This is the first time in well over a month that I've posted from a real computer. The only blogging I've been able to do lately has been on my phone or iPad, which should explain both my relative silence in blogging and commenting (even for me, which I know, that's saying something). I have a lot to catch up on but I'm reading everything.
Two things are on my mind today.
1. We had Timmy's three year well-check visit with our new pediatrician yesterday. She seemed really concerned with where he is on the growth charts. He's only 45th percentile for height and 95th for weight, which puts his BMI off the charts. This perplexes me in so many ways. First, how does a child of a 5'10" woman and a 6'2" man end up so short? Second, why is he so chubby? I know that he can eat a lot if he likes something and that he doesn't get enough vegetables, etc..., but seriously?! He eats very healthy breakfasts and lunches, dinner can be hit or miss, but we aren't those parents that feed their kids donuts, candy and soda. He's never eaten at a fast food restaurant unless you count in-n-out (which I don't!). So whatever, I have a short and chubby kid apparently. The pediatrician referred us to a registered pediatric dietician, with whom I am actually excited to meet, if only for ideas on how to get him to eat more variety. I plotted out his height and weight on a growth chart and he's been on basically the same track since birth, so I don't think it's purely a dietary issue. But still, it's a little bit disconcerting.
2. I'm considering introducing Ellie to formula but I can't seem to just bite the bullet. I nursed Timmy for 14 months and he probably had formula twice in his life, so I think I feel a little guilty for not doing the same for her. Breastfeeding is going just fine and I still enjoy it most of the time, but I'm starting to feel the strain from being the only one who can feed her (and if not actually feeding her, then pumping). Every time I go to my closet and realize I can't wear that cute dress because there is no way I'm going to be able to easily feed her all day, I just wish that I was done completely. I know that when I go back to work (in 2.5 weeks!!!!!), I'm not going to want to pump all the time. And wouldn't it be nice to just be able to have anyone watch her and feed her and go off and do something for hours at a time without whipping out my boobs? I wouldn't feel so torn if my supply was dwindling or if she seemed to prefer a bottle, but it seems like such a big step to stop exclusively breastfeeding just because I kind of feel like it. Right? Or will I be much happier and that's all I should worry about? Does everyone feel kind of meh about this at some point but we should just push through it?
So, some big (or maybe they're little) thoughts about my kids' diets. Not a second thought about the handful of cookies and frozen yogurt I had for lunch today. I think I am that mom that has lost touch with herself as an individual apart from her offspring.
5 comments:
Sorry about the concerning news at Timmy's appointment. I'm sure everything is fine and he will just sprout later in life. As long as he is happy and healthy and eating well, it doesn't matter how tall he is! He will be just the perfect size for Timmy! Obviously, I'm no expert but the fact that he's been in the same percentages since birth probably means that it's just biological and he is developing at his own rate. My son has been the same percentages since birth too. I remember my doctor saying that was a good sign.
Regarding breastfeeding, I know it's easier said than done but you shouldn't feel guilty for wanting to stop. Pumping at work (or anywhere for that matter) is such a chore and such a drag (and it hurts!). Working moms may do things differently than if they were at home all day but that doesn't mean our children suffer for it. Actually, now might be a very good time to introduce formula. There may be times after you return to work where pumped milk supply is low and her care provider may need to supplement. Maybe start giving her a bottle a day and see how she does with it? I breastfed for 7 months then stopped simply because I was SO DONE with it all. The pumping was burning me out and I was just ready to have my body back. I felt some twinges of guilt but did it anyway, for myself. I was so much happier and felt so much more independent. It was wonderful!
Good luck!
Can you post about what the dietitian says? It seems so mysterious how kids can seem to have perfectly healthy diets and be more or less equally active, but one is chubby and one is skinny. X is a chubby baby, and it seems weird to me that my two kids were born on exactly the same day of the year, but X has always been so much bigger than K was at the same age.
On formula, both my kids self-weaned at 8 months. With K I went through some angst about the switch to formula, with X I didn't. The baby will be fine -- I think this is more about you, how important breastfeeding is to you, and what you can handle. I am much happier and less tired now that I'm not nursing anymore, but if he hadn't self-weaned I'd probably try to stick with it for 12 months.
I think it's a new thing for pediatricians to pay too much attention to BMIs. I always thouht my daughter was thin but her dr said her BMI was good and to give her skim milk.
My kids are both fatter than tall. I got the fat kid lecture the other day, too. I'm not letting it worry me - I know what goes in their mouths! It ain't candy! (Except at Halloween, of course!) My biggest boy, Jack, barely eats anything at all. I'd love to hear what the dietitian says, though.
As for the formula thing - I nursed Jack exclusively (except one brief period when we had to be separated) for 10 months, and then slowly introduced some formula. I nursed Liam exclusively for about five weeks before supplementing! I never had a supply issue, or a weight issue - just a pumping issue. Both boys had mostly breastmilk up to the one year mark (or v. close for Liam) - but I threw a little formula in there, too, just for my own sake. Pumping got real old, real fast. I know it's hard to let go, because you can't get your milk back once you stop - but it's also very hard to be the sole feeder for so long, and especially when you are working outside the home (away from your baby).
Yes, please post about your experience with the dietitian - we have the exact opposite problem with our four year old - he's in the 80th percentile for height and maybe like the 30th for weight. And I don't get it. My husband and I aren't really tall, in fact he's average height and I'm below average, and we're both average weight, so it doesn't make sense.
DON'T feel guilty. With both my son and daughter, I attempted. My son would do it but would literally stay attached to my breast 24/7 if he could. My daughter couldn't latch properly. With my son, I pumped exclusively for 9 months and then quit. With my daughter, I pumped for maybe 4 monts then they had formula exclusively and both are ok. As long as they're ok, who the hell cares really?
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