Much encouragement from Ped to keep going...

[MarcyC]

DD had her 4 month check up today and the pediatrician was so encouraging. I told him I'm still using SNS and he asked how much she takes from it.

Anyhow, he gave me a professional hand-out on how to wean from supplementers and/or supplemental bottles. Most of it I've already read on various web sites, but I thought it was so cool that he had it ready to hand-out. We also talked about using the SNS and/or lact-aid systems as a first line for supplementing, rather than bottles. I told him I thought for women who really had problems that the peds should recommend those more and not be so quick to recommend bottles. He seemed to really listen and care about what I was saying.

He also gave me the go-ahead to start solids, but instead of telling me to "teach" her how to take solids, he told me to let her take the lead. He said if she doesn't seem ready, then to wait a few days or a week and try again.

I told him I had ZERO SUPPORT from my family and in-laws for using the SNS and they told me I should just give up and give bottles. He told me not to listen to them. I feel so encouraged!!

[RachelJune01]

That is awesome!

I have to supplement my daughter. How do they suggest you wean from the supplementer?

[Plummeting]

That's awesome and I do not in any way wish to detract from how wonderful it is that your ped is so supportive of breastfeeding, however... I hope you aren't going to try solids yet with your DD!!!! 4 months is waaayyyy to young for almost all babies. There may be a very few who are ready at 4 months, but even the AAP recommends *exclusive* breastfeeding for the first 6 months. I would even venture to say that most breastfed babies are not ready for solids until 7 months or later. I wouldn't try to give them to her until she starts trying to take the food off of your plate and eat it herself. Even reaching for your food isn't a good indicator of a desire for solids if she's satisfied when you give her a spoon to play with.

I'm sure you've heard all of that before, but I wanted to make sure to repeat it, because I didn't want you to feel like this doc has *all* the right info just because he's got good info on supplementing, kwim?

[Momtwice]

Originally Posted by Richelle

That's awesome and I do not in any way wish to detract from how wonderful it is that your ped is so supportive of breastfeeding, however... I hope you aren't going to try solids yet with your DD!!!! 4 months is waaayyyy to young for almost all babies. There may be a very few who are ready at 4 months, but even the AAP recommends *exclusive* breastfeeding for the first 6 months.

My thought exactly. The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association, and Americna Academy of Family Physicians all say 6 months is better.

There has been a large amount of research on this in the recent past, and most health organizations have updated their recommendations to agree with current research. Unfortunately, many health care providers are not up to date in what they're telling parents, and many, many books are not up to date.

The following organizations recommend that all babies be exclusively breastfed (no cereal, juice or any other foods) for the first 6 months of life (not the first 4-6 months):

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/so...ay-solids.html

[MarcyC]

I know all about watching for readiness signs. DS was on pureed baby food until almost 3. DD#1 was shoveling our food into her mouth at nine months (she even grabbed a piece of steak of my plate...lol). I think the ped was just giving us his blessing if we wanted to try between now & the 6 mo. check up. I happen to have some mashed & unseasoned avocado in the frig right now because we're having quesadillas tomorrow night so I may put a dab on my finger & let her taste.

As for weaning from supplements, you should keep a log for about a week of how much your baby is nursing (frequency & minutes) and how much supplement baby is taking. After about a week, take your average and begin by decreasing by an ounce...not an ounce at each feeding, an ounce a day. Do that for days 1-3. Days 4-6 drop another ounce. Days 7-9 drop another ounce. For days 10-12 try dropping 2 ounces (remember this is total for the day). It doesn't always work for everyone - in my case I have very low prolactin levels so I don't know that my supply is going to increase - but this will be a way to try and find out, kwim? I'm at least going to give it a try as I hate supplementing!