Expert: ruth kraft - 12/21/2009

Question
Hi,

My baby boy is now 7 months and I would like to stop breast feed him.  

First:  Do you think it is to soon?  

Second:  He is with my mother in law during the day where he will drink approximate 2 bottles of milk (formula) and 1 bottle of tea or water. He also eat 3 meals a day.  The problem is that when I want to give him milk he does not want to drink it.  He will drink tea or even water but not milk from me.  He cries allot and then I give him the breast again because I feel so guilty - smile.  

He only drinks at night when I go pick him up, during night if he wakes up and in the early mornings before I drop him off.  I don't pump out at work anymore, to time consuming but when I did I pump out about 250ml(both breast).  So I bought pills to stop my milk but does not help because he is still drinking and stimulating.

Can you please give me advise.  Feel so depressed because I really want to go on diet (I am very overweight) but also feel that I am depriving my baby.

Teresia

Answer
Hello. It is best to nurse the baby at least some breastmilk until the baby is a year old. for many reasons. preferably 2 years . SO I definatly reccomend still nursing as much as you can.

He likes the connection with you, that is why he doesnt want to take a bottle from you. He likes being close and how you smile and play with him , and he feels good when he nurses. this is a good thing :)

to make your milk stop during the day, you just need to stop pumping. wean your daytime feedings and that time of the day your breasts will stop producing the milk. and they will only make it in the evening when he nurses.

ALso being heavy, and knowing ALOT about breastfeeding, the best way for you to go is to continue to nurse. breastfeeding BURNS 500 calories a day and you dont have to do anything but nurse! If you start eating more healthy foods, and get a few minutes of excercise a day, this will be the most helpful. It will actually HELP You lose weight. instead of eating the extra calories, don't eat extra, just eat what you would if you were a normal weight.

I also want to share, that the best way to lose weight is first, love yourself. I know it sounds crazy, but having been there, once you do this, the weight just starts going away... I have done many counceling sessions over the years, and know this to be true for every person I have ever met, where diet and excercise programs shift. that is another kind of counceling. and one I won't take up here on this board. but if you want to get into that, then feel free to let me know and we can do it off this board. You can start by reading, Think and get slim by Abraham hicks and You can heal your life by Louise hay.

I hope that helped!
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