weaning and solids strike

[@llli*luckyducky77]

I stopped pumping which is nice since I had to scald my lipase milk but baby is still preferring breast milk over cow or goat milk and the stash is getting sparse. When we're out and busy, she definitely isn't nursing very often and doesn't ask for it. She, however, has been not as interested in solids lately either. We did the baby led weaning method of feeding regular foods from 7 months on and she was really into it. I think our recent setback was due to 3 new teeth coming in on her left side of the mouth (2 molars, 1 lateral incisor). I needed IVF to get pregnant with her and we want to try another round asap but also feel guilty rushing the weaning process when she clearly still wants her mama milk. To add to the rush, the specialist doesn't want us to wait too long (rec starting a cycle by January) due to the problems that cause my infertility. She seems to drink cow milk at daycare and will eat some solids but not much. Last night for the first time in 2 wks, she actually ate quite a bit at dinner. She loves yogurt, kefir, and breads as well as some fruits but I don't want her just eating that. I kind of laugh now at how I worried when she was first born that I wouldn't succeed at nursing. Clearly those first weeks of nursing challenges were overcome. Feeling so torn between our family goals and the baby's needs. She will need to drink cow milk at daycare within the next week though because that is when the frozen breast milk will be gone and I'm not going to resume pumping.

[@llli*bfwmomof3]

luckyducky, how much before starting IVF do you need to be weaned? I take it your LO is about a year old if you have pump weaned and she is drinking cow's milk? You could continue to nurse at home mornings/nights/weekends - if you're nursing 3-5 times per day, it's okay if she doesn't take additional dairy. If you can do this for a couple more months, at least, you may be able to get her to a point where she's more enthusiastic about her solids and about cow's milk, and feel more comfortable with weaning at that point to be able to pursue your fertility treatments. You may be very surprised by her eating habits in a couple months - things can change a lot in a short time!

[@llli*luckyducky77]

We haven't scheduled the IVF yet. Basically I was told by the specialist that all I need to do is call once she is weaned completely and I have a period. She didn't say how long after weaning I had to wait but I think she's assuming that my period won't start until after the baby is weaned. I'm starting to think the same since it's been almost 2 wks now of no night feedings, no pumping, and less daytime nursing on work days (Mon, tues, thurs, fri) and also less on the days she's with me. The first month is testing, then a month of OCPs, then the stimulation month. She did say that if I weaned her and more than 30 days goes by before I get a period, to just call and they'd induce a withdrawal bleed to get the show on the road. This afternoon/evening I was out with friends and DH warmed up the cows milk and put it in her usual bottles and she drank 4 oz. So maybe she just doesn't like that we're giving her cold milk in her water sippy cups. Picky little girl. I was also able to get her to drink 2 oz warmed in a bottle earlier in the day after her morning snack of rice crackers. Seems my child has odd tastes. For lunch she licked the mustard off her hamburger pieces (spit those out after she sucked the mustard off), ate guacamole, strawberries (which had gotten some mustard on them from her plate), and a few tortilla chips.

[@llli*bfwmomof3]

Sounds like perfectly normal toddler behavior!

[@llli*mommal]

If she liked the mustard, you might want to try other sour/sharp/spicy foods. My kids loved that kind of food at that age- kimchi, pickles, sauerkraut, spicy Korean fishcakes...

[@llli*luckyducky77]

The guacamole had some salsa in it. I did eat a lot of salsa while pregnant and nursing so maybe that's why? LOL! I'm convinced the night I ate a super hot salsa is what got her to go from breech to vertex. Too bad my dang cervix refused to go past 8 cm. :/
We gave her sauerkraut and she was not a fan. Haven't tried kimchee yet though that is on the list of foods get her to try.
Today at daycare she signed "baby milk" to the teacher, was given a bottle of cow milk and apparently chugged it down quickly.

[@llli*bfwmomof3]

Today at daycare she signed "baby milk" to the teacher, was given a bottle of cow milk and apparently chugged it down quickly.

That's great - sounds like she's transitioning well to the cow's milk!

[@llli*luckyducky77]

yep, just need to warm it up and put it in the bottle. I was hoping to have her only take it in her sippy cups but I guess we'll start somewhere, right?

[@llli*bfwmomof3]

Absolutely, there's plenty of time to transition to cups. First things first!