Breastfeeding a newborn baby is a natural and beautiful thing for new mothers, but for some women the breastfeeding process has its challenges, such as getting their baby to latch on properly to feed -- for others it's getting their child to wean that proves the most difficult.

For 31-year-old mother of three, Fiona Andrews, being able to give her three children the best nutrition early by breastfeeding them for their first year of life was a dream she was able to achieve.  For her, she says it was a beautiful opportunity which gave her time to bond with her newborn children.  Although her elder two children are past the toddler stage and put their breastfeeding days behind them it is her youngest child who is now almost four and refuses to discontinue breastfeeding who worries her.

"I often don't know what to do," said Andrews.  "My elder two children [now five and eight-years-old] easily transitioned into eating solid foods and lost interest in breastfeeding by the time they were two-years-old but Michael is showing no indication of stopping.  He throws fits when I tell him 'no' and he still isn't too interested in many solid foods yet.  My friends and my doctor tell me that I shouldn't rush him but let him get tired of [breastfeeding].  I've done that with no success.  I think no matter how beautiful and good breastfeeding is there should be some limit to when it's time to stop."

As the Bahamas National Breastfeeding Association (BNBA) celebrates World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, association members says knowing how to properly breastfeed is just as important as knowing when and how to wean your child.

Registered nurse/midwife in the Department of Lactation Management Services at the Department of Public Health, Linelle Thompson says there are many women who face the problem Andrews does and their biggest error may be determining when it is time for their child to stop breastfeeding by comparing the time period to when other children stopped.  Weaning a child she says is an entirely personal experience for mother and child and there is no recommended time period for the process to end.

"Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that babies should exclusively breastfeed from birth to six months the time you take after that period to get your child used to solid foods and stop breastfeeding entirely -- the weaning period -- can last for as long as the child and mother want it to.  As a mother you may want to stop breastfeeding after a certain point, but you should ease yourself into doing it for your sake and the child's."

When a mother weans her child from breastfeeding, it should not be a forceful act, but rather a gentle letting go of one comfort for another.  The nurse says the mother shouldn't push the baby away during the process which should be akin to a child heading off to school and happily letting go of his mother's hand and saying, "Bye Mommy."  Nurse Thompson says if this happens then you know the process is going well.  But if the child is still kicking and screaming, then he is not ready and you shouldn't push him.  She warns that being too rushed with the process often makes the child want to cling to the mother even more which will prolong the process even further.  To make the process easier there are some things mothers can do to successfully transition their child from being breastfed to eating solid foods.

WEANING BABY

The weaning process should start no sooner than six months so the baby's nutritional foundation is not disturbed and his body has time to learn how to function normally without the added stress of digesting heavy foods.

"Studies show that if you wean your baby too early he often develops upper respiratory infections, has no desire for the breast which isn't good since he still needs the balanced nutrition from it, and he is more prone to developing gastric disturbances often.  You also stress the baby's small organs especially the kidneys if he is given food or even water too soon.  This can lead to complications with his kidneys later on in life.  The excess food and milk are also not good as they aren't properly digested and can be stored in the baby's body which can lead to obesity later on as well, so it is important first of all not to rush into weaning."

When your baby is the right age, Nurse Thompson says you can start introducing solid foods to him carefully, one food at a time.  And she says it is not absolutely necessary to go to the store to buy special baby foods for your baby.

"It is perfectly fine to give your child a fruit or soft foods from the table.  I remember when my baby was about six months old and he reached out for a mango, I gave it to him as it was a perfectly good choice and it didn't cost me anything since I had a tree in my yard."

Mashed potatoes, quinoa, cereals, fruits like mangoes, bananas, guavas and other healthy pureed foods she says are also good at this stage as it is important to start your baby eating well from the beginning.  Her suggestion though is that when you start the process you should only introduce your baby to one food a week to keep an eye out for allergies, because if your child breaks out you will want to know which food is causing it.  She says it is more difficult to find out if you gave him four and five different foods in a short period of time.To supplement your child's needs and get him used to using everyday dishes she advises that you allow the baby to drink liquids be it your pumped milk or water from a sippy cup.

"At this point many mothers think it's time to use a bottle for the baby but this not so.  A baby never needs a bottle," says the nurse.  "You will cause the baby to suffer from nipple confusion because he will not know where the source of what he is drinking is from and may end up preferring the bottle to the breast.  It causes the baby to bite the nipple and some studies even show it affects academic development later on.  It is advised that all props such as pacifiers, teething rings not be used at all.  The baby needs to get used to drinking from a sippy cup and eventually a proper cup."

Nurse Thompson says it is healthy for the baby to be away from the mother so he can get used to other things.  She says the more accustomed the child is to the mother being away or him doing something else like going to school or playing with his peers the less time he will have to worry about breastfeeding.  The more food you introduce him to, she says his appetite for breast milk will lessen.

"If your child is getting older and still craves the breast you will be able to speak to him rationally about breastfeeding and tell him it's for babies and not big kids.  This gentle prodding will help him in his process and make it a little easier for you as well."
MOTHERS NEED TO BE WEANED TOO

Weaning is just as much about the mother letting go as it is about the baby letting go, since breastfeeding creates a bond between mother and child.  Losing the bond as the baby starts to prefer other things can be hard on the mother as well, and she may hold on even more than the baby does.

The nurse says when a mother stops breastfeeding, her prolactin levels -- the hormone that activates due to a baby suckling the breast -- will decrease rapidly and the mother who usually may have been calm and happy due to the high levels of the hormone can go into depression.  She says this is especially bad for women prone to depression or already suffering from it as it can worsen the situation.  Her advice is that the weaning process be done slowly so the prolactin levels decrease over a period and by the end of it the mother will be stable.

To reduce your child off breastfeeding, Nurse Thompson suggests mothers reduce the number of feeding sessions as their baby starts to eat more solid foods.  If you breastfed your baby eight times a day, as you are in the weaning process, by week two or three, she says you should reduce it to about six and wait another few weeks before you lessen it again. She says it is imperative not to suddenly stop breastfeeding because it will do more harm than good.

Once the child has completely stopped feeding from the breast, she says mothers may still continue to produce milk for a while.  To wean your body from continuing to produce milk the nurse says to keep expressing it at widely spaced intervals, but to only pump out enough to make you comfortable so your breasts won't become painfully engorged.  She says mothers should keep widening the intervals over a few weeks and the body will get the message and produce less and less milk until it completely stops.

If personal assistance is needed for mothers breastfeeding or having problems weaning, a BNBA meeting occurs every first Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. at SuperClub Breezes. The BNBA also offers 24-hour emergency breastfeeding and weaning assistance.  You can contact Nurse Thompson at 341-5677 or 565-0118 and BNBA president Nurse Carlotta Klass at 324-2641.

Quick Tips on Weaning Older

Introduce one food at a time while slowly decreasing feeding sessions. Avoid feeding baby processed, salty or sweetened foods. Do not stop breastfeeding suddenly. Spend time away from baby so his desire for breastfeeding decreases. Introduce other activities and food alternatives to distract from breastfeeding. Gently talk to an older child, informing him that breastfeeding is for babies and not "big kids."

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