Should I be cutting down on the number of breast feeds per day?

Susan - posted on 06/04/2010 ( 8 moms have responded )

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I have a 10 month old and my last visit with the early child hood nurse left me reeling. My little bub is only 7 kgs (15 pound something) She has always been on the small side and has never really been that keen on solids. I still feed her more than the "suggested" 3 times a day. She gets 4 main feeds a day.(and some for comfort if she hurts herself or is sick) When she wakes up, before each of her two naps, and before bedtime. She may wake up once or twice in the night and I always feed her because then we are both back in bed within 5 or 10 mins.

The health nurse says I need to cut back on my feeds but its too hard. If my little girl wants my milk I give it to her. Especially because she is so little. I was told that she is too full of milk for solids, but I think if she isn't eating properly I need to make sure she is getting enough nutrients from somewhere. I plan on feeding until 18 months and need to know if I have to start cutting down now or if she will cut down in her own time.

I LOVE our bonding time together when she feeds. It is the most precious thing for me but i would hate to think that she is so tiny because i am starving her of solids. ANY advice would be much appreciated.

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8 Comments

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Minnie - posted on 06/07/2010

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As a mother of two girls in the 3-5th percentile for weight for their ages I can really understand how it feels when nurses and doctors become concerned about babies' weight gain.

I followed the doctor's advice, to wean my first at 12 months because 'obviously your milk isn't enough for her, she's not gaining weight properly.'

Guess what? She just turned four and is STILL in the 5th percentile for weight.

My second is 19 months old and eats table food like a champ, and nurses just about every two hours and a few times at night- and has been in the 3rd percentile for weight since she was six months old.

Reducing the amount of feedings won't make her gain weight. Ounce for ounce, your milk is more caloric than most solids she would eat.

Nurse on demand, offer it even, and offer her what you're eating as well, on her own plate. If she eats, great, if she doesn't, don't worry!

If she's happy, healthy (an arbitrary weight gain isn't necessarily an indication of health), not dehydrated, active and meeting milestones she's fine.

Thandi - posted on 06/07/2010

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I think you should continue to breastfeed your baby for aslong as you think she needs it. just donot forget to give her solids aswell since she is 10 months old.

Amy - posted on 06/06/2010

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What the heck? No, you don't! I had some comments from 'experts' that would make you cringe. Keep doing what you're doing :-)

Susan - posted on 06/04/2010

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THANKS GUYS! I was so confident in what I was doing but every now and then silly people make me doubt myself! Just hope she grows! She is happy and I think she looks healthy. I thought a midwife of all people would support my feeding on demand.

Emily - posted on 06/04/2010

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I think the nurse is full of crap! You should still be nursing on demand.. sounds like you're doing a great job! It's not bad for a 10-month-old to not be eating many solids.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 06/04/2010

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That nurse wouldn't like me then because my 13 month old nurses 4-5 times/day and sometimes once at night. If you nurse on demand then she's not starving. My daughter wasn't at all interested in solids until 12 months and some days she still prefers to nurse more than eat solids.

Teresa - posted on 06/04/2010

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I wouldn't cut down. Nurse her as much as she wants. :) My son would eat solids on occasion, but it was well over a year before he took a real interest in food.

Celeste - posted on 06/04/2010

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Your gut is right! Solids right now are just for practice. The majority of nutrition should be from breastmilk! I'd continue to nurse on demand.

Plus, I'd venture to bet that solids wouldn't make much of a difference. All of my children are small and solids never made a lick of difference in their weight.