From Breast to Bottle. The End of an Era

In less than a fortnight I will be going back to work, more or less full time and right from day one, I've planned the slow move from breastfeeding to bottle feeding in preparation for this time.  Unfortunately things never work out quite how you plan them and I stopped feeding Holly rather by surprise on Christmas Eve.

Holly has never had quite the same insatiable appetite as her older sister did and I had noticed that since she started eating solids, Holly had lost interest in her milk a bit.  She still drinks plenty of milk but she had dropped from 5 milk feeds down to just 3.

We first introduced Holly to a bottle when she was about 6 weeks old, just for convenience to allow family to feed her when I worked my KIT days and to give Mr. B. some bonding time with her.  It took a long time for Holly to accept a bottle because we only ever offered it occasionally.  In mid-November I permanently dropped one of Holly's afternoon feeds for a bottle and this caused her schedule to shift a bit as she was fuller in the late afternoon.

Another month later, I dropped her lunchtime feed and once again her schedule changed.  Then during mid-December we decided to try and stop Holly from waking in the night for a feed because she was waking out of habit and showing less interest in the breast and more interest in playing with my hair or fiddling with the side of the cot!  It was a tricky couple of weeks but now she doesn't cry for milk any more.  She still wakes (LOTS of times) during the night but this is normally related to teething or the fact that she is so mobile now that she wakes herself up by banging her head on the cot!

I hadn't planned to drop the last breast feed until this week but in the couple of days before Christmas Holly was really unsettled with her teething pains and was sleeping during the day when she would normally feed.  For two days in a row she skipped her morning feed (the only one I was still doing by breast) and I had to try and top her up later in the day.

On Christmas Eve Holly was back to herself and wanted a feed in the morning but when she took to the breast she got very angry - there was no milk there.  It surprised me how quickly my milk supply changed, two days of a different schedule and my body had shut down.

At the time I felt a bit miserable because I had hoped to feed Holly right up until she started nursery but I think it was a mixed blessing.  Christmas was spent not worrying about my alcohol levels (!) and wearing clothes without boob access!  I've packed away all my nursing tops and rediscovered my old wardrobe.

And when I look back on the past 8 months I can feel good that I've given Holly a great start in life and I've even managed to breastfeed for ever so slightly longer than I did with Lara.

Mimijumi Bottle Review

I agreed to review the Mimijumi bottle because it sounded like it was the ideal product for me and Holly. I was very slowly moving Holly over from breast to bottle ready for my return to work in the new year but ever since she was about 6 weeks old, Holly has been very awkward when we offer her a bottle; she is definitely more keen on boob! Mimijumi bottles are very simple and are specifically designed for breastfeeding mums who want to be able to offer milk on the move to a baby who would rather feed from the breast.




The Mimijumi bottle is incredibly simple.  Only two parts - a bottle and a 'nipple' which screws onto the top. This makes it quite simple to clean and very simple to assemble.  Even the anti-colic mechanism is integral to the 'nipple' rather than being a separate part of the bottle.

The 'nipple' on the Mimijumi bottle is lightly textured and coloured to look like a breast.  I would say that it is the closest I've seen a bottle come to the real thing!  I also noticed that it is one of only two bottles that Holly has taken to instantly.  Most bottles we have tried (and we did try a lot!) took several feeds before Holly would drink comfortably from them - in some cases she never got used to them which is why we tried lots of different brands.

Mimijumi comes in two sizes of BPA-free bottle (Very Hungry and Not So Hungry).  There are also two different teat flows (slow and medium).  Holly tried the medium flow and I still think this wasn't fast enough for her; feeding her took FOREVER and although she seemed quite happy using the bottle, she began to get fidgety because the feed was taking longer than it would when she was feeding from me.

The bottles are dishwasher safe and steriliser-safe but can't be used in the microwave.  We also found them difficult when we were using formula rather than expressed milk because the plastic cap over the top of the nipple didn't form a full seal and when we shook the bottle to mix the formula, it would inevitably spray or dribble out.

I like the shape and simplicity of the Mimijumi bottle and I thought that the milk-carton-style packaging was a touch of genius but I can't help thinking that the bottles, when tipped up, look very much like a rabbit or hamster bottle!!! For me, Mimijumi is a nice idea but we would need a faster flowing teat for Holly to use these bottles regularly when I give up breastfeeding.

Images courtesy of mimijumi

Lansinoh Therapearl 3in1 Breast Therapy Review

I have been using the Lansinoh Therapearl 3-in-1 Breast Therapy pads for the last month to see if they help me when expressing breast milk.

Lansinoh Therapearl 3in1 Breast Therapy

Lansinoh Therapearl packs can be used hot or cold for a number of uses when breastfeeding and they particularly appealed to me for use when warm. The two shaped packs can be heated in the microwave and, snug in their soft outer casings, can be wrapped around the cup of your breast pump to help gently warm the breast and encourage milk let-down and faster flow of milk.

As the evenings have grown cooler I have been quite thankful for the warm Therapearl pads. It hardly takes any time to heat them in the microwave and I can do this while I am sterilising the breast pump (they fit almost any breast pump). The warm feeling is very conmforting and I notice that when I use them, I am able to produce a good 20-40ml more milk than without. I am not sure that I have noticed any increase in the time it takes for let-down though.

Therapearl pack

Each of the two Therapearl packs is filled with heat/cold retaining beads. The packs are well shaped and wrap neatly around the breast. The packs have a soft fabric casing which clips together to hold it in place in a circle and to protect your skin from the hot/cold packs.

Not since the first weeks of breastfeeding have I suffered from sore engorged breasts and I thankfully have not suffered from mastitis but the Lansinoh Therapearl 3in1 Breast Therapy can also be used to relieve the pain and swelling from these conditions by cooling the packs in the fridge or better, freezing them for around 2 hours before use.

In the new year when I return to work I will be stopping breast feeding. I expect this to be a gradual stop but these things may be out of my control! I remember last time that it became uncomfortable in those first days when I went to work because it was a bit of a shock to my system so I am hoping to take the Therapearl Breast Therapy packs with me to help out if my breasts become painful during the day. If there is a time when I am going to suffer from engorgement or be at risk of mastitis, that will be when.

The Lansinoh Therapearl packs are reusable and make a great addition to your set of breastfeeding essentials. During the early days after birth I think they would be indispensible.

Marks and Spencer Nursing Bra Review

I am a firm believer that you can't beat a pair of M & S pants for quality and comfort but I'd never really tried out their bras before this month, and certainly hadn't dipped into their range of maternity and nursing lingerie until Marks and Spencer asked me to review an item from their nursing bra range.

I tried out the Maternity Padded T-Shirt Nursing Bras which come in a pack of two - I chose them because of the astonishing value - £30 for the pair.  I don't normally go for a white bra and expect to be wearing the black one more often but I do have a couple of summery nursing tops in white for the summer (!) so it will come in useful.

The bras are very very comfortable and the padded cups are invaluable.  Most of my nursing tops are lycra or elastane and I hate going out with the lumps and bumps of breastpads showing but in these t-shirt bras the thick padded cups hold their shape and mean that your boobs look smooth and rounded rather than lumpy and leaky!

image courtesy of marksandspencer.com

As any good maternity bra should, these bras have a nice wide range of fastening loops at the back to allow for your changing shape towards the end of pregnancy and after birth.  The bra design features a very thin line of lace along the top of the cups - personally I think it would look acceptably feminine without the lace but at least the lace isn't itchy.

The drop-down cups for nursing have a very easy to use clip which really is the single most important feature for me on a nursing bra.  I find it very easy to clip them back again with just one hand.  Being a t-shirt bra, the cups are quite thick so you have to fold them carefully out of the way when feeding but they are soft and can withstand a bit of squidging!  The bra is non-wired to protect your breasts during a time when they need as much love and attention as they can get.

I'm really happy with the Marks and Spencer t-shirt nursing bras and I'm certain they will become my essential everyday breastfeeding bras.

The full range of Marks and Spencer maternity and nursing lingerie can be found online and a selection is available in store.

Amoralia Nursing and Maternity Lingerie Review

Me and nursing bras have a complicated relationship - all my favourite nursing bras from when I was feeding Lara are dumpy. Comfy but certainly not elegant. I keep trying to resist comfy... I want to do sexy but sexy almost certainly means uncomfortable, doesn't it? Perhaps not. I was lucky enough to be given the chance to review the Cupcake nursing bra and briefs from maternity and nursing lingerie specialist, Amoralia London.

When you browse the Amoralia website you'll notice that all of the nursing bras have a great balance between sexy and functional. I chose the Cupcake bra because it looked as if it would be really comfy (I was right!) and not toooo fancy. It still looked incredibly feminine.

Since it arrived, the Cupcake nursing bra has become my absolute favourite - it really is very comfy to wear which is why I don't just save it for special occasions. When I first tried it, I really felt like I'd gained some of 'me' back and that I wasn't simply a milk machine. The briefs really help to bring that feeling home - together they make me feel good about myself.

The Cupcake bra comes in a few different colours, all a little out of the ordinary. The drop cups have a very easy clip and each cup has a soft support at the front as well as some quite firm support at the sides of your chest.

The briefs have a soft, flexible waistband so they are ideal for wearing under a big bump (or under a slowly shrinking post-baby bulge! Just like the bra, it looks lacey but the lining is a really soft fabric so it doesn't feel rough against your skin. The ensemble certainly gets Mr. B's approval too.

You can find Amoralia London on Facebook and Twitter where there are special offers and competitions as well as lots of breastfeeding and fashion talk.

Breastfeeding Baby Number Two

I consider myself a very lucky mum to have had two daughters who have taken naturally to breastfeeding without a struggle. I'll admit that breastfeeding the second time around hasn't been as easy as it was the first time, but I think we're managing OK! I guess I'm just surprised that breastfeeding is not just a mum-skill but is also a skill your baby has to learn.

When Lara was born, she had a traumatic birth and didn't feed for many hours after the birth - this could well have been to do with the copious amounts of drugs and anaesthetic I had been given. When she did feed, she fed like an animal. Lara fed regularly for the first few days and right from the very first feed she gulped the milk down. Lara was always in a hurry. Even to this day, as she approaches her third birthday, Lara is a gulper. If you offer Lara a drink of water, juice or milk it is gone in seconds with loud, distinctive gulps.

Holly is very very different - a very mellow feeder. When Holly was born, as she laid against my chest in the moments after the birth she naturally shuffled to the breast (it is a natural instinct that, when left to its own devices can result in your baby "crawling" to the breast unaided). Holly feeds regularly and well but she doesn't have the same urgency as Lara. A feed can take well over an hour and will often take place in stops and starts. Holly doesn't suck like she is posessed (!) she calmly goes at her own pace and on her own rules. I can see this becoming quite frustrating in the future when I have people to see and places to go!

Holly also needs help with positioning. Left to her own devices, Holly will suck on the nipple rather than taking a great big mouthful of boob! It hurts, and it isn't efficient for feeding. I keep repositioning her in the hope that one day she will work it out for herself. During the first 48 hours I found it hardest. I didn't have the energy to reposition her and she was constantly sucking; back again for another feed within 2 hours every time. The sucking seemed to be for comfort more than anything and it gave her awful wind which then left her restless and sleepless and me bruised, sore and bleeding. If this had been my first baby I could well imagine having given up breastfeeding at this point, especially as when the milk comes in, you are at an emotional, hormonal peak (I remember the tears from when Lara was two days old).

Thankfully, experience told me that if I could just get through the pain and exhaustion and hold on until the milk came in, then the situation would improve. And it did. The stints between feeds got longer and Holly seemed more satisfied. Breastfeeding isn't easy but it's a skill worth learning - every day I continue to feed, I know I'm setting up Holly for life.

Medela Swing Breast Pump Review

It hasn't escaped my notice that all of the electric breast pumps in use in the hospital where Lara and Holly were born were made by Medela so I was really pleased to be asked to try out the Medela Swing 2-Phase Electric Breast Pump - a retail breast pump that uses the science and technology of Medela's many year's of experience in medical pumps.

The Medela Swing breast pump is a very simple design, which in my experience is the best type of breast pump to go for. When I was testing breast pumps for the Mother & Baby awards in 2009, the simple cone-shaped breast pumps were more effective than any with fancy designs to 'massage' the breast and in all cases, a simple design is a lot easier to clean and to assemble.

My first observation about the Swing electric breast pump is that it is really quiet - it isn't unnoticeable but it certainly doesn't require me to raise my voice when I'm talking to Mr. B and there is no danger of the noise disturbing Holly.

I also like the level of control I have over the pumping level and style. The 2-phase expression technology means that when you first start pumping there is a slightly quicker but less strong level of suction to mimic the early sucks of your baby that initiate the let-down reflex and causes the milk to start flowing. Once the milk starts (or by default after about 2 minutes) then the second style of pumping kicks in and you can choose to make it stronger or weaker depending on comfort. The level of control and these two different types of pumping mean that I can express quite a lot of milk even in these early stages of breastfeeding.

The Medela Swing breastpump was a lifesaver for me on day two when my breasts were swollen and uncomfortable as the milk came in. When you're tired and in pain it is really useful to have a product that is intuitive and simple to assemble and use. The only even slightly fiddly part of the pump is a tiny flexible valve membrane which I can imagine would easily damage or get lost (down a plughole when you clean it!) but thankfully you can buy replacements readily.

The Medela Swing breastpump comes with a carry bag because you can use it either powered by mains or using batteries so it is suitable for use when travelling or out and about. It also comes with a calma feeding device which attaches to the bottle and has a very elongated teat designed to mimic the nipple when stretched in your baby's mouth - I have yet to use this but will review it again in the future if I get a chance.

The Hydrant - Labour and Breastfeeding Hydration Aid

During labour, Mr. B was very good at helping to ensure that I stayed fed and watered. It is an important lesson that we both learned the first time around - you need to stay hydrated and packed full of energy to make it through childbirth. In a birthing pool, hydration is particularly important because the warmth of the water causes you to dehydrate easily.. unfortunately when you are on all fours, struggling to raise your own head above water, it is also very difficult to drink from a cup or a bottle, even with a straw, because it is hard to position your drink anywhere other than under water! Thankfully, for Holly's birth we were well prepared with The Hydrant - a hydration aid we had been sent to review.

The Hydrant is a very simple concept. It is a drinking aid for people with limited mobility who can't necessarily reach for or lift a bottle. The bottle holds a litre of water (or, during labour, perhaps an isotonic drink) and has a clever shaped cap that acts as a handle or a clip. The bottle comes with a long flexible tube which acts as a siphon - you place one end of the tube in the bottle and suck from the other end. The tube is more than a long bendy straw because it has a clever bite-valve on the end which means that, when the bottle is well positioned slightly raised above you (like on the back of a chair or on the edge of a birthing pool) then all you need to do to get the drink is to gently bite the tube... you don't even need to suck!

Mr. B. made sure that I was sipping from the Hydrant regularly and occasionally disappeared to fill it up. It was the perfect solution for in the pool because he could just direct the tube towards me and even when I was mid-contraction I could get water with almost no effort.

Since Holly was born on Tuesday I have struggled to keep up my fluids to meet the demand on my own body - I just can't seem to drink enough water!!! On Thursday I suffered 3 migraine headaches in one day (I usually get about 1 per year) and the midwife suggested it could be to do with dehydration. Mr. B has become more strict on me, making sure he never sees me without a full pint of water next to me, especially when I am feeding Holly. Last night I lifted out the Hydrant again and attached it to the back of the chair in the nursery so that late at night, I had an on-demand water supply that didn't require me to use my hands (it also meant Mr. B didn't need to keep rushing downstairs to fill up my pint glass!). It worked really well. Having the bottle clipped just higher than my shoulders meant that the tube was in an ideal position.

The Hydrant can also be converted into a traditional drinking bottle with an alternative cap. There is also a clip which allows you to attach the tube to your clothing so that you don't have to keep reaching for it; in fact, you could attach the bottle to your belt and drink on the move or even clip it to your buggy or pram when out and about.

Mr only negative on the Hydrant so far is that because it was brand new, and I had only rinsed water through the tube a couple of times before I used it, the tube leaves a taste on the air and the first water in the tube. Mr. B is convinced that the whole bottle and tube taints the taste of the water but then it's not him drinking it - I think it tastes just fine after the first few sips through the tube.

The Hydrant can be bought from their own online shop, or from the NCT Shop, Boots, ASDA and Amazon for around £12 - £15.

Mama Tea Review – Caffeine Free Infusions

As someone who recently made the decision to reduce their caffeine intake, a vibrant collection of caffeine-free teas designed especially for mums was an ideal product to be asked to review. Mama Teas are a set of caffeine-free infusions that are great for anyone trying to reduce their caffeine intake, including pregnant and nursing mums.

At my caffeine-fuelled peak, I was drinking 3 cups of strong italian coffee and 3 cans of diet coke just to get me through the working day. I would round the day off with another fizzy drink during the evening and a cup of tea before bed. Not a great recipe for mellowness.

I've recently replaced one of my hot drinks during the day, and my hot drink in the evening with one of the tasty infusions from Mama Tea. I can't tell you how many times in the past I have tried herbal teas and lasted about 2 days before giving up. Generally, my opinion on herbal teas is either “ick” or “ho hum”. I also usually have to add a lot of sugar to make them palettable.

I have actually been really surprised by the set of Mama Teas. My favourite is the “Cool mama” which is a chamomile, spreamint and marshmallow infusion which is suitable throughout pregnancy. It is a tea designed to ease heartburn and indigestion or to generally cool you and make you mellow. I really like it as an evening drink to help settle me down for the night. The “Cool Mama” tea doesn't taste too strongly of any of the ingredients – just the way I like it.

Out of interest, I tried the Ready Mama tea which is a raspberry lead and motherwart (traditional ingredients to help prepare for birth) but it is also mixed with hibiscus and rose. My experiences of raspberry leaf tea from about week 38 of my pregnancy were definitely of the “ick” variety which is why I wanted to see if Mama Tea had managed to make it palletable. The hibiscus and rose give the tea a very gentle floral scent and it certainly does seem to make the tea taste less of general-purpose plant ingredient! It is also a really groovy pink colour instead of the more traditional bluey green. If you are looking for a tea to get you through labour and birth then I'd highly recommend it.

One of the other infusions in the range is the “Morning Mama” (ginger, chamomile and citrus) which is definitely one to replace my coffee-time drink. It has a fascinating tingle from the ginger and the scent of the lemon, orange and lemon-balm is enough to make you feel sprightly and ready for the morning. The "Morning Mama" tea is known to help reduce the feelings of nausea during morning sickness.

The range is finished off with “Glowing Mama” (rooibos, elderflower, echinacea and dandelion) which claims to be a powerful antioxidant and good for fluid retention and boosting the immune system. And finally, “New Mama” which is Mama Tea's most popular infusion designed for breastfeeding mums (not pregnant ones). The “New Mama” tea is a liquorice tea with fennel, fenugreek, nettle and lemon-balm. I have to say that I found it a little weird... very liquoricy and yet quite savoury. Three of the active ingredients are intended to increase milk flow so this tea is ideal for breastfeeding mums.

For each of the teas in the Mama Tea range, I found the flavours to be well balanced and not too 'tea-ey'; sometimes I find herbal teas to taste bitter and to leaf my mouth feeling dry, but these ones leave me feeling refreshed, as a good cup of tea should. My two favourite teas “Cool Mama” and “Morning Mama” really are a delight to drink and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.

You can follow the Mama on twitter

Mama Jewels Review : Jewellery Designed For Mum With Baby In Mind

Last week at Cybermummy I wore my Mama Jewels limited edition breastfeeding necklace and it got lots of interest and great compliments. My long-length Indian Summer Grey and Pink nursing necklace has a heart pendant and looks stunning against a plain single-colour top.

The necklace, like most of Mama Jewels' products, is designed specifically for the nursing mother. The beads are chunky and although they look tempting for tiny hands to grab, the beads have been tested to make sure that they can't be ripped off by naughty babies or toddlers. The necklace is made from a subtle silver coloured thread which is resilient to grabbing and chomping (something Lara seems to do more of, the older she gets).

The beads are all washable, non-toxic and sterilisable so that you need not worry if your child does choose to chomp or suck on your necklace.

I really like my Mama Jewels necklace. I so rarely get a new necklace (about one every 10 years at present!) so this has been a really special treat for me and so I can quite honestly say that it would make a wonderful gift for any new mum or mum to be. Its great to have something for you, rather than for your baby and yet not feel like you're taking a risk by using it.

My necklace from Mama Jewels was beautifully presented in a presentation box as smart as any piece of jewellery of any cost that I've ever owned.

If you take a look through the Mama Jewels website you'll see a whole range of gorgeous jewellery in loads of different styles and colours. Mama Jewels also stocks necklaces specifically designed for teething babies, pregnancy bola necklaces, fingerprint jewellery, personalised jewellery and breastfeeding reminder necklaces along with a whole range of other non-jewellery gift ideas for new mums and dads.

Guest Review - Freya Dotty Nursing Bra

Today's Guest Review is by Rebecca Wallace. Rebecca very recently became a second-time mummy! Rebecca has been reviewing the Freya Dotty Soft Cup Nursing Bra and Freya Dotty Short from online lingerie retailer lingerieplease.co.uk

It can be hard to find a nursing bra that is, at the same time, comfy, practical AND sexy. The Freya nursing bra claims to achieve all three. Does it live up to the expectations? Rebecca shares her thoughts.

The FAB Bits!

• The Freya pants are stretchy. I found them to be very comfortable and I liked the fact that they don't ride up your bottom (a rare thing!)
• The fabric that the bra and shorts is made of is a soft navy blue with beige spots, trimmed with lace. They look very pretty and make me feel sexy (well as sexy as a 3 week post baby belly and boobs can make you feel despite not having anyone to see them!!!)

The NOT-AS-FAB Bits

• The Freya Dotty nursing bra has extra material meant to hold the shape of the bra which I've found to ride up above the cup line, which looks a little strange
• I have also found the cups to become slightly baggy at the front during use but, once I have a breast pad in place it smooths them out.

lingerieplease.co.uk stock a number of nursing and maternity lingerie products. The Freya nursing bra costs £29.99 and the shorts cost £11.99.

Your Views On Weaning Before 6 Months - Join The Carnival

On Friday I blogged about the new report which suggested that it may in fact be healthier to wean a baby who is ready, before the 'official' 6 months guidelines. Over the weekend I have read a lot of different blog posts and articles on the same subject and it really showed me how different people can interpret the same report in astonishingly different ways. I've read some really strongly worded opinions, many with which I disagree and many of which, however you read them, keep coming back to the idea that as parents, we are well qualified to make our own decisions on these matters.

I thought I would bring together some of the blog posts I've read so that you too can share some of the amazingly different points of view. If you have a post you'd like to add, drop me a mail at jumblyMummy[']gmail[.]com and I'll add your post when I get a chance.

Here on Mellow Mummy I blogged about the guilt I felt about weaning at 6 months and the fact that I trusted my instincts.

GhostWriterMummy highlights the confusion that parents feel when they get mixed messages from health professionals and asks whether her approaches to weaning have made any difference at all.

Muddling Along Mummy has done her research and is disappointed in the way that the headlines have warped the message of the original article.

Mummy Do that has a 4-month-old daughter and the findings (if there are any) haven't changed her approach to weaning. She makes a great point about iron stores in relation to the cutting of the cord.

At the Food Allergy Kitchen they take a look at the story from the angle of allergy-prevention. their test case prooves decidedly inconclusive.

Deep In Mummy Matters is contemplating weaning now at 17 weeks but has lost her confidence in mummy matters such as these.

Mummy In Provence wants to make it clear that breastfeeding is not harmful and asks, how did we cope before purees & baby rice?

Ali at Plus 2.4 has personal experience of food allergies in children and is a trained breastfeeding supporter - some interesting input on the debate.

At Lost In Translation baby Charlie has just started to wean and is moving from breat to bottle. Not a direct response to the report last week, but an interesting blog post given the news.

Mrs Scruff at She Was Not At All Domestic is stressing about food allergies and is confused about when to wean, second time around.

Another blog post un-linked to the latest news can be found at Michelle Tant's Blog where she talks about infant feeding cues and how we, as parents, can learn from our babies how and when to wean.

Vic at Glowstars thinks the report is all about finding a balance - did she find the right balance for her two boys?

Jax at Making it Up hasn't read the report, and doesn't intend to. She, quite rightly, questions our reliance on experts to make our decisions.

Hey Mummy Mummy took a very similar approach to weaning as me - half spoon feeding and half BLW. She says to trust your instincts.

OMammy believes that you should take on board all of the advice you receive, and then make your own judgements.

And last, but not least, Ben at Goodbye to Pert Breasts takes a very mellow approach and points out that none of this 'advice' really matters at all - mummies have been trusting their own instincts for generations.

STOP PRESS: It's OK To Wean Before 6 Months

Did you wean your children before 6 months? Did it leave you with a sense of guilt that you hadn't followed the current NHS guidelines? Well, news out yesterday suggested that all that guilt was for nothing and that weaning before 6 months might well be the healthiest thing to do for a breastfed baby.

In this article from the British Medical Journal, scientists ask whether now is the right time to re-assess the governments current advice (which is to postpone weaning until 6 months). The current advice is based on recommendations from the World Health Organisation who claim that a child who is exclusively breast-fed for the first 6 months is less likely to suffer from infection.

The report shows that there is evidence to suggest that early weaning can promote long term health such as reduced risk of obesity, cancer and cardiovascular problems, and that leaving it until 6 months may increase the risk of food allergies and iron deficiencies. The paper calls for the government to re-assess their stance on baby nutrition.



When Lara was around 3 months old, my mum, mother-in-law and some of my older female friends started asking me when I would wean Lara, as, in their day, the advice had been to wean at 4 months. I had been given all the leaflets from my NCT instructor and my health visitor that told me to hold off until 6 months so I was left with conflicting thoughts on when to start. The look of 'doom' on my otherwise-mellow midwife's face when she handed me the leaflet was enough to scare me into submission.

In the end, the decision was entirely driven by my maternal instincts. Lara was hungry, it was simple. By 3 months old I was struggling to keep up with her appetite for breast milk and was having to supplement her enormous diet with infant formula for my own sanity. During meal times she would stare longingly at our food. Maybe it was because Lara was able to sit upright from a very young age, maybe it was because her ability to grab and hold was improving, or maybe it was just because I KNEW that it was the right time but I decided to start weaning Lara when she was 18 weeks.



And now look at her – she eats food that many grown-ups would be too scared to try (home-made lamb biryani, chicken makhani and rice anyone?) and is capable of eating with a fork and spoon when she chooses. I have no problems feeding Lara and I am convinced that our approach to weaning has helped her socially, physically and in terms of health. It remains to be seen whether she benefits from the long-term gains that the report suggests.

So, what about you? Would you make a different decision about weaning if you could do it again?

The Right Time To Give Up Breastfeeding?

This week I have made the big decision to give up breastfeeding Lara. That it has coincided with my return to work was not the plan, it just kinda happened.

It has been fun – I'd highly recommend it. I'm not a breastfeeding evangelist, but I do feel that every mum who can, should give it a try. If it works for you and your baby then it's a wonderful bonding experience, considerably less labour-intensive than bottle feeding, less expensive and biologically, its the most natural way to go. I think I was one of the lucky mums to whom it came naturally; other than that first emotional week, there have been no real problems.

Photo courtesy of 007 Breasts

I breast fed Lara exclusively for 3 months and since then I have been slowly replacing the feeds with bottles in preparation for my return to work. In truth, I had hoped to start the process a little later but I found that I couldn't keep up with Lara's demands – ever since she was born, she's had an appetite to rival most adults and now she is on three full meals a day, I still find myself surprised at how much she can put away.

The plan had been to continue breastfeeding Lara first thing in the morning even after I had gone back to work. I know there are mums out there who manage to continue exclusively breastfeeding (or at least offering breast milk) once they return to work but for me, I just couldn't imagine sitting in a darkened room (in an office full of male programmers) with my breast pump. My childminder arrangement doesn't really allow for me to pop back for a quick feed several times a day. Being able to leave bottles of formula for my childminders means that I'm relaxed and can stay mellow.

Photo courtesy of 007 Breasts

For the past month or so, Lara and I had settled into a rhythm of one breast feed, two bottles and three solid meals a day. Even when Lara got her first teeth in December, we managed to carry on. But, over the last fortnight I had noticed that my little girl had begun to lose interest in her morning feed and then towards the middle of last week she developed a really evil habit! She would lift her head slightly when feeding, make eye contact with me, smile (very cheekily) and then CHOMP, right down on the nipple!

I persevered for a couple of days but then I began to recognise that cheeky grin and decided at the weekend that enough was enough! Its a difficult decision and one that only I could make. I don't feel guilty about it , perhaps just a little disappointed in myself, that I didn't manage to keep her interested. I am, however, proud that I made it this far.

My Breast-feeding Best Buys

I breastfed my little girl exclusively for nearly 3 months before she developed an appetite with which I just couldn't keep up. I am still breastfeeding partially and intend to do so for as long as she needs me, or as long as my body lets me; even when I return to work in the new year.

I've been planning a 'top 10 baby buys' blog over the weekend and I discovered that most of my recommended items were actually to do with breastfeeding so I thought I would do a separate blog, just for breast-feeding items.

Before I gave birth, I hadn't given much thought to breastfeeding paraphenalia - you've got your boobs, what else could you possibly need? Now I've done it once, I think there are a number of things that next time, I will make sure I have purchased BEFORE the birth! Here goes:-

1. Milk Saver
   
   
   This is my number one breastfeeding buy and I bet you've never heard of it! I reviewed it for the Mother & Baby awards and I honestly don't know how I coped without it! I certainly wish that I had owned one of these during the first few weeks after the birth when the milk first came in.
   
   
   The Milk Saver by Milkies is a silicone shell that you place over your breast while you are nursing from the other breast. It catches the leaking milk so that you can store it for use at another time. I found that between my night feed and the first feed of the morning I could collect around 70ml of milk without even trying! Admittedly it is the watery stuff; but I could then add that to the milk that I was able to express at other times of the day.
   
   
   Even once my milk supply had started to dwindle, I would use my milk saver during feeds to ensure that my free breast didn't leak all over my clothes, or waste another breast pad. I had found during the early days that I would use a whole disposable breast pad (I tried re-usables, I didn't get on with them; they didn't get on with me) during the late night and early morning feeds and it seemed like such a waste. The Milk Saver put an end to that.
2. Lansinoh Lanolin
   
   
   
   This was the number one recommendation to me by my sister-in-laws and I'm passing on that recommendation. A tube of Lansinoh's Lanolin is a must-have while you are getting into the swing of things, breast-feeding wise. I have tried a different brand of nipple cream which smelled nicer, was less susceptible to temperature differences (pure lanolin is sloppy when its hot and can be rock-solid when its cold!), and claimed to work wonders but it simply didn't help the cracked nipples. Using lanolin, my problems cleared up within a matter of days. Lansinoh's Lanolin recently won 'Best Product for Breastfeeding' at the Mother & Baby awards.
3. Quality Nursing Bra(s)
   
   
   I bought a couple of cheap nursing bras from a big high-street chain just before Lara was born. I had been too huuuge at that time to be bothered to search any harder. Within a week of the birth, my boobs were the size of watermelons and although the bras claimed they could accommodate me, they had lost any sort of shape or support that they had originally offered and I no longer felt confident wearing them.
   
   
   I think you need at least 4 nursing bras that you are comfortable wearing, comfortable using and which make you feel great. If you have enough that you aren't stressed if your boobs leak on one of them, then you can relax a bit more when you are nursing.
   
   
   I have recently tried the Cantaloop nursing bras. They are made of an incredibly comfortable fabric, provide amazing support and you'd barely know you were wearing it. I also love my Emily under-wired nursing bra because it's about as sexy as you can pull-off confidently when breastfeeding!
4. Electric Breast Pump
   
   
   
   I managed to lay my hands on a manual breast pump before Lara was born. At 4 weeks, after breastfeeding was fully established, I tried it out and discovered that (a) I needed more energy, and more hours in the day if I was going to express anything like enough milk and (b) I needed a third hand to be able to hold the pump, operate the pump and look after Lara at the same time.
   
   
   I reviewed three different electric pumps for the Mother & Baby awards and all three of them worked soooooooo much better than the manual pump which was very quickly discarded! My favourite electric breast bump turned out to be the miPump by Learning Curve, The First Years. It is incredibly simple to use at home, or on the move and is comfy, flexible and efficient. You can buy the miPump from amazon, currently for around £47 which I think is a bargain.
5. Microwave Steriliser Bags
   
   
   
   I have used Lindam's ones; they take up much less space than an electric steamer or a full-sized microwave steriliser and if all you need it for is the occasional storage bottle or an emergency bottle, then they are great to tuck away in the cupboard. They also are a godsend when travelling.
6. Support Pillow
   
   
   I bought one of these at the baby show but it didn't (and still doesn't) fit round my middle! I only found this out once I had brought Lara back from hospital. Thankfully I was sent a Floppeze to test which is a better fit, more comfy and soft, and is now serving as a cushion for when Lara topples over from a sitting position. If you buy one, make sure it fits around you before you need to use it in anger!
7. PLENTY of Nursing Tops
   
   
   I don't know why it never crossed my mind to buy these before the birth! I know now that you basically need a whole wardrobe of them. The comfier the better. If you can buy some nursing tops in which you feel comfortable and confident, and which have sensible, easy access then realistically there is little need for you to purchase a breastfeeding shawl or sling. My most-worn nursing tops are all by Boob Design who you can buy from the NCT shop or a number of online maternity suppliers.
8. Formula Cartons & Pre-Sterilised Bottles
   
   
   OK, so you're thinking, what is formula milk doing on a list of breastfeeding best buys? Well, my Mum warned me that I should always have some formula in the house for use during emergencies... those days when you may be too ill to feed, too tired and you need Dad, Grandma or a friend to take over, or when you physically can't breastfeed due to sore or cracked nipples. At the time, I bought a huuuuuge tub of formula which we used once, and then we had to throw it away as we didn't need it again for months. I replaced it with a couple of the pre-mixed formula cartons and a pre-sterilised, sealed bottle from Boots.
   
   
   Just the comfort of knowing that you have the emergency back-up with you is enough to justify the existence of this item on the list! Perhaps you'll never use it but you'll be glad it was there just in case. Take it out and about with you and you'll know that if you really can't find somewhere hygienic and accommodating to breastfeed, that you've got a bottle you could fall back on if you need it.