Relactate or let her wean (at 7 months)

[sgmom]

Grandma has been visiting (nuff said? haha), and my daughter is now refusing the breast (she was never big on it to begin with). I have tried WAY too hard to keep my already low supply from falling even lower, so I don't want to stop yet. I want her to have breastmilk until she's at least 1 (if possible).

She's currently only taking the breast when she's already half asleep and still hungry. That said, she's eating WAY more than she ever used to now that grandma is here. Which I LOVE.

She definitely seems to be weaning off the breast though, and grandma isn't helping with all her talk about "she wants/needs solids". And she does LOVE her solids. We do both BLW and purees, and we suppliment with formula, but she'll only take 2-3 bottles/day (4-6oz), as well whatever breastmilk I pump during the day (usually 6oz by bedtime, which includes my "before bed" pump from the night before).

I've always had to pump to keep it up (I own the pump n style), but when I used to be able to pump 1oz/hr (or 6-7oz/12 hours), I just pumped 3oz in 12 hours. YIKES!

We're planning a road trip to visit family in June/July and I'm worried about drying up before we get back. My goal to breastfeed until 1 year has now changed to when we leave for our trip.

I started a thread regarding my concern (and my frustration during the last 7 months) if you want to read it.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions....php?t=1074875

I dont know what to do. Should I work on relactating (how do I do that?), or should I give up now and just offer bottles/solids?

I'm pretty upset about this. Any advice you have will help.

[GoBecGo]

My advice, as a mama who all-but lost supply at 7 months and decided to just wean and has NEVER stopped regretting it, is to think really carefully about it. At the time i basically felt i had no choice because all the things i could have done to improve my supply were beyond me (electric pump? no money. less stress? middle of a break-up. time and space to just BF? single parent with no family nearby and NO practical assistance...i could go on - i also had a worsening-daily thyroid condition which was not yet being treated...). So i sympathise with my past self for weaning when it felt like the only option, but i still regret it. Even one feed a day has great worth. If you cannot bear to pump anymore, maybe just the first-thing-in-the-morning feed, when there will be the most milk anyway, could be yours together for a while longer?

[Megan73]

I think breastmilk 'til she's one is a totally reasonable goal.
Other mamas can chime in with relactating tips.
I would suggest breaking out the SNS again. You could use it to give her the formula she's already getting and likely make her more interested in breastfeeding. She'll get more from you than any pump.
You could pump after feeds to boost your supply and use whatever milk you get to supplement.
At seven months, most of her calories should really still come from milk – whether it's mama's milk, donor milk or formula – and not solids.
Good luck.

[Ruthla]

It sounds like you're stuck in this "all or nothing" mindset. Wean or work on getting your supply up.

What if you kept on encouraging her to nurse as much as possible, but abandoned efforts to increase supply? Pumping after every nursing can be very draining, and hard to do while chasing after an active baby!

I'd continue offering the solids she seems ready for, and as much formula as she needs for growth- but maybe stop the bottles and switch to cups for formula, or use the SNS?

I'm not saying you shouldn't do everything in your power to increase your milk supply, if that's what your heart is telling you to do. Rather, I'm suggesting an alternative to completly weaning if you feel that the milk-supply boosting efforts are wearing you out and/or interfering with the time you want to spend with your baby.

And certainly, don't make any longterm decisions while your mom is still visiting and upsetting your normal routine!

[sgmom]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

What if you kept on encouraging her to nurse as much as possible, but abandoned efforts to increase supply? Pumping after every nursing can be very draining, and hard to do while chasing after an active baby!

I'd continue offering the solids she seems ready for, and as much formula as she needs for growth- but maybe stop the bottles and switch to cups for formula, or use the SNS?

Thank you, all!

This is pretty much what I've been doing... breastfeeding (or even just offering) every few hours, and pumping only at the times when she hasn't fed in a long time, or immediately before bed (she usually gets a bottle before bed, and often won't breastfeed afterwards). I give her a bottle (formula) whenever she seems hungry (and won't take the breast). She's a HORRIBLE feeder first thing in the morning (she'll often refuse), so sometimes i'll pump then as well (though rare).

I've also tried switching to cups for formula, but WHAT A MESS!! How on earth do you teach that? She's so strong. She tries to hold it, tip it ALL the way back (like a bottle), gets mad when you take it away, etc. I don't know how many times she grabbed it and flipped the whole thing across the room. Even my husband has problems holding on to the cup when she tries to drink from it. haha

The SNS that I used though, was the one they gave me from the hospital. Effective, but a royal pain to use. It's open ended, so I have to hold it with my teeth, and it only holds 1oz at a time. Also, because she pops off the breast every few seconds (so many interesting things to look/laugh/talk at), SNS can get VERY messy. It's not really a choice at this point.

Sooooo many times I've told myself to just keep breastfeeding, and if my supply drops... oh well. But then I go back to this "No, I have to increase my supply, I've worked too hard" silliness. I just don't feel ready to stop trying yet.

Am I just being silly? Should I just stop worrying about it and let nature take it's course? What are you opinions on the matter?

[Megan73]

[QUOTE=sgmom;13732620 ... I give her a bottle (formula) whenever she seems hungry (and won't take the breast). She's a HORRIBLE feeder first thing in the morning (she'll often refuse), so sometimes i'll pump then as well (though rare).
...
The SNS that I used though, was the one they gave me from the hospital. Effective, but a royal pain to use. It's open ended, so I have to hold it with my teeth, and it only holds 1oz at a time. Also, because she pops off the breast every few seconds (so many interesting things to look/laugh/talk at), SNS can get VERY messy. It's not really a choice at this point.[/QUOTE]

I can see why you wouldn't want to use the SNS you have. You need to purchase a Medela SNS or, better yet, a Lact-Aid. Medela products are widely available through many LCs and retail stores. Lact-Aids can easily be ordered on-line here www.lact-aid.com
If you supplement at the breast, I can almost guarantee that your little one will stop refusing the breast in favor of a bottle. I really think it's the solution to your current dilemma.

[sgmom]

If she was younger, I would for sure concider the SNS, but at 7 months old, is it REALLY worth it?

If I knew it would work I wouldn't hesitate for a second... But would it not leak if she pops off the breast? And I would have to readjust it when she latches back on? This seems like SUCH a pain to me.

[ElliesMomma]

keep the nursing connection! it's about more than just the milk.

cut out the bottles of formula. let her drink it from a cup.

when she needs the sucking (and she will), give her your breast. her mouth/sucking will bring back your supply.

pump when you feel like it once or twice or more a day.

when is your mother leaving?

[moondiapers]

Originally Posted by sgmom

If she was younger, I would for sure concider the SNS, but at 7 months old, is it REALLY worth it?

If I knew it would work I wouldn't hesitate for a second... But would it not leak if she pops off the breast? And I would have to readjust it when she latches back on? This seems like SUCH a pain to me.

The lactaid doesn't leak like the SNS does. It doesn't hang upside down with the milk being forced out. Instead, the milk is sucked out through a narrow tube like a straw, from the TOP of the lactaid. The SNS is gravity fed and leaks like a B$%^

[Megan73]

Originally Posted by sgmom

If she was younger, I would for sure concider the SNS, but at 7 months old, is it REALLY worth it?

If I knew it would work I wouldn't hesitate for a second... But would it not leak if she pops off the breast? And I would have to readjust it when she latches back on? This seems like SUCH a pain to me.

I can't tell you if it's worth it for you.
It's been a godsend to me – I've been using it since my son was two months old, he hasn't had a bottle since and is still having six good meals a day at the breast at nine months. I'll keep using it until he wants to wean.

[sgmom]

Originally Posted by ElliesMomma

when is your mother leaving?

Tuesday.

Thanks guys. I'm not sure if I want to go with the SNS, but it's something I think I'm going to look more into.

As for drinking from a cup (instead of a bottle), this is something I REALLY want to do, but what a MESS. Is there a trick to doing this? I've even tried using a sippy cup, but removing that silly rubber thing inside so the formula pours into her mouth and she doesn't have to suck. No matter what, it just gets everywhere.

We use a rubber bib to catch all the formula, so we can pour it back into the cup. haha

Ideas?