[momtolivy]

Hi - very infrequent poster here - I'm hoping this is the right place to post this question. I have an two daughters, 18 and 4 months. I breastfed my oldest until I was five months pregnant, but eventually weaned due to several reasons, including a severely diminished supply and a need to return to work full time in order to be allowed another maternity leave. Although I would have preferred to nurse longer, I know that emotionally and physically I couldn't go on any longer. I was exhausted and pretty burned out. However, I am now exclusively nursing my 4 mth old and have a huge over-supply. My little reflux baby would choke and gasp for breath when nursing, especially that morning feed. So, I started pumping in the morning to make it easier for her. I initially stored the milk in case I needed it in an emergency, but I now have a freezer full and no real need (I'm always with her, so no need for bottles, really). So now I've started giving the expressed milk to my toddler who still enjoys a bottle in the morning and before bed.

I guess my question is really around what benefit this has to her. Of course breast milk is best for her, but if she's only getting it once a day - or sometimes every second day - is she still enjoying the health benefits. I think I really just need a little reassurance, as anyone I've told about this has responded with a 'well, that's weird' sort of response. My husband, thankfully, is totally supportive, but I want to arm myself with answers to my friends who ask - why bother?

 

[mamaverdi]

Babies need breastmilk. My 2 y 4 mo old is still getting donor milk...which few people can understand why it is he is still getting it at 2 y 4 mo. But he gets sick when I or he reduce the amount.

Breastmilk doesn't turn bad because the child ages.

I say

to giving it to her. Personally I would be giving her some more often.

mv

 

[MOM2ANSLEY]

Maybe I should do this too, never thought of it. Thanks

 

[momtolivy]

Thanks for the replies - I guess it does make a difference. She hasn't had a single cold, runny nose, or ear infection since I started this and she was constantly ill when she was not getting any breastmilk. It may also have to do with the change in season, but who knows.

 

[Mama Poot]

I lost my milk supply at 14 weeks pregnant, then got very sick, and my poor son was only 6 months old

Weaning him was not how I wanted things to go, so I made it a priority that when the new baby was born I would pump for my older child. As it turns out, DS#1 still cannot tolerate cows' milk, so even though he's "old enough" to have it, he can't have it because it makes him sick. We're doing pretty well right now. I can supply about half of his daily requirement, the rest is still formula. Once when my mom was visiting, I made DS#1 a bottle of mama milk and I'm not sure why but she asked what was in the bottle ( probably because my milk still has a yellowish tint to it- baby is only 2.5 weeks old ) and I told her it was breastmilk. She said "Oh..." half surprised, half weirded out by it I think. Don't worry about what others think or say about this. You are providing the perfect, species-specific milk for your toddler, and ANY amount is beneficial to her.

 

[jee'smom]

My dd self-weaned when she was 2 1/2yo, and ds was 5 mo. b/c she saw my milk coming out one day and got totally grossed out by it. ("What's that?! I don't like that!") Then, I tried to sneak it to her, but couldn't, b/c she knew what it tasted like. She got her first cold that week.

But once in a while and everytime she was getting sick, I'd make her a "special milkshake", with bananas or choc. syrup. If she really knew it was my milk and not cow's milk, she would've thrown-up! Oddly enough, 9 mo later, she started nursing again, b/c she really missed it! She told me that she loves the taste of the milk from my breast, but not from a cup!

 

[Shirelle]

I did the same thing for my older child. He was only nursed for the first three days of his life....something I will always regret that I couldn't work through. I had a HUGE oversupply when his little brother came along, and I was able to give him a couple of cups of my milk everyday. He also always asks for it when he feels sick, so I thaw some out and give it to him. It works wonders when a tummy bug comes on us! And it was a benefit that I could give him....better late than never!

 

[Mommy2Jackson]

I think it's great.....and probably does help keep her healthy. I say if you have the milk by all means use it!! I had low supply and never had any extra

but if I did I'd find some way to use it. I still if dh is starting to get sick sneak some in his coffee.....he is grossed out by it

ugh another vent......