ibreastfed.com

Difficult start – difficult end – still totally worth it! – Tanya’s story

Posted on March 19, 2009
Filed under: Expressing, Nipple pain, Sleepy baby, Working mothers

After difficulties establishing breastfeeding (drowsy jaundice baby, cracked nipples), I expressed for 7 weeks, when she finally attached properly. Introducing solids was stressful as she was in childcare and refused both solids and the bottle, and I wanted to go back to work at 6 months (not possible). She was not interested in solids until 8-9 months, and started cup-feeding EBM at 11 months. This is when I finally felt it was OK for me to go back to work (I had previously negotiated expressing at work). She was on full solids (what we eat) by 13 months while continuing to breastfeed (usually at pick up). Day feeds got less and less (unless she was sick) until we were only left with night feeds. I had had enough by 18 months (although she had not!) and attempted weaning on many occasions with stressful results. We continued until she was mature enough to understand “I don’t want to” at about 2yrs 9mths. After my experience, I can confidently say NOT to introduce the bottle – that’s the carers job, not the mothers. Don’t stress about solids – they will have it when they are ready, and to wean when they are ready to ‘let go’.