Exclusive breastfeeding support thread

[Reallytired]

I thought I start a thread for those of us who are attempted to exclusively breastfeed up until 26 weeks as recommended by the NHS.

I have two children. A little boy who is seven years old and he had solid food at 16 weeks and a 17 week old baby girl. The weaning guidelines have changed beyond recognition since 7 years ago. My son is healthy inspite of weaned quite early by today's standards.

I need people to tell me to be strong and not give dd baby rice or top ups and that this latest growth spurt will pass.

Which is the lesser evil better option to introduce solids or formula for a 19 week old baby? I know the ideal option is to exclusively to breastfeed.

reallytired better option is solids.

Although I tried them at 20 weeks and it made NAFF ALL DIFFERENCE.

So i stopped after one day

we have had a great week, but last night was horrendous again

This thread has gone a bit quiet the last few days. Hope everyone's ok?

We've been busy as had a friend's wedding.

I'm also feeling a bit despondent as DS has a cold. I thought BF would help prevent that but he's got snuffles, difficulty breathing when feeding and a bit of a cough. He's also been sick a couple of times. Bringing up mucous. Bless him, despite this he's woken up all smiley this morning.
I'm going to go out and get some saline nasal drops for him.

Feeding has calm down for us quite a lot today.[temptinh fate emoticon] I think it helps that not too hot today.

I gave my dd a stick of steamed carrot and she munched it very enuthuasically. I am interested in baby led weaning.

The only problem was that she got the most terrible nappy rash the following day. So we have gone back to exclusive bf as I have a feeling that she isn't quite ready.

My dd can sit up unsupported and is trying to put anything in her mouth. I think she is close to being ready for solids but not quite there yet.

Just stopping by again to report that DS grabbed for a rice cake at an NCT coffee morning last week so, planning to try BLW, I let him have it (at 23 weeks) and he gummed it down instantly! He's been trying to grab for our food at dinner times for a while now, so I'm letting him have bits and pieces. So far he's had broccoli, parsnip, potato and (big favourite) banana.

Hasn't dropped any milk feeds or anything, so I don't feel too bad that we didn't quite make it to 26 weeks with only BM.

He has such a big smile on his face when he eats/smears food with us at the table that I'm sure it's the right thing to do.

He's still waking up 5 times a night though, so clearly it isn't going to revolutionise sleep in our household.... But dinner times are more fun, so that's a start.

Hope everyone else is doing ok

Hello, just spotted this thread and hope you don't mind me adding my 2p worth. DS will be 6 months on Friday and I will be starting him on solids at the weekend. He has been exclusively BF up to this point (despite enormous pressure from MIL to 'get him on the spoon' earlier). I have to admit that it was really tough at times - just sooooo draining with lots of 4/5am starts - but the last 6 weeks have been fine. DS is on 5 feeds a day and is in a great routine, sleeping from 8.30 to between 6 and half 6 every night.

Just as an extra note of encouragement, DS has not been ill once. I've had a stinking cold and cough over the last couple of weeks but he's not even had a sniffle! I'm fairly confident this is because of being BF. Am planning to continue up to a year although am returning to work when he is 10 months so not sure how the logistics of giving him 4 feeds a day will pan out.

Hiya, I have been a long time lurker on this thread. My DS is 2.2 but seems to be weaning. I have mixed feelings about it as there have been moments that I would have loved him to wean.

I went away for two nights over the weekend and he has not asked for boobie once since I came back. Usually if I am away from him for any length of time its the first thing he wants as a reconnection.. but this time he just wanted a cuddle.

We co-sleep and would always start the day with a lazy BF in bed but when I offered this morning he said 'me no like boobie' but was happy to chill and cuddle.

I am very proud of getting this far, only managed to BF DD for a few months due to crap support.. I only ever intended to get to 6 months with him so 2 years is brilliant I know.. but it feels so sudden.

I think I will go and buy myself some nice new underwear to mark the occasion. Carry on the good work ladies. Women rock!!!!

Just jumping in Devendra as your experience is so similar to mine - DS turned two, and a week later became very half-hearted about his bedtime feed, and then just stopped altogether. We'd just been on holiday and I think the change in routine had something to do with it. I thought he wouldn't want/need me at bedtime anymore, but he seems to, as much as ever, though for stories and cuddles instead of milk! Get your new underwear, and indulge in alcohol without consequences, if that's your thing!

Waves to everyone ds is 21 weeks and we'll be going baby led. As he's showing no interest in food at this point he just uses it as a toy and I use it as a way of keeping him occupied when he's in his high chair at meal times. He's licked a tortilla, bread, a carrot and some cucumber mostly by accident not design. Have to admit to going out to lunch here, having the chocolate marquise and giving him a little of the sauce on my finger. It seemed rude not to We exclusively bf and he sleeps from about 2030 to 0600 most nights. Imnsho it doesn't matter what you feed them (i.e. baby rice etc), they wake up if they want to so may as well bf them while you can!

ThanksInsertHigherPowerOrWhateverHereForIkeaCheapHighChairsTiggaxx

This might be an inappropriate/throwing the cat among the pigeons post, but an accupuncturist I know and trust (she's been a practising midwife for over 40 years) told me when I was weaning my dd (about 2 years ago) that detailed research shows that babies' intestines develop at different rates and that they are actually ready for food at different ages. This sort of makes sense to me, as everything else develops at different rates. Hence, some are ready for solids at a few months and for others it's nearer a year. An academic friend of mine also did a detailed review of the research on weaning which found pretty much the same thing.
I sort of think that hvs want/need to give a simple message so 6 months is the current mantra.
I just wanted to flag this up, as it's very distressing when people start beating themselves up over a spoon of baby rice or a bottle of formula, when they're clearly trying to do the best thing for their baby.

We got to 22 weeks. My daughter has had a lick odd bit of veg, but most of it has got thrown on the floor and she has lost interest in solids. I am going to wait a few weeks before trying with solids again.