Should I start to encourage weaning?

[majubee30]

My baby girl will be 12 months old next week. She is still a strong and often nurser. Unless in the car or when grandma is watching her, she is rarely offered a sippy cup.

Should I start to offer her a sippy cup when I am home even though I am perfectly capable of giving her milk right from the tap each time she wants a drink?

my pcp wants me to start weaning. I have said this before. I have had tummy issues for several months now. he wants to be able to focus on me getting better and have to worry about if certain things are safe while nursing.

my cycles have returned for the first time since baby girl has been born and my migraines returned with it.

the LC at my mom and baby group suggested against maxalt (which is what I used to take) and suggested I take imitrex instead. I asked my pcp for a perscription of imitrex and he told me no. he said that I might throw up the imitrex and I should take maxalt. but I can't take maxalt while nursing. so, so that means I can't take it since baby girl nurses so much still.

I am just so torn. I know that she is not ready to wean.

I know my health is important but it is not like this is a life or death thing.

I guess this is a 2 part post.

should I be offering a sippy cup even though I am home, which could encourage weaning?

would you or do you think I should seriously try to wean her sooner rather than later like my pcp wants me to and so I can take my migraine meds?

[tristanjames08]

Have you thought about pumping and freezing? Then you can still give her breast milk in a sippy cup. I know it is not the same as breastfeeding but then she would still get the nutrients that are in your milk. I don't know that is a hard situation. I feel for you though cause I know when it comes time I want my ds to decided when he wants to wean.

[trylyn5]

There are a lot of different migraine meds, those shouldn't be the end of the list to consider. Why would you be more likely to throw up the imitrex than the maxalt? That doesn't make sense to me. I feel your pain though. I was on daily meds until my pregnancy; I've only had a couple migraines while bfing but anticipate them returning with AF.

[PeacefulMom]

Have you looked in to any alternative healing methods like chiropractors or herbal remedies? I dont' know enough about it to recommend anything but it might be worth looking in to for you.

Otherwise, I'd be as torn as you are. But offering a sippy would probably be good for her anyway at one year old whether you start to actively wean or not.

[madelsmama]

I think I would be inclined to continue nursing. What does your PCP want to do that's not compatible with nursing?

I agree with trylyn5. I'd try the imitrex.

And I agree with Lea. Chiropractics is an excellent suggestion.

[Jmom1010]

Have you looked in to any alternative healing methods like chiropractors or herbal remedies? I dont' know enough about it to recommend anything but it might be worth looking in to for you.

Otherwise, I'd be as torn as you are. But offering a sippy would probably be good for her anyway at one year old whether you start to actively wean or not.


Quick hijack, I get migraines too and I've been thinking of going to the chiropractor (eventhough I'm scared to death). Do you get the headaches and did you see a chiropractor about them? I had one so bad yesterday I could not function for hours and DH had to do all the DS care.

Anyway back to the topic, I agree addind in the sippy cup would be a good idea and if you can pump and store that would be wonderful. I'd also look into all treratment options for the migraines if you really do not want to wean. There should be something out there that works. Good luck :)

[madelsmama]

Karen, what scares you about the chiro? I've never been scared to go. I've never had a migraine, but regular visits did help quite a bit with regular headaches that I'd get often.

[majubee30]

I have been to a chiro in the past. it didn't go well. I was in pain for 3 or 4 days afterwards. I called the chiro office and asked about it and he said the pain must be from inflamation I musta had. he had me do hot and cold compresses. I called my pcp about it and I then found out he was anti chiro's and gave me a lecture on how the chiro coulda broke my neck and he looked me over and had me take motrin.

I guess i need to do a bit of research on chiro's.

[ima062002]

I would change PCPs and try to find one that is willing to see if something can be done for you while you are still a nursing mom.

Why does he think you'd throw up on Imitrex? Why won't he let you try it; if you do throw up you'd know for sure. If you don't you need not suffer and your baby can still continue to nurse.

I second the chiro as well. Or acupressure. There is a lot you can do. I used to get these really bad headaches until he saw this Chinese doctor who wrote his thesis on acupressure, complete with heat images and it was amazing to see how people's bodies were more aligned/evened out after the pressure therapy. My headaches stopped. My dad saw the same doc for backaches and his stopped for a long time before he had to go again. He used to see the doc about twice a year after the initial treatment series. Acupuncture yields good results for a lot of people as well.

[madelsmama]

I think you'll find that many in the mainstream medical field are skeptics when it comes to chiropractors, unfortunately. The human body has yet to be fully understood, so I feel that non-conventional ways of thinking and treating are sometimes worth looking at.

Soreness after intial chiropractic treatment is a definite possibility if that area has been locked up for a period of time. I don't think that's out of the range of normal.

[PeacefulMom]

I think you'll find that many in the mainstream medical field are skeptics when it comes to chiropractors, unfortunately. The human body has yet to be fully understood, so I feel that non-conventional ways of thinking and treating are sometimes worth looking at.

Soreness after intial chiropractic treatment is a definite possibility if that area has been locked up for a period of time. I don't think that's out of the range of normal.

ITA!!

And no headaches here. I don't even see a chiro! But I would if I could afford it for lower back and hip pain especially during this pregnancy.

I highly suggest looking in to each one and getting their philosophies or areas of specialties cause some are different than others. You'll want to see one that specializes in nutrition as well. I think they have a more whole body approach. Doctors have a tendency to treat the symptoms and not try to heal the illness. Keeps us as good customer I think but it also their training.

My mom has migraines and finds great relief from a good massage therapist too and is currently looking for a whole body chiro.

Hey, it's worth a look if you are not feeling liek weaning is a good idea.

[ColleenF30]

Would you consider finding a new PCP? Someone more breastfeeding, and alternative treatment friendly.

[Darcy_]

Would you consider finding a new PCP? Someone more breastfeeding, and alternative treatment friendly.

This is what I would do.

Also, about the sippy when DD1 was a year I just gave her EBM in a sippy and she loved that. I am just starting to give DD2 BM in a sippy and she is doing well. If she can drink from a sippy without a problem I wouldnt offer her a sippy. However, if you want her to learn to drink from a sippy I would offer it to her once a day with EBM (or even whole milk)

[Nipple_nectar]

The whole weaning controversy is a very individual thing. I would recommend reading Mothering your nursing toddler by Norma Jane Bumgarner. It really helped me determine my own comfortable boundaries WRT weaning and I discovered that I was more hung up on peoples reaction to the actual nursing itself. Which forced me to push through my own boundaries a little further as I realized that I nor my baby were ready to wean and I learned alot about child led weaning.

I am currently nursing an 18 month old. Why? Because simply stated, my baby still wants to nurse and I want to be there for her. I am ready to quit but am following her cues. Some days we only nurse to sleep and we are close to weaning completely but I will rest easy knowing that it was a process that completely honored my nursling and her feelings:)

Read the book and this link, it will help you in your decision making process: www.promom.org/101

Remember that some immunological benefits in breastmilk don't even appear in the milk until baby is 18 months old or later, so your baby will continue to profit from your priceless gift as long as it continues.

It sounds to me as if your PCP is not educated in the art of BFing, so I truly would disregard his opinion, that's just my two cents.

[trylyn5]

I get migraines and have many different triggers--hormones, erratic sleep schedules, grinding teeth, mochas :), etc. I have found some relief with chiropractic care. Not complete but it's helped alot. I've gone in with a miserable, light sensitive migraine and come out with no pain.

If you decide to go that route, I would choose one that takes a complete medical history and xrays before your first adjustment. I've gone to ones that didn't and had perfectly fine experiences but I think this might make you feel better. They also then can see if you have things beyond their experience going on.

Many insurance companies cover alternative medicine now including chiropractic and acupunture/acupressure although not usually to the same extent as mainstream medicine. Many mds are also recognizing the positive contributions that these alternatives have to overall healthcare. It sounds like your md isn't one of them.

As for medications, I had better relief and way fewer side effects from Relpax than I did with Imitrex. My insurance covered imitrex and did not Relpax and the difference was so significant I bought the relpax on my own.

But....ONLY YOU CAN MAKE THIS DECISION!!!!!!!! and I'm pretty sure everyone here will be supportive in whatever your course may be. Good luck!

[majubee30]

thanks for all of the info and advice!

i have no desire to stop nursing, other than my medical reasons. my son self weaned by 10 months old (but he took bottles and kept drinking bottles for a long time after that) so i have no experience with weaning a baby/child. I want it to be her decision when to stop. I don't really care what others think when it comes to how long I nurse my baby because I know the facts about extended nursing. I guess it is more of a developmental thing with the sippy cup. I was just wondering if I should be offering her a sippy cup every day just because she can drink from it. She is obviously not going to self wean if I never offer her a sippy cup. Of course she will keep nursing a lot if that is her only source of hydration. know what I mean?

also, she is not very interested in food right now. she will eat finger foods several times a day when I offer but just bites of it. she doesn't eat a whole meals worth. breast milk is her main source of nutrition still. I don't want to delay her interest in food by filling her up on breast milk but I don't want to refuse to nurse her when she wants to nurse either. but I guess she is getting to the age that I can offer food before nursing her?

I also have no desire to start pumping and giving it to her in a sippy cup. I hope that does not sound selfish but I just hate pumping and i don't want to do it and I only do it when I am feeling engorged. if she gets a sippy cup it will either be juice (she refuses water) or cows milk (she also refuses soy milk).

I am on the search for a new pcp.

I do know my insurance covers chiro's. it is just that I have a $20 co-pay each time and when I went before the chiro said he wanted to see me 3x a week for at least 3 months to start off with after he saw my x-rays. that adds up to be a lot of money!

[Bumpy]

This is just a thought, when I was at GNC picking up fenugreek, the guy at the counter asked if it was for migranes. I raised an eyebrow and said that I was using it to increase my milk supply. So maybe it would work for you. Just putting it out there.

[Bumpy]

And I didn't read the post the well, so i went back and read it again. I would force the issue with your doctor. Do some research, and is there a time when you can take it that you wouldn't throw it up. I had horrible migranes with my period, and I used some heat cold compresses and some stretches that my physical therapist gave me that will stretch out the muscle in the neck. It relieves some pressure and will lessen the pain. then after a little while you lather rinse repeat.

[Jmom1010]

Karen, what scares you about the chiro? I've never been scared to go. I've never had a migraine, but regular visits did help quite a bit with regular headaches that I'd get often.


Irrational fears like them breaking my neck, or messing me up more than I am now. I'm afraid of needing to go forever and I do not have insurance to cover chiro care so it is all out of pocket if I go.

[majubee30]

ok, update. the doctors office is calling in some imitrex for me. I had called them and asked again about the imitrex and told them the name of the IBCLC that said for me to take it. They called me back a couple of hours later and asked where to call it in at! woohoo!

[Nipple_nectar]

Very good then! Don't worry about delaying babies interest in solids, when she is ready, she will initiate that interest, on her own:)

I wouldn't offer solids before nurse except for when you are ready to wean as baby easily fills on solids and may refuse nursing.

[Jmom1010]

ok, update. the doctors office is calling in some imitrex for me. I had called them and asked again about the imitrex and told them the name of the IBCLC that said for me to take it. They called me back a couple of hours later and asked where to call it in at! woohoo!

Good news :)

[pumpkinhead7]

Irrational fears like them breaking my neck, or messing me up more than I am now. I'm afraid of needing to go forever and I do not have insurance to cover chiro care so it is all out of pocket if I go.

You have a greater chance of dying due to taking antibiotics than you do of having a chiropracter break your neck.

[EAshley]

If you do decide to wean and do it quickly, you should put cold packs on your breasts to reduce swelling. You should also wear a snug bra for support and comfort and only pump a small amount of milk just to relieve fullness. I read this in Amy Spangler's book on breastfeeding tips (http://amysbabies.com/).

[StaciMN]

Majubee your Doctor is wrong and small minded and your chiropractor did not know what he/she was doing. Proper chiropractic care is very very beneficial and important. Switch Chiropractors - you should NOT be that sore after an adjustment.