Hellobee Boards

@pastemoo: Thanks.... I used to nurse everywhere... and I mean EVERYWHERE. We went to Australia when he was 5 months, and we would nurse outside of the opera house! We nursed in the airport where construction was going on, and construction workers were walking in and out of that area I was sitting in. I just flipped it out and I didn't even care who's around. That was the best time.... Right until LO think hey, it is not a good idea. I'd like to check things out instead of staring at your breast. Now it is him who doesn't want to nurse. Not me. Forcing me to build a relationship with a pump, which I hate.

@red_seattle: I tried quiet rooms, I tried the same boring place day in and day out. I tried when he's very sleepy (which usually works until his nursing strike episodes... like this one). really, I tried everything.

I have a lactation consultant who I saw her 2 times. She helped me tremendously when I saw her when LO was 1.5 weeks old, and that helped me turn a corner and we were a champ until 4.5 months.... then even she can't help me. We were there for 2 hours and LO would refuse to nurse and cried until he was really really exhausted then he gave in. But we just can't do that every time every weekend. Nowadays I am almost afraid to be alone with him because I am afraid he won't eat and I can't manage watching a crawling / standing up baby who goes everywhere while I am pumping all by myself. That's just not practical and I am so mentally exhausted.

And you crack me up on the bags!!! That's true.... what could be worse with all the things that LO is putting into his mouth already......

Nowadays I take them out over night into the fridge, in a glass container. Very often the next day I'd see 2 oz worth of milk in the glass container.... but I usually don't use that milk, and only the still-frozen milk inside the bag. Like you said I worry about the dirt outside of the bag because they dropped out of my fridge so frequently onto the ground, and my fridge isn't the cleanest...! But what you said makes me rethink...

Again, guys, if LO nurses like normal babies, I'd have no problem to continue until he's 3. I am not joking. The problem is he doesn't want to nurse anymore and it breaks my heart... trust me I do not want to wean, but this is just getting ridiculous. I am miserable and he doesn't want it. Miserable mom and miserable baby. What's the point...... And afterall he's 8 months old.

@red_seattle: No, I used to nurse both sides together- it is because I have a weak side (that only pump 1.5-2 oz a time), and a strong side (that usually makes 3-4 oz of milk a time). So together they make around 4-5 oz a time if I pump every 3 hours. When I nurse, I'd usually like to start on the slow side because or else he would never drink from it.

I think LO is going through a nursing strike on top of his usual complication (ie. too busy to eat, too distracted, have no patience for let down). I am not sure. But yesterday he was only drinking 2.5 oz on a bottle before bedtime makes me think if he is trying to self wean? I have no idea anymore....

@Crumbs: Thanks for remembering me! We ended up going to a GI specialist and worked with a nutritionist. We added formula to the breastmilk (1 teaspoon @ every 2 oz), and oil to his purees (1 teaspoon @ 3-4 oz of solids/puree). In fact we just came back from the nutritionist follow up and he gained 12 oz in 3 weeks (whereas in before he gained 1 oz after 3 weeks)! He is now tracking along the 25% curve. I am so relieved. And yes, we changed to a larger size nipple. The nutritionist didn't think he's allergic to my milk, but we have a follow up appt with the GI specialist in 2 weeks so we'll see what he says.

@Mrs. Superhero: Since you mentioned you never pumped, I am wondering are you a SAHM? I wish I could do that too. I think it is the modern world that brings us to this. I brought this nursing strike upon myself because if he has never experienced bottles, then he wouldn't have known any better and will not be impatient to let down, and he won't know the option that he could look around while drinking from the bottle. I know it is ideal to keep at it until he's a year, but to one point it just gets me so mad and makes me wonder why the heck am I linked to a pump day in and day out when LO is probably fine on 4 more months of formula. If my husband suggests let's go to the aquarium on saturday I would actually be the one reluctant to do it because I just can't figure out when and how I am going to pump and feed LO. Not to mention we can't travel like normal people do. I look at my friends' pics with their LO on the plane and I am wondering what the heck am I doing. My husband is depressed, and I am depressed, because we are so tied down to the house and we lost the freedom to go anywhere. I am so tired of it. I feel like I am torturing myself (and LO) for no reason.

@BabyBoecksMom: Actually it's only been 7 full months of breastmilk for our case as he just turned 8 months..! And I want to thank you because I think you are probably the only one that truly understand what I am going through and how I feel.

@T-Mom: I pumped only 2 times today at work - 9:45am and 1:45pm rather than the usual 9:30, 12:30 and 3:30. I got 7 oz at 9:45am, then only 4 oz (only!) at 1:45pm.... But tonight he nursed fine. I am sometimes guessing it is because my supply is lowering, and that's why sometimes he's frustrated at my slow letdown because my breasts are not as full as they used to be....

Why is a mix of formula and bmilk be more trouble than just breastfeeding?

I am so not ready to wean. But I guess I'll never be ready. This morning he nursed fine, and before bedtime he nursed fine as well. I looked at him and I just kept thinking I need to remember this moment, as if I got cancer or some uncureable disease and I only got a few months/weeks to live. I even video taped (using iphone i mean) nursing. Just thinking about weaning makes me so sad.

@T-Mom: Thank you so much for the encouragement....

Not sure if any of you are reading this but we tried giving LO a full 100% formula bottle today after an unsuccessful lunch as we tried to make him eat sweet potatoes and spinach (he only took a few bites, screamed toward the end). He drank 1 oz and pushed it away with his hands. He didn't cry or act hungry though, but I decide to breastfeed him. Surprisingly he took it, drank happily, and fell asleep toward the end.

Only if he nurse like that every time, I'd never have to think about weaning ever. Sigh.

I am not sure how I feel about this because in a way I am happy that he prefers my milk (!) and it gives me an excuse to not wean off yet (I've started pumping only 2 times during work hours this week, but I just feel horrible), but at the same time it means I may not gain my freedom of just nursing him AM and PM while offering bottles without worrying about pumping during the day.

We'll try formula again tomorrow....