Breastfeeding Questions - Weaning a Breastfed Baby
Hello, I have a 61/2 month old son who I have exclusively breastfed (and loved every minute of it) but am now starting to wean and it appears that he now has little interest in breastfeeding. He will feed from me but only very little. Is he weaning himself off me or is it just that food is more exciting?
I have started to express a little for his cereal and other meals but I'm worried that if he only feeds 3 times a day my milk will dry up. Will this be enough to keep my milk supply because although I do express I don't find it very easy and only get 2-3 ozs at a time but it's always been like that?
Is he weaning himself off me or is it just
that food is more exciting?
Firstly, I've written an article on weaning a breastfed baby and there's a video clip at the end which you may find helpful.
What I would say is that it's very common for babies to lose some interest
in breastfeeding once they are also eating solid foods. Obviously the solids
fill them up for longer so they tend to require less breastfeeds. What I
found helped was to always offer a breastfeed before a solid feed... and
again after a solid feed.
Your breasts will continue to make milk because your baby is still demanding
milk. However, he probably is demanding a little less because he's not so
hungry anymore. Also as he grows bigger he's probably become very adept
at drinking your milk now - so may be drinking the same amount or even more
milk but just more quickly!
I have started to express a little for his cereal and things
but I'm worried that if he only feeds 3 times a day my milk will dry up.
Will this be enough to keep my milk supply because although I do express
I don't find it very easy, only 2-3 ozs at a time but it's always been like
that...
It's very unlikely that your son is weaning himself off breastmilk so early.
He just doesn't need to drink it so often. As long as you don't offer any
other drinks except breastmilk he should be fine and your breasts will continue
to provide all the fluid he requires.
Is he still breastfeeding during the night? If so, it is important that
you continue to feed at night as this is when the hormones that send the
signals to your breasts to make more milk are at their highest levels.
I personally always found expressing tricky too. However,
try looking at a picture of your baby whilst you are expressing, sniffing
some of his clothes or, the one that worked best for me - I expressed from
one side whilst my baby fed from the other! Also mornings are usually the
best time to express or after you've had a bit of a rest as your breasts
should be a little fuller then. Here's an article I wrote about expressing.
Here's one
by Dr Jack Newman and The Breastfeeding Network have this
to say!
It sounds like everything is fine to me. As long as your baby has plenty
of wet nappies every day it's usually a good indication that he is getting
enough fluids.
If you have any concerns whatsoever about his feeding or health please speak
to a health visitor, midwife or your GP. I also found my local breastfeeding
support group a wonderful source of reassurance and advice. Your health
visitor should be able to direct you to one held locally.
I hope this helps!
