Breastfeeding Advice - Watertown, MA

Dont feel selfish for wanting "me" time - ever! Its perfectly normal. I still want me time!! My dd is 15 mo and I BF her 3x a day. You are a little tied down when you exclusively BF but in the end your baby is better for it and so are you!!!

As far as PPD - have you spoken to anyone about it??
Do you have a lactation consultant that you talk to?

When I had my lil girl, I joined a breast feeding support group in my area. It helped a lot. Especially for those times that she went through a growth spurt... I felt like a milk machine! It was awful.... but now that she only nurses a couple times a day, I miss sitting with her in our rocking chair and singing lullibies, etc. Now we are always on the go... she drops in for a sip or two and then goes about her business until bed time.

If she takes the bottle somewhat - you should be happy... utilize it.... go out to the store and leave her with someone for an hour or two. Hard to do I know. As much as you want to get away - you dont want anyone else to watch her either, huh? Been there!

When she starts solids you will be amazed. For a while she will nurse at about the same rate - ie: wont effect the amount of feedings but some will be a little shorter.

I used to feed my daughter breakfast (rice cereal) then let her nurse and my grandmother would come over and babysit her (mostly while she slept) - which gave me time to get out of the house and then I wasnt worried about her being hungry because she was full and asleep while I was gone, and if she woke up, someone caring was there with a bottle and foods for her until I got home.

As far as going to Atlanta for the weekend - you will have plenty of time for that, right now you are blessed with an infant who needs you not only for comfort but her food supply as well. Pretty soon she will be old enough for you to get away with your friends and then you will miss this moment.(Maybe, lol).

If you want - I can recommend a great Lactation Consultant that you can call just to have someone to talk to about all your nursing questions and needs???

And definately try to join a support group or a mommy & me class.... this way you can get out of the house - both of you and feel productive. (ie: swim class, baby yoga, or lap baby story time at your local library, etc)

Good luck and stay happy & positive. (this was my 2 cents - hope it was helpful)

Hi G.,
I am soon to have my 7th, and I know what you mean on just about every count. Some of mine never would take a bottle no matter what I did, so count yourself lucky! It's great you're getting out to teach class at least, but I don't see an issue with leaving overnight. For me it was really a matter of picking which was worse, taking my baby with me, or pumping. I usually just chose to take them because I hate pumping. But as long as you have someone to care for her, let them deal with the fussiness. You need to make sure you have some "me" time, especially if you're struggling with some PPD. As far as that goes, I'm not sure what to suggest other than possibly checking with your local La Leche League, who might have some info. on relieving the depression while continuing to breastfeed. If there's one thing I've learned being a mom of many, it's the importance of making sure I am healthy -- in the long run, it makes me a better mom. So don't give yourself a guilt trip for feeling like you need some space. Starting your daughter on solids will lessen the breastfeeding maybe a little bit, but it should still continue to be her primary source of nourishment for the first year. However, it does make it easier to at least space out the feedings if need be, to give yourself time for an outing. Little outings help tremendously, too, so make sure you get those, even if it means taking a good book to the local coffee shop for a couple of hours. Good luck.

Just a quick note on something else you can try- a fish oil supplement (one that uses 3rd part testing to make sure samples are clear of contaminants like PCB's and mercury) that contains a good dose of DHA. This can help replace what is lost from your brain during nursing, and may help with PPD. (as an aside, it may also help to support healthy motor development in your child as well.) This is just one small way to support PPD, it is also important to speak to a professional about it- your doctor, a counselor, etc.
And do try to get together with other breastfeeding moms, too. I know it is hard when your old friends are doing the things, sans baby, that you used to be doing. But you'll still be able to do those things again, too! (Just not nearly as often, and it takes some planning, but the trade out IS worth it :)

If you truly feel you are still battling PPD, go see your doc/psychologist. I suffered with it the first 6 months of my first born's life...I was miserable...and no...nursing didn't help...My daughter's pediatrician convinced me to get some help...there are a few medications that are safe to take pregnant, nevermind while nursing too. And don't let people's scare tactics prevent you from learning more about this option. Often the best thin for Mom is the best thing for baby. I had a terrible depressive relapse during my second pregnancy and went on Zoloft at 20 weeks. I nursed my daughter while on a low dose and feel this choice allowed me to narrowly avert emotional disaster. Get help. Explore your options. You DO NOT have to suffer through like some 14th century martyr. A healthy mom = a healthy baby.

one of the best things you can do with ppd is to nurse your baby!! the hormones released when you nurse are actually good for women who are suffering ppd. i don't have time at the moment - but when i do i will try and find the research to back this up! :-)
as for wanting to do things for yourself - there is nothing wrong with that!!! it is good and healthy!! just know that this precious time when your baby is young flies by!!!! my son is about to turn 4 and it feels like the blink of an eye. there will be many times to spend with friends - but only a few moments to spend with a baby as they soon grow up! so cherish those precious moments and know that the incredible bond you are creating with your child will last a lifetime and that you cannot ever go back for those sweet baby moments!
take care and make sure to rest when the baby does. sleep can do wonders for you!!! :-)
J.

I nursed my son until he was 11 months old. He started solids at 6 months. I went back to work when he was 15 weeks old, and I would pump on my breaks, and they would give him bottles at the day care center. I found bottle nipples that were designed for nursing mothers, that were different than standard bottle nipples. The way a nursing baby sucks is very different than the way a bottle baby sucks. Pumping was not comfortable. It was not convenient. It was not easy. But it was necessary for my child's health and well-being, and I loved coming home in the evening and nursing him at the end of the day, and I even enjoyed nursing him in the morning. It forced me to slow down and enjoy that tiny period of his life when I could cradle him in my arms and "be" there with him in a special way that will never happen again.

My son is 17 now. I still remember how sad I was when those bedtime sessions of nursing ended when he was not quite a year old. He was just not interested one day. So I held him, and rocked him, and .... now he's a big obnoxious teenager with feet bigger than his whole body was the day he was born! LOL

I had to pump in-between nursing and store bottles up in the freezer, before I went back to work, and then after I went to work, pump as often as I could deal with it, every 4 hours, like clock-work, to keep the schedule going. Even then, he grew so fast that we ended up supplementing. If you want to cut loose and get out - you are just going to have to pump, and find bottle nipples that your baby can get used to.

The tongue thrusting is awkward for them at first, but they can adjust with a minimum of fuss. And after they make the adjustment, it's nice for the dads - because then they can help out with the feeding too!

I just wanted to let you know that breastfeeding does NOT exacerbate PPD. In fact, it's one of things that will make it better :)

Hi G.,
Whatever path you choose with nursing is your personal choice, my only advice is whatever you do to make yourself feel better and be the person you want to be only helps your daughter. If you arent getting all you need to be fulfilled and happy, then she isnt getting the best Mom you can be. Take selfish out of your vocabulary! Being a SAHM is a 24 hour job, especially to an infant, you need time to yourself. When my daughter was that age, I barely left the house. I cancelled plans with girlfriends all the time and my husband was practically begging me to go out with my friends.
I wanted to nurse exclusively, but we had a really hard time with latching so I ended up pumping for as long as I could. Pumping is a complete drag, but you do get used to it. As someone else pointed out there are great nipples available that help when feeding expressed milk once or twice a day. When I had to finally stop, on the advice of my lactation consultant, it was a relief having my Husband be able to take more of the feedings and I had so much more time to spend bonding with my daughter rather than pumping around the clock. That being said I was guilty about it for months, if I am completely honest I still am. Nursing is one of those things thats hardwired into us so of course its going to come with some pretty powerful emotions. But thats my extreme case, I know its all relative, but If I had had the good fortune to be able to nurse as much as you are I would have welcomed the occasional pumping or bottle of formula! But I understand that to you it probably feels the same way as it did for me.
Whatever you decide to do, just be sure that you have enough time for you. Good luck!

I breastfed both my kids, but didn't love it. With the second, I realized that I was going to give up on it if I had to do it all the time. A couple bottles of formula helped me pull through (the middle-of-the-nighter that's going to put you over the edge, my high school reunion, etc). Obviously if you went away for the weekend you would have to pump so you could nurse when you came back, but if she had some formula in your absence she would be fine. It's hard not to feel guilty about every little thing, but remember that you are a person too, not just a mom. You have to do what's best for both of you. That's ultimately what's best for your daughter anyway - you don't want to end up resenting her. Let go of the idea that you're going to be the worlds greatest mom ever; you will be the every best mother for your daughter, and she'll love you even if you want to get away from her sometimes.