I personally have been breastfeeding my 7 month old son. Well, I was anyways until a few days ago that is. We found out that it is quite likely that he has a dairy allergy and is getting the dairy transferred through my breastmilk. It is effecting him so bad that he is now on his way to see a pediatric gastroenterologist at a children’s hospital near us. Dairy was/is a significant portion of my diet and therefore he was having major issues on top of the already present G.E.R.D he had, the little guy is quite miserable. Thrusting, screaming, not drinking, you name it, up all night long screaming in pain with no relief. I went on a dairy free diet for 10 days in order to begin experimenting with his issues. Well, with no good conclusions we opted to switch him to Nutramigen so that we could rule out all other food allergies. I’ve been pumping in hopes that maybe it will be short lived, however, I can already tell that my body is beginning to slow down the supply. Plus, there is no way I could continue a dairy free diet for as many months as he would perhaps continue to nurse. I love nursing my son and understand how my milk is certainly better, however, It wouldn’t be healthy for me to be on such a limited diet and therefore ultimately be unhealthy for him too.

So there you have it. I may still continue to be a breastfeeding mom once the doctors can come to certain conclusions. I may not if the dairy truly is the problem.

Either way, I completely agree breastfeeding is best, but perhaps we should all be a little more open minded to the fact that everyone’s situation is VERY different.
.-= Kristen´s last blog ..Repeat =-.

Admittedly bottles used for breastmilk are far less likely to be exposed to any kind of really nasty microbes from the milk -but people do touch them and I’m sure everyone is aware of what can be found on people’s hands. Particularly in a daycare situation where the caregivers are handling multiple infants, multiple diapers, and formula. Its virtually impossible to keep all the reside off a bottle nipple, and the residue allows microbes to hide and even survive boiling.

Its time to bring back cup feeding, specifically feeding cups. A feeding cup made of an inert material (glass, some metals) would be entirely cleanable, non-leaching, etc. Cup and spoon feeding do not cause late nipple confusion or early nipple confusion. Cup and spoons do not cause pressure in the ear canal. Yes there can be a bit more spillage with these methods, particularly while learning them but once you get the knack I didn’t have any problem with spills.

Out with bottles, in with cups!

I also wanted to add to the fray:
some mommas you see with bottles and babies have adopted those babies.
Adoptive nursing IS possible and so great–but not always successful, feasible, or supported. My doc looked at me like I wanted to chop off my head when I asked her for domperidone to initiate lactation for my adopted son! Lol! Anyways, some of those bottle feeding mommas have adopted kiddos who need bottles.
Judge her not.

♥

(you know I’m 2000% committed to breastfeeding, and love your blog 2000 IUs, right? Good.)