Nutritionist questioned my nursing

I just knew this was going to happen. So I prepared myself and DH for that look of disapproval for nursing still. I just don't get why all the dr's think it's so horrible. If I had a calf I would give it cow's milk. But I'm a human and they deserve my milk. They are the size of 6-7 month olds. Why is nursing them bad?? I just don't get it.

Not to mention, I would have to replace my milk with another fluid so they don't get dehydrated. They can't have cow's milk, soy milk, and they don't like rice milk. I try juice but they only take a couple of oz a day. It's just beyond me........

So I asked her what the difference in calories was....she didn't tell me. Hmmmmm.........sounds to me like it was just disapproval. I don't get it.

 

Mine nursed for 27 months, and why not? Don't let the nutrionist make you feel bad.

 

I am sorry they are not bfing friendly-that is unfortunate! They are probably concerned about their size but as long as they are growing then they are fine. Keep up the good work! You are doing a great thing!

 

Well, they aren't growing anymore. But they eat very well! Milk should only be a portion of their diet now. That's why I'm not understanding why they are so negative about nursing. And, they are only 12 1/2 months adjusted.

 

You rock, you are still producing and are able to nurse them. Poo on the people who give you are hard time, you know what is best.

 

QUOTE(rubyturquoise @ Jul 30 2008, 06:55 PM) [snapback]904845[/snapback]
Mine nursed for 27 months, and why not? Don't let the nutrionist make you feel bad.


Wow 27 months!!! I'm in AWE!! Mine get so wiggly now that I have a hard time tandeming. How did you do it?!

QUOTE(Mum2TwinBoys @ Jul 30 2008, 07:51 PM) [snapback]904957[/snapback]
You rock, you are still producing and are able to nurse them. Poo on the people who give you are hard time, you know what is best.


Thank you!!

 

At this age I can almost guarentee your milk is has more calories than any other milk/liquid! http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/milkcalories.html

 

QUOTE(excitedk @ Jul 30 2008, 08:14 PM) [snapback]904990[/snapback]
At this age I can almost guarentee your milk is has more calories than any other milk/liquid! http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/milk/milkcalories.html


Thank-you SO MUCH for that link!!! She tried telling me that at this stage it has much less calories and not beneficial. But when I asked her how much, she ended up changing the subject. She was quite flighty (sp?). That makes me so upset that she made me question whether or not I was nursing for them or me! Without my milk they would only be getting 1/2 the calories they are now. They really NEED those calories.

Thank-you!!!!!

I just showed the link to DH, and he reminded me that she said my milk has basically no caloric value at this point because I've been nursing so long.

 

ARGH! That stinks! Obviously that nutritionist is totally ignorant. Thanks for posting the link, Kristi - it's absolutely true, mom's milk is a gold mine of fat, calories, vitamins, etc. Nini - you're absolutely right, your kids need those calories right now.

Your milk does change as you're nursing toddlers - antibody concentration increases! Mother nature knows that toddlers are running around putting every piece of dirt and cat poo they can find in their mouths...

QUOTE
Wow 27 months!!! I'm in AWE!! Mine get so wiggly now that I have a hard time tandeming. How did you do it?!


We haven't made it to 27 mo yet, but my kids have really settled down a lot in the last few months. They're a lot less squirmy while nursing, and spend longer at the breast at a time. Do your babies have loveys? It might help if they had something to cuddle/play with while nursing.

QUOTE
You rock, you are still producing and are able to nurse them. Poo on the people who give you are hard time, you know what is best.


Right on!

 

I wonder what she would have said if you told her 'why giving your baby/babies the best is not good enough for her.'
Really why does anyone else care?!

 

UGH! Find a new nutritionist.

 

QUOTE(NINI H @ Jul 30 2008, 08:19 PM) [snapback]904998[/snapback]
She tried telling me that at this stage it has much less calories and not beneficial. But when I asked her how much, she ended up changing the subject.


Makes you wonder how much other crud she's making up with no basis in fact, doesn't it?

 

Exactly my thought. I think there were some definite signs of disapproval with my nursing. I find that so WEIRD, especially for someone in the "medical field". I think we will be cancelling our follow up. She wasn't even sure if we "needed" one. Ok.....I guess the fact that they aren't growing is "OK?!"

 

I agree with PP, find a new nutritionist. There is bound to be someone out there, that is wise to how great breastmilk is. If your children can't use the other types of milk, then my question is, what kind of milk does she think they are going to get? Let me guess, they don't need the calcium and other vitamins that come from milk? Quack!!!

Keep it up! You are doing right by your children and that is what is important! I would talk to the pediatrician about their growing. If he/she refered you to the nurtrionist, then ask for a different referral.

 

My oldest DS nursed until he was 29 months - and it was a wonderful experience for both of us. Don't let some nutritionist who obviously isn't supportive of extended bfing bring any negativity to the wonderful gift you are giving your children. I agree, find a new nutritionist!!

 

Wow. I guess I'm still surprised when I hear about people that aren't supportive of breast feeding! What is the world coming to? A good friend of mine who has a 10 month old had someone tell her she's starving her baby by breast feeding! She was like "riiiight" as she looked over at her chunky baby!

I do find it even more surprising coming form a nutritionist though. But I've been find out though that when it comes to things like this there are people who's opinion matters and there are people who's opinion doesn't. I had a friend telling me just how I should breast feed my twins. Would have been good advice, but she's never had twins to bf!

I agree with pp... talk to a pediatrician about them not growing. You never know, it might not have anything to do with nutrition. G/L!

 

Our family ped is the one who gave us the referral for FTT. We are going back for another weight check soon. We'll discuss it with him then. We're not sure it's nutrition either.

Does anyone know of other resources other than Kellymom for breast feeding info (that's reliable). I'm considering getting some research together for our Dr and if we have to go back to the nutritionist. Just for their info.

 

QUOTE(NINI H @ Jul 31 2008, 06:50 PM) [snapback]906727[/snapback]
Does anyone know of other resources other than Kellymom for breast feeding info (that's reliable). I'm considering getting some research together for our Dr and if we have to go back to the nutritionist. Just for their info.


If you look at the Kelly Mom articles, there's usually a bibliography at the end that includes the peer-reviewed journal articles and other medical literature supporting the Kelly Mom piece. Those are the articles that will help your Dr; I'm not sure the nutritionist is salvageable - vagueness when asked a direct question she doesn't know the answer to is just pathetic in a someone purporting to be a health professional. (Sorry, I'm really ticked on your behalf.)

 

QUOTE(Zabeta @ Jul 31 2008, 07:20 PM) [snapback]906789[/snapback]
If you look at the Kelly Mom articles, there's usually a bibliography at the end that includes the peer-reviewed journal articles and other medical literature supporting the Kelly Mom piece. Those are the articles that will help your Dr; I'm not sure the nutritionist is salvageable - vagueness when asked a direct question she doesn't know the answer to is just pathetic in a someone purporting to be a health professional. (Sorry, I'm really ticked on your behalf.)


I completelly agree. Unfortunately, I'm not sure our familly Dr will. So I might be "stuck". But hopefully he'll understand that she wasn't "the right fit" for our familly. Honestly, I'm really just hoping that they start gaining, so I can be done with the Dr's. But if that doesn't happen then we will be asking for some GI testing at least. I appreciate your sentiments!! I'm sufficiently ticked too!

 

Let us know how things are going. Hope your next dr visit is more positive!

 

You should return to that nutritionist and "inform" her of what SHE SHOULD already know. It is common if things aren't going well to blame it on bf. you are right it is only a portion of what they are eating. ARe you and your dh small framed ? My two girls are smaller and light weights but my dh and I are not large people either. Trust your instincts but I hope you find some answers.

Heather

 

You poor dear. That is so tough to have the person who's supposed to be helping being aggressively ignorant instead.

We encountered similar ignorance when Tal fell from the 50th percentile at 4 months to below the 3rd percentile by a year (she was under 17 lb). Asides from the child development nurse (a fab, over-qualified, ex-hippie) everyone else we met was dismissive of my still breastfeeding them (I wonder what they'd say if they knew I was STILL breastfeeding them at 26 months): the pediatrician, the nutritionist and the pediatric gastroentologist.

We were 'lucky' in that Maia was in the 85th percentile for weight. So everytime one of them told me my milk wasn't rich enough or that I was 'starving' her somehow by still breastfeeding her (as well as all the regular food), I could point to her chubby sister and say 'Eh no, we have a control'.

On the other hand we had absolutely no choice in health professionals as we live in a small, very remote town where they fly some of them in once a month. So what I did was, before our next visit, arm myself with evidence based research (mostly via kelly mom) on the benefits of breastmilk and several pre-thought-out 'quick' responses.

In the end I was too un-assertive to use the research with them (with is pretty pathetic as I am also a health professional with a doctorate). I know I should have educated them, but instead I just ignored whatever they said in the breastfeeding domain and followed the rest of their advice.

But I did use one quip which I think made them think as well as laugh:

"Given how unhealthy you're suggesting breastmilk is, it's a wonder mammals / the human race have survived until now. (Evolution must have really cocked things up somewhere)"

Good luck with finding good help with the FTT issue. In the end, for us, after several doctors' trips over several months, we just figure she's just little (like DH and his family) but energetic and healthy.
lisa