I'm quite pleased with breastfeeding this week. On Wednesday, I took my daughter for her 2 month well visit. She was weighed and we learned that in 7 weeks, she had gained 5 pounds (from 8 lbs. to 18 lbs.) and 3 inches (from 21.5 in. to 24.5 in.). It's very rewarding to see such growth and know that I provided her all the nutrition that she has needed and that she hasn't received any formula.

Monday she starts daycare part time and will be attending daycare full time starting Thursday, July 31st. I'm nervous about how they are going to handle her bottles of breastmilk. When she was apart from me two weeks ago, I sent 4 oz. bottles of breastmilk. My sister was caring for her and told me that she would normally drink 3 oz., burp, need a diaper change, and would then want the remaining oz. about an hour after finishing the first 3 oz.

From what I understand, a bottle of formula isn't safe to drink once it has sat out for an hour. I know that breastmilk can sit out longer and still be safe. Given that daycares in my area normally only deal with formula, I'm concerned that they will throw out that last ounce of breastmilk and want to start another bottle when all Ansley wants is an additional ounce. Should I send 4-3oz. bottles and 4-1oz. bottles, or should I just send 4-4oz. bottles and not worry about it?

(entry was edited for clarity)

This story was posted to a local parenting mailing list I'm on. I have no words to describe the disgust I feel for the way this woman was treated.



( Article text under the cut. )

A friend of mine just had her little boy on Sunday. She is having a few difficulties. First, is the typical.. baby wont wake up to nurse every 2 hours. Now, she had a hospital birth and is still in hospital. The nurses come in faithfully to be sure he is eating every 120 minutes. Mama doesn't feel like this is necessary. She feels like she is in tune with her baby and he will let her know when he is ready.. or she will feel, in her gut, that its time to feed him. I sort of agree with her here. It just seems to me that babies are not dumb.. and if they need something, they will let their mothers know. He is also hard to rise when its time to eat. She tries the.. undress him, change him deal. He will wake long enough to latch.. and doze off after about five minutes on the first breast. I think this will change once her milk comes in. It's just starting to. Wont the actual milk fill his belly.. which will empty, making him hungrier and more.. "needy" now?

I forgot to post this on Saturday! :-)

 

from http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B000FFMWM4?filterBy=addTwoStar

Only one safe way to use this product

Here's how to use this product SAFELY:
1. Using half the amount listed on the side per liquid volume, add to skim cow's milk instead of adding to water. Stir until no lumps - important to do this FIRST before adding other flavors.
2. Add Hershey's (or other brand) chocolate mix to taste preferences.
3. Serve rich shake to Mom.
4. Wait 30 minutes.
5. BREASTFEED.

Mom gets the DHA and ARA she'd otherwise maybe need to eat fish for, without any of the toxic heavy metals put into the ocean over the last century.

I have made these shakes for my babies mother, using the many free samples pushed onto us with no regard to the fact that she has stated over and over again that we intend to breastfeed until solids. Beats throwing it away or giving it to someone who would do something really irresponsible with it, like feeding it to someone too young to have a digestive tract developed enough for anything other than breastmilk.

No time like the present to click the link and rate the review as helpful ;-)

Can anyone recommend a good battery powered pump? I was looking at the Medela Single Deluxe but reviews were mixed. I currently use an Avent Isis hand pump but I pump at least once a day and I'm just tired of the thing.

I need: battery powered
efficient
hopefully quiet
under $100

Am I just SOL here?

Also, I usually work four or five hour shifts. I get one ten minute break, which I spend in the bathroom pumping. How do I ask my (new) boss for an extra break so I can eat? She doesn't have kids and doesn't seem too sympathetic of baby issues.

Hi girls, I'm feeling really depressed about this..
Ryan is 7 1/2 months old and I have been breastfeeding him until now. I introduced solids around 6 months but nothing huge. He has around 4-5 milk feeds per day.
At Ryan's 6 month checkup he'd lost 60 grams/2 ounces in 4 weeks. The health nurse was worried and asked to see him again in two weeks time. So I brought him back and he'd only gained 40 grams/1 ounce in two weeks. She is saying I need to supplement him with formula to fatten him up. He weighed in at 6.2kgs/13.6 pounds. He's gone off the "charts".
I am now pumping when I can to try and build up my supply. I basically feed him when he asks for it. He sleeps around 10 hours straight at night.
Ryan does not act fussy. He is generally a happy and laid back baby. He is kind of small for his age but he seems happy.
When I pump I only get about 1 ounce or under and that's doing both breasts - 30 minutes on each side.
What is happening to my supply??? :( I've never had a problem. His weight started to dwindle at around 4 months.

My bewbies are very happy that DS has decided today isn't FREE BUFFET DAY at the ranch - yesterday he nursed for 16 hours with only bathroom breaks for me and diapee changes for him. ;-)

My 17mo boy has been ill with a fever since yesterday, most likely due to a virus, and generally not feeling well.

In between the tears today, we spent almost every waking minute with him nursing. He refused to drink water, wouldn't eat, wouldn't play. All he wanted to do was nurse.

So we spent pretty much the whole day together with him attached to my boob. Of course there was mostly nothing there after he drained it all from the first feed, but I was just thinking how lucky are to be able to do this.

If it wasn't for us still breastfeeding then what would I have to offer him as comfort? I feel blessed and really damn special that I have the power to soothe his pains like this.

I just wanted to share this with you all, as I'm sure there are a lot of you who feel the same way. Humbled, grateful and super. <3 

PS> It's 6pm here in Australia. Daddy will be home soon and might be able to give me a short break as my arm is getting numb from holding bubba at the boob, lol *fingers crossed*

Okay, I was

ETA: LMFAO. Okay, really, this was just me hitting "enter" instead of the apostrophe, because I had a squirmy baby who just learned how to roll over on my lap, and then took longer that I meant to edit it. It must be a REALLY slow day on LJ, hasn't anyone posted in booju or something??? I looked on my FL and thought, how in the hell can there be 33 comments?? I love you people.

Here is the actual post

Okay, I was looking up breastfeeding on my church's website, and found this:

Mother's Milk is Usually Best

Please please please help me write up something that sounds professional and will convince them to change it as soon as possible, because the only thing I'm able to think of right now is OMGWTFBBQSAUCE. I'm seriously so aghast that my own church would say something like this that I can't think straight. The manual this is in was first written in 1979, and despite six revisions- one as recent as 2000- I don't think they so much as thought about updating this part! I need sources, and I have a three month and two stepkids, and I'm dead smack in the middle of going through everyone's clothes and mending things and sorting stuff that doesn't fit and whatnot, so I don't really have the time. If someone could PLEASE help me out, I need sources for the following information.
1. The number of women who literally cannot breastfeed no matter what
2. Sources about adoptive breastfeeding
3. The stats for the dangers of formula feeding (SIDS, ear infections, dental problems, illnesses) ESPECIALLY in developing countries
4. Benefits to the mother

ETA2: DOH! Posted the wrong link.

This makes me so so happy you guys. so I had to share with you even though apparently its been posted everywhere I won't delete it because its against community rules but just don't leave that rude of comments because then I will cry ok.
woman breastfeeds quake orphans

( Text for linkphobics! )

Hi girls :)

I'm starting to feel a bit bummed out. I have a 6 1/2 month old son who, at his checkup two weeks ago weighed in at 13.9 pounds. He'd only gained 7.7 ounces in 5 weeks, and before that 10 ounces in 4 weeks. He is 25 inches long (he'd grown .7 inches in 5 weeks) I don't think my milk supply is a problem. He sleeps around 10-12 hours per night straight. I nurse him on demand during the day. He usually nurses around 5 times in a 24 hour period. I also introduced solids a couple weeks ago, although I am not giving him huge amounts. I am worried because my health nurse said that if he hasn't put on much weight by the next check up that she would recommend I start adding formula to his cereal. I really do not want him to have formula full stop. My question is this, is his weight gain really low? I just need some encouragement. All the girls in my mothers group formula feed their babies and they're huge. Ryan is the smallest. He is happy and satisfied after every feed, is reaching his milestones and has two teeth (not that the latter should matter!). When I look at his log book, his weight gain started to dwindle from about 4 months of age.

We're seeing a pediatrician on Friday and I'm scared he's going to freak out at his weight and weight gain and tell me to put him on formula. I just refuse to do that. Breastfeeding has been going so well I don't want to end it now at all.

Hi all,

My baby (6 and a half months old) has been exclusively breastfed up until a couple of weeks ago when I introduced solids. He hasn't done a poo since Wednesday, so 4 days. Should I be worried? What do I give him if he is constipated??

So proud of myself. :)