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At the moment Tea is EBF. I had planned to EBF to 6 months. I have some concerns about allergies since I have some pretty severe ones.
She has every sign of readiness for solids but I had still planned on holding out on her till 6 months.
Well I got my blood work back and I am severely anemic. So much that I will need a transfusion if it gets any worse at all.
I was told something needs to give. I either need to supplement with formula even just once a day, introduce solids or look into donor milk.
I'm not considering the donor milk because that's expensive and harder to come by.
Basically at this point the doctor is concerned about me. The baby is just fine but my body is suffering because all my stores/vitamins are going to her and slowly killing me. /dramaqueen
So I'm stuck in a hard place.
Formula or solids.
I'm very torn on the subject.
If I can get her to take a bottle (big if since she refuses it) she will get comfort from it too since it's a sucking thing. It can potentially damage our breastfeeding relationship.
If I give her solids it's just a fun new thing for her and she won't really get comfort from it. However if her gut isn't entirely ready I can open her up to potential food allergies which is a major concern for me.
The point is I need to take some of the slack off myself. I can't go on breastfeeding every 20 minutes. The doctor wants to see her go a couple hours between feedings. Which she'd do if she had a bit of formula or solids to fill her up more.
I'm getting very mixed opinions on it. My friend who is a nurse says solids since she's 5 months and has every outward readiness sign (who knows about her gut), a LLL leader says donor milk (obviously lol), another nurse says formula and it's tied with my friends too.
So...go at it what would YOU do. Remember there is a family history of severe food allergies so take that into account.
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Our 3rd baby GIRL coming in August ♥
I would say it depends on what the food allergies are to. I don't have the family history except my mom recently developed nut allergies and I believe us to be gluten intolerant. I have also been on a diet free of the top 8 allergens for Addie because she has a sensitive stomach. I am introducing solids to her because I feel she needs them and she shows signs of being ready. If you avoid the foods your family history show allergies to, and even foods from the same families you might be fine. Also babies tend to avoid/refuse to eat foods that they are allergic/sensitive to so as long as you follow her cues it might be fine.
IDK, it is a tough one. Do you have any friends that are nursing that would be willing to be a wet nurse for you?
I'm not really comfortable with my friends having that kind of bond with my baby. I know that probably sounds dumb but breastfeeding is a special time for me and I want it to be just between Mattea and I.
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Our 3rd baby GIRL coming in August ♥
I would start solids and give her a probiotic at the same time.
We've been giving Max probiotics (natural ones, called BioGaia but I don't know if that one is available in BC) since 6 weeks old and he has never had stomach problems. We started it when the colic started and it went away in a couple of days.
The pedi recommended it because it helps develop the intestinal flora faster, hence, no stomach/gas issues.
I know not many pedis know about it but maybe yours do to?
Like I said, it's natural (you can search online for more info) and it has helped us tremendously so I totally recommend it (5 drops/day)
I'd also start with low allergenic foods, just in case.
If you start cereals, instead of doing it with breast milk you can use formula. I wouldn't say use the ones that say "just add water" because I read in the ingredients (Heinz and Nestle) that they add dehydrated 3.25% cow's milk and at least I am not comfortable with that.
For what it's worth, I left the hospital with my hemoglobin (red cells) at 66. They're supposed to do a transfusion below 70 but instead I took Palafer 3 times a day and I tolerated it just fine.
Are you having palpitations and shortness of breath? (I had them both and quite severely, it scared the crap out of me!)
Hugs!!
__________________ *** Thank you :shortcake: for my beautiful siggie ***
Are you having palpitations and shortness of breath? (I had them both and quite severely, it scared the crap out of me!)
Hugs!!
yeah but "lucky" for me I'm used to that since I've had it since like 28 weeks pregnant.
I went to the doctor for the fatigue and didn't even think to mention that until he asked.
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Our 3rd baby GIRL coming in August ♥
If you don't have to give up bf then don't, remember some is better then none. I have several allergies and autoimmune issues (chronic hives). So I am very picky about doing what I can to help decrease her allergies. If I have to supplement in the future i would use a formula with little to no milk ( such as soy formula )due to we had a questionable milk protein allergy her first 2 weeks of life. Also I am going to try to make it to six months then introduce rice cereal then later the yellows and etc... I plan to introduce her foods by doing the elimation diet to see if she shows an allergies to food. I recommend talking to her ped and seeing what the ped recommends.
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thank you GreysMama for my siggy
I can understand not wanting your friend that time with your baby. However, have you tried a sippy cup and BM with her? Maybe if she will take a sippy cup you could do BM that way if you do still want to hold off on solids.
Izzy is sensitive to several things in my diet (which I've since cut out) and her pedi in Vancouver specializes in diet and allergies in infants and children & he's very well known and respected. He said that the latest reasearch shows that when allergic or potentially allergic infants are introduced to solids early on, they don't have any addictional risk to grow up to have allergies (as previously thought by other Pedi's an MD's). He gave me some great info on starting solids slowing to find out her "safe" foods.
If I were you, I'd try to introduce 1-2 bottles of formula per day and then slowly start solids and continue to increase them after 6 months. Most BF babies LOVE to nurse & I'm sure if you can get her to take a bottle here or there, she'll still want the comfort of mommy. It's a hard thing to think about though..... The nursing bond is SO special, and you should keep it up for as long as she wants it.
I'd start with very low allergenic solids and a probiotic first. See if that helps. Are you taking a multivitamin with extra iron? If not, start with that too and maybe get some probiotic in you too.
I know you've mentioned in the past strugging with eating enough and maintaining a healthy weight, etc. Is it possible that if you increased your caloric intake and took iron supplements that you'd be healthy enough to continue to EBF for 1 more month, and then you'd be at your 6 month goal and could increase solids? Granted I don't know a whole lot about your situation and the discussion you had with your doctor, but personally that's what I would try to do... hold out for another month.
Do you have pumped milk you could supplment? That's probably a stupid question b/c if you do I imagine that's what you'd be doing... I just remember you using BM popsicles, lol, so I was thinking you had a supply of pumped milk.
Honestly I'd probably supplement with formula if the choice were between that and solids. For one, its most important for those with allergies to hold off, and that runs in your family. And secondly, especially in the first few weeks/month she isn't going to gain much nutritionally from solids -- its just more for play. So I think she'd do better with formula, and also, like you said... she'll be comforted by sucking and therefore drain you less so you can get better. I don't think at this age ther ewould be any nipple confusion or anything to damage your relationship breastfeeding.
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Last edited by LadyCoconut; June 19th, 2010 at 11:48 AM.
Reason: clarification
If allergies is your main concern I would opt for solids over cow's milk or soy-based formula. Not too many people are troubled by yams but cow's milk is a big one kwim?
I'd go with formula. If you didn't have a family history of food allergies & she didn't have a sensitive belly, I might suggest the solids if you felt like she was ready for them..but considering the history I'd just supplement some feedings with formula if she'll take a bottle.
I think if you're able to do the formula then it will give her belly some more time to mature, and then you can start solids slowly to make sure she doesn't have any allergies to any of them.
Good Luck, Keep us posted!
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Ashley - Wife to Derrick, mommy to Owen-8, Rylan-6 & Addison-3. Expecting baby Nolan in July!!
I would supplement with formula in a sippy cup and start solids slowly. Have you tried drinking something such as Ensure or Protein shakes to help you get enough calories?
I have no advice to give but hope you are able to figure something out and still be able to BF. I would be devastated at this point if I had to stop nursing but you have to do what is best for your health to be a good momma! If you were closer, I'd pump a few bottles here and there to share!
Personally, I would want to maintain my 6 month BF goal. However, I also wouldn't mind formula supplementing a couple of times a day so that your body can get some rest and since eventually you will want to wean off breastfeeding then you can gradually introduce solids. Sooner or later, she will HAVE to start eating something anyway. I would definately start with low allergenic foods and follow the 4 day rule about feeding one thing at a time incase of an allergic reaction.
You could do like 1-2 formula bottles (or cup...whatever she wants to take) a day, 1 solid feeding and the rest is breastfeeding. Would that work?
Personally, I would want to maintain my 6 month BF goal. However, I also wouldn't mind formula supplementing a couple of times a day so that your body can get some rest and since eventually you will want to wean off breastfeeding then you can gradually introduce solids. Sooner or later, she will HAVE to start eating something anyway. I would definately start with low allergenic foods and follow the 4 day rule about feeding one thing at a time incase of an allergic reaction.
You could do like 1-2 formula bottles (or cup...whatever she wants to take) a day, 1 solid feeding and the rest is breastfeeding. Would that work?
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If you were closer, I'd pump a few bottles here and there to share!
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