Post your breastfeeding questions here - Page 11

fussymum · #**101** (**permalink**) 21-11-09, 10:12

Just as soon as you tell me about all the recent research in it's favour.

lbroon · #**102** (**permalink**) 29-11-09, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by LauraAK

Hi julicka100

I am sorry to hear that you are having problems breastfeeding.
Please can you email me laura@annabelkarmel.com with your full contact details and i will put you in touch with Clare.

Best wishes

Laura

Dear Ms Clair Byam-Cook,

I am writing to you because I want to thank you for your help and advise.
I had problems with breastfeeding, my brest was very sore as well as the nipples because my son wasn't emptying the brest properly and I got mastitis and thrush, both are very painful when you have to breastfeed. Then I tried to contact you.
When I breastfed my daughter, (she is three years old now), I used to have problems with her as well. I had found this great Clairs Byam DVD "How to breastfeed without tears" which helped me straight away back then. This time I wasn't able to understand why it would not help me with my son. I was asking myself what I was doing wrong. I was looking on the Internet, everywhere and then I found this Anabel Karmel forum, they helped me a lot.
Ms Clair Byam Cook contacted me and she did help me out over the phone. She was the first to tell me that I had thrash and I had to use some creams and to give some suspention for my son.Now we both are in perfect health, everything has healed up.
I would like to recomend to every mum who breastfeeds and has problems with it, use the DVD of Clair Byam Cook " How to breastfeed without tears". It did help me and I am sure will help everyone too.
Many thanks to Ms Clair Byam Cook.
julija100

emilyteacake · #**103** (**permalink**) 03-12-09, 14:28

I have an 8-month old breastfed baby girl - she's on three meals a day now and breastfeeding in between.

What I'm not sure about is what comes next? Should I be weaning her off the breast? I think breastmilk is the best drink for her, until she can drink cow's milk at one. But I keep reading that soon she should only be having boob in the morning and evening - so what does she drink in between? Do I put breastmilk in a cup?? She still needs a pint of milk a day, doesn't she?

I'm the only one in my ante-natal group still breast-feeding, and all my friends with babies have gone onto formula by now. So I don't really have anyone to ask!

x

ladybug · #**104** (**permalink**) 03-12-09, 21:26

Hi Emily

Weaning off the breast and introducing solids are two entirely different things.

I've fully introduced solids to my wee boy, but haven't fully weaned him yet.

Keep offering her the breast as normal, and in particular ensure she gets milk before solids for the first year. It's the milk she needs. Introducing solids is exactly that - a wee taster, an introduction to the world of food. She needs the nutrients from your milk more, or her weight-gain might slow up a bit. Think about it - how many calories are in pureed carrot, compared to a milk feed? It's the calories they need.

If I were you I'd be introducing a sippy cup of water or full-fat cows milk, just to get used to the taste. It's not to replace a feed. (The only reason we don't give them cow's milk is because it doesn't replace the stuff they still need from formula/breast milk.) It's just a taste and she'll probably just have a tiny bit then leave it at first. Bear in mind that any liquids you give her will take away from the amount of breastmilk she takes from you, which isn't what you want at this stage. Just tastes of other liquids. She gets all the fluids she needs, from you.

Am I making any sense?! LOL

Gx

emilyteacake · #**105** (**permalink**) 04-12-09, 14:18

Ladybug,

Thank you so much, that's exactly what I wanted to hear! I'm still feeding her 5-6 times a day, and do give her a sippy cup with water with meals. Haven't tried cow's milk yet but will give it a go - you're right about getting her used to the taste. She thinks the cup is great fun, usually drinks a little then starts playing with it and squirting water at me!

She's a lovely, enthusiastic and adventurous eater and really enjoys making a mess. I want mealtimes to be fun and not a stressful experience for either of us. So I just go with the flow.

You know, I was beginning to feel like I was doing something wrong by still breast feeding her at 8 months. When no-one around you is doing it, it's hard to know whether you're on the right track. I know health visitors are there for advice, but they must be so busy with people who have real problems.

Also, when I have taken Eve to be weighed recently the advice is all about solids. Milk seems to take second place - but now I know it doesn't

You make great sense! Am so glad I joined the community, have never done anything like it before (but then I've never done anything like have a baby before!!!) and it's great to feel there's some support out there. Thanks for getting back to me.

Em
x

CarlaK · #**106** (**permalink**) 04-12-09, 15:29

Em,

Welcome! My little one was prem so we weaned really late. Trust your instincts and you are completely right to stay relaxed. My friend breastfed and gave solids until her LO was 2, so don't worry!

kc16 · #**107** (**permalink**) 05-12-09, 11:57

is this still valid? I would love some help with my 11 week old son...

ladybug · #**108** (**permalink**) 05-12-09, 17:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by kc16

is this still valid? I would love some help with my 11 week old son...

Kc16 - anything we can help you with?

kc16 · #**109** (**permalink**) 14-12-09, 19:51

Thank you - I have written a summary below...

My son born 17 September 2009 (natural delivery) 3.7kg. Current weight 5.670kg
Problem: Very difficult to feed – will only stay on for a few minutes on the breast before starting to pull off, kick out legs, cry. Often will refuse to return to the breast, even after being burped etc

The problem started when he was about 3 weeks old and, whilst there were a couple of weeks when things seemed better (when he was about 6 weeks old), things have not got better and in fact have worsened over the last 3-4 weeks.

In his early weeks his weight gain was good (about 180-200g a week) it has dropped off dramatically. On the 17 November he was 5.3kg and today (12 Dec) he is only 5.670kg.
We have visited the paediatrician who said it was either colic or reflux and treated him for reflux (domperidone, omeprazole, gaviscon) but the treatment was ineffective. We visited a different paediatrician who prescribed a double of dose of omeprazole but again this didn’t work – therefore we don’t believe reflux is the problem.
I have visited a midwife/lactation consultant at the hospital who couldn’t say what the problem was. I asked about his latch on and she seemed to think it was fine. I have also visited La Leche League and again the person I saw thought the latch was ok. In addition we have consulted an osteopath who thought he had some tightness in his hips. None of these things have ultimately helped.
I am at my wits end and ready to give up breastfeeding. I would probably have done already except that he won’t take a bottle either!
I think I have considered most things... wind, fast let down, not enough milk, too much milk...and all of these things have seemed plausible at one point or another but I haven’t been able to pinpoint anything definitively.
If there was any way you could help I would be most grateful. My gut feeling is that it is a problem with the latch (despite having 2 people watch a feed), causing him to take in too much air which makes him very uncomfortable.
I would very much like to breastfeed but currently it is a source of distress for the both of us rather than something pleasurable.

Janebug · #**110** (**permalink**) 14-12-09, 20:25

There are members far more knowledgeable on bfeeding than me but a few things came to mind on reading your post, which might be helpful to disregard if nothing else:

Thrush? I guess he has been checked for that!?!? Something mouth related making it uncomfy ashe won't take bottle either?

Tongue tie? Has this been checked?

Also, I think that at about 3 weeks (maybe 2) the milk supply regulates itself into supply/demand which I think is then more down to successful latch, and when problems (for want of a different word) become apparent.

I perservered with bfeeding and mixed feeding til six months. My daughter's weight gain was pretty sketchy at some points (though she was always on - opposite problem to you). I had latch checked a few times and always told that it was ok, but I remain unconvinced now so maybe go back and get a further opinion? If I had my time again I would get my thyroid checked more as I know mine is underactive and that could have played a part in it, but it doesn't sound like that you have any health probs? I think now that a lot of my LOs fussiness/lack of sleep was cause she was hungry.

I also found BFN helpline v good.

Anyway, good luck with it. Someone will be along with more and better advice too so hang in there.