Am I still considered a breastfeeding mom although I only nurse once a day?

Tiffanie - posted on 08/03/2010

Of course you are still considered a breast feeding mom, as you still give your daughter one feeding a day. I welcome you to remain in the community well after you have completely weaned your daughter to give encouragement to other mothers who may need your wisdom :)

A - posted on 08/03/2010

Thanks for the clarification Jennifer!

Jennifer - posted on 08/03/2010

A N- It's 50 employees and law is not in effect yet although most companies do accommodate and have done so for years without needing the gov't to step in. Sad though that there are still prehistoric companies that lack the common sense to do so.

Jennifer - posted on 08/03/2010

Absolutely! My niece has been EBF now since day one and she is nine months old. Now that she eats solids she only wants to nurse 3 times a day.

Ignorance doesn't make some women right and the fact that your baby doesn't need you to nurse as often yet you still do makes you an even better BF mommy.

Honestly, who cares what others think? You are a nursing mother who supports nursing and knows what is best for your baby and does what is best for your baby. What more can a mom do? :)

A - posted on 08/02/2010

That's great your company was accommodating. I know women who are too afraid to assert their legal right and their managers try to make it impossible for them to pump. Very sad for those women!

Kristal - posted on 08/02/2010

Thank you everyone. I appreciate your support. A N, my job had no problem with me pumping at work, paid breaks. It just got hard as I was trying to schedule meetings around my pump breaks, and I started stressing out about if I was going to get an opportunity to pump or not. It was starting to affect me at work. So, instead of stopping altogether, which I thought I at the time was my only alternative, I learned that you can still breastfeed part-time without pumping. I was excited when I realized that. :-)

A - posted on 07/30/2010

Hey I also wanted to add...I noticed you said pumping was "overwhelming" at work. I'm not sure what quite you meant by that, but just wanted to let you know for most companies that are larger (I think 25+ employees) they are required by law to give you unpaid breaks to pump breast milk.

Aicha - posted on 07/30/2010

you are a breastfeeding mom

Rachael - posted on 07/30/2010

of course you are still a breastfeeding mom! Congratulations on giving your daughter a WONDERFUL start in life! =)

A - posted on 07/30/2010

There are moms breastfeeding older toddlers who only nurse once a day or even once a week. I think anyone should be welcome...even those who don't breastfeed so they can learn and educate themselves. Sounds like you're a working mom so maybe the reason your little one wanted to nurse so much was just "cluster feeding" to reconnect with you while she had you around...a lot of working moms experience that. I'm lucky enough to stay at home...but if I couldn't I may not have been able to breastfeed because pumping stopped working after the first few months. Its really not this forums place to be placing judgement on people (although admittedly it can be hard especially when it comes to raising our children- we get defensive) but rather to support and educate those who do breastfeed or plan to or want to.

Lara - posted on 07/30/2010

In my humble opinion, as long as your baby wants your boob, you classify as a bf-er. *grin* I know that 4-5 month mark is hard... quit bfi-ing my first two at that point and am trying to get past it with my third now. Keep doing what works for you and your little one... it's all about the love.

And can I say kudos on the making your own babyfood? Go supermom! Can you come to my house next? *grin*

Kathy - posted on 07/29/2010

Kristal, certainly you're welcome here! I can tell from your post that you're keen to do the best you can for your little girl, and that's the most important job for a mum! And it's great that you love the closeness.

Yes, you're a breastfeeding mum, so I hope you continue to share your journey with us in this community.

Michelle - posted on 07/28/2010

I think you are doing a wonderful job ! Many moms just up and give up completely when something happens that is less than desireable as far as BF goes. Your baby is getting that closeness to you even if it is for one feeding and that is something special .
Keep up the good work and enjoy it !!!! I have never seen any limit here as far as being a breastfeeding mother , and theretically one feed is still BFing .
Hope you enjoy the community and continue to post and share things with the rest of us .

Eliza - posted on 07/28/2010

You should not stress you. You are breastfeeding now once a day. That is wonderful! Breastfeeding should not be duty but a pleasure for the mom. (At least most time. ;-) ) Please feel well in this community.

Jessie - posted on 07/28/2010

I welcome you! I too had to supplement some with formula. I was never able to pump very well and had a very hard time pumping enough for him to have at daycare so at 6 months I started supplementing daycare with formula. It was only a few bottles a week ( I work parttime) but you have to do what you have to do. Kudos to you for keeping up with what you can. You are a good mommy!

Kristal - posted on 07/28/2010

Thank you Mary and Carol. I appreciate your reponse. I love breastfeeding and honestly never thought I would make it to this mark, as it's made to sound like it's extremely hard. It's been a great pleasure. Even now when she drinks from her bottle I cuddle her close as if I'm breastfeeding her. I love the closeness. :-)

Carol - posted on 07/28/2010

Continue doing the best for you and your child. I love breastfeeding, but I am a single mom and work full time. It is very hard for me to find the time to pump. So I do pump whenever I can and if I can't I send formula to childcare. Also my 8 months baby eats solids. I don't feel guilty for that. I breastfeed nights and morning, and weekends all day. For sure, some breast milk is better than none!

Mary - posted on 07/28/2010

You are a breastfeeding mom. I think the only issue is if you have formula questions or are looking for recs, the guidelines say people cannot makes recommendations. In terms of support, I hope you find it. I'd say you're still doing better than most moms in the US when it comes to breasfeeding, you're still providing both nutritional and emotional support to your child, and it sounds like you're doing a great job!

Kristal - posted on 07/28/2010

Thank you Andrea! What a nice reply. I appreciate it!

Andrea - posted on 07/28/2010

I welcome you! You don't even have to breastfeed her with as much formula and solids that you are giving her, BUT YOU ARE! That is really respectable. It's a little sad that you didn't feel you were able to increase your supply - but goodness, you are doing what is best for both of you - great job! Keep it up as much as you can, you are right, some breastmilk is better than none.