Can someone please educate me?

[CharlotteandCharlie]

Good Evening. 

I THOUGHT I could bf dd in the mornings and that was it.  I THOUGHT my body would know to only produce milk in the a.m. for dd. 

I did this because she never never seemed to want to nurse in the afternoon.  She would give a few suckles and then pull off, want to sit up, look around, pull my hair.  When I tried to express to see if there was anything a bit would surface but my breasts were still very very small and "deflated".  I began supplementing her with a bottle because she was not getting enough fluids.  This has been at least a month in the making.  When I decided to not nurse during the day and only at night or first thing a.m. my breasts shrunk even more.  I never got engorged or felt pain of any sort.  This a.m. dd tried to feed but was very unsatisfied.  I have been offering her first thing in the a.m. for months now. 

Will my body allow this once a day schedule?

I am having guilt that I think I may be done and am enjoying normal bras and attractive looking tops but still want the quiet time with dd.  Our a.m. feeding I bring her into bed and we get all warm and close and I get to rest just a little bit longer. 

p.s.  I suspect dd wasn't interested in bfing because I filled her up with solids.  I thought I was offering bf first but must have been breaking the rules.  Her eating and EASY schedule is being worked on this week so hopefully her night wakings will sort out (thats another thread over in Night Wakings).  I was completely off on when and what to feed her. 

Any advice would be appreciated.

[daisymelan]

Charlotte,

I just have a couple of questions.  I'm not sure if I will have any answers though.

How many times is she getting the bottle and the breast during 24hours?  Is there any way why you do not want to bf during the day or is because she was not interested?  If you wanted to keep up the one feed a day, would you be willing to pump to increase your supply or do feel more that if she cannot nurse just the once, it may be her time to wean?

I do know moms that have been able to keep up one feed a day.  I'm not sure if everyone can.  I never feel full anymore and I nurse 4 times a day, but only nursing once, it may actually be that your supply is dwindling, but I do not know that for sure.  I do not have experience with this. 

I also wanted to say that it's great that your lo was able to bf for so long.  Thing of all the wonderful things you have provided for her.  A big round of applause for you!!!!!  Do not feel guilt please.  You have done such a great thing for your lo.  And who doesn't like a nice tank top without big ol grandma straps hanging out of it??  LOL

[CharlotteandCharlie]

Charlotte,


How many times is she getting the bottle and the breast during 24hours?  Is there any way why you do not want to bf during the day or is because she was not interested?  If you wanted to keep up the one feed a day, would you be willing to pump to increase your supply or do feel more that if she cannot nurse just the once, it may be her time to wean?

She gets bf once a day but before it was her only source minus one bottle at bedtime.  I am trying to get at least 20 oz in her via bottle these days but she only takes around 14 oz.  I am working really hard this week on a 4 hour easy though so hopefully she won't be too full of solids to drink some formula.  I hadn't thought of weaning during the day until she wasn't very interested and I became concerned about her fluid intake being so low.  I think it may be her time.  I love our mornings but the days I could let go of.  Maybe I will pump a bit after our a.m. snuggle and see if things increase a bit if not I will have to let go of our a.m. snuggle and my guilt.

Thank you.

[daisymelan]

It may be your time, and that's ok.  Don't feel guilt.  Feel proud!!!!!

But if you chose to try and continue, maybe you should try her back on another bfing session a day.  She may not get much at first, but your supply should go back up.  Maybe at nap time or something you could have another snuggle like your mornings.  She may nurse better if it is similar to how she nurses in the morning.

But those are jsut my thoughts, and I'm not an expert. 

Hope this helps.

[Samuel's mum]

It seems some people can carry on with one feed a day for ages and other people can't. I'm not sure if there's a way to predict it.
It sounds as though you are adjusting the routine at the moment but I'm sure you know that milk should be the primary source of nutrition up until 12 months.
I think you should continue to enjoy a big cosy snuggle when you can and if this is your time to stop Bfing, enjoy some new lingerie!

[Wilfie's Mummy]

My LO sounds similar to yours, life's just too interesting to bf during the day but he does still feed first thing in the morning. It was a really gradual process down to one feed a day and I've had no problem with maintaining a supply for that one feed, and fortunately haven't been engorged for the rest of the day. You said that your LO was a disappointed with your supply now you are down to one feed per day, could you do that feed and have a nice cuddle in bed at the same time and then go straight to breakfast when shes finished. It obviously wouldn't be as long as you were used to but any breast milk would be good for your LO and might be an option if your not keen of fully quitting.

I know what you mean about feeling guilty about cutting down or finishing bfing but I totally agree with what the others have said about their being no reason to feel bad at all, eventually everyone has to stop bfing and I'm not sure that it will ever be easy to spot the right time. I do think that if its becoming a stressful time for you then maybe it is your time to quit - not saying that it is your time just that it might be something you want to leave on a happy note and not after a struggle. Just a thought.

Best of luck with what ever you decide.

Hannah x

[CharlotteandCharlie]

Thank you all.  I am a firm beleiver in first instints and when you mentioned that I could get my milk back again my body said ... thank you but I'd rather not. 

For now I will try to have my cake and eat it too and if my milk goes completely away I will still try to continue our a.m. snuggles.  Hopefully she loves them too.

I did need, and appreicate the strength all of you have given me not to feel guilt.  I still will but at least I will have your words in the back of my head to draw upon when needed.