Weaning: Day 7

Yes, my duty as a Muslim mother is to breastfeed my offspring for two years. There are exceptions, also provided for in the al Quran but our topic today is on weaning *smile*

 

WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for at least six month from birth.

 

Now at 35 months and counting, we have slowly introduced weaning The Little Girl from the breasts.

 

The starting point was at 30 months.

The Little Girl started tolerating cow milk without vomiting and eczema. We introduced it via some cow milk with her morning cereal, and gradually increased her consumption to 4 oz/ 120 ml of cow milk before sleeping.

 

However, she would still insist on "mama's milk" to soothe her to sleep at night.

 

Somehow, our tummy to tummy posture got uncomfortable when The Little Bean hit 22 weeks.

 

My breasts also got overly sensitive when nursing (pregnancy hormones?).

 

The mild contractions from breastfeeding grew increasingly uncomfortable as well. Coupled with Braxton-Hicks, I felt unsure if it was Braxton-Hicks or just oxytoxin being released. Or a combo of both!

 

Either way, I was prepared emotionally to wean The Little Girl. I know we have done our best, and it is a wonderful sense of achievement.

 

How did we do it? 

 

Slow and steady. Many recommend going cold turkey but we just could not.

 

We kept to the "new" bed time routine for a few weeks.

 

Shower.

 

Pajamas.

 

Choose story books.

 

Brush teeth.

 

New: Milk time. Old: Breastfeeding time.

 

Sleep.

 

(I know, it is supposed to be brush teeth then sleep but brushing her teeth wakes her up! Is it the minty toothpaste?)

 

During day time, we practiced positive reinforcement.

 

Slideshow of her photographs as a newborn and early days of drinking from the bottle containing expressed breast milk. We also included her photographs during her toddler days directly nursing in public on holidays etc. We continued to explain how she has grown and can now eat with the adults, drink from a cup etc.

Slowly but surely, she stopped asking for the breasts except for the one time she fell ill. Once she recovered, so did her appetite for "milk in a bottle".

How is it like now?

350ml on nights when she is thirsty. Takes less than 15 minutes for her to chug that much milk then doze off.

 

120ml on nights when she just wants a wee drink then sleep.

 

Confession: I never knew how much she was drinking from the breasts, and it did not matter because her growth chart was spot on average. She also produced the 6-8 wet diapers and was regular with poo.

 

She still cuddles, holds my hands, shares my pillow on some nights and we are both enjoying this new found "intimacy". On other nights, she is more than happy to roll off to her toddler bed and zzzZZZzzz from 10 pm until 7.30 am *syukur alhamdulillah!*

 

How have my breasts reacted?

 

Left breast has a bit of blocked duct (needs massage) and dry nipple (Lansinoh really helps), but right breast is doing just fine! I am still going to talk to my ob-gyn about left breast during our next appointment.

 

Now, squeeze as I might, there is no milk oozing out like before. Just some thick colostrum (I am carrying The Little Bean at week 26 as I write this).

 

So, jazakAllah for the wonderful supply and journey with The Little Girl. He has been most kind in making this journey possible. Breastfeeding has taught me to be patient, resourceful and eat properly. It is a valuable lesson for me, for life.

 

Now may Allah bless The Little Bean with His rezeki, as we hope to breastfeed The Little Bean for 2 years as well.

Confinement Recipe: Porridge

Let's face the truth about confinement food: 44 days of eating rice with mixed vegetables and soup on the side, twice a day, can be really boring.

On hot days, I prefer porridge. Here is another simple, easy to cook, breastmilk replenishing recipe to share.

To cook on high setting in the slow cooker for 2 hours, then low setting for another 2 hours (or set it to auto mode):
1 cup of washed jasmine rice
200g of diced celery
200g of diced pumpkin without seeds and skin
200g of diced carrots without skin
200g of diced potatoes without skin
1 inch of smashed ginger without skin (omit if baby has jaundice)
about 8 cups of water, or more to cover all ingredients

Optional:
200g of minced chicken; or
200g of minced beef; or
200g of cubed salmon; or
200g of dried oysters; or
200g of dried scallops

To garnish:
Chopped spring onions
Sprinkle of browned shallots and garlic
Dash of pepper
Drizzle of sesame oil
Sprinkle of sesame seed

Serve hot.

This portion serves 2 adults and 1 toddler.

Note: I still cook and eat this now for this simple fact: The Little Girl is still nursing at 33 months, and I am nursing when pregnant with The Little Bean. Needless to say, I feel like a booster every now and then is just what I need.

Bon appetit!

Second Pregnancy: Tandem Nursing

Breast is best, inarguably.

 

Formula milk is not poison either but it did scare me a lot (recall horrific, tainted, toxic, harmful and deadly ones from China as seen in news?).

 

When I was pregnant with The Little Girl back in 2009/10, I used to pray to Allah for her rezeki, for constant and stable breastmilk supply, my patience in enduring the journey and challenges as a new nursing mother, guidance to come from the right and informed sources, unconditional support from The Other Half and to remove unforeseen obstacles.

 

(I suspect you must be thinking by now that Hampshire Mummy prays long, detailed prayers!)

 

This time, I pray the same. Add an extra caveat.

 

I pray for the ability to tandem nurse, as well as rezeki for both The Little Girl and The Little Bean.

 

I recently did a simple research online and read some real experience of mothers who tandem nurse successfully - and my conclusion is that I will need a lot of stamina to maneuvre a toddler and a newborn, develop stronger arms, find more comfortable and bigger armchair or daybed for nursing, drink even more longan and red date tea, limit the toddler to bedtime feeds only, find new ways to distract the toddler in the unfortunate event that tandem nursing is not working out, who goes first when etc. Sounds like "circus management" to me already.

 

**Shivers**

 

However, the encouraging conclusion shared by most tandem nursing mothers is this: The mother-children-sibling bonding is precious.

 

That, to me, is important in building family rapport (read: teamwork).

 

At this point, due to lack of first hand experience, I am honestly quite intimidated. That is not a good vibe to start with so I must arm myself with more knowledge and mentally fortify myself.

 

The only good start to tandem nursing so far is nursing during pregnancy. The Little Girl is beginning to show concern for my comfort when nursing her, adjusting her posture so as to avoid hurting me or The Little Bean and gently caressing my lower abdomen so as to "sayang adik". Precious!

My ob-gyn is aware of my nursing during pregnancy and has prescribed Pramilet, Nerogain PB and folic acid to cope with the increased demand on my petite body.

 

So, do wish me all the best and keep me in your prayers too as I embark on this somewhat magical journey. I will be needing all the support and well wishes!

 

Insya Allah, He answers prayers.

 

Amin!