Two questions...breast Feeding and Starting Cereal

Updated on February 20, 2009
S.M. asks from Andrews AFB, MD
8 answers

Ok first question: Now that my daughter is sleeping throught he night (8PM-7AM I am not needing to nurse at night. So now I am waking up with my breasts full and shirt soaked in milk. And it hurts to be that full! What can I do to relieve the pressure and when is my body going to get the hint and not make so much at night?

Question number two: My daughter is three abnd a half months old and I feel she's ready for solids. I read the checklist on things she should be doing and she's doing all of them. Should I go ahead or wait two weeks and start her then?

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So What Happened?

Thanks to all the good and encouraging advice! I'm just going to sit tight and allow my body to re-adjust to the fact that I'm not doing that late night feeding. As for the solids, I am going to wait until she turns four months old and SLOWLY introduce them. Once again, thanks for all the encouraging words!

P.S. I lucked out getting her to sleep through the night at three months old! My older daughter started sleeping all night at six weeks. I didn't do anything special.

More Answers

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M.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Just an FYI--those who suggested pumping didn't say how much. Don't pump until your breasts are empty--then your body is being told to make the same amount. You're probably nursing your daughter right before bedtime and so at that point you're empty. Maybe when you wake up soaked, pump for just a few minutes on each side to relieve the pressure (you can even hand-express into the sink to avoid dealing with getting the pump out in the middle of the night) and then in a couple of weeks you should be fine.

By the way, I am super jealous--my 15 month old is seriously just now starting to sleep 11 hours at night. You are a lucky, lucky mom.

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J.G.

answers from Washington DC on

I would wait on the solids especially if your little one is sleeping throught the night (how awesome is that!) I wouldn't want to do anything that might upset that at this point. I introduced by second child to solids around 4 months and she had real tummy trouble from it. When I finally figured out the cause I had to stop all foods and pretty much wait until she was older.

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C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Not sure about the solids..I too have a 3 and a half month old and I am still breastfeeding her. As far as relieving the pressure, have you thought about pumping? This is what I do and it definitely helps. You can store the milk for a feeding later. Hope this helps...
By the way, I can't believe your daughter is sleeping through the night starting at 8..! wow!! my daughter has only done that once..what's your trick?

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T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi S.,

For your first question - give your body some time to get used to the change - at least 2 weeks. If it doesn't change - I would suggest to pump during the night or before going to bed.

For the second one: my son is 16 months now. I remember that at 4 months he could o everything from the "solids list" - but I decided to wait. I started him on solids when he was 6 months and it was hard for him at the beginning. I kept trying - it took him about a month to learn and I was so scary that he might choke. So my advise is: let your daughter be the baby she is and enjoy the breast milk because in couple of months you have to do it anyway.

Regards,
T.

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R.S.

answers from Denver on

Wow that is awesome that your daughter is sleeping!!!!!

Your body will catch on, at least mine would catch on too soon, so count your blessings, because she will need more milk during the day. Maybe pump before bed.

As far as solids, i would wait until she is at least 4 months old. I waited with my kids until 6 months. Some kids tummies are more mature than others.

There was research out there saying that they saw a link between introducing solids before 6 months and an increased risk of diabetes. I am NOT trying to scare you just trying to inform you. I would talk to your daughters pediatrician about the study, before you start solids...And if either of your families have food allergies keep that in mind when introducing foods.

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T.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I can't advise you on the breastfeeding, sadly, but my oldest daughter started solids at three months. Most of the baby books said to wait, but she was ravenously sucking down bottle after bottle so I decided to go ahead. When she got that first spoonful of baby cereal, she got this huge grin on her face. Boy, was she ever ready! My second child didn't start on solids until 5 months. Every baby's different, so go with your gut.

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N.B.

answers from Washington DC on

I had the same problem. I decided to get up around 1AM and pump for a very brief time...2-3 minutes. It would take off the edge, prevent the soaking, and give me some milk to store up for another time. If you pump more than that, it will signal your brain to make more milk. In a couple weeks, you're production will match the demand.

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H.K.

answers from Washington DC on

Wow you are one lucky mom to have that baby sleeping through the night!!
Give your body a week or two, it will stop producing so much milk overnight. I would not recommend pumping as that is basically telling your breasts they need to make more milk at the time you are pumping... make sense?

I strongly recommend waiting until 6 months for solids. It will help reduce the risk of allergies and prevent stomach upset from too early an introduction. My 4 girls were all very early with their milestones but I waited until 6 months before introducing solids with all of them. I am glad I did!

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