Still thinking about nursing/weaning [paging the mom's brigade]

[mizarchivist]

As I mentioned in the previous post, Crime Fighter has started to wean himself in that he's eating a lot of solid food and has very little interest in sitting still long enough for nursing unless it's night/first thing in the morning. 

I hate pumping, but who doesn't? The thing is, my supply is tanking. Last week I could manage 5-6 oz. in the first of two office pump sessions and bring home about 8-9 for the day. Today it was 4. It might just be a moderate dip after the weekend, but at what point does one just give it up? I feel like if I can't bring home enough for one bottle anymore, that's sort of an answer. But.... Once I stop pumping at work, my supply for the night feedings will probably drop, too. This is one of many occasions in which I'm not ready for the developmental leap that is already mid-path. 

I know there's no one true path, but I wish I could just definitively know "OK, I no longer have to pump." 

Comments

[spinrabbit.livejournal.com]

We kept doing bedtime+wake-up nursing for quite a while after all other nursing activities ceased. I don't know how much supply I had at that point, but there was obviously something.

[mizarchivist]

That's what I am hoping. I will be VERY sad when it all goes away, I think.

[hawkhandsaw.livejournal.com]

This is what we did. I was torn between being sad it was over and admitting I was relieved I wasn't the only source of bedtime comfort.

[tamidon.livejournal.com]

Alyssa self weaned at 11 months and anything after that was only very occasional comfort nursing and that stopped by 12 months. Adira went hard core to 22 months and then i had to cold turkey wean which was a freakin' nightmare for us both

[persis.livejournal.com]

Talis nursed until the New Year's after her 4th birthday. That said, most of her nursing after about 1.5-2 years, was morning and night, with the exception of when she was just not feeling well. I think your body will adjust to what is needed.

[gosling.livejournal.com]

Things that sometimes help to prolong a nursing relationship, many of which you may well have already tried:

Offer constantly. (This can include pointing out when other babies are nursing and noting to him that he can too.)

Dream feeding. A lot of babies will nurse in their sleep if you poke a nipple at their mouth, even if they are refusing when they are awake. (Co-sleeping, especially with exposed breasts are in close proximity to him, can be particularly helpful.)

Try to get him to comfort nurse. Many babies will nurse at least briefly if you offer when they are upset, frightened or have just gotten a minor injury. (New walkers often will nurse for a moment when they have just fallen, for example.)

Hang out with him in places he most frequently nurses and may most associate with nursing as much as is practical. (This can especially effective if your breasts are exposed and/or he is snuggled up with you.)

Try as much as is possible to be around during times he is most likely to nurse.

Try to limit solids (and especially liquids) as much as is practical, especially right before times he is most likely to nurse.

[mizarchivist]

Here's the thing, though, the ship has sailed. He loves eating solid food. He has NRE with the whole concept of water and everything to do with it, so he drinks water like it's going out of style. And I'm not home all day.

This is much more me coming to grips with the fact this stage is on its way out. I'm hoping that there'll be some night nursing for a few more months so it's not just a gate slamming shut. Seems likely since he's most keen on nursing when he wakes up at night.

[gosling.livejournal.com]

I thought it might be too late to be practical, but I figured it couldn't hurt to go down the list in case any of it was useful.

I certainly know a lot of babies who have continued with not much more than night nursing for quite some time. Their mothers definitely kept a supply as long as they were nursing even once or twice a day (and sometimes still had some for a fair amount of time afterwards, although how long one keeps milk after it isn't being removed at least daily seems to be somewhat genetic). No guarantees, but it does sound like there is a good chance he may well continue nursing, based on lots of other folks' experience.

[gosling.livejournal.com]

I should probably also add a cautionary note about when he starts getting cow's milk based on my experience. It could be wise to have him have it only when you are at work or otherwise not with him if you can manage, because if you think he has NRE with water this may be even worse... (It was with Squiggle anyway. OMG he is all about the cow's milk.)

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Just another reminder that it isn't an all-or-nothing deal. Barring a medical issue or the decision by mom, babies generally wean gradually, and I've known littles who nursed once a day for quite a long time. What he's getting from you at night and in the morning still matters. (And who knows, he may kick it up again at growth spurts.)

[mizarchivist]

And that might be what happens. I hope so.

[hammercock.livejournal.com]

My supply seems to be lessening a bit as well on the pumping side of things, but Xander still wants to nurse pretty frequently. Basically, if I'm around, he wants boob access. Right now I think it's still worth it to pump, but yeah, it's hard to tell how long I should keep it up so that he has milk during the day.

[mizarchivist]

Yeah, that' s the thing: When we are together, Crime Fighter is mostly ambivalent about nursing... unless he's asleep/sleepy. There are too many things to do... or something.

Nothing new to add

[sweetmmeblue.livejournal.com]

Sorry. HUGS

Re: Nothing new to add

[mizarchivist]

Thanks. It is what it is.

[veek.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I'm sorry, love.

If he's nursing adequately while sleepy/sleeping, that seems to indicate comfort nursing. The only other issue is nutrition. It sounds like you can be reasonably confident that CF is getting adequate nutrition from All The Foods. What's stopping you from deciding not to pump anymore? A quick check-in with the pediatrician might not hurt, but having it be your decision might feel empowering in some small important way. If CF *is* nursing for comfort at night, then having slightly less milk shouldn't discourage that.

[mizarchivist]

I'm pretty sure the babe is not under-nourished. It's just a hard transition. It'll sort itself out soon enough. And really, I won't miss being a moo-cow. 2x a day.

[veek.livejournal.com]

Oh! Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that there was ANY possibility he was. Clearly, that kid is a happy healthy kid. I was just doing a mental walkthrough toward agency. (I'm projecting: when a situation makes me sad, I get less sad when I take active part in it and guide it.)

[mizarchivist]

Oh, no offense. Given the way he attacks his sippy cup of water, I worry a bit, but it might just be enthusiasm at the new skill. Also, the way he demolished his dinner last night was disconcerting. "I swear there was chicken here a second ago..."

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

I agree with this. Obviously, every child is different, but the guidelines I've seen from the American Pediatric Association suggest that the first year is the most important. After that, if the baby wants to go to year two it's fine, but it's not terribly important to the baby's emotional or nutritional development, particularly if he/she is getting a variety of foods, which it sounds like Crimefighter is.

[mizarchivist]

You should see him eat peas. He's a hoover.

[dani-namaste.livejournal.com]

That's awesome. My nephew is the same way, except with fruit. Another one loves broccoli like nobody's business.

[missionista.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I think your body will produce according to the demand. So if you stop pumping, you will still have enough for the night/first thing in the morning sessions with CF. If you hate pumping, stop. What's the worst that happens? You have to supplement with formula for a few feedings maybe. That is just not such a bad thing. It seems like CF is doing the child-led weaning thing all on his own, but a bit sooner than you were expecting. From my experience, that is kind of hard to give up for a few days (OMG, baby is growing up!), but becomes extremely wonderful and liberating thereafter.

[mizarchivist]

He's already supplementing with formula, so that mental hurdle is already in the past. It's a fact, you know?

Thanks. I'm getting there.

[trouble841.livejournal.com]

I stopped pumping, and made even MORE at night - but I did do a lot more co-sleeping type of arrangements when I stopped pumping during the day. Do you have access to an IBCLC?

[mizarchivist]

Heh. I'm gearing down. I had been pumping 2x a day at work, and now it's just one. And of course I'm chafing now at the notion of the once, which is how it was when I went from 3 to 2.
I'd not thought of talking to a consultant on this. Although perhaps I should. I'd like some well-informed thoughts on the issue of mother's milk/ formula and the kid's needs. We're making due so far.

co sleeping: so not an option. I'd never sleep, always afraid he'd wake up and fling himself off the 2 1/2 feet to the hard wood floor. Or he'd kick us all night. :P