Yay, Made it 6 Months.... Now What?

[Nicole915]

After a very bumpy start, we made it six months exclusively breastfeeding, and I'm thrilled to have met my first goal. I'm so thrilled, I really wasn't sure we'd get to this point. When it was so challenging, I told myself that if I could just get her to 6 months, I will have succeeded, but now that we're there I'm ready to review our plan.

This is what I'm thinking, please tell me if I've overlooked something obvious-
Continue breastfeeding until 1 year (it helps me to have finite goals, I will assess progress and goals again at 1 year)
Slowly introduce steamed veggies on a high chair tray for her to play with & explore.
Allow her to play with spoons and cups during meal time.
Continue giving her one bottle of expressed breast milk daily (given by Dad at bedtime)

Questions - All this talk about Iron, there is so much conflicting information. What did you do to ensure that your baby was getting enough? Did you feed baby food by spoon?

As she gets older, how will the nursing experience change?

I'm terrified of the teeth! How can I prepare and manage if she gets aggressive? (she currently only has two bottom teeth, which obviously don't impact nursing.

Thanks in advance!

[kismetbaby]

Good for you! Keep going--that's what you do!!! Nursing to 1 year sounds like a great new goal if you need a "plan". I had a rough start too and the nice thing about post-6 months (at least for me and so far, my DS is 8 m) is that you can relax a little. Of course th BFing relationship is still important and very big, but they will also start to get some calories and enjoy solids. Also they are bigger and getting much more fun and exploring the world. . .it doesn't feel like your whole life is BFing anymore.

Your plan sounds good to me! I was worried about top teeth too, but he's had his for a month now and has never bitten me or gotten aggressive at the breast. As far as how our BFing relationship has changed. . .he does nurse less now. He also doesn't nurse well in public, he is just too distracted. But I am loving our BFing time these days, he looks at me more and knows where and what his nursies are. . . its sweet. He still prefers mama milk to solids, but does enjoy experimenting with food.

Personally I haven't worried about Iron at all. I was advised by an LC I trust that as long as I am not anemic, I shoudln't have to worry about iron til he is 1 year and by then he should be eating enough foods to get his own iron.

[4Blessings]

Originally Posted by Nicole915

I'm terrified of the teeth! How can I prepare and manage if she gets aggressive? (she currently only has two bottom teeth, which obviously don't impact nursing.

Thanks in advance!

My DD is almost six months and has had her two bottom teeth only. It's been one month now.

She bites. Just want you to be aware that they don't have to have a full set for the biting to begin. I think my DD is getting more teeth which is why she is bitting right now. Ouch Just be prepared that it can happen at anytime. I always have a finger nearby to break her latch/bite.

Good Luck!

[Mama2Kayla]

With both of my dc's, If they bit me, I would break the latch and end the nursing session. The combination of that and me yelling "ow" brought biting to an end very quickly .

Congrats on making it to 6 months! If baby seems ready for solids, give it a try. Both of my kids started a little later (8-9 months) and went straight to whatever we were eating. I never spoonfed either of them... it seems much easier to let baby have control and eat how much they want. Iron--never worried about it. We had their levels tested at 1yr and both came back normal. I think www.kellymom.com has some good info about iron and bf babies.

As my lo's got older I found they nursed less during the day because they were so busy exploring. Unless you want to wean, continue to offer nursing sessions at this age.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Congrats on making it to your first goal!!!

Don't stress over solids- just pass along a hunk of something you're eating to make her feel involved. Yesterday, DS got a slice of organic pear on his tray. The day before, a hunk of sweet potato. If I don't have anything that's appropriate for him, I'll peel him a carrot so he can at least get the flavor in his mouth. Just relax and keep breastfeeding.

As per iron, you could have it checked at 9 mos and give an iron supp (drops) if needed. I didn't worry with DD and she was fine at her 9 month checkup.

[CalaRei]

Yay!!!!

I did the same thing, only with more mini goals. First, I'd make it to two weeks, then 6, then 3 months, then 6 months! It really really helped me when I was in the haze and ready to give up.

Now, we did intro solids/purees earlier than most here would (5 months), but it allowed me to pretty much get them off formula and now everything they eat is either my milk or daddy made real food. Dr. Newman supports this in some cases, too. It also helped when one boy started refusing bottles, so that my parents could babysit occasionally, too, and it improved the reflux of my other babe significantly.

Someone on a twins board suggested grating (like with a cheese grater) and then steaming veggies for fun finger foods. Carrots, apples, sweet potato, etc.