Holiday Weaning {#BFBlogHop}

With Thanksgiving and Christmas fast approaching, nursing mothers need to watch out for Holiday weaning and how to avoid it.  Holiday weaning occurs when babies decrease their breastfeeding or wean altogether due to the business and distraction of the holidays.  During the holidays, mothers are usually busier preparing for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Eve.  Because of this babies are not fed as often, which causes a decrease in breast milk supply.  Remember that breastfeeding is a supply and demand issue.  So, if you are not nursing as often, your supply will decrease.  Holiday weaning does not just happen around Christmas, it can happen at any time.

Another reason Holiday weaning may occur is because babies are surrounded by people they don't know, and they won't settle down.  The first Thanksgiving after Charis' birth was horrible.  We arrived in PA around 1 AM and went to Drew's extended family's Thanksgiving festivities.  Charis cried for THREE hours straight; I ended up crying in the bathroom, nothing I tried worked.  I tried breastfeeding her, held her, bounced her up and down, prayed with her, and sang with her, and repeated this over and over again.  What eventually worked was asking Aunt Kim if I could give Charis a bath.  Charis LOVES baths and it calmed her down so that she nursed and then napped for 1 1/2 hours.

A few tips to avoid Holiday weaning due to the increased business:

• If need be, excuse yourself from the room to nurse.  You may not have to do this, but if your baby is overstimulated by everything going on, find a quiet place and nurse your baby.
• Breastfeed before going out in the comfort of your home.
• Take shorter shopping trips.
• Buy gifts online. This will allow you to stay home.
• If family members offer to feed the baby a bottle, politely decline and let them know you're breastfeeding.

What tips do you have on continuing to breastfeed through the holidays?

Link up at Sister's N Cloth for the #BFBlogHop.