I nursed my daughter exclusively for 7 months. When I returned to work I started pumping at work and having that milk for her bottles during the day. Eventually, I found it hard to keep up and went to formula supplementation. After many months, I am down to nursing her 1 time, in the morning when she wakes up and before I go to work. All that being said, I am wondering, how much milk is she actually getting from me? I never feel engorged or even the "let down" of long ago, but when I squeeze my breast even after she's done, I squirt some out.
I wonder how long to continue this AM feeding. My mom says to keep it up as long as we both enjoy it.
Any advice?
Engorgement and even the strong let down feeling diminishes over time - so that's normal. I agree with mom, as long as you both enjoy it, do it!
You won't feel full anymore ever really once you have been nursing for that long. That is very normal. As long as your daughter still enjoys and seems to want it and it is working for you too, keep at it. Your milk still has the same wonderful nutrition and antibodies in it as it did when she was a newborn. BM actually changes in composition over time to suit the needs/age of your child. If she is only getting a little each day, then it becomes more concentrated to suit your child and the number of feedings she is getting. I know I much enjoyed nursing my toddler much more so than when my son was an infant. It gives you a quiet bonding time with them that once they get older becomes rarer and rarer. I say enjoy it while it lasts! It is helping both you and her.
A.:
I think that your mom's advice is quite good.
Your daughter continues to get antibodies and immunological properties from your milk for as long as your continue to breastfeed her.
There is no reason to stop as long as this continues to work for all of you
P.,RLC, IBCLC
Parenting Coach and Board Certified Lactation Consultant
www.lactationsupportgroup.com
Dear A.,
Listen to your mother.....You will treasure those special moments with your baby forever.
Your mom's right - definitely keep it up as long as you enjoy it. I still feed my 18-month old son in the mornings - it's wonderful snuggle time for both of us, and he really looks forward to it. As long as you continue to nurse her once per day you'll make enough for her to enjoy. At some point in the future either you'll get sick of it or she will (you probably will long before she does!) and you can work on weaning her then. But there's no hurry - she's still benefiting from the milk and the extra closeness with you.
I remember learning years ago that girls who are breastfed to age 2 have virtually no incidence of breat cancer as adults. I would say breastfeed as long as possible! What a great gift to be able to give your daughter.
J.
Listen to your mother. : )
After the first year the real value of nursing is in the comfort and bonding since your daughter will be able to drink whole milk. If you are still happy nursing and your daughter is still happy, then there is no reason to stop. I nursed my son just once in the morning (like you do) for about 3 months before he was totally weaned. You'll still have a minimal milk production even after that (hey, our bodies were built to lactate). Congrats on making in this far - that is serious dedication.
Hello Mom to Maddie --
Breastfeed her as long as you too are happy doing so and yes, the benefits continue as long as she has interest in nursing!!! The World Health Organization recommends a minimum of two years.
If you live in the area (Thorntown) you are welcome to join the Mothers assisting Mothers breastfeeding support group. E-mail me privately for more information! ____@____.com
P.
i do exactly the same. I nurse her morning and before she goes to bed. In both cases I amn't sure if she is getting much, but we both enjoy the interaction. At breakfast, she gets offered a bottle so if she is not getting much from me, she can get the formula. I think of the nursing as our special time and intend to continue until she doesn't want to any more or I have some particular reason to stop.
Why stop? You both seem to want to continue. IF you always nurse her in the morning, then you will always have milk in the morning. Your body is very smart in figuring out your daughter's needs. I don't think by a year I felt engorged anymore and my daughter nursed a lot more than once a day. Your body just figures things out and doesn't have to over compensate anymore. Your mother seems to be a smart woman, follow her advice.
Your mom is brilliant! That is exactly what you should do... Keep it up as long as you are both ok with it! In my situation, I nursed exclusively until 6 months when he started solids. I pumped at work until he was 15 months. He has weaned himself down to only before bedtimes and sometimes in the morning. We are continuing that until he is done.
As for the engorgement, etc... your body is amazing and knows just how much to make. It also knows what time of day to make it. So, you will not be making more than she eats, thus not feeling engorged. It isn't really important how much she is getting. She is still benefiting from nutrients, immunities, and the amazing bond and comfort of nursing.
So, stick with it until one of you is ready to move on. And CONGRATS on your decision to give your daughter the VERY best there is!!!
Personally I would nurse as long as I and my child wanted to. I nursed my daughter until she was almost two before she weaned herself. I really enjoyed it becuase I was working and I felt that it help me stay connected to her. Of course just becuase it worked for me doesn't mean that it would work for you. Just do what you feel comfortable with. During the weaning processes for the last 4 to 6 months of nursing we would maybe nurse once a day - but sometimes then we would go a few day without. I never felt engorged or a "let down." I had no discomfort when we finally stopped completely. However I just thought that would mentioned that if I sqeezed my breast, I would get a little milk for about 6 months after we stopped. My doctor said it wasn't unusual considering how long that I nursed and that we did the gradual wean off.
Just want to encourage you to be true to your own feelings, ie stop if you are ready and don't feel guilty for it. It is hard to keep up with, and I personally was ready to have my body back after 10 months. To this day not sure if it was me or her who initiated, but I think it was mutual! It goes fast, huh!
As long as she's nursing even a little bit you'll still be able to get milk to come out. It's not until after she stops completely that you'll dry up completely. I think I could still squeeze milk out for over a month after my daughter stopped.
Great advice above...go with what is working for you and your daughter.
You have some good advice here. So I'll just tell you that I haven't felt engourged EVER since Eli was about 9 months, not even when he sleeps 13-14 hours at night. I also stopped feeling the let down about that time. So, as long as it doesn't hurt, continue. If you were totally dried up, it would hurt to nurse. She's getting enough and the cool thing is, your body puts all the antibodies in to that one feeding so even though she gets less milk than if she nursed all day, she gets just as much of the good stuff! How cool is that?
