Weaning the exclusive breastfeeder and in major pain!!!

Ashley - posted on 12/01/2008

yes, i would like a lil info on the almond milk. I have heard of it, but is it just as good as soy? What about the fat content?

Ashley - posted on 11/30/2008

I never gave goat's milk a try. I might though I get soy milk free through a friend whose hubby works for them. Is it something that most supermarkets carry? The doc said to try lactaid first but that still gave her bad gas and a loud gurgling tummy so we just went to soy which he said is fine. I have to see him again for her flu booster in a few days so i'm going to bring that thought with me with the intention of asking him...alana loves him til he pulls out the stethoscope LOL...she wont even take a lollipop from him when he has those things out! the engorgement is almost gone. Its rough though, they still feel like they will burst when it gets to be her bedtime feeding!

Kjersti - posted on 11/29/2008

I had an advice given today and that was to mix the cow's milk with a bit chocolate milk and then eventually give less and less till no chocolate milk at all. I started this afternoon and she drank the full bottle, so atleast she is keen on the bottle now and didn't crave for the breast. I still gave her the evening feed, so will stick to the afternoon bottle feed for now.
As for the engorgement, you mentioned that you only really have a problem if you go for more than 12 hours. You must be careful when you hand-express, because the more you do it or she feeds, the more you will produce. But what I wanted to suggest is that when you don't give her any feed throughout the day, then just hand-express a little bit to remove the tenderness, but eventually stop it. That should lower your production. Perhaps also give her less in the morning and evening. Again that will lower the production.

Jessie - posted on 11/29/2008

No offense taken. I was just told to wrap your chest which i tried and sometimes it just felt better to wrap it tighter. Thansk for the heads up on that. Almond Milk? I have never even heard of that. Give me some more info.

Kimberly - posted on 11/28/2008

For engorgement use cabbage leaves, also peppermint helps decrease supply. Also take it slow. You can end up with mastitis and things will get bad, fever, flu-like symptoms, full body ache and pain in your breast that you can't believe. No offense to Jessica, but please don't wrap your breast super tight. That is can easily cause plugged ducts... which is painful and again can lead to mastitis.
Start with one feeding then about week, stop another feeding. (source www.kellymom.com).
Also we give our baby almond milk, we don't want him to drink cows milk, and he doesn't like the taste of goats milk.
Good luck!

The Kellymom link is a great resource for everything to do with breastfeeding.

Jessie - posted on 11/28/2008

Sounds like the goats milk might be a good idea for your lil one. If she dosent like the taste of whole milk that is. Considering Debra said that goats milk taste more like breast milk.

Kjersti - posted on 11/28/2008

maybe I should try the goat milk...
Another thing I forgot to mention is that my first one does not drink milk, she did for a while in nursery (when they were given it for free, and everyone had it). When she went off the breast I didn't really introduce a replacement. But I really want Isabel to start drinking whole cow's milk.

Kjersti - posted on 11/28/2008

Hi there! I am new to this group and was amazed that the first discussion I saw was similar to what I am facing at the moment. Although I have no problems with engorgement, didn't think that was possible in fact at this stage. Anyhow, my issue is to get my 1 year old onto whole milk. She doesn't seem to like it. What can I do then. I am worried that if I take her off one feed from me then my production will go down. I breastfeed my first girl for 15 months, but want to get this other one of now. 1 year is enough. Any thoughts with regards to the whole milk thing? Has anyone else had the problem where the baby doesn't seem to like the taste?

Jessie - posted on 11/28/2008

Well i am happy to know about the goats milk :) I just put my daughter on whole milk from her formula and the first couple days she had the craps like no other but it seems to be getting better but i might try out the goat milk and see if it works or her.

Debra - posted on 11/28/2008

the engorgement should also pass after a few days. I think it took 2-3 days before the engorgement went away- the first time he slept through the night. If you are going 12 hours at night without feeding, it shouldn't be too long before your body adjusts to going longer during the day. Does soy have all the fat and vit d? just curious. I've been doing goat's milk b/c it tastes more like my milk. But there is no vit d added to the milk so i've still been giving him his drops. goat's milk is also lactose free and has the same fat content as cow's whole milk.

Jessie - posted on 11/27/2008

I wasnt a good canindate for breast feeding. But i did do it for about a month and when i weaned her off it was the worst pain ever. I agree to do one feeding at a time it makes the process a little smoother. But one thing that does help but seems kind of stupid is to wrap your chest in an ace bandage wrap as tight as possible. It helps releive the pressure and it dosent hurt "as" bad. Still hurts though. Good luck!

Ashley - posted on 11/26/2008

oh she can't have whole milk. doc has me using soy which isnt a problem anyhow cuz I drink soy. I was engorged for a month after she was born then one morning i woke and it was all gone! LOL but I figured I'd do two so she doesn't get confused and think she can get it during the day at all. only when she wakes up and goes to sleep at night. I'm engorged now cuz i dont pump or anything. when it gets excruciating I just hand express. I need to get her off her bad habit, which is walking up to me in public and trying to get under my shirt hehe. my engorgement is almost gone unless I go longer than 12 hours with no feeding then they get super hard but not tooo much pain. I remember when I first started feedings. I'd call anyone who i could and just cry but this time i dont feel like crying so it must not be so bad LOL. I've been having to give it out of a bottle though. she seems to be more comfortable with it. how do i get her to take a sippee cup of milk instead of a bottle. she uses a cup any other time just not with the milk..

Debra - posted on 11/25/2008

just wean one feed at a time. Not 2! After a year, your boobs still get engorged? mine changed at 6 months or so and got really soft. I haven't been engorged for months now.
yah, anyways. Drop one nap feed to start. Try offering whole milk or goats milk to substitue that feeding although my best chance toddler book says over the age of one they need 2 cups (500 ml) of milk per day. that's it!