Breast Feeding and Taking Her Temp.

I did the same thing with both my children. I did stop breast feeding at five months with my little boy and three months with my little girl. And believe it or not my oldest child stays sick more than my younger one. But if she doesn't have a problem with stopping the feedings, then I would stop. If only to make things better for you. You need to be healthy for her.

I have always taken my kids temp under their arm. Seems to work better for them. My pediatrician does say to add a degree if taken under the arm, but has never said anything about taking one away if temp is taken rectally.

Hope this helps.

The breastfeeding is not what made your period the way it is its the pills. drop the pills and choose something else. if you arent planning on having any kids for bit I recomend an IUD, I have one first month or 2 you will bleed but after that your period will be much shorter and it lasts for 5-10 yrs depending on which one you get. It COULD be your still bleeding from her birth. give it time and dont stop breastfeeding her , theres so many reason to keep it up rather than stop.

Hi J.,

I was given an ear thermometer as a baby gift and always used that. When my daughter was about 18 mos. old, we were out of town and she developed an ear infection. We went to a different doctor and the nurse there really gave me grief about using the ear thermometer, so I bought a rectal one. For 5 or 6 times, when I took her temp, I did it both ways. Each time, the difference was only 0.1 or 0.2 degrees - close enough for me, so I stuck to the ear thermometer - much easier on everybody!

Although I beleive that breast milk is best, lots of kids grow up healthy on formula. Personally, I worked so I breast fed in the early morning and at night, and we bottle fed during the day. I pumped so we had some breast milk for during the day, but we had to supplement with formula. I have a history of allergies, so I wanted breast milk as long as possible for my daughter. My daughter weaned herself at about 9 months and I really missed it, but we had lots of other snuggle time, and that is great too.

Good luck. You sound like a caring mom!

L.

If Kaitlyn is already weaning herself away from the breast then I say run with it. It will be alot easier to do it now then later...and if she is fine with the bottle and you are happy with it then by all means do what feels right. As for the bonding...i know it makes you feel closer to her to nurse but just remember you can still get that with a bottle. Just keep it warm and quiet and have lots of eye to eye contact.
Weaning will also give you a chance to get on a stronger b/c and stop the bleeding which is making you tired. Also if she is staying full longer on the formula then your breast milk is probably lacking in something and the formula is probably better for her.
As for your husband, tell him when he starts nursing then he can be the one say when it stops.

If weening her is what's best for you then go ahead and do it. Your husband may want you to continue breast feeding but I'm sure he'd also understand that the bad out weighs the good for you right now. And theres no harm in bottle feeding and you shouldnt feel quilty for feeling the way you do. Breast feeding isnt for everyone, wasnt for me. I tried with both of mine but with both boys problems arised that prevented me from doing it. My oldest was bottle fed in the nursery without my knowledge and didnt want the breast after we'd come home. And my 4 1/2 month old developed anemonia an hour after birth and had to stay in the hospital a week. So do what is best for you and try explaining it to your husband as best as you can and I'm sure he'll support you.As for the fever...normally with a fever u can tell if a baby has one by feeling the baby's back, neck and chest. If u can feel that the baby is unusually warm all over, that usually indicates a fever and I normally use the pacifier thermometer. If it's not above 104 (what the doctors told me, I thought that was kinda high but w/e) then just try giving some infant drops of ibuprophen.gl

The pills are to blame for the all the bleeding. Been there and done that. Dont just settle with what pill they tell you to take, you do have a say so. I breast fed a full year with my son, exclusively, and yes they eat more then with formula. That as well as anything else you do is a choice and yours to make. I loved feeding my son and I always felt like I was doing the best for him by going the full year with breast milk. I always trusted rectal temps. Ear works well though.

I breast fed both of my children. My advice would be to stop the birth control pills and use condoms. Keep breast feeding your daughter as long as you possible can (within reason). I breast fed my daughter for four months and my son for 13 months and the difference in their health issues is phenominal. I am a sincere advocate for breast feeding. If the only reason you are considering stopping is because of the pills, then stop the pills and keep the feeding. If the pills are causing excessive bleeding, maybe they aren't that good for you anyway. We know that breast feeding is the best start in life that you can give your child.

As far as the temperature issue, under the arm-add a degree, backside-take a degree away. I do encourage you to get one of those wonderful electronic thermometers they use at the doctors office that get the temperater in the ear. It takes less time and is the least uncomfortable for the child. They are rather expensive though. I did the backside temperature once on my daughter and never did it again. She screamed and that was it for me. After that, I held the thermometer under her arm for five min. It was better for her and for me.

Good luck.

J. I don't have allot to say about breast feeding because every woman is different in this rectrospec and I stopped when my son got his first four teeth at four months and I think you should do what works for you!
Temp. you should use an electric ear thermometer that is what doctors use why shouldn't you. I also use one and have no complaints. A. www.busymomsworkathome.com

If formula is working out ok with her-I say go with it. Your husband is not the one who has to get up and breastfeed (even though you enjoy doing it).

With the temp. issue-if you use a rectal mercury thermometer, you do not have to take away a degree. If you use a therm. under her arm, you must add a degree. But now they have thermometers that look like pacifiers, but will register temp. Or there are even ones to use on the forehead and of course, the ear.

Good Luck!

Hey J.,
I breastfeed my first son with much enthusiasm, but with this child and me working full time I am not sure of how long we will be able to breastfeed. My midwife has told me that the decision to stop is one for you and your child to make together. If it is too much for you right now then I would stop - both of you need to be comfortable with the situation.

I think your breastfeeding plans sounds like what is best for you. It sounds almost exactly to what is going on with me and my daughter. We gotta do what's best for us! And don't let anyone make you feel guilty for whatever decision you make.

I can't help on the temperature thing. I haven't had to take one yet.

Hi! :)

I hope you'll reconsider and keep bf'ing!! I just got back from the obgyn with the same dilemma. The alternative to the minipill we discussed was the Mirena IUD if you guys know you won't want to conceive in say from 1-5 years (to make the IUD cost effective. My insurance actually covers it for only the copay amt of $20!!)

I had heard the exact same thing regarding their temp.

Hope she gets well soon! :)

i.

i have 3 kids one is 2months and i breastfeed him, i do give a bottle at night so he will sleep longer, my 1st child i nursed until she was 3months i only gave up because of work, but now i would change that, my 2nd daughter would not take a bottle until she was about 5months so as soon as she did i stoped breastfeeding, so what you feel is right is right. my son might be feed longer on the breast than my girls because i get to stay at home now and formula is expensive. so dont feel as if you need to please anyone on how to feed your girl, she will get what she needs from breast or bottle, maybe you could freeze some so you can still give her breast milk when you want too,
on the temp, i always do rectal on babies , i feel that it is the best for this age and accurate, that way you dont have too wonder. hope i was helpful! J.

Hi J., I am still breast feeding my son now for a year and he is weaning himself. It really is up to you when to stop because you have to do it noone else can feed your baby. I enjoy not having to wash bottles and warn them just right. If she is eating more often, it is to increase the supply. I fyou decide to kepp doing it, you may want to change you diet to keep your milk supply up. Maybe she won't eat as often if you make more. Supplimenting formula is causeing her to eat more often because you are not making enough.

About the temperature. I use the ear thermometer like the doctor uses. my doctor says the most accurate temp is the rectal but not to change the temperature as it reads on the thermometer. Teething caused both of my boys to have a slight temperature. Up to 103 degrees and the next day gone.

www.kristies.fourpointmoms.com

J.,

I have always used the rule that Rectal tempurature is precise. If you take an oral temp, then you add 1-2 degrees, and if you take it under the arm, you subtract 1-2 degrees.

Also, babies tempuratures fluctuate so much between being wrapped, and unwrapped, warm formula, bath time, etc. So don't panic if you think she's a little high.

Hope I could help.