I'm having a hard time.......
last thursday i was roller blading, and broke my left arm at the elbow. My 11.5 mon old has been primarily breast feed till now. She does eat table food & drinks diluted juices from her sippy cup. I have been forced to ween her because it is to painful for my arm to try and breast feed. i'm able to pump milk, and I try to put it in a bottle for her to drink, but she has a total meltdown when the bottle nipple even touches her mouth. I don't want to force the bottle on her, but she won't have anything to do with the milk in her sippy, i'm torn...also she HATES formula :( . it's hard to hold her for a long period of time too, my good arm gets tired, i guess i'm being weened myself :( Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
~thanks, "heavy heart" ~
Try sitting in a recliner, have her climb up in your lap. With your right arm lay her head on the arm chair or put a pillow there enough where she can reach you. At that age they can pretty much help themselves. Good luck with a fast recovery!
Wow, your poor arm. I wouldn't worry about formula right now. This is about the time I weaned my boys off formula and went to whole milk. If you are able to pump, Great. I know it is difficult. Have you tried using a straw? My last boy was difficult and I ended up dipping a straw into the milk and dripping it into his mouth. Then he wanted to use the straw to suck the milk. I am so glad they make straw sippys after than. Eventually, that is all I offered him, just the sippy cups. It sounds like you have a difficult road ahead, but remember that others had to go thru that as well. It will happen.
I just thought of something else, if you wanted to keep breatfeeding, do you have a sling? I had made myself an adjustable sling for my boys. I used it up to 2 years old when holding my boys. It will take the pressure off your arm while breadfeeding. If you don't, use a bed sheet, which is what I did until I could make my sling. You will be able to adjusted it to fit the baby and you. A sling is more comfortable, but a bed sheet will work until you get one. I hope that helps.
This accident and subsequent abrupt weaning sounds like it's really difficult for you both. Maybe try different ways of nursing - laying down, only using the good arm for both sides.... experiment. Be creative! Maybe there is a carrier you can hold her in - a backpack or sling - to give your arm a break.
What a difficult position to be in! I wish you the best.
I would get a boppy pillow and use it to help hold her while breastfeeding as it will help hold the baby up and so you just need to put a hand on her to make sure she doesn't roll off. or you can lay on your good side and put her to the breast on that side and pump the other side and use the pumped milk in cereal and such. Just a few ideas for that problem without having to resort to forcing a bottle on her.
D. P.
Have you tried using a "boppy" pillow when nursing her? It's a sort of horseshoe shaped pillow designed for breastfeeding.
I'm sorry to hear about your accident. This must be difficult for you. You have received some good advice to try for breastfeeding, but if that doesn't work please don't resort to giving your daughter a bottle. Now is the time that most babies start weaning from the bottle or breast anyway. I know you may not be ready for this yet, but it seems you are being forced into it. You could try a different sippy. Put something new in it, like cow's milk. Tell her it's a "new" cup, a special one just for her "new" special milk. That worked for my kids. Also, try to remember that she doesn't "need" as much milk as before. It's no longer her primary source of nutrition. Those same needs could now be fulfilled with cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. I think it's 3-4 servings/day, but you should affirm that with your dr. Take care of yourself!
Is it possible to lay down on your right side, then rest your broken left arm on your hip? Put a pillow between your knees and your baby can crawl right up to you on her side.
So sorry that you all have to adjust so quickly to this type of accident. It will be over soon, just make sure not to over do and over compensate with your good arm. I wish you a speedy and healthy recovery.
I didn't have a broken arm but got lazy sometimes and didn't want to hold my daughter up the whole time. I used a Boppy pillow that somebody else has suggested. It is a pillow that you can wrap around your side or belly or however you want to do it, and you can use it to prop up your daughter to breast feed. If you don't have a boppy pillow and don't want to go out and get one, just use a regular pillow or two to help prop her up. Another thing that might help is if you use the arm of the couch or recliner to help with the propping up. This way you don't have to stop breast feeding if you don't want to.
Can you put a pillow on your lap or do a football hold on just the side that is not broken, then pump on the side that your broken arm is on.
Have you tried nursing laying down? I did not have broken arm but it was one of my favorite was to nurse with both of my girls.
Hi S..
I had to respond because I myself have broken BOTH arms in different accidents. **uggghhh**
First- before I forget..LOL Prop your broken arm with pillows or sofa cushions. I did this alot and avoided at all costs to wear that neck killing sling. When I did,I put a soft cloth wrapped around the neck part for extra cushion.
You can do the "football hold" when you prop your arm up elevated like I am sure they have suggested. You can also do this in a corner of the couch.
Please email if you need anything clarified.=)
