Would you listen to your pedi. or online?

vanceandlori · May 2010

Just got back from the pediatrician's office and we talked about transitioning to whole milk. I've already started mixing her bottles with BM and whole milk since my stash is running LOW and it seems to be going well.

Pedi. said that the maximum we should drink is 20 ounces a day, but this source says the max. is 24 ounces. I know that doesn't seem like a big difference, but it IS-- it's half a bottle a day! Currently she is drinking 3 9 ounce bottles (one in the morning, lunch, night) and a small bottle around dinner, but i think she'll drop that feeding soon. I'd have to cut out SEVEN ounces if I follow my pedi. recommendations, and only three if I follow online.

Just curious how strictly you follow what your pedi. says?

MauiWedding08 · May 2010

That is difficult, I would probably just go with my gut instinct since it doesn't seem like this a matter of great medical significance. I would probably call back and ask why they said 20oz. - perhaps they were taking into account your LO's current diet or something. If they don't have a good reason then I would just do what feels right.

I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the fact that she was breastfed and probably drank less total milk volume per day than formula fed babies - not sure why that should matter since it's a question of current dietary needs.

The babycenter article is strange in general though - it almost acts like it's trying to say babies NEED cow's milk and that breastmilk wouldn't be good enough (first page - "Just make sure that breast milk isn't his primary source of nourishment. He's grown to where he needs more."), but I think (hope) they mean the baby is getting most of it's dietary needs from other sources and that cow's milk will help meet those needs if you are ready to wean...

mie · May 2010

Interesting. Our doctor never mentioned how much milk we should be giving our LO. I ended up sending 2 sippys of WM milk which is ~20 oz total and am still nursing in the AM and PM.

myday1708 · May 2010

Our dr has not told us how much milk either... I nurse in the morning and evening and send 3 bottles of 5 oz each. So I estimate that she's getting about 25 oz a day.

Anyway... I think you should listen to yourself. You are the momma and sometimes advice by the book doesn't fit your baby. You know what works. Can you call the pedi's office and see if what you want to do is OK?

vanceandlori · May 2010

Normally I do what I think is right (which is why I don't ask too many BR questions), but in this case, giving TOO much whole milk could cause problems.

I am just curious if anyone's pedi. told them a different amount of whole milk for their little ones and if they are following that.

lola808 · May 2010

If it's internet vs. doctor advice and you're choosing sides, I'd go with the pedi who directly treats my child. If you're still not sure, call or email now that you have more specific #s in mind -- does he think cutting 7 oz will be OK given B's previous routine? I'm sure you're not the only parent with f/u questions! Stick out tongue

Married2MrWright · May 2010

I would trust your instincts on this and follow Brooke's lead. Every baby is different so I'd take the 20-24 oz. as a recommendation only and go with what works for you and her. FWIW, babies don't even need cow's milk, but that is a different discussion altogether.

And the AAP only recommend 16 oz. a day of cow's milk for toddlers:

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that 16 ounces of whole milk per day is all your toddler will need. (from "Calcium for Infants & Toddlers (AAP"). It is thought that more than 16 ounces of milk per day may put an toddler at risk for anemia as well as nutrient displacement - a toddler who consumes too much milk will most likely not be eating all the whole foods that he needs.

Also, if you're enjoying your BFing relationship with Brooke and she is too, there's no reason to wean. So I hope you're not feeling pressured by your pedi or anyone else to get her off the breast and onto cow's milk just because she's one now.

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html

https://www.llli.org/NB/NBextended.html

I hope to BF Libby past one and then see if she self-weans before age two. If not, I may have to initiate weaning because we hope to TTC#2 around that time and if BFing has delayed my cycles then we'll most likely do that. Otherwise, I hope to BF as long as Libby wants to nurse.

vanceandlori · May 2010

Married2MrWright:

I would trust your instincts on this and follow Brooke's lead. Every baby is different so I'd take the 20-24 oz. as a recommendation only and go with what works for you and her. FWIW, babies don't even need cow's milk, but that is a different discussion altogether.

And the AAP only recommend 16 oz. a day of cow's milk for toddlers:

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that 16 ounces of whole milk per day is all your toddler will need. (from "Calcium for Infants & Toddlers (AAP"). It is thought that more than 16 ounces of milk per day may put an toddler at risk for anemia as well as nutrient displacement - a toddler who consumes too much milk will most likely not be eating all the whole foods that he needs.

Also, if you're enjoying your BFing relationship with Brooke and she is too, there's no reason to wean. So I hope you're not feeling pressured by your pedi or anyone else to get her off the breast and onto cow's milk just because she's one now.

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html

https://www.llli.org/NB/NBextended.html

I hope to BF Libby past one and then see if she self-weans before age two. If not, I may have to initiate weaning because we hope to TTC#2 around that time and if BFing has delayed my cycles then we'll most likely do that. Otherwise, I hope to BF as long as Libby wants to nurse.

Thanks for your input I planned to wean when Brooke turned one since the day I started BF. Actually, I take that back ... I hadn't even planned to go a year of BF, but I was *lucky* enough to have gone this long. We go on a trip next month and I do NOT want to be BF. Another reason is that we were thinking of TTC when she was around 15months and I still haven't gotten my first PP AF. (Almost 2 years of no period, hooray!)

So there are a bunch of reasons why I am weaning. I was actually still nursing at night until she bit me ... like 3 times in a row. It was then that I decided my nursing days were over. I am still pumping a little at night, but my supply has drastically dropped and my stash is not that big, which is why I am transitioning to whole milk. She still gets breast milk, but it is mixed with whole milk.

I am SUPER proud of myself for going this long, by the way! Woohoo to me

MauiWedding08 · May 2010

vanceandlori:
I am SUPER proud of myself for going this long, by the way! Woohoo to me

Yes

MrsNJSwimmer · May 2010

Could you go in steps? Maybe try to get down to 24 oz for awhile and then down to 20?

Married2MrWright · May 2010

vanceandlori:
Thanks for your input I planned to wean when Brooke turned one since the day I started BF. Actually, I take that back ... I hadn't even planned to go a year of BF, but I was *lucky* enough to have gone this long. We go on a trip next month and I do NOT want to be BF. Another reason is that we were thinking of TTC when she was around 15months and I still haven't gotten my first PP AF. (Almost 2 years of no period, hooray!)

That's fantastic! We're thinking of trying to TTC#2 when Libby is 18 months (although we may get anxious and start closer to 15-16 months) and I also worry about not ovulating by then. I'll be curious to see at what point in this weaning process your PP AF returns. But yay for 2 years with no AF!

vanceandlori:

I am SUPER proud of myself for going this long, by the way! Woohoo to me

Big kudos to you! What an awesome gift you've given Brooke! Go mama!

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