Hello everyone- I have a 6 month old daughter, Lily and she is breastfeeding and eating some solid food. We just introduced her to solids this month as she was acting as if she wasnt getting enough from the breast at eat feeding. She would cry and fuss and start to suck her thumb. She was getting a bottle here and there while I was at work however it was about 75/25 % Breast/Bottle. When she stayed at Grandmas for 5 days she was fed 30 ounces of formula a day and I pumped while I was gone to keep my milk supply up and so that my freezer had some in there too. Anyway- She sleeps from 10 pm until around 8-9 am without feeding at night. Her first meal is nursing and then with in the hour I feed her some rice cereal with fruit. She will eat again with in another 1-2 hours ( nursing) then take a nap from 12-3 or 4. When she wakes- she nurses and then eats rice cereal with veggies. She will nurse again 2 or 3 more times before bedtime at 10 pm. My real question is making sure that she getting enough as she was eating 30 ounces a day at grandmas and not fussing. She is not fussing with the schedule right now, as if she does I am sure to nurse her to keep her happy. She is not nursing long on each side- so many intersting things going on and it doesnt matter if we are in another room( she just isnt at breast long) I know that I am not producing the 30 ounces a day as I only came back from that vacation with 85 ounces and she had consumed 150. I do understand that they will eat more from a bottle than at breast because it is easier... but I just want to make sure she is ok. She is heavier for sure and I think she is a happy baby, just wanting to make sure that she getting the nutrients that she needs at this time in brain development. Plus I have grandma on my shoulder making me second guess my judgement and instinct. I successfully breastfed my first daughter until she was a year and I think she is perfect... why I am so concerned now?.. maybe becuase Lily hasnt really chunked out yet. Her bottom half has , but not like my first. I do know that no all kids are the same though. Hense my questions are asked. Sorry for the rambling, but I wanted to include all the info to get the best advice. Thanks so much in advance for the advice and concerns.
Thanks to all that responded... I really needed the validation that I was doing the right thing. I also heard from my lactation consultant today and she confirmed everything. She said the same as all you did and I already knew, but the confrimation means alot to me. She said that she should be getting enough and that I should check her weight soon and make sure she hasnt lost weight- which I dont think so as she is heftier I think. But she also said that when they get to this point they will slow down their growth rate and not add on the pounds as fast... so that helps me too. She said I am doing great and I believe her and all of you... thanks so much!
It is very unlikely you pump out as much as she nurses. Babies are much more efficient. I would bet you do nurser her just as much as the formula she drank.
sounds like she is doing fine to me. if she was still hungry, she'd let you know. older folks often times think that every time a baby wines, that a bottle needs to be shoved intheir mouth...that's why we and our parents generations are fat and because of that we are making our kids fat too. my daughter never did turn into a chucky baby...she has a high metabolism. babies will take more from a bottle because there is less effort involved. as long as she is gaining weight at a steady pace and isn't fussing i thin you're doing alright...it's good that you are introducing solids, that will satisfy her and make her not nurse quite as much, but breast milk or formula should still be her primary source of nutrients. when i was nursing, my ped put my daughter on tri-vi-sol infant vitamins, so if your concerned about her needing a supplement ask your ped about them.
Hi D.,
Don't worry. If she's growing, she's getting enough. I breasfed both of mine and my son was thin, while my dd was chunky. Babies get more from the breast than the pump. They also become more efficient eaters as they get older. So she's probably able to get more in less time at this age. Your milk also changes as she gets older and adapts to her needs. If you want to increase the brain boosting ingredients in your milk, get plenty of Omega 3's in your diet. But relax, your doing the best thing for her by nursing as much as you can! Good job mom!
M. S.
Hi D.-
Don't worry at all. Something I learned recently from a lactation consulant is that babies can get twice as much from the breast as a pump can. So if you were able to pump 85oz she would have gotten about 160! Babies are born to breast feed and custom built to get as much as possible. I wouldn't be too concerned with how long shes nursing espically if she's eating solids too. just be assured that whatever your pump gets out shes getting even more!! Good luck!
#1--grandmas have a habit of feeding babies more than they need. I seriously doubt your daughter needs 30 ounces of milk. She may take it, but not need it.
#2--your pumping output is by no means indicative of how much milk your daughter is getting while nursing
#3--6 months is a growthspurt time. She likely is trying to increase your milk supply right now, which is why she is acting like she wants to eat more. As long as she is still sleeping good and acting happy, she is getting enough. If she is fussing some, just feed her whenever you can to get your supply up.
#4--you are doing what is best for your baby. Don't let anyone question that you know what is best. You've been successfully bfing for 6 months, you know what you're doing. 6 months is about the time that my son also started having issues with paying attention to nursing. That didn't mean he didn't want to nurse, there was just too much going on. One thing I did was go to his bedroom and turn out the lights and he would pay more attention. I didn't do this all the time, but once or twice a day, so I knew he was getting plenty during those feedings. Another thing, my son has never been chunky up top...only in the legs. As long as she is gaining weight, has enough wet diapers, etc, she is fine. Good job on nursing your first one and good luck on continuing nursing Lily! It's such a wonderful gift to give our babies
I would say first of all that all kids are different - I have a friend in a similar situation. Possibly she is experiencing a growth spurt and it will calm down. If she seems happy, she's growing well, and your ped isn't concerned about her weight/height, etc, I would say you're doing fine. I would tell grandma that you appreciate her concern and you've talked to you ped about it, and they don't feel there is cause for concern at this point, but you'll be sure to keep an eye on it. Also, while I was not medically able to breastfeed, I think the max formula is 30-32 ounces they suggest, then you should be giving more solid foods especially at 6 months - not sure how this equates for breastfeeding but food for thought. Good luck!
It sounds like your Lily is gettind enough, she is sleeping better than most. Is she happy and active while awake? 6 months is about appropriate to intoducing other foods. My first child child was exclusivly breast-fed, until solids, he nursed for 14 months, and he was a little plump as an infant ( he is is now 17 and skinny as a rail), my 2nd was exclusivley breast-fed, aside from solids, for 18 months, when we introduced solids, he became " failure to thrive", I think he just liked Mama better, and is now a healthy 5 year old, also skinny as rail, but healthy, he alos never plumped up like his brother, but it sounds like Lily is perfectly healthy. If you are really concerned, consult your Pediatrian, also realize and accept no children are the same. Given her habits, she sounds very happy and healthy. Have a sit dowm with your Pediatrician, you will feel better. Relax, Mama, Lily sounds great, feel free to email me personally, I have successfully breastfed 3 children, my email is ____@____.com Bless, A. PS: I could use some advice with the animal training :-)
I don't know what you are so concerned this time, but, I think people tend to make you feel bad if breastfeeding doesn't work, or you can't do it anymore.
Don't second guess yourself because of others opinions. You've done it once, you can do it just fine again. You know, as well as any mom, if they are hungry, they will FOR SURE let you know! Relax and do your mommy thing! Mom's just know what to do!
I agree that even when you have done this before, the second one is always different. I have 2 boys (almost 4 and an 18 month old). I breastfed them both until they were a year old. I worked full time and pumped while at work. You will not pump as much as they consume...the babies are much more efficient than any pump on the market. The most important thing is that Lily is happy. I know it can be difficult when moms and moms-in-law can be telling you how everything should be done correctly. You are Lily's mom and you know her best. My 3 year old has always been in the 90th percentile of growth and the 18 month old always 40-50th percentile, its amazing how different and similiar they can be.
