My little boy is just over 1 month old and has severe reflux and gas (bad enough that he has been to the ER for vomiting a spitting blood and is on a prescription acid reducer). He screams in pain and often wakes from gas pains. I have found that feeding a lactose free formula (milk based) exclusively helps keep him from vomiting and screaming.
All of this being said, he is being switched to formula long before I had planned to, and now I need to know how to stop breastfeeding *cold turkey* without risking my health. My son is already 100% off the breast and on formula, and seems much happier and far more comfortable. So now I am pumping and would like to stop. How long is it safe to allow engorgement? Can I just muscle through the pain or will that cause infections? Please no advice about how breastfeeding is best - that is all I can find online and I am already upset enough that I had to stop. I wanted to breastfeed-it isn't best for his health to vomit and scream himself hoarse.
2007-10-14 05:10:35 · 8 answers · asked by Lis 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Thanks to all who are concerned that I know that I can cut dairy out of my diet and still breastfeed- the problem is, I did that - I am not sure that it is a lactose intolerance that is the problem, just that the lactose free formula seems to sit well and allows me to know what is going in. I am sure if I messed around with my diet long enough I could figure out what, if anything, I am eating that is bothering him. However in the meantime he would have to suffer another month of trial and error. So not worth it in my eyes - especially since I am a single mama and have to keep a job and my sanity. His pediatrician is pretty certain that his reflux is irritated by a multitude of foods and has actually encouraged me to severely restrict my diet. The diet restrictions would cut so much out I am afraid I would sacrifice my own health (also a concern of the doctor) in the process. It seems that a happy healthy mom is probably more important to my little guy than breast milk.
2007-10-14 11:52:07 · update #1
If your baby is in fact lactose intolerant -which is extremely rare -changing your diet will not help. All mammal milks contain lactose. However if your baby is lactose intolerant it is very important they be screened for the metabolic disorders associated with lactose intolerance.
I am not trying to shove more information at you, but I think this is important that if your child does have a metabolic disorder it is not missed.
As for weaning you can take ibuprofen for the pain. Drinking large amounts of peppermint tea may be helpful, as can putting cabbage leaves in your bra. When you become engorged I would express just past the first letdown. Don't empty the breast completely -but don't stay engorged either.
Lactose intolerance in infancy
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/lactose.html
http://users.bigpond.net.au/allergydietitian/fa/inflact.html
http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/lactose-intolerance.html
http://www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz/Food/LactoseIntolerancevsMilkProteinAllergy.htm
Guidelines For Rapid Reduction of Milk Supply
http://www.bflrc.com/ljs/breastfeeding/dryupfst.htm
Comfort measures for mom during weaning
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/weaning_mom.html
Too much milk: Sage and other herbs for decreasing milk supply
http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/herbs-oversupply.html
Frequently Asked Questions about Weaning
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/weaning_faqs.html
2007-10-14 05:33:46 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 0⤋
You poor thing :-( I had a friend who had a similar problem with her bub and the hospital did some test on her breastmilk to check for a certain enzyme. Apparently there is some enzyme in your breastmilk that can upset bubs tummy...??
Anyways, keep pumping your milk and gradually decrease it. Engorgement is the worst thing, if you get a bank up of milk in your breasts it will lead to mastitis and can even cause severe bacterial infection. I had it once when my son started to skip his night feeds. I felt like I had the worst flu ever and couldnt get out of bed for 2 days!!! I had a fever, muscle aches and pains and my breasts and armpits were extremely painful from all the engorgement. NOT recommended at all!! Try to decrease pumping your milk gradually over the next week or so to let them slowly dry up.
Not sure what country you are in but in Australia we have a Breastfeeding Association that helps to answer all sorts of questions like this one with understanding expert mums and nurses to help you. Here is the web address; http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
2007-10-14 05:32:15 · answer #2 · answered by Bon 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think the best way to prevent engorment is to only pump enough milk out so that you feel comfortable again. Then once you start to feel full again just pump out enough to wear you are once again comfortable.
If you don't think this will work then try doing one less pumping every few days or so.
2007-10-14 07:30:34 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The EASIEST way will be to cut out one pumping session every day, and go slightly shorter with each session.
use cold packs for engorgement.
2007-10-14 05:21:41 · answer #4 · answered by iampatsajak 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I am not going to lecture you or anything, I know you're not happy about what you're going through, and lecturing never did anyone any good anyway. I just wanted to let you know that cow's milk proteins come through in breastmilk, and if you eliminate dairy from your diet, you may be able to continue breast feeding if you still want to. You can read about this relatively common problem on these pages:
http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nbreastfeed/0,,70jn,00.html
http://www.kjsl.net/%7Ebeanmom/nomilk.html
And you can find support in the allergy forum at http://forums.llli.org/
Good luck! I hope you are able to find a solution that works for you!
2007-10-14 08:09:28 · answer #5 · answered by Evin 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Cold turkey, stop pumping. You're going to suffer through about 3days of pain. If you work, stop pumping Friday a.m., go to work, and then try to make it through the weekend. Wear a tight bra, put cabbage leaves on your boobs, and when you shower don't let the hot water hit your front side.
2007-10-14 05:23:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Cant you just stop your dairy intake COMPLETELY and eat bland foods and keep on nursing?
Its always safe to allow engorgement, its the only way your breasts stop making milk. Its natural for them to swell and leak. If you keep pumping, even just a little, your milk will not dry up.
2007-10-14 05:14:42 · answer #7 · answered by amosunknown 7 · 5⤊ 6⤋
You can try not only wearing a tight bra, but what people in E. Europe do at weaning time--bind your breasts tightly. I just want to encourage you--you did your best for your son, and are continuing to do the best thing for him. Please be encouraged.
2007-10-14 05:52:18 · answer #8 · answered by Mrs S. 4 · 2⤊ 4⤋