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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Anyone interested in an 'extended' bfers support thread?

834 replies

lilysma · 01/02/2009 11:14

Not sure what I mean by 'extended' exactly - maybe it's a self defined thing?

I define myself as an 'extended' bfer because I hardly know anyone else bfing a child as old as mine (DD is 26 months) and feel the need to discuss some issues with people also doing this and wonder if anyone else does??

Anyone up for an informal support thread on this?

OP posts:
mawbroon · 14/02/2009 22:37

LOL, I used to be guilty of encouraging ds to feed when I wanted a wee sit down or a look at MN.

Now when I get the laptop out, he just wants to see diggers.

nappyaddict · 14/02/2009 22:54

Mawbroon Do you feed your DS in public at all or just at home?

nappyaddict · 14/02/2009 23:05

Oh same question to Foxy who is also still feeding a 3 year old I see. BTW was it your dd who refused all food until she was 10 months old? I was trying to think who it was on a different thread but had a mental block but seeing you on here has made me remember (that's if i'm right)

mawbroon · 14/02/2009 23:08

Yes, I feed him anywhere and everywhere. I have never had a comment ever, in the whole of his 3.4 years!

RoRoMommy · 14/02/2009 23:34

Mawbroon that's great. I still feed DS out and about at nearly 2 and never got a comment but definitely some looks. I am completely not embarrassed or ashamed, never been shy, and almost dare someone to say something so I can defend the most natural and lovely thing in the world!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

wegottagetouttathisplace · 15/02/2009 09:03

Hi, can I join too please? DD is 23 months and completely boob-crazy. I wish I was as brave as you Mawbroon and RoRoMommy - DD still demands lots of public feeding but I try to find a quiet spot to do it because I've had so many looks from people, not to mention barbed comments from my mother...

I even feed her in public toilets these days, something I said I'd never do.

If we were back in the UK I think I'd be braver but we're living in Greece atm and bfing in public isn't exactly the done thing here - I'm more reluctant to offend public norms here than I would be back home.

I'm not in a hurry to stop bfing but I wish she could keep it down to morning and night, but she'd still rather bf than eat or drink. Every time she has a fall she wants milk straight away. And during mealtimes. And any time she wants to touch base with mum. And I still bf to sleep. (I had to laugh when someone mentioned scratchy toenails earlier!)

I always said I wanted to bf until she was two but now it looks as though it's going to be a fair bit longer than that!

But I do try to limit it a bit these days, so I won't bf during mealtimes any more - I make her wait until after mummy's finished eating - she doesn't like waiting! But I think it's fair enough that after two years I should be able to eat dinner without a huge wriggling child hanging off me constantly!

I was so pleased to find this thread as I don't know any other extended / natural term bfers so it's great to hear from others in the same boat.

biskybat · 15/02/2009 20:51

Hi guys,

Have been away having a lovely time with DH for valentines - we spent the day sharing the toilet. Actually we spent it elbowing eachother out of the way and debating which of us needed to be sick/go to the loo first Hope everyone had a more romantic time (we don't actually celebrate V day really) Although DH did pay me a nice compliment - he said he'd rather be stuck in the toilet with me than anyone else as I had a very neat aim

beanbearer I've heard of a lot of babies weaning when the mother becomes pregnant. Friends always cite their milk drying up - wonder if it is more likely that the baby doesn't fancy the colostrum. I quite like the idea of tandem feeding if I manage to get pregnant as I hope it might help with some of the jealousy that is often felt when a new baby comes along or does it make it worse?

I don't get the phone thing with DD but if we share a bath and I happen to lie down - she will lunge at me with her mouth wide open and before I know it I am feeding her!

My mum was telling me about a friend of hers whose child (same age as DD) was hospitalised a week ago. The nurses asked about her feeding routine and when the mother told them she was still breastfeeding her daughter they said babies only need breastmilk for the first 4-5 months of life and she should give up Luckily the mother was fairly confident and told them they were talking rubbish, but with HCPs spouting that kind of advice I'm surprised anyone breastfeeds past 6 months in this country. It really makes me so

Hope everyone had a good weekend.

BouncingTurtle · 16/02/2009 08:16

OOH have just written a complaint letter to GMTV!

Jones is a complete Knob!!

I'm convinced that me breastfeeding has helped get over chicken pox without any bother, and is helping him cope with the MMR jab too!

Bettymum · 16/02/2009 10:17

Morning everyone,
I have what might be a stupid question - is it possbible to get "low grade" mastitis? I have had a slightly raised temperature for the last three days and am feeling quite tired and achy. My left nipple is very sore but not sure if it's just because DD has grazed it with her teeth and it's not healing, or if it might be a bit of infectious mastitis. I definitely haven't got any blocked ducts, and I haven't got red or hot boobs, but I just wondered if there might be a bit of infection? I did do a search on other threads and it looks like full blown mastitis makes you want to die, it's certainly not that bad.
Am I just being daft?

Bettymum · 17/02/2009 09:39
maygirl · 17/02/2009 10:00

You can get sub-clinical mastitis, where is some inflamation in the breast. Hope you feel better soon.

PrettyCandles · 17/02/2009 14:13

I had sub-clinical mastits, but it was not like you, Bettymum. I had the breast symptoms but not the fever. The GP advised me to use the slightly weird non-pharmacological methods of clearing the blockage (hot flannels and combing), as well as plenty of feeding on that side, but also gave me a prescription for antibiotics which I was only to take if I developed a fever. He said that sub-clinical could turn into full-blown within hours, and he didn't want me to have to wait for treatment if I needed it as the condtion can be so unpleasant. Fortunately the blockage cleared (changing feeding position helped as well) and I didn't need to take the antibiotics.

So in my 'vast' experience, what you're describing doesn't sound like sub-clinical mastitis, but an infection of a different sort. So TBH I think you should take yourself to the GP - running a fever for several days is not a good thing.

Hope you feel better soon.

Bettymum · 20/02/2009 14:37

Thank you maygirl and PrettyCandles, through a combination of paracetamol, lots of Kamillosan and a bit of repositioning it all seems to be getting better. The tooth cut and graze are just about healed.
We had a hellish first couple of months with BF so I was so happy to still be going. I didn't want a silly little bite to put an end to it all but being in tears at every feed again was not nice. I am hoping to continue til DD decides she has had enough, not to be forced to stop before it feels right. Was also aggravated by mum and sister who between them have BF seven babies saying "well, she's 13 months now, don't you think it's time to stop?" Even my mum is making "bitty" comments now! DD is 13 months, not 13 years!!!

bababelle · 20/02/2009 16:06

I'd like to join too! DD is 14 months and still a milk monster, we are the last in our NCT group to still be feeding and we're feeling a little lonely! But proud to have made it so far, I never thought I would in those difficult first few days when I nearly gave up altogether.

Also struggling a bit with feeding out in public (both the self-consciousness aspect and the practical aspect of large toddler kicking my coffee off the table as we hide in the back of Costa to feed...). And with how to train DD to wait a bit when necessary rather than having to have it NOW.

(hello [mawbroon] - I bought my Ergo and it's fab!)

PrettyCandles · 20/02/2009 22:47

Thank god for breastfeeding! Ds2 is just coming out of a sicky bug, he was vomiting for two days, couldn't even keep breastmilk down most of the time, and today is the first day he hasn't chucked. But, boy, has he been feeding. The past 3 days have been like having a newborn again! I don't know what I would have done, how I could have comforted him, had he not still been bfing.

PrettyCandles · 20/02/2009 22:48

That's good, Bettymum. How's the fever?

BouncingTurtle · 21/02/2009 07:26

OK the change in position helped for a while, but now it is both side he is grazing my nipples with his teeth
He woke up for a feed at 9:40pm, 11:50pm, 3am and 5am, and each time feeding him was very painful - it was like he was gripping the nipple with his teeth and every time I took him off he screamed blue murder so had to quickly put him back on to avoid waking dss in the next room.
I can't really do other positions at night because he is half asleep and I can't put him anywhere but my lap in my nursing chair.
Actually felt liked I didn't want to bf anymore
I think I'm going to make a concerted effort to night wean him to see if that helps.

glitterkitty · 21/02/2009 14:36

Oh prettycaldles I know what you mean, got the flu here and ds been latched on constantly for what seems like days...

Dosent want food or drink just 'mummy na na' .

Very wearing. Nice that its comforting him, but wearing. I just want to lay in my own bed with no-one touching me and sleep. Im SO tired. Ugh.

Sorry- my moan for the day.,.. feel better now!

PrettyCandles · 21/02/2009 18:22

Bouncing, have you tried feeding him lying down? It's by far and away my favourite position. If you're tired it can be difficult to maintain a good position, you tend to droop and the baby hangs off the nipple. But lying down prevents that.

OTOH, night-weaning is probably a very good idea! Doesn't stop you feeding lying down during the day, though.

Sympathies, glitter.

Pannacotta · 21/02/2009 18:34

Hello all, nice to see this thread.
I am feeding DS2 who is 21 months (fed DS1 till he was around 2/2.6).
Was very glad of it this past week as he had awful tummy bug then conjunctivitus so breast milk has been useful!
Feel a bit sad that I don't know a single soul locally who is still breastfeeding and haven't done for around a year...

BouncingTurtle · 21/02/2009 19:29

PrettyCandles - thanks for the suggestion, haven't fed ds lying down for quite some time as he is in his own room - we only co-sleep when DH is away. I do find that he has some trouble staying latched on but I might give it a try tonight!

Grendle · 21/02/2009 21:42

Does anyone else ever feel like they might be breastfeeding for the rest of their life? I'm a little fed up with the whole thing right now. I know in my heart it's not about the bf, it's because my beautiful baby dd has turned into a shrieking stubborn 18 month old madam. But I have been bf for 3 years 9.5 months straight now, so I must be entitled to feel a bit fed up sometimes? Ds and I keep talking about when he stops and I'm hoping it will be round his birthday. I think he's hoping to go on forever! At least he's down to 2-3 times a week now. We're planning more children too, so I know I have a long way to go yet.

Oh goodness, what on earth am I waffling on about, ignore me!

robberbutton · 21/02/2009 23:05

Hi everyone, thought I would poke my head round the door. DD is nearly 1 next month and has been bf since birth. I was wondering whether any of you found that bfing delayed teeth coming through? I don't know whether it's something in the milk, but DS didn't get any until I stopped feeding him at 9 months, and DD still hasn't got any... I'm not panicking (kind of), trying to enjoy not being bitten, but she's got to get some eventually!

Thanks

preggersplayspop · 22/02/2009 19:04

Hi robberbutton, my DS has got plenty of teeth, I don't think bf had anything to do with when they came through. I read somewhere it was genetic so if either parent's teeth came through late then it was more likely your DC's teeth would come through late as well. My DS's teeth have come through very spaced out (time-wise), whereas some friends of mine have had their babies' teeth come through very close together - maybe your DD is saving them all up for one go!

Grendle - I'm impressed at how long you have been bf for. I know what you mean though, sometimes I want my boobs back just for me! I found it quite hard around 18 months as well, as my DS was sometimes quite rough and was teething really badly so was bf a lot in the night. I thought about weaning then, but now its settled down so a lot better and the moment has passed.

Bettymum · 22/02/2009 19:35

Hi PrettyCandles,
Fever has gone, thank you - maybe it was just a bit of a cold combined with the sore boobs, not sure. We're TTC number two, so I'm temping every morning which is the only reason I knew my temperature was up. Have been temping for two months now and it is totally all over the place, don't know if it's because of the BF or what. Anyway, that's a whole other thread...