Breastfeeding six months?

Question

I've been breastfeeding my son for six months. It's been going well, with the occassional hiccups. However, we've managed to get this far. He is my first baby and my first experience breastfeeding. So, I'm still a little nervous...

My breasts don't feel as full as they did early on. I notice now they feel almost normal. But, I'm still lactating. Could I be losing my milk? Or, is my body getting used to this?

He typcially has 3 - 4 servings of solids per day. Oatmeal (he doesn't like the rice) cereal account for at least two. And, homeade fruit/veggie account for the other two.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Your breasts have not stopped making milk, they have just gotten more efficient at it, and are not making a bunch of "extra" to sit there making you feel full and sore.

This is totally normal, and many women go through this. Sometimes they are given bad info and think their milk is going away, so they start giving bottles. This in turn causes the baby to nurse less often, and then the milk supply really does start to drop.

You are doing great! Keep up the good work. Breastfeeding should continue to be your baby's main source of food for a full year, and you should continue nursing after that as long as you desire.

Answer 2

Its a combination of both. I nursed my 6 year old until he was 15 mos and your breast will stabilize. You will only feel engorgement when you've missed a few feedings. And Breastfeeding works on supply and demand. So what you did yesterday effects your milk today. So if he is eating solids your body is going to be making less milk than when you were nursing exclusively. If you want to increase your supply just start nursing him more. Look at your breast as a sink full of water with a dripping faucet. The milk pre-fills in your breast but it doesn't stop dripping...When your baby nurses he gets the milk that is pre-filled in the breast and when it is gone he gets the drips...this is why you may notice him sucking harder...he's trying to get that dripping milk out which comes out slower than the milk prefilled breast. This controls the flow of your milk, so you don't just stop producing the milk, its still there its simply not prefilled in your breast..

Answer 3

Your body only makes what the baby needs. If he's eating solids then it's only producing what he needs, which is less than before. It's a supply & demand system. When he goes through a growth spurt and needs more your body will respond and make more. Just because your breasts dont seem "full" like they used to doesnt mean you're losing your milk. You've got nothing to worry about! Congratulations on sticking with it this long!

Answer 4

The Academy of Pediatrics recommends mothers to breastfeed for at least 6 months and 1 year if at all possible. As long as you're breastfeeding, your body will release hormones (i.e. oxytocin and prolactin) which promote lactation. After six months of age, mothers who choose to continue breastfeeding should include iron and fluoride supplements. A newborn's body usually has enough iron storages for six months of life; after which, iron has to be supplied. Breast milk contains very little iron. The iron is used for the production of red blood cells. In addition, most of the fluoride an infant receives comes from the drinking water added to formula. Since you are breastfeeding, an outside source of fluoride is needed. I have seen mothers who have successfully breastfeed a child up to 3 years of life. I am not sure if I would recommend it but it is possible.

Answer 5

I highly suggest continuing until your child is at least 12 months. Breastfeeding is a supply and demand business. Since your child is not nursing as often as he did when he was a newborn, your body is producing less milk. When your child hits a growth spurt and nurses more, your body at that time will produce more milk.

Also, if you skip or miss feedings on a regular basis, this will affect your supply too.

Your baby will be nursing less and less when he gets older so breastfeeding will be less and less demanding of your time - so it's easier to go ahead and prolong it to at least 12 months. But of course, you can go beyond that if it's right for you and your baby.

Answer 6

Once your baby starts solids, they don't require as much milk. Your body produces milk based on supply and demand. If you don't find you are producing enough milk, you can increase your supply by pumping in between feedings, or after nursing. Breast milk can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 days, in the freezer for 2 months, or in a deep freeze for 6 months. So, if your son doesn't need the additional pumped milk now, you can store it for when you have to go out somewhere and have to leave him with a sitter. Or you can rotate your milk later on and store fresh breast milk and use some you have in storage. I did that and it allowed me to give my daughter breast milk for 2 months after I stopped nursing.

Answer 7

Always nurse before every feed. This will keep your milk supply up and he is filling up on the best quality nutrition. Nursing is always supply and demand even if your breasts feel like they aren't full. If you want to increase your milk supply, just pump and add to his cereal. I had 3 children and my milk supply went down with 2 of them. The signs are: floppy breasts (I know sounds funny) and after they suck, they cry because they can't get milk, and while pumping, nothing comes out. I had to go on medication (domperidone) to increase it which is very safe. Good for you to continue nursing, it is the best for your baby and far superior to formula.

Answer 8

Your body is porbably just adjusting to him eating solids. Congrats to you for sticking it out. I woudl suggest to pump alot, but if he isn't acting hungry then you're probably producing enough. If you are afraid your supply is diminishing try eating a couple of oatmeal cookies a day or a bowl of oatmeal everyday. Jsut use the real oats not the instant kind. Good luck!

Answer 9

I breastfeed for the first year. Yes your breasts get used to producing milk based on demand so they don't overfill any more like in the begining. By the end of the year, I only feed them in the morning and at bedtime to relax them. Occassionaly midday for naps. Wait until you stop, then we will talk about large and full.

Answer 10

Your breasts do shrink down to normal size after awhile, but your milk production remains the same. If you are feeling like you wish to stop, it is ok, don't feel guilty. Your baby received a good amount of your milk for a long time and has benefited.
It sounds like he is doing really well.
I stopped nursing my first daughter at that time, and she is a healthy, taller than me, teenager now.