pumping???

rbtrumpet

You've probably discussed this a million times before, and I'm sorry, I don't really have the energy to search right now.  

I talked to the pedi this morning, and they want me to pump once-twice/day to suppliment DD's feedings (or use formula if I can't pump).  My question is, DD is already feeding for 40 min at a time every 2 hours, so when exactly am I supposed to pump?  I feel like I need that hour and 20 min in between feedings just to build up my supply again!

Anyone have a schedule for feeding a pumping that worked for you???

ETA: today she is insatiable!  She just ate from 2:30 to 3:10 (like, even got to the "milk drunk" stage) and she's already rooting again in her sleep!  Is there such a thing as a 4 day growth spurt?

artistlife

I have found that my supplybis higher at certain times of day. Like most, I have more milk in the morning, but I also have a larger supply in the late evening. 

Is there any time of the day that she eats for less time? Like maybe she gets full faster.

Does she feed on both sides or just one?

rbtrumpet

1) she feeds for 20 min on each side  - I have to break her off (and @Sing2phins - I let her go as long as she wanted the night she was born because that's what I thought you were supposed to do - she latched on ONE BOOB for 95 min - which resulted with her not satiated, me in tears, and one very sore boob!)

2) my pedi wants me to pump because she's lost 11% of her body weight in the last 4 days, and is showing signs of dehydration, so they want me to suppliment - breast if I can, formula if I can't.

I'll keep that in mind, every once in a while (maybe once/day) she is full after one side, or will do the second side for not a full 20 min.  

sarenu1

I second watching her when she's feeding. Make sure she's actually sucking and swallowing. She could be staying on just for comfort.

I also second getting a weighted feeding.

artistlife

Are you sure you milk has come in? You may still only have colostrum. My milk didn't come in fully until around day 4-5. 

You could try to let her feed twenty minutes on each side and then double pump for 10-15 minutes. It will be time consuming, but it should boost your supply. Also, some of the supply boosting foods. Like oatmeal. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, too.

Do NOT be ashamed if you supplement with formula. I had to,too. Shelby got about six to eight bottles of supplement before my supply could keep up. Good luck.

rbtrumpet

@gardennymph - I'm pretty sure I'm in the transition milk phase. 

Thank you all for the suggestions.  I know everyone says breastfeeding is hard, but I never realized how hard!  The funny thing is, we don't have issues with the big stuff, like latching.  I just can't seem to get the right rhythm down (meaning sleep/feed/sleep/feed rhythm) 

DebateThis

I would see an LC pronto (like today) to figure out what's causing the dehydration and weight loss along side supplementation. She might have a poor milk transfer or a tongue tie or something else going on. Supplementation doesn't really "solve" those issues, and at 4 days old you have the perfect opportunity to correct them if you can discover what's causing her to lose weight, etc. You can also use warm damp wash cloths or Booby Tubes to warm up your breasts prior to a feeding (to help the milk come down better) and use breast compressions during the feeding to help her get more in the meantime. You can also pull her off and burp her every few minutes to keep her more awake/alert during feeding (DS tends to get sleepy at the breast and then stop sucking and doze off and this helps a lot).

Also, are you drinking enough water and getting a LOT of extra calories? It's easier said than done, for sure - I'm basically eating chicken cheese enchiladas and ice cream 3x a day plus a gallon of water to get to enough calories to sustain me. DS had poor weight gain in the beginning and we're supplementing w/pumped milk and some formula now bc he's a lazy eater at the breast and the LC visits haven't gotten him to speed up the process, but we ruled out any tongue tie or other issues and we just have to keep working at it. I pump for 10-15 min after every feeding and then offer it back to him at the end of his next feeding.

JamieCallow

If this is any help I try to double pump after each feeding/or at least every other feeding to get rid of what he does not eat. I personally don't mind the over supply (which is minimal) because it gives me a break if I need it and now that I have a slight surplus in the refrigerator and freezer for date nights like my husband's Christmas party next week. I am 18 day pp but have been doing this since day 5 pp! Good luck and yes breastfeeding is VERY difficult!!

rbtrumpet

For those of you who supplemented with formula until your milk came in, how did you know how much to use?

DebateThis

rbtrumpet said:

For those of you who supplemented with formula until your milk came in, how did you know how much to use?

At four days old, LO's stomach is TINY. At 3-4 days it's the size of a ping pong ball or a walnut. I made the smallest amount available on the cannister (2 oz) and offered about half after I had bf'ed, operating under the assumption that the avg FF baby will take 2-3oz but LO had already gotten some at the breast. I fed sloooowly, burping every 5ish minutes and sometimes he'd take the whole 2oz and other times he'd take just a couple sips.

We've also found that the Medela slow flow nipples that come with the PISA pump are much slower than Tommee Tippee slow flow, so we stuck to Medela bc it made him work more for it so it was closer to the breast. The TT nipples made him chug down anything offered way too fast, resulting in puking.

DebateThis

Handy visual aids and links

https://www.beststart.org/resources/breastfeeding/pdf/breastfdeskref09.pdf
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/pages/Amount-and-Schedule-of-Formula-Feedings.aspx

Shan8671

We have same exact issue....on BF baby number 4!! Everything seemed fine...eating on both sides for 20-30min, I would have to take her off, she was wetting and pooping diapers, my milk was in, yet she wasn't gaining but losing! At her lowest point was down to 13% do I had to start pumping and supplementing with pumped milk. I would feed at breast, pump, and off what I pumped. It is ALOT of work. I also started taking fenugreek. I think what happened was she was a lazy nurser and dropped my supply. We are finally gaining now so I'm trying to cut back with supplementing. She will be a month Thursday and still not at birth weight. Hang in there!! It will get easier!

Shan8671

Oh and now we are dealing with oversupply but at this point I'll take it and figure it out

rbtrumpet

I think I have an abnormal fear (terrified) that she won't take my breast after a bottle (although we've done two formulas already, and she's latched fine right now).

I tried to pump after her last feeding, and I must be doing something wrong because it HURT!!! I tried repositioning it a few times, but nothing worked.

I hope my LC can see me tomorrow!

lnreynol

@rbtrumpet are you by chance on the mom panel as well? I think I recognized a similar post!

rbtrumpet

@inreynol - I feel like I need all the help/reassurance I can get! I'm seriously an emotional mess over here!

lnreynol

I'm a FTM myself so I'm afraid I'm not much help but am wishing you the best! I was just surprised at what a small world!

artistlife

Sorry, @rbtrumpet, but the pump will not be as comfortable as her latch. You also may have the wrong size breast shields. You can also get cushioned inserts to put in the shield for comfort. Try turning the pump down to its lowest possible setting, if its electric. 

Medela.com has a diagram of how your breast should loom when pumping. your whole nipple should be in the funnel part but not the whole areola. 

mmm50

We had similar issues in the beginning.  N latched like a champ, but because my milk took until day 4 or 5 to come in we had to use a little formula to make sure he was getting enough fluids (He was getting slightly jaundiced around days 2-4-- nothing that we had to treat other than pushing fluids.).  I did what PP suggested--I started pumping on day 3 10 minutes every 3 hours until my milk came in.  We offered him anything I pumped and then formula.  He didn't have problems going back and forth from breast to bottle-- we just made sure to pick bottles that don't leak out the nipple if you hold them upside-down.  That way he theoretically has to work a little harder at getting the milk out.  

I would pump if you can after her morning feeding and after the before bed feeding (or whenever her longest nap is if she has one).  N sleeps a 5 hour chunk and then a 3 hour chunk at night, so I have been pumping around 10 p.m. after I feed him when he goes to sleep, and then around 9 or 10 a.m. when he had his morning feedings and takes a two hour nap.  It gives me some milk to freeze for when I go back to work, and a spare bottle each day to have around if he's super hungry or clusterfeeding at 1 a.m. and getting frustrated.  

rbtrumpet

OMG - I totally forgot that I signed up for this program at work (free - work pays!) that gives you access to a IBCLC certified lactation consultant!  She just *happened* to e-mail me today, and I called in and talked to her for an hour and a half!!!

I feel so much better already - the combination of everyone here, and getting to talk to a professional - I feel like I can do this, and I'm not that weird! 

rbtrumpet

thanks @AmyG*!

I don't feel bad about supplementing with formula, because on top of everything, she went 24 hrs with only 1 wet diaper. (I am feeding every 2 hours, tried to pump, and am only giving 15 ml of formula at a time)

I talked to an IBCLC certified lactation consultant on the phone today, and am going in tomorrow to have her latch and sucking evaluated.