I like nusing my baby. I'm pretty good at it, really. Ok, so my milk supply isn't overwhelming, which means she has to eat a little more often than the average baby, but we do pretty well.
I don't really want to give it up.
At my last nephrology appointment, my doctor said that we needed to shift my medication for my blood pressure, because it was higher than she liked. We wouldn't do it, though, until my baby is 10 months old, because nursing is so good for babies, and the medication she wants me on is not.
Well, Little Sister had a check up today, and the doc asked me how long I planned on nursing. I told him I would have to stop in about 3 months, because of my blood pressure, blah blah blah.
He shrugged and said, "All it would do would slow her heart rate a little bit, nothing serious. I should think she would be okay. I'll check for you, though."
I don't know if he really will check, because he's sort of a laid back kinda guy, and didn't seem all that concerned.
But then I started thinking--is 2 months will slightly elevated BP really that dangerous? I'm running in the mid 130s/mid 80s on meds-- butI was running that high before without meds. If I push it two more months, will that really change the outcome of my kidney function all that much?
Another reason I want to keep nursing is that formula is expensive. Really expensive. We went through this with my son, and it's a chunk of change.
It's also inconvenient. Who wants to pack a bottle around? Not me. I did it with my son, because my milk supply went dry at about 8 months. What a pain. For me, nursing is much more convenient.
I'm not a nursing Nazi. I know many women who have given their babies formula, and their babies do just fine. And I'm not going to pull out the argument that my baby will be obese and stupid if I don't nurse her until she's 1 year old. I have no doubt that she will suffer few if any effects of being bottle fed for three months.
But this is the last time I get to nurse a baby. I'd like to get the most out of the experience. Plus, she makes really cute sighing noises after she's done, and snuggles into me. Seriously, you can't beat it.
I don't really want to give it up.
At my last nephrology appointment, my doctor said that we needed to shift my medication for my blood pressure, because it was higher than she liked. We wouldn't do it, though, until my baby is 10 months old, because nursing is so good for babies, and the medication she wants me on is not.
Well, Little Sister had a check up today, and the doc asked me how long I planned on nursing. I told him I would have to stop in about 3 months, because of my blood pressure, blah blah blah.
He shrugged and said, "All it would do would slow her heart rate a little bit, nothing serious. I should think she would be okay. I'll check for you, though."
I don't know if he really will check, because he's sort of a laid back kinda guy, and didn't seem all that concerned.
But then I started thinking--is 2 months will slightly elevated BP really that dangerous? I'm running in the mid 130s/mid 80s on meds-- butI was running that high before without meds. If I push it two more months, will that really change the outcome of my kidney function all that much?
Another reason I want to keep nursing is that formula is expensive. Really expensive. We went through this with my son, and it's a chunk of change.
It's also inconvenient. Who wants to pack a bottle around? Not me. I did it with my son, because my milk supply went dry at about 8 months. What a pain. For me, nursing is much more convenient.
I'm not a nursing Nazi. I know many women who have given their babies formula, and their babies do just fine. And I'm not going to pull out the argument that my baby will be obese and stupid if I don't nurse her until she's 1 year old. I have no doubt that she will suffer few if any effects of being bottle fed for three months.
But this is the last time I get to nurse a baby. I'd like to get the most out of the experience. Plus, she makes really cute sighing noises after she's done, and snuggles into me. Seriously, you can't beat it.