLW today and lo bit off a chunk of melon with her two bottom teeth (she is 5 mo) and then I panicked and oiked it out...are we supposed to let them swallow big chunks of carrot etc? is it dangerous (don't laugh at me)

that is helpful, as ds really really wants to try. I am planning to express for him to try and didnt know the best way to manage if he wanted it from me. I feel better about being ok with it from your post, thank you for that.

off to bed now but will check thread Sunday to see any updates. Nigth night

Thanks Awen, I guess we have to remember that 5 and 7 is not that old really, they are still little, but as they will remember the lo coming along, it seemed crucial to me that ds didn't remember feeling left out when he is older. I think that there is little chance that they will persist with requests for breastmilk 'cos it is a bit wierd for them. I think they want to see what will happen if they ask.

I do remember that ds had NO idea how to suck so couldn't really get any out anyway. But, as I didn't really think about it before it happened (you are being very sensible to plan ahead!) other mnetters might have some better ideas.

Good luck anyway! Nice to meet you.