Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginning's End

Did you ever end your week in some other "place" than where you started it, and it was a place you never would have guessed? (I envision you, Melissa, nodding at that one, though this doesn't compare.) After a quick Dr.'s appointment on Thursday, to realize that Monster weighs the same as he did back in September (so much for running out to get the new car seat when we did, by law, we still don't need it), we discovered we needed to make some changes. It was decided that we should stop breastfeeding and we'd be doing this cold turkey. I kind of remove myself from the decision in saying it was decided for me. It's  a bitter sweet ending to an interesting practice.

BFing, started out so hard, I almost gave it up. Then it clicked and it had it's conveniences and annoyances.  No bottles to lug, however I can't just whip out a breast like I can a bottle, especially in front of my students! It's cheaper by far, and I have a lot of control over it, no recalls to deal with. But S's constant desire to feed, especially recently, had become too much. Regardless I was committed to the long haul and willing to wait for him to wean himself (within reason). It gave me more time to sleep as he just needed to lay beside me, it took away foods I loved. It was the best of times...it was the wort of times...you get it.

Monster's lack of weight gain...how the hell he got that being a member of our family, I have no clue!!... and other potential issues related to BFing and his health that are still left undiscovered, have lead me to wean. The Doc and I agreed that I probably should go for cold turkey for a few reasons I'll not go into here...though if you're BFing and want personal stories or support I'm learning from this, feel free to comment and I'll be in touch. I'll probably post the process, sorry family, it's a record to help others, hopefully. So, it has been an interesting 24 hours. He won't let go of me, like a child playing tag who is on base via "electricity". He's not happy, but he's been oddly accepting at times when I thought we weren't going to make it (like cry fest 2011, last night). Sean rocked him to sleep for the first time (yay poppa!) and I really felt good not having to be the one solving his problems. He refuses to drink anything besides juice, but for now, that's OK. I'm trying all the tricks I can come up with to get him to drink various milks. He's too savvy. If we can get him off a new born's feeding schedule for solids, I'd be much happier. That is a battle for the future though.

The Doc said things should settle after 3-4 days. We're just starting into day 2...but tonight, is pizza night!! Just like in elementary school! I can't wait. It will be a nice finish to a rather awful Friday and it seals the weaning deal, as I won't be able to BF for two weeks. Maybe I can get some real ice cream going on as well...I have so much lost dairy time to make up for.

Leaving the elimination diet behind is also kind of weird. Soon, I'll have to be hyper diligent about what is in the house and how close it can get to S, but I won't have to watch what I eat so closely. I plan on steering clear of a lot of dairy, since it's has really pulled the off with absolutely no effort.

So here's to leaving the infant Stefan behind, for the new solids only Toddler with a Mama who has the weight of elimination diets lifted. Cheers!

Weey Weaning: Day 1.5

So this post starts my weaning project. After reading some stuff and trusting my gut on how to go about this (but no contacting my lactation guru, Lisa, so I may be throwing this plan out the door), I've decided to start wean the monster. I actually started last night, since Stefan has been having some great luck with solid foods lately. I wrote a post on that, but I'm pretty sure I was waiting to attach a picture...I'll pop that one up too.

I nurse "on demand" so when I read that the best thing to do is start by dropping one feeding, well...it just doesn't work like that here. In one hour, especially at night, he may be "demanding" to be fed every 20 minutes...just a sip, but a feeding nonetheless. So I've decided to tackle habitual feeding times; right after solid feedings and right after waking from daytime naps, and hopefully soon, pre-sleep nursing. I'm trying to get him to drink other milk, or if that is refused, juice or water. He needs calories, so I'm not restricting them by limiting juice, etc. Yesterday we had some epic tantrums when I left off post nap nursing. After a noisy while,  he decided he'd be up for tortillas and puffs with a side of Silk (bleh). Luckily Sean's video games kind of distracted him while I sat next to him and Sean and I ignored him until it all blew over. Today, I was more successful with putting off the post breakfast feeding while I gave him a cooking lesson on how to prep for squash soup. He's keen on puffs and cheerios, which he snacked on last week in place of nursing, which was so exciting to be able to teach and not have to leave the room in the middle of everything to satisfy the crank pants.

I've fallen back into the habit of nursing him to sleep, since it was just easier then propping myself up on the bars of his crib and rubbing his back, the circulation being cut off of my arms and hands. Plus he was teething (first year molar), so it was just working all around better; because snuggling in a rocking chair while I doze  to lullabies is much more pleasing than dangling cribside. Anyway, I was able to get him to sleep in 2 songs this morning, so it worked out fine.

Once the nursing isn't associated with sleep or post solid eating, I will work to start refusing him all together except for feedings I want to keep (ie the ones that relieve my body and nourish him through the night or first thing in the morning). So far, it is seeming like it is going to be very hard for him to break and harder for me to say no. How can I turn down my begging 1-year old, with his down turned frown and tragically sad eyes,  from the one thing that has offered him comfort for his whole 1 year life? Despite totally rearranging my diet and lifestyle (I'll put it out there that this food elimination/allergy runs that deep), I'm still not annoyed enough to toss breastfeeding out the window.

Calgon....take me away!

3-9 hours?!? Well, it's been a challenging morning, and our afternoon musical performance should be interesting. By then we'll be around hour 6.  I drank regular coke like it was going out of style during pregnancy...I was a little annoyed with all the "Dont's" of pregnancy, and felt entitled. Apparently, it didn't help decrease his sensitivity to caffeine. It had to go when he was and infant, due to sensitivity. I recently added more frequent caffeine consumption back into my diet due to a rash of migraines and desire to drink real coffee even if I couldn't but real dairy into it. Have you ever had almond milk and decaf? Cloudy brown water. So, now a can of coke doesn't really touch my headaches like it used to and I'm back to Excedrin...which is exceptionally strong, but better than prescription med's (If you're breastfeeding and taking Imitrex, watch out, for me, it had really painful side effects...which were bad with expired pills, and much worse with the fresh ones). Yeah, so I could just about re-shingle the roof in this 14 degree weather with all the hyper energy I have (I hate caffeine, BTW)...still bearing a headache, but not hailing any porcelain goddesses over it this week (thankfully). And for Stefan....

IDK, but I'm doubting percentages of caffeine that actually get into milk. Or I'm blessed with the most hyper sensitive child ever....who is right now talking cat voice (those wicked high pitched babble screams), in his crib for the 3rd nap attempt today. It is amusing to find him in all sorts of interesting crib positions now that he can get to sitting and standing on his own (though you wouldn't know that he could do that from the tantrums he throws when I put him down on the floor...where he lays for 15 minutes...until I leave the room...then he's happily able to get up on his own again).

So, babies and caffeine, don't mix. Especially when mom has a headache and he has the pitch of a dog whistle...can you say F#9...gah!! And I promise to have more interesting, informative posts soon with a few less run-on sentences...just recuperating from the b-day bash and work etc.