How Long Is Too Long ?

My precious Emelia is almost 20 months old.  She is growing up so fast!!  She sleeps in a toddler bed, no longer sits in a high chair, can feed herself quite well with a spoon or fork, and speaks full sentences.  Listening to her talk is so funny because you just do not expect someone that little to speak so well.  She is also able to ask and answer questions.  The other day we were outside and she started walking towards the shop.  I said, "Emmie where are you going?"  Emmie, "To get daddy."  Me, "Where is daddy?"  Emmie, "At the van."  She is an amazing little thing.  But yes even though she has the ability to feed herself and eat just about anything, I am still nursing her.

Just like anything else, people have very strong opinions on breastfeeding.  I know I do.  But, since they are my children I guess that is a good thing.  It still amazes me that even those who may agree that breastfeeding an infant is best, think that once they are over a year old it is ridiculous to continue.  There are even those who argue that nursing an older child could actually harm the child (which is absolutely crazy!)

 The health benefits from breast feeding still exist for an older baby.  Even though the baby can eat many table foods, breastfeeding still is the perfect food for them and provides them with a lot of nutrients.  Breastfeeding provides a protective effect against respiratory illness, ear infections, allergies, asthma, and gastrointestinal disease just to name a few.   In addition to the nutritional benefits of breastfeeding, breastfeeding provides a very special bond between the mom and the baby.  Breastfeeding provides a sense of closeness and also comfort when the baby is hurt or sick.


So how long is too long?  As long as both mommy and baby still want to continue breastfeeding it is not too long.  When either mommy or baby decide they want to stop then it is time to stop.  The decision to stop breastfeeding should not be because of age or other's opinions that it is time to stop.  You should nurse your child as long as you and baby want to continue nursing. 

How long will we keep nursing?  As long as Emelia wants to continue we will continue.  She still nurses several times during the day and at night.  When she wakes at night she gets down out f her bed and puts the pillow I nurse her on up against the side of the bed to wait for me to come in, I nurse her, and she goes back to sleep.  I cherish even those middle of the night breastfeeding moments and am going to for as long as they last.

Read why breastfeeding is the right choice for you and your baby here.

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Breastfeeding: When to Wean

I am very passionate about breastfeeding.  It has been proven over and over again how much better it is for babies then formula and there are numerous health benefits for mother and baby (that does mean however that women who don't breastfeed are not wonderful mothers.)   It kind of boils down to the fact that God made it much better than man ever could and He knew what He was doing when he made mamas able to feed their babies.  You can read my post on why breastfeeding is the right choice here.

After making the decision to breastfeed many woman want to know how long they should breastfeed for.  That is one of those topics that you will hear somebody's opinion on, often whether you want to hear it or not, and more often from someone who has never even nursed a baby.  Some will say the magic number is one. Some will say two.  Some will say as soon as baby is eating solid foods well.  Many are shocked by the idea of a mom still nursing a three year old.  The truth is there is no magic age that you have to stop nursing you baby.

I was talking to a young mom the other day who was wondering when to wean her one year old.  Many people have told her she needs to wean him since he is over a year old.  Why?  Breastfeeding still provides your baby with all of the good things at 12 months than it did at 3 months.  It is much healthier and natural than many of the foods we eat.  Some people may think it is strange to nurse an older child, but what is the difference between nursing a baby that is 23 months old and one that is 2?  It is not like you are picking up a 2 year old and nursing him for the first time, he has been growing gradually as he has been nursing.

I have to say that the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard on the subject was that babies should not be nursed past the age of one, because as babies get older they start to know the differences between boys and girls and by then know what breasts are really for.  What?  Yes, in fact a very young baby knows what a breast is really for, providing food and nourishment to them.  Whether it's a young baby or an older toddler that has been nursed his whole life you can believe they definitely know what breasts are for apparently better than many adults.

So, the real answer to the question of when to wean your baby depends on you and your baby.  If you have decided that you are ready to stop nursing or you need to for various reasons (for me the decision usually came when I was about 5 months pregnant with the next baby) then it is time to start weaning your baby.  If your baby looses interest and does not want to nurse anymore it is time to start weaning your baby.  My little angel is 14 months old and I am still nursing her 8-10 times a day.  At 14 months old my Christian decided he didn't want to nurse any more.  Every baby is different.  Make your decision on what is right for you and your family.  Do not wean your baby because you feel pressured by other people and their opinions.  Cherish the time that you have to nurse your baby because no matter how long you decide to nurse for it will go by very quickly.

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Breastfeeding In Public

A few months ago, we were out having lunch at the Olive Garden.  We were sitting at a table off to the side of the rest of the room, and my back was to the rest of the restaurant.  Before our entrees were served, Emelia decided that she needed her lunch too.  I flipped her blanket up over my shoulder, settled her in and started nursing her.  The only thing you could see was one part of her foot sticking out of the blanket that she was kicking up and down.  The woman behind us (who again could only see my back and the baby's foot) started talking very loudly to the other woman at her table and just couldn't believe that I  had the nerve to be nursing my baby in the middle of a restaurant.  She kept going on about it loud enough for me to hear.  After I finished feeding Emelia and handed her back to her daddy, I had to take one of the children to the restroom.  I had to walk past the lady that was so outraged at me feeding my baby discreetly under a blanket, and she was wearing a very tight fitting low cut shirt that showed more of her breasts than I have ever bared feeding any of my children in public.

I have been seeing and reading more and more lately about the "controversy" of breast feeding in public, and I have to say, I really don't understand why this is such a "controversy."  It is a well known and proven fact.  Breastfeeding is absolutely best for babies.  Breastfed babies are healthier and happier than formula fed babies.  There is absolutely NO formula that can even compare to breast milk.  God made women so we could feed our babies, and man will never be able to copy that formula.  Why then does this have to be such an issue?  The world has no problem with string bikinis or low cut revealing clothing, but we are going to look down upon and embarrass woman who are providing nutrition for their babies?  What is wrong with this picture?

For the last 10 years, I have been either pregnant, breastfeeding, or both.  I have nursed my babies just about every place you can possibly imagine.  I don't think that because I am nursing a baby that I should stay at home, or be separated from the rest of my family when we are out in public.  Not that the "nursing rooms" are a bad idea.  It can be convenient when there is no other place to sit down, but I am not going to go out of my way to walk halfway across the mall without the rest of my family with a screaming baby that could have been fed and happy by the time I got there.  Breastfeeding can be done in a very discreet manner and if you don't want to see a woman breastfeeding her baby in public, all you have to do is look away.  If seeing a baby's feet sticking out of her blanket or even a nursing baby not covered by a blanket so upsets your sensibilities, don't look at them.  

Instead of making nursing moms feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about nursing in public, we should be going out of our way to educate women on the benefits of breastfeeding and encourage them to nurse their babies.  Breastfeeding is a healthy and natural way to feed your baby and whether or not people want to admit it, that's what breasts were made for.


Read my blog post here for more information on why breastfeeding is the right choice.

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Breastfeeding and Antibiotics

I have debated all week whether or not I was going to write a blog post about this. Mainly because I don't like to admit when I am not well (maybe it is the supermom complex) but I decided to go ahead for the purpose of hopefully being able to help or encourage someone in a similar situation.

I had an infection. I tried to deal with it on my own in hopes to avoid having to take medicine. Breastfeeding is a big responsibility. Everything that goes in your mouth goes in your baby's too and I want my babies to be as healthy as they can be. I didn't get any better and started getting worse so I decided to go to the doctor mostly because a sick mommy is no good to anybody. So I went. Our doctor by the way is a general practitioner. He decided yes in fact I needed to go on a strong antibiotic. I told him I was nursing (Emelia was there with me) and he said, "Well you are going to have to stop and put her on formula." Excuse me? What did you just say? I was stunned. Even breastfeeding women need medicine from time to time and I know there are antibiotics that are considered safe. I have been on them twice before for a UTI and Mastitis. So I just looked at him and said, "No. I can't do that." My babies never even drink out of a bottle. I take them everywhere with me until they are weaned. I said, "You need to find me another option." I couldn't believe that was my only choice and couldn't imagine having to stop breastfeeding if even only for a few days. I also couldn't imagine what that would do to Emelia. Breastfeeding is so much more than nutrition. It is a warmth, a comfort, a bonding like no other (I mean no disrespect to those women out there who could not/cannot breastfeed.) So, my doctor made a phone call to a pharmacist who recommended 3 different options for antibiotics. Then, the doctors office called a pharmacist at a Women and Children's Hospital to see which one they preferred. A medication was prescribed for me that would be safe for Emelia too with instructions on how to split up the dosage so that the least amount possible would pass through the breast milk.

As a new nursing mom I would have done what the doctor said, no questions asked simply because I didn't know any better. A few children and years later, I know enough to ask questions. I encourage you when faced with these kinds of situations to educate yourself, ask questions, and look at all of the options available. If there truly was no other way, I would have done what the doctor said in order to protect Emelia. Instead, I got the medicine I needed without having to traumatize my baby or myself (I am much better by the way.) A happy ending for all.

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Out of the Mouths of Babes

Christian is going to be 4 in a couple of weeks. I actually am really surprised that he doesn't remember me nursing Lily since I just stopped a couple of months ago, but I guess he doesn't. We had an interesting conversation about breastfeeding yesterday.

Me: "Baby sister is getting hungry so I need to feed her."
Christian: "She can share some of my yogurt."
Me: "New babies are too little to eat yogurt."
Christian " What does she eat then?"
Me: "God made mommies so they can feed milk to their babies."
Christian :" Oh. So do you got some juice in there too?"

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Breastfeeding, The Right Choice

I really felt like I needed to do a post on breastfeeding. I am not an expert, but I do have 6 children with another on the way in a few weeks and and have spent many years nursing. Everyone wants what is best for their baby. There is no doubt that breastfeeding is absolutely the best food choice for your baby. Why?

1. God can make it better than we can, and there is no formula that supplies the same amount of nutrients as breast milk. It is also easier for babies to digest.
2. There are immunities that your baby needs in your breast milk that you pass on to your baby that your baby can't get from anywhere else.
3. It's Free!!!
4. It's always at the right temperature.
5. It doesn't have to be shaken or stirred.
6. No bottle required. (My 4 youngest have never drank anything from a bottle)
7. If your baby sleeps close by at night, night time feedings are much easier with less interruption in your and your baby's sleep.

There are things that you should know before breastfeeding to make it easier on yourself. Read some books, talk to your doctor, take a breastfeeding class, contact a breastfeeding support group for even more information. Talk to a friend with experience. There are many people out there who can help! Here are some things I think is important to know.

1. Nurse your baby for the first time as soon as possible after their birth. Babies are very alert when they are born and you will have better success with an alert baby. Let the nurse know you want to nurse as soon as possible after the birth and that you made need some help.
2.If you are unsuccessful during the first couple tries, try the football hold (this always works for me) It is just like it sounds. Hold your baby like a football with his feet tucked under your arm toward the bed and line his nose up with your nipple.
3. Nurse your baby every time he is awake during the first few days. This serves many purposes. It will help your milk to come in faster, prevent you from becoming engorged, and help flush out the babies system. My babies usually develop jaundice, and the more they are nursed, it flushes out their liver and helps get rid of the jaundice.
4. Drink lots of water. Not only is it good for you, but it will help to get your milk production to increase.
5. Do not let the nurses give your baby a bottle or a pacifier. Every time your baby has the urge to suck, you should be nursing. If you want your baby to have a pacifier, you can always introduce it in a week or two.
6. Do not let the hospital send you home with formula. Sometimes we get frustrated, and it is very easy to change your mind in a moment of frustration if you have baby formula available.
7. You will not starve your baby. Except for in very extreme cases where there is a specific medical reason why a woman is not producing milk, you were made to be able to nurse your baby. Breastfeeding works on a supply and demand schedule. The more your baby nurses, the more milk your body will produce.

Just remember that your body is made to nurse your baby. You can do it!!! Practice makes perfect for both of you. Newborn babies need to eat every 1 1/2 to 2 hours, so don't think that you don't have enough milk because the baby is hungry all of the time. It is perfectly normal. There are also times when babies go through growth spurts and need to nurse more. This is also normal. Remember to take care of mom too. Your baby is dependent on you just like when he was living inside of you. These things will help with your milk production: gets lots of rest, drink lots of water, eat healthy foods, and keep taking your prenatal vitamins.

A question everyone wants to know is will breastfeeding hurt? In the beginning breastfeeding does hurt. Your baby has very strong jaw muscles (and lets face it our nipples are sensitive.) It usually takes a few days to get used to it, and after that it doesn't hurt any more. This is not just true for first time moms, but every time you begin to nurse a new baby. There are things you can do to ease the tenderness: nurse whenever your baby will nurse (to prevent from being engorged), there are nipple creams that are safe for baby, cold ice packs can help, and Tylenol or Motrin. Also, breastfeeding stimulates uterine contractions in order to help your uterus return back to its normal size. This is a very good thing for you even though it can be uncomfortable at times and can be more painful the more children you have. I have found that Motrin helps with this. Remember this is a small amount of discomfort for a few days and worth the sacrifice to ensure your baby is getting the very best.

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Pregnant and Breastfeeding

Disclaimer: I am not a medical expert. The thoughts expressed here are from my own experience and research.

When we found out we were expecting again, I was very disappointed to find out that the OB who I LOVE and have been seeing for more than 6 years, is no longer delivering. It can be hard to find a doctor who you see eye to eye with, really like and respect, still gives out her home number, and will deliver you even if she is not the doc on call. Anyway, I had to find a new doctor who so far I do like, except for one thing......her view on being pregnant and breastfeeding.

Quite honestly I mentioned that I was still nursing on my first appointment in an off-handed way, and only because it can be a factor in determining due date. I was in no way prepared for the response from the nurse, doctor, and even the ultrasound tech, that this was NOT a good thing and needed to stop nursing immediately. The doctor's reasoning is that nursing causes uterine contractions that can cause preterm labor and miscarraige. Thi surprised me so much because my previous doctor encouraged me to nurse as long as I felt comfortable even when I was pregnant. I explained politley to the new doc that I have done this 4 times before very successfully and didn't expect that this time would be any different. She firmly explained to me that she felt it was an unnecessary risk to myself and my unborn baby and encouraged me to stop immediately.

To be honest with you, I will admit that I am ready to stop nursing Lily, but not because I feel that I am hurting my unborn baby. The nausea, fatigue, and let's just call it tenderness, has me starting the weaning process. Lily, on the other hand, would probably nurse for ever. She is a comfort nurser and although is almost 18 months would probably go on nursing for much longer ( I do have a little mommy guilt over cutting her off.) I cut back on one feeding every week or so, and right now am only nursing in the middle of the night. Within the next couple of weeks she will be completely weaned.

So, are there risks to nursing while you are pregnant? The answer to that is not for the majority of women. If you are an average, healthy, women with no chronic or severely acute illnessess, who has not suffered from miscarraige or preterm labor, and are haing a normal, healthy, pregnancy, you can still coninue to nurse without risk to yourself or unborn baby. Your nursing baby is not taking any nutrients from your unborn child. You may consider trying to add some extra calories and calcium to your diet. I have nursed into my 5th month of pregnancy in the past, and I know women who choose to continue nursing throughout their pregnancy and then nurse both the infant and the toddler.

If you are nursing and pregnant, don't be immediately discouraged to stop right away because one doctor tells you to if you still want to continue. Ask the reasons why they feel that way. Do some research on your own. Get a second opinion if you don't agree, and do what you think is best for all of you.

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Breastfeeding

Yesterday as I sat in the waiting room at the Doctor's office, I overheard part of a conversation from a woman who was there for her 6 week check-up with an adorable baby girl. She told a lady with her that she had started out wanting to breastfeed, but when the baby wanted to nurse every 1 and a half hours she decided that she didn't have enough milk and switched to formula. I have heard similar comments from many first time moms and think this is sad. A newborn baby's stomach is the size of their fist and because breast milk is so much easier to digest than formula, breastfed babies do eat more often then formula fed babies. This does not mean you are not producing enough milk. Actually, the more your baby will nurse in the first few weeks, the better it is for you. Frequent nursing helps shrink your uterus after giving birth, helps prevent engorgement, and increases your milk supply. Not to mention all of the medical benefits it has for your baby. Here are a couple of tips to make breastfeeding more successful.

1. Read books about breastfeeding to educate yourself about what is normal and the How To's of breastfeeding.
2. Nurse your baby whenever they will nurse.
3. Get plenty of rest after having a baby. Sleep when your baby sleeps (especially if you only have one)
4. Eat well-balanced meals with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
5. Drink lots of water. Breastfeeding makes me very thirsty. I always keep a large thermos full of water and have it beside me while I am nursing.
6. Expect that your baby will lose a little bit of weight after he is born. It is normal for them to lose 10% of their body weight, and they start gaining again after a couple of days.
7. The nurses in the hospital are there to help you. Ask for help to get the baby to latch on or for any questions you might have.
8. Avoid giving the baby a bottle of a pacifier for the first couple of weeks.
9. If the baby is having a hard time latching on, try the football hold (this always works for me)
10. Don't give up! Breastfeeding is best for you and your baby. Any time you try something new you have to practice before you know what you are doing. In a couple of weeks you will be an old pro at this parenting, breastfeeding thing. You are doing a great job so hang in there!

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