My Doc Told Me To Stop BF'ing So Much

[BabyMae09]

I went to the doctor today, hoping to talk to him about how I've been feeling lately. I told him that DD, 13 months, wasn't sleeping through the night - she wakes 2-5 times. Also that I've been feeling dizzy, confused, haven't wanted to eat because nothing makes me feel good, and so on.

He told me to put DD in her own bed and suggested that I should BF her less, because it's 'starting to affect your health.'

I think it's a candida overgrowth. Although more sleep would be nice!!

How often does your 13 month old breast feed? DD BF's all night, first thing in the AM, and 2-5 times per day. She also eats people food a couple times a day.

[Black Orchid]

When my DD1 was 13 months old, she still nursed every 2 hours all night. She co-slept with me. It was rough at the time, but now I think of it fondly... We ended up night-weaning when she was 15 months old and she nursed until she was 3.5. Not child-led though

My DD2 nursed only once at night at that age. She nursed at bedtime, then again around 11 or 12 and then when she woke up. She did not co-sleep and my DH would sometimes go in to soothe her at night, but not often. She CLWed about a year ago a little over age 3.

[Ruthla]

Your doctor gave you parenting advice, not medical advice- and it sounds like he or she also failed to give you medical advice when you requested it (unless the doc said other things that you didn't share here.) All of my kids nursed a few times at night at that age- all of them were getting most of their calories from breastmilk at that point. I couldn't tell you how many times a night they woke because I didn't know- they were in my bed and I didn't count.

[puddle]

At that age, DD nursed about 18 times a day. (I counted when she was 12 months old.) Some doctors jump to blame breastfeeding for anything that happens after the child reaches the magic age of 12 months. I would look for a second opinion, if possible.

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

Your doctor gave you parenting advice, not medical advice

I have to disagree with this - if the doctor feels that the current parenting is causing the medical problems, then the advice was indeed medical.

When constant night-nursing at 13 months is causing health problems, gentle nightweaning may be a good option.

You can still nurse the same # of times per day and nightwean.

I know how you feel.

Did your doc address your candida concerns? If you are not happy with how your doc handled your visit, by all means get a second opinion! But also know that you have some gentle options for at least trying to get some more rest at this point.

http://drjaygordon.com/attachment/sleeppattern.html

[Black Orchid]

Originally Posted by Bokonon

I have to disagree with this - if the doctor feels that the current parenting is causing the medical problems, then the advice was indeed medical.

I was thinking the same thing.

Also, I just remembered, when my DD1 was still nursing at that age and I was super-tired, I went to the doctor and they did a battery of tests to see what was going on. As it turned out, I had mono. Fifth Disease is also going around right now, too.

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by Black Orchid

I was thinking the same thing.

Also, I just remembered, when my DD1 was still nursing at that age and I was super-tired, I went to the doctor and they did a battery of tests to see what was going on. As it turned out, I had mono. Fifth Disease is also going around right now, too.

Thyroid issues are also common postpartum...

[annettemarie]

Moving out to Breastfeeding Beyond Infancy.

[SustainablParentng]

I agree with what Ruthla said - a doctor telling you where to put your baby to sleep is parenting advice, not medical advice. I find it interesting when people automatically assume that removing your child from your bed will help you get more sleep. Maybe that works for some but unless you find someone else to deal with your crying baby or let them CIO you are not likely to get more sleep. If more sleep is needed in the short term to help with a medical concern there are better, more realistic options.

[BabyMae09]

Originally Posted by SustainablParentng

If more sleep is needed in the short term to help with a medical concern there are better, more realistic options.

Like what?

[JessicaS]

How long has your child been sleeping poorly?

Has it always been like this? Is it a recent change? How is she eating? What sort of solids are you giving her?

Do you think increasing the proteins you offer might help?

Waking 2-5 times to nurse is excessive for a 13 month old. I would think she was going through a growth spurt of some sort and was nursing extra to make up for it.

[ElliesMomma]

there's a big difference between waking twice a night to nurse, and waking five times a night to nurse.

twice a night can mean that you put baby to bed around 8 or 9, and she sleeps through till 12 or 1, stirs and nurses back to sleep, then sleeps again till 4 or 5 am, stirs and nurses back to sleep and finally is up for the day at 8 am. (that is my son's pattern -- he is almost 10 months old).

my son is a decent sleeper. i've coslept with him from day 1. he started sleeping in these longer stretches on his own, beginning somewhere between 3 months and 6 months old.

my daughter, now 4, was similar, but not nearly as "good". she probably woke up the five times a night. much more taxing.

i did not nightwean her until after her brother was born. she was 3 years old by then! (now that she's night weaned and in her own bed, she sleeps through the night... so there may be some truth to it when people say that can get you a better night's sleep.)

[ssh]

My DD nursed ALL night long right around 13 months because she was getting her canines in. After they were in she went back to about 4 or 5 times. I'd usually nurse her a couple of the times before I went to bed, so I wasn't waking often. Are you getting enough B complex? That can really effect your energy level. Cod liver oil is good for your immune system. Did your Dr run any tests? The dizzy and confused could be a lot of things including low blood sugar, anemia, low blood pressure. After I started getting more B12 I felt a lot more alert and just physically better.

I never nightweaned my DD. She stopped most of her night nursing when all her teeth came in at 2.5 and then completely weaned herself right before turning 4. My DD starting sleeping through the night, 9 hour stretches, right around 3. We were still cosleeping and nursing on demand. She'd nurse to sleep, nurse when I came to bed, and nurse when waking.

[BabyMae09]

Originally Posted by abimommy

How long has your child been sleeping poorly?

Has it always been like this? Is it a recent change? How is she eating? What sort of solids are you giving her?

Do you think increasing the proteins you offer might help?

Waking 2-5 times to nurse is excessive for a 13 month old. I would think she was going through a growth spurt of some sort and was nursing extra to make up for it.

It's not always been like this - she's sleeping more hours at a stretch than she ever has! Thanks for the increasing protein idea - I think you are right. I'm just so tired and such that it's hard to figure out what to do

Now that you mention it, the days she's had protein, she has woken less to eat, and still breastfed normally during the day. Thanks for helping me connect the dots on that

[BabyMae09]

Originally Posted by ssh

My DD nursed ALL night long right around 13 months because she was getting her canines in. After they were in she went back to about 4 or 5 times. I'd usually nurse her a couple of the times before I went to bed, so I wasn't waking often. Are you getting enough B complex? That can really effect your energy level. Cod liver oil is good for your immune system. Did your Dr run any tests? The dizzy and confused could be a lot of things including low blood sugar, anemia, low blood pressure. After I started getting more B12 I felt a lot more alert and just physically better.

I never nightweaned my DD. She stopped most of her night nursing when all her teeth came in at 2.5 and then completely weaned herself right before turning 4. My DD starting sleeping through the night, 9 hour stretches, right around 3. We were still cosleeping and nursing on demand. She'd nurse to sleep, nurse when I came to bed, and nurse when waking.

Thanks for this post - lots of helpful stuff

[greenmamapagan]

Hi BabyMae

Originally Posted by Ruthla

Your doctor gave you parenting advice, not medical advice- and it sounds like he or she also failed to give you medical advice when you requested it (unless the doc said other things that you didn't share here.) All of my kids nursed a few times at night at that age- all of them were getting most of their calories from breastmilk at that point. I couldn't tell you how many times a night they woke because I didn't know- they were in my bed and I didn't count.

Originally Posted by abimommy

How long has your child been sleeping poorly?

Has it always been like this? Is it a recent change? How is she eating? What sort of solids are you giving her?

Do you think increasing the proteins you offer might help?

Waking 2-5 times to nurse is excessive for a 13 month old. I would think she was going through a growth spurt of some sort and was nursing extra to make up for it.

Why? Admittedly I only have a sample size of two but both of mine have nursed frequently overnight at this age. DS seemed to feed alllllllll night last night.
Protein foods for both of us definitely help here, as does staying in bed in the morning as long as we can.
Did you get any advice on your candida concerns? There is a wealth of knowledge here on the health and healing board.

[Jayray]

Also, you didn't mention it, but could you pregnant? Tired, weird food feelings--sounds pregnant to me.

I also find myself not eating enough and then not feeling well. I ate a lot more when I was pregnant than now and we're supposed to eat more when nursing!!

If it makes you feel better, my 13 mo wakes 1-5 times per night. Average around 2.

[D_McG]

Originally Posted by abimommy

Waking 2-5 times to nurse is excessive for a 13 month old. I would think she was going through a growth spurt of some sort and was nursing extra to make up for it.

Then add me to the 'excessive night nursing' crew! Both of mine nurse a ton at night up until I wean them. I'm weaning my 20 month old this weekend and can't wait for more sleep!

To the OP - I think long term sleep deprivation could absolutely be causing your symptoms and night weaning is a good idea.

[mtbmomma]

My DD nursed very frequently at night at this age too. Moving her into her own bed did decrease the nursing sessions quite a bit for us though. Not into a different room, just into a small mattress pushed between our bed and the wall. This worked great for all of us, since she was close enough to quickly and easily nurse at night and we all slept a little better.

I believe Dr. Sears has something in his books about addressing sleep problems that involved making sure you eliminate any sleep disturbances that might be causing your child to wake up more frequently. Is she too hot, do you or DH snore or move around a lot, are her pajamas irritating her, is she thirsty or wet?

My DD gets hot really easily, so she sleeps much better in her own space. She also doesn't like blankets on her feet, which is hard to avoid when cosleeping with adults. We did EC and at 19 months now, I find that having her pee when she wakes up the first time, helps her sleep longer in the morning since she isn't so wet. I'm not sure if that would help at all, but maybe a diaper change might do the trick.

Good luck, it is really hard to function during the day when you're sleep deprived.