8 months old is far too old to STILL be bfing

[pinkie77]

Argh that last one is what my friends just been told! I'm trying to explain why it's not a good idea (for the reasons given) and all I get in return is "but the health visitor told me to"

And it's not even a health visitor half the time, it's an assistant who's not much more qualified than I am and with little practical experience!

 

[T-Bex]

Wrong! I'm currently putting together a "Booby Trap" infomation sheet, to give out to our mums, formed from the UNICEF/WHO guidelines, so that the HV's can't do this anymore. I'm getting so stressed out about it. If people choose not to breastfeed, fine, that's between them and their baby, but there are so many mums who want to, and are being sabotaged by the HCP who are meant to be helping them.

Once I've made up the sheet, would you like me to send you it, to show your friend?

 

[pinkie77]

Yes please hun, that would be great. With my son, everything was fine but he didn't regain his birthweight quickly enough. His latch was good, he was feeding well but the hv convinced me that he couldn't be getting enough hind milk and pushed for formula top-ups. Now of course I know this was wrong but at the time I felt awful because I was basically told I was starving my baby. He probably just started out a bit bigger than he should've cos he was 2 weeks late lol. And it seems in many cases nothing has changed

 

[T-Bex]

I had exactly the same with Bethan; she was 12 days late, and born on the 91st centile, and took 6 weeks to regain her birth weight, and we were constantly told to top-up with formula. But I knew she was fine, because she plenty of nappies, and was a really happy, alert baby (and constantly on the boob! ). When your a first time mum, and breastfeeding is so much not part of our culture, how are we meant to know? We trust the Health Care Professionals to know what they're on about, and not to mess it up... You must have felt so let down.

At least you know now, and can help other mummies!

 

[Joyzerelly]

Wrong! I'm currently putting together a "Booby Trap" infomation sheet, to give out to our mums, formed from the UNICEF/WHO guidelines, so that the HV's can't do this anymore. I'm getting so stressed out about it. If people choose not to breastfeed, fine, that's between them and their baby, but there are so many mums who want to, and are being sabotaged by the HCP who are meant to be helping them.

Once I've made up the sheet, would you like me to send you it, to show your friend?

I'd love a copy of that too! I'll give it to every new BFing mum I can get my hands on!

 

[T-Bex]

Will do!

 

[summer rain]

send me a copy too please! xx

 

[Mirrie]

Could you send me a copy please- I'll take it to my local group xxx

 

[MrsMouse]

Wrong! I'm currently putting together a "Booby Trap" infomation sheet, to give out to our mums, formed from the UNICEF/WHO guidelines, so that the HV's can't do this anymore. I'm getting so stressed out about it. If people choose not to breastfeed, fine, that's between them and their baby, but there are so many mums who want to, and are being sabotaged by the HCP who are meant to be helping them.

Once I've made up the sheet, would you like me to send you it, to show your friend?

If I could have one too please! Will pm you my email addy!

 

[Miss_Bump]

 

[Itsychik]

I wish I'd known all of this in the first few weeks. I got the exact same advice as people on here have mentioned. I was in the hospital for 3 days and they started the 'top ups' from the second day, then once I was home I was encouraged by both the hospital staff and HV to top up with formula. I didn't know/understand cluster feeding, etc, and when my LO just screamed for hours at night (right after I had fed him) I called the mw in tears asking what I should do and she just told me he had cramps and that nothing I could do would help. I didn't learn until 3 weeks later when we finally gave in and started combi-feeding that my LO was just HUNGRY! I've been battling with supply issues ever since the second week and can't help but think that maybe if I'd just tried bf'ing him as often as he cried for it in the beginning that I wouldn't still be having issues Unfortunately, my supply never came back and we're still combi-feeding...

With a second child I will definitely be better prepared for what I do/don't want!

 

[Palestrina]

I wish I'd known all of this in the first few weeks. I got the exact same advice as people on here have mentioned. I was in the hospital for 3 days and they started the 'top ups' from the second day, then once I was home I was encouraged by both the hospital staff and HV to top up with formula. I didn't know/understand cluster feeding, etc, and when my LO just screamed for hours at night (right after I had fed him) I called the mw in tears asking what I should do and she just told me he had cramps and that nothing I could do would help. I didn't learn until 3 weeks later when we finally gave in and started combi-feeding that my LO was just HUNGRY! I've been battling with supply issues ever since the second week and can't help but think that maybe if I'd just tried bf'ing him as often as he cried for it in the beginning that I wouldn't still be having issues Unfortunately, my supply never came back and we're still combi-feeding...

With a second child I will definitely be better prepared for what I do/don't want!

It's awful isn't it? We went through the same thing. Once I realized what cluster feeding was I just closed my eyes and suffered through it although by that point I know my supply was starting to diminish. I thought I could continue combi-feeding until I realized that it was becoming more and more formula and less and less BM. I persevered though, gave up the formula and my supply did go back up after lots and lots and lots and lots of cluster feeding. You can do it you know, if you need help and support I'm happy to help by relating my own experience.