The Breast Feeding Support Thread

When I was stopping, I told her for 3/4 days in advance that we were stopping and subtly made a bit of a deal with it the last night. After that we replaced boob with a book and a song before getting into bed. She never looked to nurse after that last night. Now, while she did love nursing she was never a very boob grabby baby, more never refused when offered. But I also think she was ready so stop when we did. She was down to once a day for about 4 months in advance to stopping and I was 5/6 weeks pregnant when we did, so I'm not sure if there was even much of a supply left at that stage.

I would say if you think there's going to be much protesting to enlist your partner into bed time routine. Maybe nurse her for the next couple of nights letting her know it is coming to an end, and once she's finished get your partner to do story time and into bed (break that connection of you nursing her and putting her into bed) and to may be do full bed time for a couple of nights after you stop. Then you start doing bedtime again? Even though I think my girl was ready to stop, I was very surprised that she never asked for boob after that last night and I think it was because we replaced nursing with something else positive she liked. We never did story time at bedtime before that. I'm a stay at home mam so I'd read her books during the day before that, so I knew she loved to be read to.

Edit: I should probably add that my girl turned 2 the week we stopped, so her comprehension and stuff would be a bit further on than your girl in terms of preparing her in advance to stopping

scarepanda wrote: »

Ladies, I need your advice/opinions!

Whats your opinion between lanolish and multimam creams? Trying to get the hospital bag sorted, and I can't for the life of me remember which I used last time around.

This time around I found the branded Lansinoh mad money. I used to be able to get a tube for no more than 8e but couldn't find one for less than 15 this time so I opted for the generic version. Your Chemist should have some under the name Lanolin BP in a little plastic jar. It's a pure moisturiser and I'd use it a lot especially in the first few weeks.

The multimam compresses are little white strips with gel on them. They have a cooling affect on nipples. Each compress can be cut in half to make them last longer. I wasn't using these as frequently as the lanolin. I did find these better but maybe that's just me.

Best of luck with everything.

Would anyone have any tips for freezing milk? I'm going away with my sister for a night and stocking up milk for my partner to have on hand.

Issue I am having is, I'm pumping using the MAM pump and bottles and transferring to the Lansinoh storage bags. When i pour say 100ml (Mam bottle measurement) in, Its saying its 140ml in the bags so i'm kinda confused and not sure which ones i should be going by.

My daughter usually takes a feed of around 100-120ml from the bottle so i've just been going by that and writing that amount on the bottle.

Has anyone come across this before or am I doing something wrong?

thanks

jlm29 wrote: »

I always ignored the number on the bag, and just went by what was on the bottle before I poured it into the bag.
I tended to freeze portions that I knew would be enough for one bottle. My boys always took around 3-3.5oz, so that’s the amt I froze in each bag

Thanks for that. I only noticed it today and got confused. Will go by the bottle to be sure.

Does anyone recommend somewhere to buy the Breast angel silver cups that have been recommended by a few people? There seems to be a few online under different names and varying prices so I just want to make sure I get the right ones.
I am due in a few weeks and would like to try using these from the start to try and prevent pain as much as possible.
For anyone that has used these, have you used nipple balm/cream as well?

TIA

Sarah1916 wrote: »

Does anyone recommend somewhere to buy the Breast angel silver cups that have been recommended by a few people? There seems to be a few online under different names and varying prices so I just want to make sure I get the right ones.
I am due in a few weeks and would like to try using these from the start to try and prevent pain as much as possible.
For anyone that has used these, have you used nipple balm/cream as well?

TIA

Earthmother.ie sell them. You can sell them on again afterwards. Highly recommend them.

I stopped feeding my nearly 15 month old yesterday morning. We had been mainly doing early morning and last thing at night I gave him a big feed the night before, then a few minutes in the morning and as we had babysitters last night I decided that was the last one. (have a few reasons for stopping, had just planned on going to 12 months but kept putting it off). I was tempted to feed for a few minutes this morning for relief but just hand expressed in the shower. Any tips for relieving engorgement without boosting supply and how long should it last? Feeling a little emotional too...

I weaned my 12 month old two weeks ago. Reluctantly really and very emotional also. What i found helpful was keeping my back to the shower so avoiding hot water on chest. Wearing a good supportive nursing bra, expressing only if very engorged or a lump, just hand expeessing the minimal amount. And sage tea! Not the nicest tasting but really really helped reduce supply. I took some Nurofen too when pain was bad. All in all took ten days for boobs to go soft. Waaay longer than when i weaned my son but i fed him for longer. Well done you for going to 15 months and best of luck and as fits said do be kind to yourself! It is an emotional rollercoaster

kastasia wrote: »

I stopped feeding my nearly 15 month old yesterday morning. We had been mainly doing early morning and last thing at night I gave him a big feed the night before, then a few minutes in the morning and as we had babysitters last night I decided that was the last one. (have a few reasons for stopping, had just planned on going to 12 months but kept putting it off). I was tempted to feed for a few minutes this morning for relief but just hand expressed in the shower. Any tips for relieving engorgement without boosting supply and how long should it last? Feeling a little emotional too...

Cold cabbage leaves maybe? I’ve known a good few people to use them when their milk was coming in, to help with enforcement if they didn’t plan to breastfeed, so it’s worth a try! I found with all of mine that I wasn’t particularly engorged when i stopped feeding because it was gradual. But I’d say hand express just enough to relieve engorgemeng!

lunamoon wrote: »

My 10month old will only feed twice a day. Once between 4.30-5.30 and then again before his 8-9am nap. Both are short feeds (3mins ish) The odd time he will feed during the day but only for comfort. I offer it a lot but he's too busy for it. He initially hated solids but loves them now. He also loves water. I went away for a few days and he kept up this same pattern with his granny. Is this something to be concerned about?

My son dropped breastfeeding around this age too. But a great eater and drinker like yours. I didn't worry because he still drank milk a lot just not mine.

Is yours drinking milk as well?

lunamoon wrote:

He'll drink expressed milk for his granny. I haven't tried him on any other type of milk yet. Any suggestions on what one would be good?

I started regular cow's milk at 6.5 months for meal times. I never watered it down or anything like that.

Cakerbaker wrote: »

It’s not recommended to give milk other than breast milk or formula as a drink before 1 as it doesn’t contain the right nutrient requirements.

And their systems can't digest it properly either AFAIK.

Don't give cows milk!!

Digs wrote: »

Luna moon my eldest did what your little fella is doing. I’m feeding my third and she’s 8.5 months and rapidly losing interest in day feeds too, too much to see and do. I know from my other babies that it ebbs and flows and interest will probably come back around again. It does help me to take her off to a quiet room to feed, it’s less distracting, if her sisters are about forget it! You’re doing everything right, keep offering the boob, if he wants it he’ll take it. If not food and water is perfectly adequate, no need for anything else at this age.

From speaking to friends it’s a fairly common thing.

+1 to all this. Interest in boob definitely ebbs and flows. Keep doing what you are doing. Don’t give cows milk.

Neyite wrote: »

With formula it's a case of trial and error to find the one that suits him best- aptimel premade stuff suited my lad but the powdered aptimel gave him the runs.

Small amounts of cows milk were fine to give a few years ago I'm not sure if that's changed but I used to just give full fat cows milk in cereal but any sippy cups or bottles were formula.

Yeh I was thinking of trying Apitmel or Hipp Organic. I've a feeling he won't drink either though, too busy

For bedtime when I stopped with my first we introduced story time followed by the usual song (or two or three :-)!). Now she was just turned two, so we could get her involved in it by getting her to pick out her book etc. But have a think if there's anything you can do a direct swap with at bedtime to replace nursing and see if that works.