ADD and nursing a baby

[Gidget]

I took my baby to the doc for his checkup today. Doc asked me how long I planned to nurse. I told him at least a year. He said isnt that a little long? I thought that was strange considering he did not say anything negative when I was nursing my dd while pregnant. So I asked MIL(who works for said doc) and she said that he was thinking about my possible add and how to go about treating it. Well, I am juggling alot right now and not sure how accurate the testing would be with all my stress at the moment. I want to wait till baby is one, when I am usually pretty much adjusted. What, in you opinions, would be the right way to go?

Ginger

[Mary]

All of my kids were weaned from me at 6 months... teeth coming in disagreed with parts of my body ..... but each Mom is different. If you feel the child is better off with nursing up to a year old then do so.

There are ways to cope up until you can get back on meds. Ask the doctor for other possibilities.

[Tara]

I say go with your instinct and do what is best for you.

Are you happy with the quality of your life right now? If not are you really willing to wait close to a year until possibly being able to take medication?

[Brianne]

I have heard of mothers that nurse a lot longer than just a year. I am suprized he/she thinks a year is long. I haven't had any kids yet but know a lot because my mother used to work for an OBGYN. I would wait but thats me. I would because they will probably want to try you on meds once diagnosed and as far as I know there hasn't been any real testing on meds and how they could or might not effect breast feeding and pregnancy. So when I have kids I am taking myself off meds. ...............I think it might also help you to waite a year because of how just having a baby effects your mind and body. They say it takes a year for your body alone to recover not sure how long mentally. But I think when you feel better physically you feel better mentally as well so I think you have the right idea by waiting until you are ready. Your Dr has to respect that no matter what he thinks because you have rights and no one can tell you when you are ready but yourself. But thats my opinion, just do what you feel is right for you.

[Lattebon]

I have had four babies and nursed them all for about 10 mths. Each baby had a different nursing schedule and a couple babies wanted to nurse longer than others. I know people that have nursed longer than that and some less.

I agree with Brianne, it does take time for you to recover from having the baby.
A good friend of mine once said to me. the first year is for the baby. I always put them first for that first year and i have never regretted it.

Bottomline, you need to do what you feel is best, not what someone else recommends, but what's best for both you and your baby.

[Mac-distraction]

I agree with what everyone here has written. I was diagnosed right around the time my son was 1 and thought I would start meds a few months later after weaning my son. As in turns out I nursed him until he was around 2. I know a lot of people might find that weird, but that is what worked for us. I do not regret it at all.

Good luck with your decision.

Lauren

[Piupau]

I think you should do it as long as you and your baby want! My son stopped at 6 months and just refused to have any more milk from me He wanted real food instead and baby gruel (???? What is that in english? is this the right word?? It's like milk but thicker... and for kids)

[Nucking_Futs]

I think it's wonderful that you want to bond with your baby. I say go with what YOU want on this one. I'm actually very jealous of your ability. My son was allergic to milk, my daughter was fed breast milk thru a tube directly into her stomach and my last baby I got mastitus and had to stop. So, of course I say GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!

[wifemomservant]

Sorry this is a bit late. I just weaned my 3 1/2 year old a month ago. My 15 month old is still nursing. The world wide average age of weaning is 3-4 years old! The WHO recomends a minimum of two years. The AAP recomends a minimum of 1 year and as long after that as is mutually acceptable between mother and child.

Also, check out whether you really have to wean in order to take the medication. Go to www.bfmoms.com they have an e-mail for a Dr who is a leader in the area of breastfeeding and medication. You can e-mail him and he will usually get back to you within 24 hours.

And just for future reference, it is not a good idea to wean when mastitis sets in, it can make it worse. The best thing to do is nurse as often as possible on the side that is infected, get lots of rest, and lots of water.

[Jellybean]

About the world wide average of breast feeding; I read that in a book called "birth in 4 cultures" it was
a long time ago. Are you familiar with that book wifemomservant?

I breast fed my son 2 years, due to neck problems I had to stop.
He was a fat baby 13 pounds in 5 weeks 17 in 12 weeks, it all cause my bad neck to get worse. I probably would have gone on at least another 6 months or more if I could have.
I had Mastitis and continued to breastfeed, and three bouts of the flu in a row after he was born, whew!! How do we survive?