is this weird? A BF question

Holly_1007

Hi everyone,

I'm actually pretty new to the AP board, and I apologize if this is asked frequently but I wanted to get your opinion on something.  

When this baby is born in sept my DS will be about 32 months old.  I will be EBF this baby.  I EPed for DS for 16 months but I just couldn't hack the long term pumping.  Would it be weird for me to pump as well as nurse and give the pumped milk to DS? Would it even be beneficial to him? did anyone else do this?

Thanks for any input!

3003girl

I honestly don't see anything wrong with it, but others might think it's weird. I would say go for it, and if it works for you all, then great. 

Do you think it's weird? 

tokenhoser

I think it's up to you. It is a very nutritious liquid, but I doubt I would bother unless my child had health concerns that made it hard to meet his nutritional needs from other sources. I don't like pumping, and I can't imagine making myself extra work with a toddler and a newborn.

Holly_1007

solidio:

I honestly don't see anything wrong with it, but others might think it's weird. I would say go for it, and if it works for you all, then great. 

Do you think it's weird? 

I don't really think its weird for a child to receive BM at his age.  my original goal was to EP until he was 2. I'm sure with this baby I will EBF until 2 and see where it goes from there. I guess there's no harm in trying, thanks!

Holly_1007

tokenhoser:

I think it's up to you. It is a very nutritious liquid, but I doubt I would bother unless my child had health concerns that made it hard to meet his nutritional needs from other sources. I don't like pumping, and I can't imagine making myself extra work with a toddler and a newborn.

DS is VERY healthy and is an excellent eater, I would most likely just substitute what he is drinking in cows milk now, which is about 6-8 oz a day.  I can imagine I could probably do this with 1-2 pumping sessions a day, which is peanuts compared to what I have pumped in the past.  I guess part of it will depend if this baby is needy and how DS reacts to the baby as well. Thanks!

MAMAxB

I give my 24 month old pumped milk when I do (every few days). Why not?

PunkyBooster

I don't think it's weird. Do what feels right to you.

poison489

Yes, the breast milk would be beneficial for your son.  I haven't had our second baby, but I have pumped and given milk to my sisters 1 year old son .  We were all coming down with the flu and since I knew my milk had antibodies and because my sister was okay with it we gave the baby my breast milk.  The baby had self weaned and she had already dried up, so it was her best hope for keeping the baby from getting sick.  It worked. 

SandiaPinaMama

I don't particularly have an opinion on that one way or another, but I do have just one thought.  BM is designed to be suited to meet babies needs at that moment, and it changes over time to accommodate your child's changing nutritional needs.  Now, I don't know how that figures in, if at all, but it's what I thought of. 

Holly_1007

watermelon mom:

I don't particularly have an opinion on that one way or another, but I do have just one thought.  BM is designed to be suited to meet babies needs at that moment, and it changes over time to accommodate your child's changing nutritional needs.  Now, I don't know how that figures in, if at all, but it's what I thought of. 

I have heard this as well... thats why I was wondering if it was going to even be beneficial to DS... 

tokenhoser

holly71087:

watermelon mom:

I don't particularly have an opinion on that one way or another, but I do have just one thought.  BM is designed to be suited to meet babies needs at that moment, and it changes over time to accommodate your child's changing nutritional needs.  Now, I don't know how that figures in, if at all, but it's what I thought of. 

I have heard this as well... thats why I was wondering if it was going to even be beneficial to DS... 

Human milk is still going to be closer to human needs than cow milk. A 2 year old has more in common with a newborn human than a newborn cow.

Milk changes over time, but if you're also feeding other foods to  your older child, these changes are pretty inconsequential. Any gaps will be made up by his other eating.

celiabwatson

holly71087:

watermelon mom:

I don't particularly have an opinion on that one way or another, but I do have just one thought.  BM is designed to be suited to meet babies needs at that moment, and it changes over time to accommodate your child's changing nutritional needs.  Now, I don't know how that figures in, if at all, but it's what I thought of. 

I have heard this as well... thats why I was wondering if it was going to even be beneficial to DS... 

We're tandem nursing right now. My milk I believe is adjusted to meet the needs of the new baby. When the baby was born my son dropped most of his solids and started nursing a lot. He's cut back again and eats more now but there are days when he hardly eats anything. He's still in the 90%+ for height so I think it's probably meeting his needs just fine. The baby is also 90%+ for height, usually off the charts.