Hi again

I need a big help...

I have a history of recurring blocked milk ducts and even mastitis (had many many blocked milk ducts and at least 2 course of antibiotics for mastitis).

Nathan and Jeremy are now 7.5 months old and still fully breastfed 5 times a day - with two solid feed.

Both boys have been teething since they were 4 months old.
Now, Nathan has 5 teeth (3 top, 2 bottom) with the 6th tooth coming soon (top) and Jeremy has 4 teeth (2 top, 2 bottom) with the 5th & 6th coming soon (top).

I have been biten several times by both of them and with the growth of their top teeth I am starting to seriously consider to gradually wean them.

I spoke to my GP who suggested me to do it very very slowly because of my breasts 'history', which I agreed wholeheartedly.

Unfortunately, my weaning effort (which only involved dropping one afternoon feed) hasn't been successful.

I started to try reducing an afternoon breastfeed (usually happens at 2 or 3pm) by giving them a bottle of 60ml formula then followed by giving them breasts when they were 6 months old.
(I thought, by giving formula first, they would be not so hungry, so that they would take less from breasts and - ideally - would produce less milk for that feed).

However, this attempt failed because my milk production didn't decrease and I kept getting blocked milk ducts as a result (right and left breast kept taking turns, with the left one suffered most!).

I tried again when the boys hit 7 months mark (because their top teeth are getting longer) with the same strategy ie. giving them bottle before the feed, then gradually stretching the time to the next breastfeed (say, I give them 90ml formula at 2pm, then breast at 5pm - which also means it now takes around 5-6 hours between two breastfeeds).

This attempt failed again. I got another blocked milk ducts 'attack' on my left breast yesterday (this left one is a very productive breast).
Somehow, my body can't get the 'message' to slow down the milk production (even just for one afternoon feed!).

I am really confused now.
What can I do to be able to wean them? (just dropping one feed has caused so much problem to me - how about total of 5 feeds???).

I am in a great need to wean them quickly (it's really painful to be bitten! OUCH! ).
But, I realise I may not be able to do this, so a slow weaning is totally fine with me - as long as it works....

Please help...
I need your advice.

Thank you in advance.


Regards,

Emilia 29
DH 32
Jeremy & Nathan

<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://lilypie.com/baby1/050413/1/17/0/+10" alt="Lilypie Baby Days" border="0" /></a>

Emilia, just wanted to send you some hugs. I got engorged breast with the girls & that was painful enough, I can't imagine how mastitis feels.

I weaned Blake at 6months because of the biting too. I used to dread feed time & was so happy when he finally took a bottle. Took him a few times though.

My suggestions, give them a bottle & express instead of offering them the boob. This is what I did when I weaned the girls. I'd feed them & then spend 10 mins expressing for each feed for that day. Next day, I'd spend 9mins expressing for each feed, from each side of course. 3rd day, 8mins for each feed & so on. If you're boobs still feel full, just express a little longer.

Hope this makes sense & feel free to pm me. Take care.

Cheers

Justine
Nick
[img]http://www.geocities.com/jussy227/kidsoct04.txt[/img]


This message was edited by jussy227 on 28 November 2004 @ 2:08 PM

I agree with Justine, if you are trying to wean slowly by dropping the one feed in the afternoon, then give them the formula, but don't offer the breast after. Then just express enough off for your own comfort and decrease the amount of time you express each day.

Congratulations on feeding for 7.5 months!

<font color="#3300FF">Renée - Mum to triplets born at 26 weeks & 4 days on 18 August 2002</font>


<font color="#CC3333">Baby due April 1</font>

I have to agree with the ladies here. I have only just finished weaning my boys (15mths). One of the main reasons I didn't earlier was due to constant mastitis, blocked ducts or blebs (don't ask!LOL). They also bit me but I found training them not to do that was easier than trying to wean in a hurry. I used to just stick my finger in and get them off quickly witha stern No (no matter how much they giggled and how much milk went everywhere!) When they realised I was serious I would put them back on. They loved their booby so much that they caught on quickly.

With expressing, I found for this last feed weaning that instead of fully expressing I would just gently massage the breast, not the areola. Milk would still be disspelled, just enough for my relief, but the areola wasn't stimulated. It worked really well as I had become engorged, and was scared of more infections.

Good luck

Letitia 33
Dan 32
Jesse m/c @ 9wks Dec 1995
Georgia 4/7/98
Dale m/c ruptured ectopic @ 8wks Mar 2000
Hamish 23/3/01
Xander & Noah 25/8/03

Hi there,

I know that I wouldn't have a clue about breastfeeding twins or anything twin related cause I don't have twins......

But a thought came to mind after reading your post!!

What about just feeding one baby the breast and the other the bottle, then the next feed the other the breast and the one which had the breast before, give him the bottle. You would think that this would reduce your milk a bit before actually cutting out a feed all together!!

It was just a thought, I really don't know if that would reduce your milk or not, but you try anything at these trying times............

Good Luck

Karina

Mum to
Paris Madison 23/1/2001
Alannah Jade 27/4/2003

Hi again fabulous mothers...

Thank you for your response on my cry for help...
I really appreciate it...

Jussy:
Thank you for the hugs - I really need them and they do feel good
Your suggestion sounds good, I would give it a go...

Renee:
I gave the boys just little formula then breast 'hoping' that it would decrease the milk supply slowly so that I didn't get blockage.
My problem is that my breasts get blocked if they are not drained properly, so I am a bit unsure about expressing for comfort - without emptying the breasts... But, as I said, I would give anything a go, nothing to lose...
Btw, Monique, Stephanie and Joshua are surely thriving!
You did a marvellous job by breastfeeding them for 24 months! You surely are a LEGEND!!!
Congratulations on your current singleton baby pregnancy - I wish you all the best!

Letitia:
Thank you for sharing your experience - I agree that weaning in a hurry is not the way to go, ESPECIALLY with my breasts sensitivity...
I will endeavour to massage my breasts more diligently.

Karina:
Thank you for taking time to share your thoughts.
I thought of that option before, but my boys dislike breastfeeding alone... I tried single feeding them on a family outing and it went all wrong, because instead of sucking, the boy was busy looking for his 'feeding partner' (they always glaze into each other's eyes )
By the way, I loooove your daughters' names. Very beautiful!

I'd better go - the heat is getting on my head...

Once again, I thank you all for sparing your time in responding to me...


Regards,

Emilia 29
DH 32
Nathan * Jeremy

<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://lilypie.com/baby1/050413/1/17/0/+10" alt="Lilypie Baby Days" border="0" /></a>

Glad to be of help. How's it going & take care of yourself.

Cheers

Justine
Nick
[img]http://www.geocities.com/jussy227/kidsoct04.txt[/img]

Hi Emilia,

I wonder whether it would be worth calling the ABA hotline or even making an appointment with your GP to see if they have any advice to offer to make it easier for you. Last thing you want or need is another bout of mastitis - you poor thing, I had it once and that was more than enough for me! Thanks for your congrats on my breastfeeding too. You'll have to let us know how you go.

Cheers,

<font color="#3300FF">Renée - Mum to triplets born at 26 weeks & 4 days on 18 August 2002</font>


<font color="#CC3333">Baby due April 1</font>

Hello again fabulous mothers of twins and multiple!
(I do think really highly of you all...)

Just a quick update.

I have successfully drop one afternoon feed!
I am now down to 4 breastfeed! YIPPPEEEE....
It must be all the good and positive vibes that you intentionally (and subconsciously!) sent me via the internet!

The boys are now having their breastfeed at around 7am, 12pm, 7 or 8pm, then midnight.
I give them a 120ml top up bottle at around 3 - 4pm.
This has been going around 1 week now and I'm quite confident that it's gonna stay this way (I was quite anxious to share this news earlier, just in case I would jinx it! )

Now...
I just need to find out how to drop one more feed in few weeks to come.

My GP said most people drop the daytime feed and leave early morning and night time feed last.
I think I like the idea (ie. I'd like to drop the midday feed), but still unsure how my breasts can go without feeding for 12 hours...

Which 4th feed did you drop when you weaned your babies and how did you manage your breasts?

I look forward to your response.
Thank you again for all your encouragement and suggestion....

Have a lovely weekend.

Regards,

Emilia 29
DH 32
Nathan & Jeremy

<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://lilypie.com/baby1/050413/1/17/0/+10" alt="Lilypie Baby Days" border="0" /></a>

Hi Emilia,

I dropped the midday feed, and continued on with the morning and night time feeds when I was weaning. Congratulations on successfully dropping back one feed though that's fantastic!

Good luck,

<font color="#3300FF">Renée - Mum to triplets born at 26 weeks & 4 days on 18 August 2002</font>


<font color="#FF3399">Baby girl due March 30</font>

Hi...

A quick update...
The boys are 9 months old today and I finally managed to go down to one breast feed (with 2-3 bottle feeds).

I'm having a dilemma whether to stop altogether, or 'save' the last feed. Our family is kind of complete now and somehow I feel like I will miss feeding the boys... IYKWIM


Regards,

Emilia 29
DH 32
Jeremy & Nathan

<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://lilypie.com/baby1/050413/1/17/0/+10" alt="Lilypie Baby Days" border="0" /></a>

I know exactly what you mean! I felt very sad when I fed my three for the last time. Good luck with your decision.

<font color="#3300FF">Renée - Mum to triplets born at 26 weeks & 4 days on 18 August 2002</font>


<font color="#FF3399">Baby girl due March 30</font>