I'm a breastfeeding fiend

At 6 months old, my daughter is a regular Rip Van Winkle. But while she sleeps soundly, I've been waking up at 4 a.m for a date with my breast pump.

In the beginning, I kept my early-morning appointment so I could create a cache of milk for my baby while my husband and I vacationed in Jamaica. Then I kept it going so I could shore up my stash for the babysitter to use while I returned to work. Now, that I've settled into a routine of feeding my daughter before and after work and pumping during the day in my company's quiet room, you'd think I'd allow myself some extra zzzzs. But get this: I can't stop. I've got some weird form of mommy anxiety that equates skipping pumping sessions with the certain drying up of my milk supply.

My sisterfriends tell me to give myself a break and sleep soundly. They say that if it comes to it, one bottle of formula a day won't hurt my little one. WHAT? I've come too far, pumped too long, survived too many bouts of soreness and near-plugged ducts to turn around now. No, now that we've made it six months, we're going for nine. And, then, a year! Take that American Academy of Pediatrics! I have become a breastfeeding fiend.

It's only appropriate that I celebrate my efforts now during World Breastfeeding Week.  Don't get me wrong, I am too modest to be of the whip-it-out anywhere crew. And I don't plan to join the extended nursing crowd, who breastfeed beyond a year. I just want my child to have the best possible start in life. Because I am physically able to give her this boost, I will.

This is what happens when an overachieving, but admittedly formula-fed GenXer embraces a challenge.

So should I skip the early-morning session? Maybe. But I think I'll keep it up just one more day

-Sherri Day

Comments

[Tara]

Two words. Elizabeth Glazer.

[BFMom]

And to clarify, for those of you that might get huffy, by ignorant I mean uninformed. ie. –adjective
1. lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned: an ignorant man.
2. lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact: ignorant of quantum physics.
3. uninformed; unaware.
4. due to or showing lack of knowledge or training: an ignorant statement.

[BFMom]

I think it's ignorant to wean just because your child has reached a man-made threshold like and age number or a developmental milestone. When they are ready to wean is when they should stop. Again, nature has prescribed breast milk for a reason. In other countries, the infant mortality rate is as high as 50% for those who wean before age 2. But, I'm not going to tell someone they are wrong for their decision, I don't agree that it's natural to take them off the breast when they're not ready.

[Tara]

You don't want to cut the cord? That says it all right there.

[Allison]

As long as these mothers continue to care and love their children and they do what they each believe is best for their child to make them grow up to be healthy happy individuals then I say each one is doing a good job. Each parent decides when they are ready to ween their child off of breastfeeding and for each person it is a different length of time. The only comment I have is when a kid is old enough to say "Momma give me some of that!" then it's time to stop breastfeeding.

[BFMom]

NO, I don't want to cut the cord at one. It's not like she was getting her own apartment or anything. Her IQ happens to be in the 99.87%. I'd say she's happy and healthy, too. Let me tell you, my dd is VERY independent and secure as well as EXTRAORDINARILY smart at her age. Just because a child is healthy and happy after not being nursed over age 3 is comparing apples and oranges. All people react to things differently. My formula fed twins were always sick. Especially with stomach bugs. One has severe allergies. They had very bad skin problems, too. They even had articulation problems that most likely stemmed from malformation of the mouth from bottle feeding. Nature vs Nuture, who knows? But, my first experience led to more informed choices with my second pregnancy. The debate will never end while Americans continue to be ignorant about what nature has prescribed over a doctor with bad information. Good thing I do research and make the most informed choices I can for my own children. I promise I won't be breastfeeding anyone else's kids. I'm not responsible for them.

[Kaylee]

There is no way a child over a year old should be breast feeding (or on bottles for that matter). That means there is something seriously wrong - with the mother. As for age 3? That poor child being stuck with someone who cannot get over the fact her child is growing up.

My kids were off bottles by a year. The doctor says they are perfectly healthy and happy. He too finds it amazing that some women just cannot cut the cord.

[mary]

Congratulations on giving your baby the very best start in life! It is not uncommon to worry about backing off on the pumping. One thing that may help reduce your anxiety is that you can always start again if you feel you need to do so. Your body produces milk in response to the demand of your baby's nursing (or pumping). During a baby's growth spurt, your baby nurses more, and your body produces more milk. Once the spurt is over, the production changes to the lessened demand. So, if you drop the pumping, but later feel you really do need to do it, you can always start again, and your body will respond to this "new" demand.

Many moms who breastfeed beyond a year don't actually intend to do so. It often happens because it is so natural to do so. The average world-wide age for weaning is actually 4 years old. Americans are the earliest to wean in the world. Your breastmilk will change after the first year to provide even MORE immunity factors for your toddler when they are out-and-about and exposed even more to other children and disease. And, your milk's nutritional requirements will change to meet the increased energy needs of an active toddler. The human body is so well designed!

Nursing is an amazing way to help toddlers regulate the frequent ups and downs in their emotions and gives them a great way to stay grounded and secure in the very uncertain time of their development.

More info at:

www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/index.html

Mostly, congratulations on how far you've come! And, best wishes to you!

[BFmom]

Just to let you know, I found nursing at age 2 and 3 so much easier and rewarding than under 18 months. Much less needy of it for nutrition and more for immunity with older siblings around. It was also a great bonding time. My dd weaned herself at 3 1/2. We can even talk about it with fond memories and it will probably make her a nursing mom later.

[Mary]

Well then you explain the dental decay we are seeing with children who are breast fed before bed until age 2. One child was 2 1/2 and mom was still breast feeding. It took 2 1/2 hours of dental work to restore her teeth and cost the parents thousands of dollars.
If your child is still breast feeding, you should wipe their teeth with a moist gauze before putting them to bed. That goes for bottles or breasts. I don't care what that article said, breast milk can still stay in the baby's mouth and cause decay, I have seen it first hand. And it was caused from feeding at night and not brushing their teeth afterwards.

[Elita]

Err, I hate to see people spreading bad information. There has NEVER been a study that linked nursing (nighttime or otherwise) to tooth decay and, in fact, before bottles became de riguer, tooth decay in toddlers was a rarity. The solids you are feeding your baby are the likely culprits when it comes to tooth decay in a toddler, not nursing your baby to sleep!

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/tooth-decay.html

I commend your commitment to breastfeeding; it's a worthy headache. I too breast fed, only the old fashioned way,on demand ,traight from the "bar", and by 4 months my little guy was quite chubby and sleeping through the night from 8pm until 6am. Your daughter should be capable of it by now too. My point being...why are you still getting up in the middle of the night as if she was a newborn with 'round the clock feedings?

[Mary]

Just one comment to all breast feeding mommies. Breast milk can be be harmful to your child's teeth if you continue it thru age 1-2 years. Once your child's teeth come in, they are constantly exposed to food, sugars, acids. I work for a pediatric dentist and see 2 year olds coming in with all their teeth decayed. Please please stop the breast feeding at night once your child gets their teeth. Wipe them with moistened gauze after eating or drinking formula/breast milk and don't use fluridated tooth paste til they are at least 3 and able to spit it all out. They are not supposed to swallow it. It can be harmful. Just some advice to you moms and best of luck with your little ones.

[Lori]

You should feel great for giving your baby the best start possible!! If you are shooting for a year, you're already half way there! You might be surprised though- when your baby turns one, they are still so much a baby. I personally loved extended nursing- that was when it got even easier and a great tool for calming temper tantrums. Good luck with your baby!

[Sarah Aleman]

Sorry about the judgmental remarks you got. If I were in a position to take a break from my 3 kids, I would have done it in a heartbeat! Now to the issue at hand, your body may be confused by the amount of pumping you are doing. Try to slow it down if you can, just remember to relieve the engorgement as it occurs. Every time you pump, your body thinks that your baby is feeding, and therefore continues to produce the amount of milk that it thinks your baby is consuming. Ease up a little, and if your baby starts to need more milk, pump and feed more, and your body will react accordingly. Allow yourself to relax and not set a time restraint on the nursing. I hoped to make it to 4 months with my little one, then 6, then 9, now she is thirteen months, she nurses once during the day and again before bedtime. The reductions in feedings were always set by how her schedule changed, I think soon we'll be down to one feeding and then maybe none at all :( Don't allow societal norms to dictate the relationship you have built with your daughter.

[Sharon]

Wow, I can't get over the judgments on here sometimes. On a post where Sherri talks of waking up at 4 a.m. to pump breastmilk she gets slammed for taking a weekend away with her husband. Have some perspective, people.

[Sherri Day]

Re: Jamaica Vacation. Yes, I went on vacation when my daughter was 4-months- old. I fretted about it a great deal, but finally decided to redeem my free trip. If you're interested, read about my angst here:

http://blogs.tampabay.com/moms/our_socalled_love_life/index.html
and
here:
http://blogs.tampabay.com/moms/2008/07/a
-little-parent.html

you have a baby and then go on a vacation in Jamaica...ok....

[Marisol]

Sherri, I feel you on being a breastfeeding fiend!! I want to BF my son till he's 1yrs old..thats the goal! Its a good thing what we are doing for our children...so some sacrifices are worth it..(like waking up at 4am to pump!!)

[Lisa Buie]

A shout-out to you! That 4 a.m. session is brutal. However, since your daughter is 6 months and if you have a stash, you can probably feel free to drop that pumping as she'll start relying more on baby food for sustenance. (I ended up tossing out a ton of frozen milk after my son weaned at 13 mos.) A word of advice from a mastatis survivor: Don't just stop cold turkey. Pump or hand express for a few days ever so briefly just to relieve engorgement, until your body figures out what's going on adjusts. Then, enjoy a full night's sleep!

[Elita]

Sherri, good for you for providing the best nutrition possible for your baby! I detest pumping so you definitely get kudos from me for adding in a night session.
I'm not sure why you're against extended nursing. Studies have shown that the benefits provided by breast milk continue on into toddlerhood and the WHO recommends breastfeeding until age 2. I hope you change your mind again as you get closer to the 1-year mark. I am still nursing my 8 month-old son and my goal is to allow him to self-wean but we'll see how it goes. Congrats again!