So I made my 6 mo BFing goal

MelissaSue81 · August 2009

I EBFed for 6 whole months!

But.. its not going to be much longer than that. I weighed Eve again today.. She's only gained like 8 or 9 ounces total in the past 4 weeks. She was 13lb7oz with a dry diaper and onesie on.. So I've decided that starting today I am going to supplement every feeding with at least a couple ounces. Its going to wipe out my freezer stash pretty quick. I am going to keep pumping like i have been (2x a day most days and then again after work shifts).. and I will still nurse her for all her feedings when I'm home.. but I think eventually while I am work she'll be getting almost exclusively formula and then I'll use the pumped milk to supplement mostly. I'm sadder than I thought about it, and I can't help but feel like i've failed.. even though I KNEW it would be impossible to keep up my supply while working and not being able to pump. I honestly thought when she was born that i'd only be able to EBF for 2 or 3 months. Whats important though is getting her to keep gaining weight..I still don't like the thought of it though.

We started solids last night too.. Oatmeal is not a big hit.. hopefully she'll like the fruits and veggies better.

Summerstarr2 · August 2009

Totally understand how you feel! I made it to 3 months ebf, and then when I took him in for a weight check he had only gained 2 oz since his 2 month appt. I cried that whole night, I felt so bad that I had "failed" my baby and prevented him from being able to grow like he should. I've tried to get my supply up, but it just doesn't want to budge, so I had to start supplementing with formula, but after that he gained 5 oz within a week! I just had to tell myself I am being a much better mother by giving my baby formula too and having him grow than I would be to know it wasn't enough but not adding the supplement. Plus, I needed to realize that he was still going to be getting the breastmilk too, and it didn't have to be all or nothing.

cmbrown · August 2009

Yay for 6 months!! Try not to feel bad. I quit BF at 4 months and I felt really bad for a while. But my baby was hungry and she is being fed. That is what is important. And I feel so much more relaxed without BFing.

It may be good for Eve to start formula to start gaining a little more weight. Formula is thicker I think. So it may help with the weight gain.

Runaway Bride! · August 2009

Breastfeeding for 6 months, especially not pumping at work is an amazing accomplishent! Your daughter is gorgeous and she's going thrive on on whatever you feed her.

sharon2004 · August 2009

Congrats! Making it to 6 months is my goal too. You have done a great job. I think your plan is sound because you will still be giving her the benefits of BM but also making sure she's getting enough to eat. I know you're disappointed, but you are a good mommy and you've been able to BF despite not being able to pump at work.

ncsubride · August 2009

6 months is wonderful you should be very proud of yourself!!!

BarnStar · August 2009

Congrats on making it to 6 months! I know it's been a struggle for you at times, but you pushed through and made it! Supplementing with formula is doing what's right for your baby. Don't feel like a failure at all - you're discounting all the great things you've already done by making it this far! And from the sounds of it, she'll still be getting BM, so it's not all or nothing. ((big hugs))

lata82 · August 2009

6 months is great! and like you I had a mini-baby and when I started to give her more formula she started gaining weight a lot better! So my mini-baby is on her way to be not so mini anymore!

cluiss1 · August 2009

Don't be so hard on yourself. Evie is thriving because of everything you do for her. Making it to 6 months is quite an accomplishment. Most women don't make it to 6 months if they are unable to pump. And besides, you're still going to nurse her when you can. You're a wonderful mother.

Skatcat · August 2009

Good for you for making it! You've done a great job, mama!

Call me crazy, but I thought 9 ounces in 4 weeks at this age was pretty darn good? That's half a pound which is right on track.

I think you'll see that with solids she'll start gaining as well. Mine are only getting a small amount 2x a day and they are growing like weeds!

cherryblossom25 · August 2009

Great job!!!

TayLynn · August 2009

Congrats! WTG!

Skatcat:

Good for you for making it! You've done a great job, mama!

Call me crazy, but I thought 9 ounces in 4 weeks at this age was pretty darn good? That's half a pound which is right on track.

This was my first thought too when I read your post.

MelissaSue81 · August 2009

Kellymom says 4-5 oz per week for 4-6 month babies.. So shes only been gaining about half of that..She's always been on the low side of average for weight gain, but never this low..

Skatcat · August 2009

Well, KellyMom is a great resource, but for another take, here's a helpful page from Dr. Sears:

https://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t023600.asp

I thought that last paragraph was interesting! Oh, and I suppose we too are guilty of the "training" he mentions towards the end. But dang, a mom's gotta sleep too!

mrsladd · August 2009

That's great, honestly, I'm so jealous. Kian has been done nursing for about a month now, and I had hoped for a minimum of 6 months, up to about a year. But he never really got much at all, and it was a struggle to keep it going as long as I did, sigh.

Gregsbride22 · August 2009

Congrats, 6 months of EBF is awesome! I'm sure it's hard, but you're doing what's best for her. And best of luck with solids!

MayBride2B2007 · August 2009

big hugs. 6 months is a great goal. for what it's worth, hadley's weight gain has really slowed over the last month too and the pedi wasn't concerned.

MelissaSue81 · August 2009

Skatcat:
Well, KellyMom is a great resource, but for another take, here's a helpful page from Dr. Sears:
https://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t023600.asp

I thought that last paragraph was interesting! Oh, and I suppose we too are guilty of the "training" he mentions towards the end. But dang, a mom's gotta sleep too!

Skat.. thanks for the article.. But her weight gain is still below avg according to that.. it was between 5 and 6 months and she only gained half a lb, as opposed to the 1-2lbs that is avg... I do however LOVE the term "Banana baby"!!! Thats totally what she is.. 60% height, 10% weight.. poor kid.. We do not cosleep.. but we also never really sleep trained.. she was STTN on her own.. but she has since stopped and we have returned to night feedings.. which I wish we didn't, but at this point I'm just doing what it takes to get her to grow!

damissus · August 2009

You deserve a big congrats, that is such hard work! Now celebrate with some wine!

ocean71506 · August 2009

Congrats!

dr.girlfriend · August 2009

Congrats for making it that far! I'm counting down the days to 9 months EBF, but every day from 4 months on has been a constant struggle to keep up. K never went big for cereal either, so we skipped along to avocado puree and he looooves that stuff! It's also helpful because when you're traveling you can get avocado from any place that has guacamole. :-)

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