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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Breastfeeding and BLW

5 replies

belindarose · 23/02/2010 21:48

I've been BLWing my 6 month old DD for a few weeks. She's loving the food and is eating loads. I'm worried now that I'm overdoing it. Always need something to worry about, of course. Until now, her weight gain had been of some concern (born on 98th and dropped to below 2nd centile) and we had seen a paediatrician. She's now gained over a pound in the few weeks we've been BLWing (previously only a few ounces in that sort of time period). I've had all the usual pressures to give up BF, from HV ('Oh, I suppose you're STILL trying to breastfeed' at 5 months of EBF!) to GP ('Well, she's nearly 6 months so it doesn't matter if you stop' - as a reason not to treat me for thrush!). I've also had fabulous support from others, such as BFCs.
Anyway, we were really pleased that she took to eating so well. Her fine motor skills are great and she can manage anything.Sits unaided and has 2 teeth, which must help a bit. But I'm already noticing a bit of a reduction in BFing. Maybe it's only been a couple of days - she certainly seemed to be feeding a lot last week, but we were away from home and she seemed to need me a lot. Today she's preferred to suck her thumb and gaze into space, while practising her pincer grip on my nipple with the other hand. She's definitely had a whole BF less than usual today, with a couple of these half hearted attempts thrown in. Anyone else's BLWeaners start to cut down on feeds so soon? Please tell me it's just a phase.

OP posts:
moosemama · 23/02/2010 23:21

Can't believe the health professionals trying to talk you out of breastfeeding. I've had a fair amount of pressure to quit myself, but mainly from older relatives and at one point my dh.

Do you bf her before offering solids? I'm sure you probably do, so sorry if that's a daft question, but I made that mistake with ds1 at first and offered milk after solids, so of course he was full and didn't want any milk.

My dd did seem to drop her bf's quite quickly when we first started blw at 6 months and went through a sort of nursing strike a couple of months later. Not sure if that is a typical pattern, but the early disruption of her feeds hasn't meant an end to breastfeeding for us, in fact at 13 months now she is still having 4 bfs a day.

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will be along to help soon though.

belindarose · 24/02/2010 07:39

Thanks, yes I BF before solids. Usually about an hour before, sometimes less. After I'd written the post last night, she woke for 2 more night feeds than usual! So probably just a phase. Glad to hear your DD is still happily BFing.

OP posts:
Aleesmum · 28/02/2010 00:05

Hi,

I am no expert but my DS is 11 months, so I have been through this stage What I noticed was between 6 and 8 months, DS sort of cut down the day feeds because he was too distracted by the big wide world! The only time he would feed is if I took him to the bedroom and lay down in bed with him. He wouldn't feed in the living room or if the TV was on which he had been quite happy to do so far.After 8/9 months, they begin to get back to feeding normally again. Also at 6 months, he upped his night feeds to make up for his loss!!

Btw, DS is also BF and BLW in case u r wondering! Hope this helps.

RubyBuckleberry · 28/02/2010 11:47

where do they find these HVs???? Clearly you are doing a FANTASTIC job - DD loving food via BLW, sounds like she is developing v.well and still BFing even if dropping - and it sounds like it will probably pick up again anyway. Ignore the stupid stupid HV!

Ready · 28/02/2010 13:58

We are not BFing anymore, but dd has days where she drains her bottles and others where she is more interested in other things than drinking... as we are BLW I figure just let her lead the way, so I have tried to relax about it. Hard though, isn't it?
Also, her weight gain has shot up since we started BLW too
You are doing great with the BFing, try not to let anyone put you off. Your dd's weight gain suggests that she is thriving - so go with it.

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