Weaning/Dropping Feedings

JoJoEspana

So as of a few weeks ago, Caroline was nursing at 8, 12, 4, and then a bottle of pumped milk at bedtime.  For the past few days she has nursed at 8, 1:30, then not again until her bedtime bottle.  She is also starting to eat more table foods, and really eating 3 meals a day vs just purees twice a day and little bits of table food.  I just worry that she's not getting enough breastmilk, and considering that she is as small as she is, I worry even more.  Is this just a normal part of weaning?  For some reason I was thinking I'd just keep her 4 feedings/day and just replace nursing with whole milk when the time came.  Thanks for any thoughts and advice.  

julienandy

When I went to less than 4 feedsing a day, my supply really dropped off.  I would just keep offering it to her as much as possible.  Until they are 1, BM or formula is the main source of nutrients, so just keep trying.  She is little cuz you and joey aren't giants.   If you don't want to stop BF yet, then call the northside number for advice also.  Good luck.

UGAbride

My supply also crapped out when Jack wasn't getting 4 good nursings a day in, we weaned right around Caroline's age at 9-10 months.  Not sure what your routine is, but try offering her the chance to nurse before giving her a meal of solids, that way she will hopefully be hungry and get her milk before moving onto the food.  I'm trying to be sure to always do that with Ethan so hopefully he and I can push through that 9 month stalemate I ran into with Jack.

myrall

When really getting G. rolling on solids, I tried to nurse her first and wait at least an hour before giving her the purees. That ensured she was getting what she needed nutritionally and wasn't gobbling down the solids. With that said, Caroline's probably getting what she needs and is self-regulating her feeding schedule. Does she nurse both sides in a feeding or just one side?

Geneva never dropped a feeding. I wish she had. I started weaning about a month ago and she still hasn't dropped one. She nurses at 6:30 a.m., gets bottles of milk at 9:30, 12:30, 4 and then nurses before she goes to bed.

The LCs at Piedmont or Northside would probably be a good source of info for you. Good luck!

JoJoEspana

Thanks, I will call the Northside LC.  I'm sure if I offered it to her she'd take it, but she has just been so busy playing, and the next thing we know its dinnertime and she's missed her feeding.  I still pump while Joey gives her her dinner, but I don't get enough for a bottle.... just a few ounces.   I definitely don't want to kill my supply when I'm getting so close to a year.  Thanks for the advice.

JoJoEspana

oh and Myra, she always nurses on both sides.  Does that make a difference?

myrall

I think it might make a difference in that she's probably getting all the milk she needs. Sounds like your little gal is right on track!

Geneva only nursed a side at a time after about 4 months. That's probably why she wanted to nurse more frequently.

 

Kerrin

At 9 months, both my kids were in daycare, but i did realize that they wouldn't finish all of the pumped milk in their bottles some days.  Keep offering it to her at the scheduled time.  If she doesn't want it, maybe pump so you have more for the bedtime feeding.  Otherwise, you'll lose that milk for that feeding time.