Made it to 10 months

[Hollie_Joyous]

Hi Ladies,

Sorry I've been MIA lately. Like I mentioned in a previous post, my Crohn's has been in constant flare up mode for well over a month now and I was feeling really crappy. I am feeling probably 75% better now, thanks to prednisone. I really hate that drug but it seems to be the only one that can calm things down in a matter of days of starting it. As soon as I get more time, I'll try to post an update with some pictures.

The reason I'm posting right now is because I need some help with weaning Silas off from the breast to the bottle. He has only taken a bottle a few times and has never had a taste of formula. I need to wean him because the GI doctor just prescribed me a new medication that isn't safe to breastfeed while taking. I don't plan on cutting him off cold turkey but would like to have him weaned within a 2 to 3 week time frame. I don't have any EBM stored up either. UGH! Any suggestions on how to go about weaning him? Should I start pumping a couple of times a day to have some EBM to mix in with his formula? Karma -- you have any EBM you'd like to ship down to me? TIA ladies!

[KKB]

Hi Hollie -
Glad to hear your crohn's is under control - I had to take prednisone as part of my cancer tx and it was terrible. I know what that's like...
As for the weaning, what I did with Addie was to mix the formula in with her BM bottles. The first week I mixed it 1/3 formula, 2/3 BM for 2 of her four daily bottles (the other 2 were straight BM). Then the next week I did 1/2 formula, 1/2 BM for all bottles...then we did 1/2 & 1/2 for 2 bottles and straight formula for the other two.
After about 3 weeks she was on mostly formula, with a little BM here and there mixed in. She had no problems with the straight formula once we go there, and never minded it at all. The only thing that was an issue was some constipation early on in the weaning because formula is more binding obviously than BM. But we worked it through with some baby prunes mixed in her cereal and fruit
Wish I could help you out with some EBM but we're all out - she literally had the last bag the day she turned 10 months old.
Good luck with Silas - I'm sure he'll be just fine.

[Lesbeth]

Hollie - my friend suffers from Crohn's and gets shots of remicaid. They really work and she has been feeling great now for a long time. I am not sure I have the spelling right, but I think a nurse has to come and administer it. YOU should look into it.

[Hollie_Joyous]

Thanks Karma and Lesbeth! I am actually going to meet with a lactation consultant tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon to see what the best approach would be to wean Silas. I have no EBM stored up so if I want to mix EBM with formula, I'll have to start pumping ASAP. I am pretty sure that I will not get enough stored up, though, as my supply has decreased. I am going to try to pump to get some EBM to mix in but I'm not sure how much I will get and if I can stay ahead of the game. I thought maybe I'd just offer him a sippy cup or a bottle of formula once or twice a day for a week to start off with and then slowly decrease the nursings. I'm going to call my doctor to inform him that it's going to take awhile for me to get on the new medication he just prescribed so that I can wean Silas properly. I am sure it's going to be an adjustment for us both, but we'll get through it! Lesbeth -- I actually was on Remacaid for awhile but have had two allergic reactions to it so I am no longer able to receive it. I am now on Humira and Methotrixate injections once a week. Methotrixate is the drug that is deemed not safe to breastfeed while taking. Thanks for the suggestion, though!

[want2bmomee]

I hope the weaning goes well for both you & Silas! If you can, I would try and store up as much EBM as possible to mix with the formula in case he won't drink it. I had that problem with Austin. He stopped nursing at 8 mo, and when I tried formula he absolutely refused it. It took FOREVER to get him to drink it straight. I had to sneak in less than 1/4 of formula in a bottle at first for a few weeks even. Then it was 1/2 & 1/2 for a long time too. I just now (at 10 mo) got him to drink straight formula with no problems. I am down to pumping just once a day now & am trying to dry up. I hope your little guy takes to formula much better than mine did! I had to pump & use frozen EBM for 2 months before the switch was final... I don't say this to discourage you, but just in case hes a tough switch, he WILL get used to it eventually I seriously thought for awhile that Austin was NEVER going to take a bottle of formula, but now he does! Good luck! And hope the Crohn's isn't bothering you too much. My brother has it too, and he also had a reaction to the Remacaid and is now on Humira. Must be frustrating, but you have done such a great job being able to BF for as long as you have! Congrats & good luck!

[Hollie_Joyous]

Just wanted to post an update real quick.. I've decided that it's going to take at least a month to get Silas weaned and I don't want to wean him to formula just to wean him to cow's milk when he hits a year old in 2 months. I've already called the doctor and told him that it was going to take me awhile to get on the Methotrixate because I have to wean Silas and that I will not start taking the med until ds is weaned off the breast. I actually left a message for him with his secretary but haven't received a call from him so i'm assuming that it's okay. If he seems upset that I haven't started it yet when I see him next (May 27th), I will tell him that I will start it right away. The medication is safe to breastfeed while taking if it's on a short term basis and by the end of May, Silas will only be weeks away from being weaned to cow's milk. I rented a hospital grade double electric breastpump today so that I can start pumping and try to get some EBM stored up for when I wean ds to cow's milk. I honestly feel that this is the best option for ds and I.

[want2bmomee]

That sounds like a great plan! Hope it all goes well for both of you!