I've spent the last 3 nights nursing my 16 mo trying to craft this post in my head.
When my efforts/intention to bf for at least a year were officially threatened at my 6 week midwife's appt, I spent the next 5 months trying to regain my supply with 3 part feedings (nursing then supplementing with a bottle of formula, then pumping), breast compression, herbs, oats, blood tests and domperidone. Gave up (milk never came back) at around 7 months, content with supplementing with homemade formula from a bottle after nursing first, every time. ('content' is an over exaggerated word. I was devastated to not bf.)
Although I got a milk blister about two months ago, and every now and then I think I see a bit of milk on my nipple, my dd has gotten most of her nutrition from 'milky that fills her belly' (formula or milk from a bottle), after we nurse a bit first. She loves nursing! She's been slow to eat solids, has a few sensory issues (doesn't like pureed or smooth foods or sweets like fruit!) but nothing that needs official intervention (not without me asking too!).
At 13 months I switched her complex baby formula to whole milk plus CLO and Flax seed or hemp seed oil for constipation. At 16 months, she still drinks about 24-28 oz a day, even though I offer her good nutritious and sensory pleasing foods every 2-3 hours, plus water in cups with straws.
Here comes my question: we comfort nurse first then I give her a bottle of cows milk in a bottle. Mostly/usually for naps and to bed. I've been questioned on when I'm giving all this up. If I were bfing, I'd feel more confident that the breastmilk my dd was getting from the tap would eventually dry up or my dd would wean herself... but because my tap is/has been pretty dry and she gets full on milk from a bottle, I question if she will ever give this up. I don't mind nursing for a few years, I know it is warm and safe and mommy and (hopefully) a bit sweet, but will she still self-wean if the tap has always been dry?
Thank you for this forum and for supporting my efforts to feed my babe the best way I could (hoping next time could be 'better!').
When my efforts/intention to bf for at least a year were officially threatened at my 6 week midwife's appt, I spent the next 5 months trying to regain my supply with 3 part feedings (nursing then supplementing with a bottle of formula, then pumping), breast compression, herbs, oats, blood tests and domperidone. Gave up (milk never came back) at around 7 months, content with supplementing with homemade formula from a bottle after nursing first, every time. ('content' is an over exaggerated word. I was devastated to not bf.)
Although I got a milk blister about two months ago, and every now and then I think I see a bit of milk on my nipple, my dd has gotten most of her nutrition from 'milky that fills her belly' (formula or milk from a bottle), after we nurse a bit first. She loves nursing! She's been slow to eat solids, has a few sensory issues (doesn't like pureed or smooth foods or sweets like fruit!) but nothing that needs official intervention (not without me asking too!).
At 13 months I switched her complex baby formula to whole milk plus CLO and Flax seed or hemp seed oil for constipation. At 16 months, she still drinks about 24-28 oz a day, even though I offer her good nutritious and sensory pleasing foods every 2-3 hours, plus water in cups with straws.
Here comes my question: we comfort nurse first then I give her a bottle of cows milk in a bottle. Mostly/usually for naps and to bed. I've been questioned on when I'm giving all this up. If I were bfing, I'd feel more confident that the breastmilk my dd was getting from the tap would eventually dry up or my dd would wean herself... but because my tap is/has been pretty dry and she gets full on milk from a bottle, I question if she will ever give this up. I don't mind nursing for a few years, I know it is warm and safe and mommy and (hopefully) a bit sweet, but will she still self-wean if the tap has always been dry?
Thank you for this forum and for supporting my efforts to feed my babe the best way I could (hoping next time could be 'better!').
the formula cans are lasting longer and longer. occasionally ds will get a bottle when we are out and total strangers will come up and ask me how old he is and then wonder about the extent of our dental coverage (which btw is quite good but has little to do with our decision not to wean at 12 months)
off to edit
Follow Mothering