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To all the raw, nursing mothers.

Hello,

I am new to the raw lifestyle, however I’m going strong.

I am nursing my five and a half month old daughter exclusively. I don’t plan on giving her solid foods until she is about one year old (hopefully I will have milk supply). I saw a video on youtube with David Wolfe and his explanation as to why breastfeeding exclusively is best for a duration of one year.

What do you think about this? Has any raw mom done this or is doing this? It feels right to me so I want to do it the right way, however I am a little anxious about it just because there is not that much information on nursing exclusively for one year.

As far as nursing goes are you taking any supplements or eating certain types of foods for better/more milk supply?

What about calcium?

All replies/suggestions/ideas/thoughts/opinions are greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Comments

  • You are an awesome mom! I wish I could have breast fed for a whole year, I definately would have, to bad I had to go right back to work. I used to read this magazine called Mothering, I know it’s still around I saw it at Whole Foods the other day and at the book store. I haven’t had a little one in awhile my youngest is 9 but I just remember that magazine having such good information about vaccines, nursing, potty training….all the natural way. I didn’t give my kids solids until they were 1 year old now they are 12 and 9 and they are GREAT. My sister on the other hand started giving her babies cereal and such at about 6 months and her kids are kinda pudgy, not fat but I just hope the don’t have weight problems later. With my kids my only regret in regards to this matter is NOT nursing them and giving them formula instead. I think you are doing the right thing by all means. I also heard some where that by upping your greens intake it can up your milk supply. Your milk is going to have all the nutrition that is completely balanced for your baby if you are worried about calcium how about almonds or kale?

  • I am about to do this. I only breastfed my son (who is now 2) for two months, but I wasn’t even vegan then. I’ve been vegan for about a year and a half, and a varying but high percentage of raw for about 3 or 4 months. I am now a few days past 40 weeks and very excited to exclusively breastfeed for as long as necessary :) There is SO much information about exclusive nursing, go here for that and so much more :)

    http://www.kellymom.com/bf/index.html

  • 1sweetpea1sweetpea Raw Newbie

    Sprouted oat groats, sesame seeds (unhulled) and tahini, sea veggies, dark leafy greens, broccoli, figs and chia are some great plant sources of calcium. Eat lots and neither you nor your little one should be wanting for extra calcium. I was not breastfed (it was not as common in the early 70s). I was lactose intolerant, so I was fed a soy-based formula. I wonder now, as an adult, whether the double whammy of not being breastfed and subsisting on soy contributed to my lifelong battle with weight. I’m not overweight now (at 36), but I work damn hard at keeping fit and healthy.

  • I still nurse my baby from time to time… he is 3 1/2 years old!

    I let him choose the moment for solid food, and he started at one year with whole pieces of fruit when he just grabbed it. Before that, he didn’t want anything but my milk. Now he eats a lot, a lot, all day long and almost doesn’t need milk (neither mine nor other).

    Babies don’t need food until they are ready, it can be six months, it can be eighteen months, if they are with mum’s milk they are fine.

  • rawmamanibblesrawmamanibbles Raw Newbie

    I plan to nurse til my son stops himself. as for solid food, not til i year, im part of natural parenting groups and they all suggest 1 year. as for my milk i’ve been raw 2 years and my son is 3 months and i’ve had tons of milk all the time. Shazzie is about to release her book ” katie kitchen” i think it called. and it talks about raising a raw child and nursing while raw. it releases nov 11th …. i cant wait. she also has a article about nursing on her web page shazzie.com or detoxyourworld.com .. not sure which one, im use you’ll find it :)

  • I nursed both my girls and now am pregnant with #3. I started supplementing my second daughter at 6 months because she was showing in interest in the foods i was eating. Strawberries, bananas, etc. It allowed me to go longer between breastfeedings, which I don’t think is bad. She was still being breastfed so still getting antibodies, etc. But for my own sanity and well being it was important for me to not be attached by the boob the entire day.

  • Also, there is a lot of pressure to nurse for as long as possible in the natural community. While nursing is soooo important to do, I think if you can go a year, that is great. I like to stop at a year before they realize what is going on. I don’t think it’s necessary to breastfeed longer than that, I think it makes it harder to wean them, and they don’t really “need” it at that point. Just my opinion though. Every baby and every mommie is different so just trust your instincts.

  • My little girl is 9 months, and she is almost entirely breast fed. I always had it in my mind that I would breast feed her exclusively for a year, but somewhere around 7 months, she showed a VERY keen interest in food, started grabbing stuff off my plate and reaching for whatever I was eating. So now I’ll give her fruit to make her happy. She doesn’t have teeth yet, so sometimes she just gums it.

    So you’ll find out what works best for you and your baby.

    As for milk supply – Tahini smoothies and green juice work the best for me. Separately, of course…not mixed together.

  • the world health organization recommends nursing babies until they are 2 years old… they don’t have to be receive breast milk exclusively though. I nursed my daughter until she was about 2.5 years old, although she started eating some organic fruits and veggies at around 6 months.

    I think a nursing mother should nurse until the baby and mom are both done with it, regardless of whether they are eating raw or not. I do believe in nursing on demand for the first year, and then night weaning whenever you’re ready to start sleeping through the night!

  • rawmamanibblesrawmamanibbles Raw Newbie

    rawleen what baby carrier r u wearing?

  • vegan2rawvegan2raw Raw Newbie

    Hi to all, I am nursing a 3 year old and 19 month old, I am working on weaning my 3 year old she only has milk once or twice a day. My 19 month old on demand except I am trying to stop nursing at night. I was taking Newchapter perfect prenatels and decided to stop to see how I feel and I feel I more nourished when taking them since I am nursing two children and am 100 percent vegan 70-90 percent raw. I also take a B-12 supplement by Now supplement co. (it has vit d a and a few b vitamins) We all take UDOs vegan oil with DHA from an algae source it is cold pressed and raw and gives them necessary brain food most people get from Fish oil. We all take newchapter all flora probiotics and drink kombucha. We have just got our first cold in a loooong time and I attribute it to Halloween events and eating some sugary vegan snacks that were loaded with sugar, more convincing to stay raw and only fruit sugars. I honestly think I need some cooked red lentils and stuff like that b/c I was all raw for a couple weeks and could not eat enough to get all I needed It was like all I did was eat and I felt dazy. But that might not be so extreme for someone nursing one child. Also I have been nursing 3 years so I have to take that in to my body is feeling tired from two close together pregnancies and so much nursing but I am enjoying it b/c as they get bigger I know I will soon not be putting out as much energy. It is a short time in the grand scale of life. I wish I could go without vitamins but I cant so I get organic cultured the best I can get. Our kiddos do not take a vitamin though just the oil and probiotics. I have yet to find a kids vitamin that is not full of sugar and shaped like gummies. I hope this helps someone I really think all kids need a DHA supplement it is hard to find vegan but it is out there.

    The baby carriers we liked best were Hug a BUB and ergo.

    Peace Light and LOVE on your mothering path

  • Hello,

    I have 6 children. We have been mostly raw/vegan most of their lives. My 2 boys weined themselves when they were around 20 months old and I was 5 months pregnant. My next 2 girls nursed all through my pregnancy and then continued until they were about 4 1/2 years old. I know that seems excessive, but its what they needed and they are very strong, confident girls now. My last little daughter is 2 1/2 and is still nursing. I will continue until she stops or around 4 1/2.

    For the first year they all nursed almost exclusively. I say almost because at around 9 months they may have a bite of banana or avacado, but never a full meal or anything like that.

    They are all so very healthy and beautiful. We have only had to go to the doctor a hand full of times and it was usually because of needing stitches or something.

    I just ate a balanced diet and ate when I was hungry. I never had an issue with my milk supply (even after 4 1/2 years of nursing :)

    Blessings, Cathy

  • I would be very careful—at about 8 months, iron needs increase. I once saw a breastfeeding mom with a 9 month old that was hardly eating any other solids and he got to be extremely anemic. If you could get hemoglobin checks that might be a good idea, just to be sure. I’m glad you are so committed to breastfeeding though. here’s to many more years of it! :)

  • Hi,

    I am nursing my 10 months old son and have no a full meal of raw foods yet. But he began to want to try foods so I give him some bananas, avocados and green smooties. I think you should look at your child and act accordingly. The child will show you if she wants or doesn’t want other food then milk. A little bit out of the topic – I read that you are Bulgarians, me too – I will be glad to share ideas on rearing a raw child with you. Best, Gergana

  • I was not raw when I was nursing my 2 babies, but I nursed on demand until they weaned themselves at about 2 years each. My son, who had NO interest in solid foods until a full year old, did nothing but thrive. As long as your baby continues to thrive, and gain weight, then follow your own maternal instincts.

    BTW, my son grew to be nearly 6ft 6 inches tall, and he plays on a national championship (division 1) college sports team.

  • ZaZa Raw Newbie

    I just want to say, you gals are such an inspiration. I can’t wait to have my own kids. Well I can, and will, but it’s nice to know I won’t be the only one doing things differently (so strange that naturally means “differently” these days…)

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