thecatspajamas - I am so glad you said he is 9 months I was quite concerned - I thought you meant your brother waves his arms!:D
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thecatspajamas - I am so glad you said he is 9 months I was quite concerned - I thought you meant your brother waves his arms!:D
Ach...I can't get the smilies to wurk :-( I was also imagining the brother waving his arms excitedly! I was completely open with breast-feeding my baby right into his toddlerhood...anywhere...anythyme...in front of anyone. And I have to say, that despite all the stories I'd heard which had made me 'expect' opposition to our openness we NEVER had the slightest hint of any disapproval. Not even the tingiest wingiest bit. I think it comes down to ones own attitude. If you are doing something you feel to be 'right' and healthy (for everyone) and wunderful...it seems to create tolerance and acceptance around you. Maybe even inspiring others. Ah...many hugs to all who boob-feed their babies! Boob-feeding...one of the best hugs of all... (((hug,hug,hug)))
I wrote that in little paragraphs and it's all bunched up somehow...furst the smilies didnae wurk and now this.... :-P
I may be uneducated because I'm not a mother, but I don't think I would want my baby drinking breast milk simply because it doesn't come from a plant. I understand no cows had to suffer for the milk of my breasts and it’s a natural process, but I'd prefer soy-based formulas.
Breast milk is the only food made especially for humans containing all the nutrients they need as babies, and the right proportions of fat, proteins, carbs and sugar. It is the ultimate vegan food for children, I don't see why you seem to think it's not suitable.
I don't understand the logic, Iym afraid. You are right that breastmilk does'nt come directly from a plant...but then neither did what creates and grows the baby within the body for 9 months or so. Indirectly yes. So....you merely continue digesting baby's food for her/him until they are able to get all they need directly from the plants themselves. That is the first role of mother.
And,breast-feeding is just as important for the mental, emotional, physical health of mother as it is for baby.
I agree with breastfeeding. Infact I think it's the most awesome and natural thing in the world. When I have children they will be breastfed for as long as possible. Some sources recommend giving children breast milk up until the age of five. (Which as long as given with solid food wouldn't be a problem!) I was breastfed and I believe it is how nature intended!!!
Maybe we didn't understand, Rosehips?
I got shot down by the health professionals for supplementing with soy formula (only for a short time, I was on antibiotics) as it has it's dangers: allergies later to soy for example.
There is just nothing that comes close to BF!
I'm planning on breast feeding my children but I'm open to using a little soy formula if I have to, like if I get sick, or if I have to take a short break for some reason. I rarely get sick, though, since becoming vegan, so I'm not really worried. Breast is best for so many reasons!!
oooh, we didn't mean to scare you! just sometimes beginning BF doesn't go to plan just like birth doesn't...
My mistake was not asking for time with the BF consultant: she was feeding and only days later did I realize she was not positioned properly. In one week a habit was formed that was not entirely overcome with proper guidance.
Lesson learned: always take any assistance available
and well before BF go bra-less most of the time
angelamc,
it's totally okay (and beneficial to the baby, even!) to breastfeed while you're sick. you wind up passing on the antibodies that you're using to fight your illness to the baby, making the baby more capable of staying well.
if you're put on meds that aren't possible to take while breastfeeding (and always tell your doc or pharmacist that you are, sometimes they're able to try something else for you that is okay) then be sure to 'pump and dump' so you don't lose your supply.
good luck in two years time!
thanks, guys!
I'm going to start reading up on all this stuff soon. Right now I'm studying up on vegan pregnancy and having a vegan baby.
i bought an amazing book for like 10 bucks called "pregnancy, children, and the vegan diet" by dr. michael klapper m.d. its actually in L.A. right now, my friend just had a baby, so she wanted to borrow it. it has 40 years of research backing it. they adjusted the vegan food groups for pregnancy and childgrowth and breastfeeding. its amazing.
that'd be really cool if i could lend it to you.
I actually already have that book! I just haven't cracked it open yet.
Thanks so much for the offer, though! I'm glad to know that you think it's a really good book.:)
it's got pictures of river phoenix and his family, too :D
I'm bumping all of these old polling threads!
My wife exclusively breast fed both our kids until they started eating solids, and she still breast fed the older until he was almost 3, and our youngest is still breast fed at 1.5 yo. There was a time when my wife was tandem nursing.
We've never had to rely on formula. Heck, we've never even had to rely on expressed or pumped milk, even though we bought a pump and had milk ready to go! The kid just had never had a bottle and didn't know what to do with it! Then mommy got home and all was fine, even if it was a few hours later than usual.
They're healthy kids to this day.
I'm kinda late to this thread, but figured I'd jump in anyway! I have a 7 month old daughter. I exclusively bf her for the first 6 months, then started solids in addition to bfing. I plan to bf for at least 1 year, but probably closer to 2. I'd like to wean before I get pregnant again (I don't think I'm up to tandem nursing!).
My wife tandem nursed for a while. It was tough.
I think it definately depends on the woman. It certainly can be done, but it's takes a lot of support and energy and time. Have to talked to your local La Leche League about it?
No, I haven't talked to anyone from LLL. I'm sure I could do it, but I know when my daughter was a newborn, I felt like that's all I did. It would take her 45mins to 1 hr. to eat every 1 1/2-2 hours. I can't imagine nursing another child on top of that. How would I take a bath or go to the bathroom?! LOL. Seriously, though, I know myself pretty well and I think that might send me over the edge stress-wise, at least in the newborn phase. But, if we don't end up weaning before I get pregnant again, I guess we'll figure something out!
I have/would breastfeed and supplement with soy formula
My sister is allergic to cows milk and has had soya milk her whole life she grew up just fine (she is 16 now).
I don't have any children (maybe yet - not sure if I ever will - I'd love to be a mother but am not sure I can do the pregnancy thing (they also don't know if/how chronic fatigue syndrome affects babies) - and time is whirling by) but my aim would be to do it all breastfeeding as long as that was working and healthy for us both.
We do not have children, but I think that if we would have them, I would breastfeed them. My sister did that with my niece almost until her first birthday and so did my friend with her two children. I do not know of a vegan soy substiture for breastmilk here in the Netherlands, but maybe that is because I have never looked into the matter properly since I have never had any children so far.
I always admire women who breastfeed their babies. I do not disgust by the sight of it. Personally, I do not see why that would be disgusting. I think it is cute watching a baby being fed by his/her mother.
Breastfeeding is absolutely the best thing you can do for your baby (if you can) Alot of women say they "can't" but really alot of the time I really think there not committed to it.........It does take effort but it is your child!!!
Women with implants can BF...it's the women who have had a reduction that can't.
I found it to be one of the most enjoyable experiences...I know that may sound odd to you ladies with no children but it really is a true bonding experience.
A xoxo
While I completely agree that breastfeeding is the best for your baby there ARE some women who cannot breastfeed despite every attempt possible to do so. It is not a case of them not being committed to it, sadly it just does not work.
I was unfortunately one of those women and although I tried everything imaginable it just would not happen, I could not have been any more committed. After going through weeks of trying, my daughter not having fed properly for days and my breasts pouring (and no, I am not exaggerating) with blood and being in complete agony I finally had to admit defeat.
Now at this point the best thing for me and my daughter would have been to have had the support needed but both my mother (who delighted in telling me that I was an unfit mother and not capable of anything) and the health visitor just made me feel like I was a complete failure. This contributed to the terrible depression that followed where I believed everything they said.
If I do ever have another child I will try once again to breastfeed and hope that this time it worked, but, if it did not I would not think of myself as a failure again.
This isn't a dig at anyone by the way, just something I feel very strongly about having gone through the experience. :)
Scarlett I totally agree with you...I didn't mean to offend...I was talking about my experience with some friends who I knew deep down didn't want to BF.
Not being able to or even not wanting to doesn't make anyone an unfit mother by any stretch. You did the best you could and thats all that matters.
I think that the confusing thing about the OP and the Poll is that it assumes that someone is planning not to breastfeed.
I think that to assume that all women can, or decide to do it for a year or two is really to assume too much.
Clearly, we can't predict the future, and breastfeeding just don't work, for whatever reason, for some women.
I am curious on how a person could assume it wasn't vegan to breastfeed. That's a slightly different discussion (and one that's more interesting, IMO).
im opposed to humans breeding, but if they do, then breast feeding has got to be the only way!
Sorry, Scarlet that you had to go through so much mental and physical pain.
I have friends who for various serious reasons were unable to breastfeed. I would not in a million years judge them for not doing so. Their kids got good quality food and lots of loving care, that's what counts.;) We should be happy there are alternatives out there available. I'm sure there was a time when it wasn't and THAT must have been horrible. Women have to just stop judging women and ease up a little (no criticism towards anyone here, you're all great.:))
I know this thread has been dead for a while, but I am new here and ran across it. I feel so strongly about how amazing BF is that I just had to put my 2 cents in.
I BF my son for 13 months before he self weaned (which was a little early to self wean, had I known what I know now I would of kept offering, rather than just say, "hmm, must be done"). My mother did not breastfeed us, my MIL only BF for 3 months each kid.
My daughter and I have had this great BF relationship for 18 months now, and I don't see her stopping anytime soon. I have BF her in public, while teaching my Tae Kwon Do class, in the car, at the swimming pool, At funerals, in church, anywhere and everywhere. We don't normally cover with a blanket, unless I want her to take a nap. No one has ever said anything negative to me. Yes, I end up flashing a little boob every now and then, but who doesn't want to see more boob in public?
My advise to anyone who is expecting or plans on adopting is to start going to La Leche League meetings immediately and get with the hospitals lactation consultant a couple times before having the baby, take as many classes as you can. Plus, get in touch with a BF mommy that you are close to that you can call anytime with questions. Get a boppy pillow (you will use this for more than just feeding). Get a comfy chair. Write up a birthing plan and make sure you tape it on the babies bassinet, highlight your breasfeeding wishes, make the nurses read it.
BF doesn't just happen, I find it harder in the first 3 days than labor and birth. After 6 weeks it seems easier, there are still times that it may be tough. After 3 months it is so easy, if you get off to a good start. At 18 months she as become such a pro, on and off within a couple minutes.
The women I have known who have BF for a short time and say they couldn't because the pediatrician, nurse or doctor said thay had to stop because of slow weight gain, poor suck, breastmilk doesn't have the right nutrients, etc. I think it is easier for the medical profession to say, "here is a bottle of formula", rather than deal with whatever the real problem is. I know that there are many women/babies that just couldn't do it, I am not saying that every mom and baby can become a successful nursing couple. My pediatrician has asked many times when are we planning on weaning? I say when she is ready, I'm not.
Good luck to all the future breastfeeding mommies out there (and daddies too, because it helps to have that support). :bigsmile2:
I definitely plan to breastfeed if/when I have children.
If for some reason I can't (physical problem or adoption) then I'd use soy formula.
edit: re. imblissful's comment, I might get donated breasmilk if possible or hire a wet nurse if possible. Indeed, there are more options than merely my breastmilk or formula.
Don't forget there is also donated breastmilk. Although it is expensive. That should of been one of the choices at the beginning of the post.
I'm not a female, but I definitely support breastfeeding, and I would totally do it if I were able to (some people say it's possible...) and if I had kids. If the mother CAN'T breastfeed, then formula is fine, but I really think everyone should breastfeed.
I have/am exclusively breastfeeding all my kids. I also pump and donate breastmilk via MilkShare to babies in need.
veganf-good for you for donating! I know many mothers who have had to use donated breastmilk, and they are so thankful for it. I wish that I could of donated, but my daughter ended up using every once at day care, no matter how much I pumped.
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I would never do pregnancy. I would rather adopt, personally. Also, I'm not attracted to the opposite sex, so there won't be any accidental pregnancies.
If I somehow adopted a baby younger than a year old, I would use soy formula and look for a wet nurse. I think most adoptees are older than that, though, due to the complicated adoption process, right?
Yes, once you get past the pain of the first few days it just gets better and better. It's amazing the way your body adapts to the needs of your baby and breast feeding is eventually a truly blissful experience, it feels like creating perfect nourishment from love.
I have 3 children (wrong,wrong,wrong!!!;) ) who were all breastfed for at least 2 years each. At the time, the soy formula provided by the NHS contained beef tallow, and anyway I didn't want to use formula. I introduced ordinary soya milk gradually from about 6 - 9 months.