Weaning my 5 month old

[mythreesons]

Hello all! My son, Sebastien, is 5 months old and has been soley breastfed since birth. I have to return to work in August so I have been trying to wean my son from breast to bottle/formula feeding to no avail. My pediatrician recommended I try rice cereal as the last feeding of the day and my son acts as though I am feeding him dirt . I have tried oatmeal and rice cereal, mixed with breastmilk, formula, and applesauce as well as bananas. He refuses breastmilk and formula from a bottle. I am trying not to panic, but I don't know what to do. I am a teacher so pumping at work is not an option. I have to get him on formula. I can forgo the solids but the formula is a must.

Any advice would be most appreciated!

Thanks! Mythreesons!

[Stephanie]

I teach and pumped at work with both children, with dd it was close to 2 full school years. I would pump on my way to work, during lunch, and during my planning period. You can still make phone calls and grade papers while you are pumping. I would get my copies started and go pick them up when I was done.

If you want to wean, I would just keep trying. Trying different bottles may help. But, if you want to keep nursing, it can very easily be done.

[RedheadbyChoice]

You will not be able to pump at all? Not even once? What about after you've left babe in the AM, right before you get to work? Are you planning on still nursing in the evening and at night and weekends, when you're home with babe? Breastfeeding doesn't need to be an all or nothing option, sugar. You could still do formula during the day, and breastmilk when you're together.

Have you been the only one trying to give him bottles, or have others attempted it? I know many have said that it needs to be absolutely anyone else, besides the momma. What about a different temp, a different bottle, a different position? What about a straw cup or a sippy cup?

How long have you been trying to get babe to take a bottle?

At 5 months, though, there's no need for solids for him---that part doesn't concern me at all. He's obviously not ready for it.

[dewoman81]

I am a teacher also and have a daughter close to your sons age. I have been pumping before work and once a day during work and the opposite side after work. I am considering day weaning but still nursing in the evenings and at night - that could be an option for you too. I wouldnt worry too much if he wont take a bottle now. I would think that by the time you go back to work in August, your ds might take ebm from a sippy cup. Keep trying and he might surprise you one day.

[sweetkisses]

Are you planning on just doing formula during the day and nuring in am and at night? This is an option. It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

You may have to experiment with different bottles. Also let someone else try feeding your baby with a bottle. Sometimes babies won't take it from momma b/c they would prefer it straight from the tap. I mean who can blame them! :D

I personally wouldn't give any solids until at least 6 months.

[mythreesons]

You guys truly rock! I know I can pump during my planning period depending on when it is and I would still like to nurse him at night. Pumping before classes start maybe...I teach middle school so I am not sure. I do enjoy the closeness with him. I will try getting my husband to feed him. I will keep trying, I cannot give up and I do agree about the cup. By august he will be beyond old enough to try one.

Thanks soooo much. Keep the suggestions coming.

[mythreesons]

Oh....I have one more question. If I am only nursing him at night and pumping once(probably), maybe twice during the day. Will I be at risk of drying up?

[Jmom1010]

You should still produce milk for the feeding you are doing.

[Nipple_nectar]

I am not going to say you will be fine, it is an individual thing. But it is not something you have no control over, you can always fit in another pumping session if you are experiencing a decrease in supply.

More than likely, you baby will adapt and do what is called reverse cycling (http://www.mother-2-mother.com/reversecycling.htm) as long as you are offering at night.

It is great that you are thinking so far ahead. If it were me, I would start pumping now and freezing it for when you return to work~ you can build quite a stash between now and then;-)

Also get the sippy ut and begin practicing with water until he gets it. Take out the spill proof valve and put very little in the cup for now.

[Pumplicious]

When you go back to work in August, your LO will be 8 months old, correct? I think you may not even need to switch to formula if you pump now and freeze as Nipple_nectar suggests. Get yourself a good electronic breast pump and build a freezer stash. Don't even worry about him not taking a bottle right now. He will be a totally different kid in 3 months, and like dewoman said, he could very easily be drinking out of a sippy cup by then.

And don't even worry about the solids till he's 6 months. Really, RELAX, nurse him lots and enjoy being at home with him for now! Oh, and consider co-sleeping with him when you start working, so he can nurse all night long and fill up that way, if you're not co-sleeping already!

[amyamy1973]

And get a hands-free pumping bra! (There's a link on this website.) Then you can totally pump and grade papers at the same time. You can even pump while you're driving.

[hotlama]

Oh....I have one more question. If I am only nursing him at night and pumping once(probably), maybe twice during the day. Will I be at risk of drying up?

I have this problem. I don't pump for 6 hours while at work. I have learned with help from the awesome ladies on this board that I will most likely be taking fenugreek for a while. It helps keep my supply up enough to exclusively give my dd breastmilk. I've had to supplement with formula but so far have only had to do it once.

[mythreesons]

I have tried pumping in between feedings, but he empties me out so when I go to pump there's not even an ounce in either breast. Will my body rectify that? I will have to report to work probably sometime in July.

As for co-sleeping, I have tried but he's not into it. He loves his bed. He also doesn't like nursing while laying with me. He's very particular. I also have the issue that my 4 yr old is still making occasional trips to my bed in the middle of the night so between my husband, myself, and my older son there not enough room. My husband, I think, doesn't want to start another child sleeping with us since it took till almost 6 yrs to get my oldest son out and now we are working on our middle son.

I think I might try ( depending on what you guys think), pumping out one or two feedings out and letting my husband feed him during the day until my husband goes back to work (May 12th). I need to get him to atleast take breast milk from a bottle from someone else since he will be with a nanny during the day while I work. I am no longer worried about solids. Baby steps so to speak. What do you all think?

[mythreesons]

A "hands free pumping bra!!!!" Now that I could use now. I will definitely look into that especially if it works with the medela pump I already have. Thanks for the tip!

[gobucks1013]

I have tried pumping in between feedings, but he empties me out so when I go to pump there's not even an ounce in either breast. Will my body rectify that? I will have to report to work probably sometime in July.

By pumping after feedings, you are telling your body to make more milk. Eventually, your body will adjust and you should see a bump in your supply. Of course nursing and/or pumping more is the BEST way to increase supply, but there are also several good herbal supplements that help too. Here are 2 that I've used and had good results with:
http://www.kerrysherbals.com/breastfeeding.shtml Scroll down to the Nursing Mother's Blend. It is an herbal tincture you can mix with a 2-3 oz of juice and take 3-4 time daily. You can only get this one online.

http://www.motherlove.com/product_more_milk_plus.php This is virtually the same thing as the Nursing Mothers Blend from Kerry's Herbals. It's more expensive and you don't quite get as much for the money, but it works. It comes in capsule form, too, if you prefer that. You can get it online or you can also get this one at Whole Foods if you have one nearby.

Also, if no one has told you yet, eat oatmeal everyday. Oatmeal has also been shown to increase milk supply. Good luck! There are lots of us here working outside the home and pumping so feel free to ask questions anytime! :)

[Beautifuldisaster2003]

http://www.babybungalow.com/whwedobrpuwi.html

[Nipple_nectar]

Tinctures do work most effectively, IMHO but give your body a chance to do it on it's on;-) Your supply is most abundant in the am hours, so even if you spend ten minutes in the morning after nursing, you are building your supply.

I used to pump every morning, I was at home full time but I wanted to have enough frozen for two full days in the event of an emergency or my absence. I only pumped a half ounce at a time at most but still managed to create quite a stash! If your baby is sleeping through the night, you could also set the alarm, for a few hours after bedtime or the last nursing session. My little is 14 months old and she nurses for the last time at 10pm so some times, I pump right before turning in around 1am, I get 3-4 ounces in one sitting!

Now, there is a hands free bra here: www.nursingmothersupplies.com but I found this interesting tidbit: www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/hands-free-pumping.html

[mythreesons]

He still wakes up 2 times during the night and eats one side only then goes back to sleep. I need to pump atleast 2 extra per day till I return to work. I just need to get a more abundant supply going. I also need to get him to take it from a bottle.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I am truly grateful. All of you have given me piece of mind and a lot of great ideas. Some forums make you feel stupid for asking questions. I feel relieved. :)

[dimplesx3]

Hi! I am also a teacher and went back to work when my dd was 8 months(she's now 8 years old) and my ds was 5 months(he's now 22 months).
I would pump right before I'd leave for work at around 7:00.
Then I would pump at 1st recess around 10:00.
Right at 3:00 I'd run over to the sitter's house and nurse my lo.
This schedule worked really well. By 3:00 I was just starting to feel full.

Oh, and neither one of my dc ever took to the bottle. They went straight to the soft spout sippy cup. It took a little practice but they caught on very quickly.
I wish you all the best and it is worth it to try it.
Terie