My daughter (who I've been nursing exclusively) is 6 1/2 months old & her pediatrician said to start her on solids because she all of a sudden has been waking up in the middle of the night. So I've been nursing her between 5-6am, then 830 or so, then 1130-12. Then I give her rice cereal or oatmeal with breastmilk at 230 or 3pm, and again at approx. 630 or 7pm right before bed. Then I do a "dream feed" where I nurse her in her sleep at around 9pm before I go to bed. She seems to be doing better on this routine, but does it sound like I'm overfeeding her? It's hard to know how much to give her.
Then, because I don't nurse in the afternoons, I pump, but I still wake up in the middle of the night with pain from engorged breasts! It's so uncomfortable that it wakes me up! Any suggestions?
2007-09-04 07:19:32 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
This is for the breast engorgement. When it wakes you up in the night take your pump and pump just enough to were it don't hurt any more don't pump it all out just till it stops hurting. if you pump it all out you will start making milk again. i have a 4month old little girl who until a couple of days ago would sleep completely through the night 10pm to 7am then all the sudden she started waking then i realized she is 4 months and is hitting a growth spurt so i started to feed her some cereal with a spoon just before she goes to bed then i breast feed her right after then she falls asleep and now she sleeps later. you will find a way to make it work all kids are different you just need to find what is best for yours.
2007-09-04 07:54:52 · answer #1 · answered by cbbn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why are you pumping? Stop pumping. Your breasts will only make what you demand, if you're pumping theyre making extra because of it. stop it.
Your body will actually make more milk at the same time each day, based on when you feed. Its a routine. It takes about 4-5 days of staying the same routine and they will be normal.
My son doesnt eat from 8pm until 8am, and he eats solids all day, so he only nurses around 3 times a day. In the beginning I was so full by the next morning that i couldnt stand it.
Stop pumping in the afternoon, you dont have a reason to.
As long as she's nursing until she's done she's getting all she needs, its not too much. She's more active now and needs more fuel for it.
2007-09-04 07:25:57 · answer #2 · answered by amosunknown 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you're not nursing her in the night the engorgment should go away in a couple of days. You just kind of have to wait it out. Cool or hot compresses on your breasts should help with the discomfort.
No, I don't think you're over feeding her. You can probably introduce barley cereal and then a veggie if you want. Also, at 6 months and with all that cereal you may consider stopping the dream feed, I don't think it's necessary, because she won't be hungry during the night with all those solids.
2007-09-04 07:26:08 · answer #3 · answered by Lisa 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I can understand your need for sleep... but solids are not supposed to REPLACE your baby's milk intake, they're supposed to compliment.
I hope your ped just didn't explain it right, I hope he/she didn't tell you to cut out a few feeds? Breastmilk or formula should be their main diet - he/she should know that!! If not, I'd find a new ped. who actually reads the medical journals he/she should be a member of!
Yeah, at this age defenitely start solids, but keep nursing too... just add solids to the day's routine!! Nurse on demand, or at your normal routine as usual, just add cereal/fruit/veggies in the evenings if you want.
Here's a good article, w/ a link to the American Academy of Pediatrics Breastfeeding recommendations:
http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/index.html
2007-09-04 07:48:40 · answer #4 · answered by Tanya 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋