Breastfeeding & Milk

[Rainbowbrite]

Just wondering if I should be making MJ drink cows milk or a toddler milk as well as BM? My dr said that she is slightly dehydrated - but snacks all night long :rolleyes: & that i should make her drink more. Not easy.

She is 12.5months now & not interested in cows milk at all. I have a sample of Heinz Nurture Gold Toddler Milk Drink (:shame: formula) would it be worth trying that or is BM enough?

Also, the 3 serves of dairy a day that 1+ year olds require, does that differ for bf bubs/toddlers (not sure where MJ falls)?

[Goosie22]

Hi,

Firstly Breastmilk is far far better than formula, so chuck it out.
She dosnt need to live up to any kind of dairy intake (Western society are the only ones obsessed with stuffing cows milk into their children) and she certainly will be getting enough fluid through breastmilk and her diet. If you were wanting her to get used to cows milk you could try skim physical and gradually introduce full cream, because breastmilk is not a fatty as cows milk and some breastfed babies just dont like the texture to start off with.

Have you tried giving her drinks of water from your own cup throughout the day, I found that my breastfed children would rather share a glass of water with me than have their own drink bottle ect. It also has the added benifit of forcing you to drink more (a little squeeze of lemon or crushed mint leaf makes it taste nicer)

HTH:wave:

[aardvark]

I'd stay well away from the "follow on" formulas. They are basically a foodstuff invented by the manufacturers to guilt you into buying it "to do the best for your child" when real food would do quite nicely, but they add to the company's bottom line, and your shopping total.

I found giving my breastfed toddlers a water bottle of their own helped with fluid consumption.

If she is breastfed, I would not stress too much about the amount of dairy she has at all. They are pretty efficient at draining a boob by that age, and your body gets pretty efficient at making it on the fly, so she is probably getting more BM than you think. I'd be more concerned about getting her to eat from a wide range of food groups.

[mamamianz]

I breast fed til 12mths then Grace decided she would have no more
She went on to plain old cows milk but it took a couple of days for her to get use to the taste - she drank water instead and as she ate yoghurt and cheese I didn't worry to much about the milk and just kept trying her with it but didn't force the issue. see how you go

[Funkychicken]

If it's only the dehydration that worries you then extra water should help that. Those toddler formulas weren't even on the market when my first two were born ( not that I know of anyway) but I remember seeing them in the supermarket and felt so sickened that these companies wil try anything to con people into buying their products. We know water is the best from of rehydratrion when we are thirsty, not those sickly energy drinks, so I tend to look at the toddler milk stuff as the equivalent of these.
BTW-you're doing a fantastic job with MJ!:D

[lukaelmo]

Just out of interest, how did your doctor know that MJ was dehydrated? I worry that Luka doesn't get enough fluid, but then I worry about everything with him :laughing:.

[draught]

Can I just back up what everyone else has said - don't worry about formula. Water is fine - and as the other's have said - my girls always preferred to drink from my glass - which means lots of lovely backwash:eek: and a fresh glass for mummy most of the time!
AS for the dairy - while you are breastfeeding she is getting plenty. Don't worry if she doesn't like cow's milk. DD2 didn't like it much while I was still feeding her. Once I weaned her she took more interest in it - but only when it is slightly warmed - which is completely different from her big sister who would live on it as her sole food source if she could and will only drink it straight from the fridge. I rely on yoghurt, cheese etc for dairy and don't stress too much about it while breastfeeding.

And ditto to the comments - you are doing a great job with MJ - give yourself a pat on the back.

[Rainbowbrite]

Thanks so much everyone :hugs: You've all made me feel so much better. I should really stop going to the Dr, all she ever does is make me question myself :banghead: She's not supportive of my continuing bf at "her (MJs) age" We'll just keep up the yoghurt & cheese which she loves.


Just out of interest, how did your doctor know that MJ was dehydrated? I worry that Luka doesn't get enough fluid, but then I worry about everything with him.

I'm the same, trust me :hugs: to you and your littlie. Like Luka, MJs always been little only just hit 8.5kg at a year old :p

Anyway, to answer your question, i described her stools thinking she was constipated & was told it sounds more like dehydration. They are - sorry if TMI - firm to start which requires lots of straining (but she strained through the bf mustard stage), then alot softer by the end.

ATM because she had her 12month immunisations on thursday (thats why we were at Dr), she's not eating much at all. For the past 3 days, she's had a tsp of prepared cereal for breakfast, a bite of my lunch for lunch (refuses her own food) & about 2tbs veg for dinner. I'm so glad i'm still bf, atleast i dont worry much about her not eating at times like this.

Thanks again

[Funkychicken]

A quick way to check if bub is dehydrated is to pinch the skin to see how quickly it retracts. Now I'm not exactly sure wher on the body is the best tester spot but with our foals we do it on the neck or above the eye area. If it springs back quickly all is well. If it stays folded and retracts slowly, there is dehydration present.
Maybe someone else knows where on the bub is the best test site.:)

[lukaelmo]

A quick way to check if bub is dehydrated is to pinch the skin to see how quickly it retracts.


I do know what you mean, but there is no small pinchable skin on Luka - it's all taut terrific baby chub. He even has fat deposits on the top sof his feet :laughing:!

RB how disappointing your GP isn't supportive of your BFing, you certainly deserve support and encouragement for sticking with it. My mum is constantly telling me how well I am doing with BFing, and that means a lot to me. Perhaps you would do better with someone who is more on your wavelength...

[kadownie]

Just wanted to encourage you with your breastfeeding. I can't understand how uninformed doctors are about this issue!! It really irks me. My standard answer to people are that the world health organization recommend breastfeeding for at least 2 years- usually that shuts people up. Don't know what I'm going to do when bubs are 2....

My son has a similar poo issue- and I think it's probably as he doesn't drink all that much- just can't seem to get it into him- he bf like crazy though- and he runs around all happy- can't do anything else but offer water etc to him!!

[Funkychicken]

I recently read an (yet another) article on breastfeeding and it pointed out the way most species feed their young. Three times the gestation period is the average and it recommended that we as the human species also do this. A bit of work for the poor old elephant mums who are pregnant for 2 years! Good news for all of us choosing to feed beyond this time.:)

[Tam-I-Am]

That's really interesting info, Sal - thanks for that (should shut up the "aunts" who think they have rights to comment on all aspects of my life!)

BTW RB - I've just come to the conclusion after much soul-searching that I'm planning to b/f until DD is at least 2 y/o - unless she self weans before that. Don't know what I'll do after that - I'll jump off that bridge when I come to it!

I think you're doing a fantastic job with MJ, and i would definately be finding a new GP who is more on your wavelength!