Breastfeeding - Springfield,PA

changing the breastfeeding might not improve her disposition... or might. I am suprised you aren't LOSING from breast feeding.. My simple opinion is that you need to do what's working for you and the baby. If life would be easier to move to formula - then do it. Sounds like you really want to and you should make the change :) best of luck

Sounds like you are ready to switch over to formula. Nothing wrong with that. Do what is best for you.

That sounds exactly like a 4 month old. This is a normal time for growth spurts, some start teething this early (my third did), meeting developmental milestones. A lot is going on in that first year. Some babies deal with it quietly, some don't.
Switching to formula is no guarantee that anything will change. You could find yourself with your time even more consumed because now you have all those bottles to wash, prep, measuring, mixing, warming, washing yet again. This could just be baby's temperament that won't change just because you changed feeding methods. The formula may not agree with baby's system and make her feel bad and become fussier and clingier.
In the end, you need to make the choice you want to make.
Personally, I would stick with breastfeeding. There are so many benefits and worth sticking with. Not every day of it is going to be easy. I know I had my days that were so terrible I wondered why I was doing it but I was glad I stuck with it on the rough days to enjoy the far more fantastic days it gave me with my children.

Personally, these do not sound like reasons to stop nursing. Actally, it would point me more toward continuing. Eating frequently could just be a growth spurt. Or perhaps the baby is suckling you for comfort. Have you tried a paci? As for the weight, you have so much time for that. Why not enjoy this bonding time? I have to say, out of all the baby stuff, I miss nursing the most. I never thought I would. But I do.

Sounds like you are ready to be done. Go for it. No guilt!

J.,

Welcome to mamapedia!

Congratulations on your new addition!!!

At 4 months - that's normal - babies grow more in the first year than they do any other part of their lives.

When I was nursing I could eat to my hearts content - seriously - I was producing so much milk that I was burning calories.

If you want an excuse to formula feed, do it. She's your baby and you know what's best for her. Formula feeding isn't going to make her less clingy - this is her stage.

You can pump your milk as well - then you know what amount she is getting.

You really just have to do what's right for you and your baby. Doesn't matter what anyone else tells you. You don't want to breast feed? Don't. You want to? Great!

Good luck!

Not sure what you mean about your weight and body. Nursing kept me hot, hot, hot when I was in my late twenties, even after the third kid. Ate as many calories as I wanted and burned it off producing milk.
Plus I had bigger boobs.
It was the perfect diet!
Not sure why it's not working for you?
Maybe you just need to eat less and feed your baby more, then you will see your prepreg body again.

I breastfed all four of my kids. And like Mamazita? I was HOT!! Tyler thought I was like Sophia Loren with curves and boobs!

I would wait until six months to stop breast feeding if you are intent on giving it up.

I have to say formula feeding is expensive. I saw a lady in the grocery store yesterday spend $30 on a canister that will last her 3 days. She said she was having trouble with her milk supply. I told her to pump after each feeding. It will get her supply back up.

A four month old IS clingy. This is a huge growth spurt. Teething and learning to turn over and holding their head up on their own for longer periods and possibly sitting in a bumpy chair. Lots of changes! Just 4 short months ago, she was in a nice, tight, warm environment. Now she's in this huge world with more noise and light and so much more.

You need to do what's right for you and your baby. If you can afford formula, go for it. If you are thinking of switching to formula just to get your body back? I think it's self-centered and vain. But that's MY thought and opinion. Should it influence you on what you want to do? No. You will do what you are going to do and what you feel is right for you and your baby.

J., you will get a lot of mixed answers here, some very passionate.

My only suggestion is that you do what works for you, ultimately. If it were me in that position, I'd probably try to nurse a couple more months for nutritional reasons until she gets on solids at six months or so.

Only you can decide what truly works for you. I will, however, suggest a great book on the subject: "Spilled Milk: Breastfeeding Adventures and Advice from Less-Than Perfect Moms" by Andi Steiner. I loved this book-- it was such a No Guilt book about taking care of ourselves and our babies. Hope you find a place of peace about this!

Babies are fussy, they eat a lot (especially if they are breast fed, it seems like they ALWAYS eat), and babies are clingy.
You understand all of the benefits of breastfeeding, your daughter is healthy. If you want to feed her formula (which is FINE!) because you want your prepreg body back, then do so.
It just comes across, to me, as a bit selfish.
L.

Personally I would not have quit at 4 months for the reasons you state. I lost the weight because of nursing, big boobs, tiny everything else and I could eat anything I wanted.

I know that was what was best nutritionally for my kids. It was best emotionally for both of us and for me so much easier than bottles. For me, no way would I give that up unless there was a health issue or maybe if I'd had to work full time.

This is so personal, you'll get everyone's opinion but the only one that really matters is yours. Enjoy that baby!

This is what you should do... Whatever is mutually enjoyable for you & baby. Four months is a hard age, though. I remember wanting to quit at every growth / developmental spurt & 15 mos. later , I'm still popping my boob out.

& for those of you that lose weight while nursing... Congratulations!! Some of us are not so lucky, especially when it's a 4th baby & your mid-thirties( not that I'm bitter or anything). & yes, I exercise.

Whether or not you continue to breast feed is a very personal choice, you have to do what works for both you and baby. I stopped breastfeeding at around 3 months with mine, it was what worked best for us. But it did not change their behavior at all. But stopping won't help with weight loss, if anything breast feeding helps you burn more cals.

Nursing was the best weight loss program ever! I weighed 20 lbs less than my pre-pregnancy weight after nursing for 1 year.

My friends with multiple children say that it's harder each time. I say as long as you are eating well and healthily, you can do things like modify your diet and exercise more. Breastfeeding has benefits for both of you and there's so much else that could be going on. It does burn calories, and I found that when I stopped, even when DD was only nursing just a little, I gained weight.

Maybe this one is teething early, or wants to be carried more (I'd try baby wearing). Or maybe you just can't eat a lot of fish right now (my DD was fussier when I did). I would try other things first, before stopping an otherwise productive nursing relationship. Remember that they do a lot of growing at this time, especially before 6 months, so she may be working on other things unrelated to nursing specifically. I would also expect a 4 mo. old to nurse often, as she is just barely out of the newborn stage.

Further, since you have mixed emotions, there is no harm in trying to resolve other concerns first, as you can't go back once there is no more milk. You might want to review kellymom.com for tips. I found the site very helpful.

Do what's best for you and your family. I tried hard to breastfeed my first and she just refused to do it, so her doctor told me that babies thrive on formula and/or breast milk, and I wasn't a bad person for giving up. Thank God. Afterwards was happy baby and happy mama.

I have an almost 4 month old son and had the opposite problem, he liked it so much within 24 hours of being born my nipples were a sore, bloody mess. His doctor once again reminded me that if I'm not enjoying it and am stressed, it's not good for anyone and no one would judge me for quitting. (I was crying asking if I could quit at that point because it hurt so much I almost didn't want anyone to put the baby near me.)

Both of my kids are healthy and happy and so am I. There's no wrong way to feed your baby. Fighting over the best way to feed healthy babies good food (formula or breastmilk) is such a first world problem. Do what's best for your family. Obviously, I wouldn't tell everyone you quit because of weight loss, as you can tell from many of the other posts, people are judgey mcjudgersons. I'm sure that's only one of your reasons, and if it's important to you, it's your business and no one else's. Your baby got 4 months of breast milk, that's 4 more months than mine got.

The most important thing is to do what's best for you and your family. You've spent more than a year using your body to do what's best for your baby, if you're ready to have your body back for yourself, that's your business and no one else's.

Then wean her and take yourself back! It's OK to do it!

Time to focus on you again.

It sounds like you don't really want to stop nursing. Can you give details on the fussiness? Is she gassy? Projectile poop? Or does she arch her back? Is it worse at night?

Some babies are just fussy, and diet probably doesn't have much to do with it.

If she has a lot of gas and/or projectile poop, then I would suspect a food issue. The three most common food intolerances for babies are dairy, eggs, and nuts. I'd try cutting out one at a time (for at least 2 weeks each) and see if that helps.

If she's arching her back, or cries more at night, then it might be reflux. Even if she doesn't spit up alot, it could be silent reflux. This fits with the eating frequently too. My reflux baby wanted to eat all the time, because breastmilk is a natural antacid. If you suspect reflux, talk to your ped.

Hi - I think I struggled with breastfeeding the most between 3 and 6 months. Its exhausting and I did it without having two other kids. I have a feeling you are really overwhelmed and nursing just seems like a huge time commitment.

Breastfeeding is a personal decision and no one would fault you for stopping - but there are significant health benefits for a baby that young. If she does have a food allergy you should know that formula probably will make it worse.....I remember finding out that my daughter was allergic to dairy around that time and had to cut out all the dairy I was eating. I was so thankful she wasn't on formula which most has milk proteins in it with the exception of the really expensive ones. I also remember saying to myself around that same time.....I will do this for one more month.

It doesn't sound like you really want to stop. Can you set a goal for like another month - if you can get her to 6 months thats a huge accomplishment and she can start eating cereals etc. Can you get help with the other kids?

Like I said, no one would fault you for stopping nursing. 4 months is a big accomplishment - just make sure it is what you really want overall. If not, maybe there are some other adjustments you could make to alleviate your situation.
Good Luck mama! Your a great mom either way you go and if for your sanity you need your body back - then go get it!