The Great Big Breastfeeding Thread

ksulli

@MamaFantastic‌ & @columbia1‌ I'm a groped as well. I don't think it's really a problem if you softer the 'wrong' side. Over the course of the day it probably evens out.

Rrrrrachel

I was always a groper. Eventually I just nursed on one side.

@babybarnes87‌ hugs mama. It will get better. This part is so hard!!

AcaAwkward

I'm still tracking for time and duration but I also grope. My right boob fills up faster but DS prefers the left one so I pay way more attention to the groping than I do the tracker.

MrsZ0811

I have heard of people using a paper clip on the bra to help remember which side.

Mamamonzo

Rrrrrachel said:

I was always a groper. Eventually I just nursed on one side.

@babybarnes87‌ hugs mama. It will get better. This part is so hard!!

What happens to the other side? Did you pump?

DemoDoll

To keep track of side I found the only thing that works for me is using one reusable breast pad and having it on the side that she isn't eating. Then when I go to bf the next time, I have to switch it to the other side otherwise it falls out of my bra. Plus the side that hasn't been eaten from is the one that needs the breast pad.

Rrrrrachel

Mamamonzo said:

I was always a groper. Eventually I just nursed on one side. @babybarnes87‌ hugs mama. It will get better. This part is so hard!!

What happens to the other side? Did you pump?

I worked full time then and pumped 2-3 times a day five days a week. I got way more out of my right boob than left boob, but that's not unusual, anyway. I did get a little lopsided, but not so bad that you could tell when I was dressed and I doubt other people noticed. A lot of women end up nursing on one side only, I think, but it's not one of those things people talk about.

MissWhis

Breast feeding success story:

Winnie was 5 lbs 6 oz when we left the NICU nine days ago - at her doc appt yesterday she was up to 6 1/2 lbs! Waaaay above her birth weight. She's gaining an average of 2 oz per day. The pediatrician called me a rock star.

Such good news and motivation the day after having a meltdown, crying all morning, and having non-stop fantasies about quitting breastfeeding altogether. I think I've got my head back in the game now. The *decent* night's sleep I got is probably helping, too.

ksulli

Congrats @MissWhis‌!!! That's some quality milk you've got.

can I brag too? DD was still under birth weight for our first appt (5d old), but yesterday (11d old) was 8oz above. Go boobies!

MamaFantastic

Awesome, ladies!! Way to go rock star boobs!

@demodoll that's actually a brilliant idea! Problem is, I'm still having messy letdowns right now, so I need breast pads in both sides at all times. I might modify the system, though, and use two different colors or something like that.

J&NL

How long did it take everyone for their milk to come in? DS wants to be on the boob 24/7 and I'm thinking it's because he is just hungry for actual milk.

babybarnes87

J&NL said:

How long did it take everyone for their milk to come in? DS wants to be on the boob 24/7 and I'm thinking it's because he is just hungry for actual milk.

Took mine 3 days to come in.

cgoldian

J&NL said:

How long did it take everyone for their milk to come in? DS wants to be on the boob 24/7 and I'm thinking it's because he is just hungry for actual milk.

Mine came in on Day 3 or 4 (I am in such a fog, I cannot do the math). It definitely was in yesterday and last night we fed every 1.5 hrs.  Which leads me to my question:

If I try to get her to eat more often during the day, will it encourage her to eat less often at night or will she just eat less at each feeding?  I would love to sleep more than 20 minutes at a time tonight.

Rrrrrachel

It may or may not. At this age it just kind of is what it is,but it can't hurt!

AcaAwkward

J&NL said:

How long did it take everyone for their milk to come in? DS wants to be on the boob 24/7 and I'm thinking it's because he is just hungry for actual milk.

2 weeks (WTF) with my first but day 3 with this one!

J&NL

cgoldian said:

J&NL said:

How long did it take everyone for their milk to come in? DS wants to be on the boob 24/7 and I'm thinking it's because he is just hungry for actual milk.

Mine came in on Day 3 or 4 (I am in such a fog, I cannot do the math). It definitely was in yesterday and last night we fed every 1.5 hrs.  Which leads me to my question:

If I try to get her to eat more often during the day, will it encourage her to eat less often at night or will she just eat less at each feeding?  I would love to sleep more than 20 minutes at a time tonight.

She's honestly probably just cluster feeding. Can you nap during the day?

cgoldian

@J&NL my goal today is to take at least 2 naps. It is our first full day home from the hospital, so I am still trying to figure things out.

J&NL

cgoldian said:

@J&NL my goal today is to take at least 2 naps. It is our first full day home from the hospital, so I am still trying to figure things out.

I don't blame you! We are going home today so I feel like tonight will be another sleepless night.

kseccomb17

Stupid question... how do you know if you have low supply? Just by poopy and wet diapers and weight gain?

Rrrrrachel

Those are the best way.

Juliajc

To keep track of which boob I fed from last: I keep 1 breast pad on the boob that I just fed from...2 pads on the one that is needed for the next feeding. On the topic of pacifiers, I gave LO a paci when she was 3 days old. She is breast fed and takes a bottle of breast milk 1-2 times a day (DH feeds it to her) so I can have a break and get more sleep at night. LO has no issues so far. Hoping she continues being so good about going from boob to bottle.

hlm184

Sleep... will I ever see you again?

cgoldian

When did you start using breast pads? My milk just came in yesterday and I haven't needed them yet. I am assuming that will change, right?

Rrrrrachel

I never really used them last time. I never leaked (and had plenty of milk.). It just depends.

MissWhis

I didn't NEED them until a few days ago (15 days pp right now). And then it's only if there's an abnormally long stretch between feeding (4 hrs instead of 2) or something. I've been using them the whole time, though, to keep the nipple butter from making oil stains on my nursing tanks.

Mamamonzo

Lucas prefers the left side i am so tired of fighting him to take the right side. He has a horrible latch with that side too.

What are my options??

Rrrrrachel

There's nothing wrong with just nursing him on the left side. You can make plenty of milk from one breast only. Your boobs will be kind of crooked, though

haziedaze

MissWhis said:

Breast feeding success story: Winnie was 5 lbs 6 oz when we left the NICU nine days ago - at her doc appt yesterday she was up to 6 1/2 lbs! Waaaay above her birth weight. She's gaining an average of 2 oz per day. The pediatrician called me a rock star. Such good news and motivation the day after having a meltdown, crying all morning, and having non-stop fantasies about quitting breastfeeding altogether. I think I've got my head back in the game now. The *decent* night's sleep I got is probably helping, too.

So happy for you!!! Did you end up doing block feeds to calm down your supply some?

haziedaze

Mamamonzo said:

Lucas prefers the left side i am so tired of fighting him to take the right side. He has a horrible latch with that side too. What are my options??

You could also pump the right a few times a day and use that milk to build a stash for later (if you're planning on going back to work or for other "get aways"). I found it pretty easy to pump one side while nursing on the other when DS was young. Baby stimulates the let down so you also get more milk out. He may eventually accept the right some, but I know plenty of moms who have EBF from one side only.

MissWhis

@haziedaze‌

Thanks!
I did do block feeds for a few days and things definitely settled down. I'm still a bit oversupplied, but not walking around with bags of frozen peas stuffed in my bra anymore. Basically just trying to spin it in a positive way now - all this milk is making my teeny girl big and strong. We'll get through it.

Now I just wish I'd stop having these random let downs for no reason whatsoever that have started up this afternoon. The fun continues...

Holljade

How often do you wash your reusable breast pads? After a one time use? After a day? A few days?

ksulli

@hlm184- sleep will return in approximately 18 years... In all honesty though, my 2.5 yo sleeps from 8pm-6am consistently. We occasionally get 7am.

@holljade- I'll use one set a day unless they get really wet, then I'll change mid-day. For overnights I often shove a cloth diaper in my top and throw it in the laundry the next day.

christinanoelle

If I bottle feed at one feeding but pump at the same time, will that affect my supply?

amhah09

ColleenSwerb said:

christinanoelle said:

If I bottle feed at one feeding but pump at the same time, will that affect my supply?

It shouldn't, that's how you should do it so that by pumping you are still signaling your body to produce milk.

It's still not as effective as baby is so for the first several weeks I wouldn't make a habit out of it, but that's just me.

homediva

Mamamonzo said:

Lucas prefers the left side i am so tired of fighting him to take the right side. He has a horrible latch with that side too.

What are my options??

I am having this issue too! He basically always refuses the right. I can eventually get him to take it after much ado and MANY re-latch attempts. He takes the left side better but still not great. I've been pumping the right to keep up supply on that side but I just keep trying and trying!

cgoldian

Do you wait for the baby to unlatch on their own? I tend to take her off when I feel like she is asleep/soothing and not feeding but I just read on Kellymom that you should allow unlimited time as long as they are sucking. I feel like if I did that she would NEVER come off my boob. Our average time per feeding is 20-25 mins. DD is only 5 days old. 

 ETA when I do unlatch her, she is sound asleep.

ksulli

cgoldian said:

Do you wait for the baby to unlatch on their own? I tend to take her off when I feel like she is asleep/soothing and not feeding but I just read on Kellymom that you should allow unlimited time as long as they are sucking. I feel like if I did that she would NEVER come off my boob. Our average time per feeding is 20-25 mins. DD is only 5 days old. 

 ETA when I do unlatch her, she is sound asleep.

I pull her off because if I didn't she's stay all day and eat until she pukes.

chichi589

@MrsW26 my milk came in a week ago. So Saturday, by Sunday they hurt so badly. By Wednesday they only really hurt in the morning or if we go more then 3 hrs between feeding a otherwise they are softish to the touch and I have a lot of milk. Just my experience I'm sure everyone's is different!

Teresa1896

Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter users: have your LOs had any reaction to it? If I have any on my nipples, DS smacks his gums and makes a "bitter beer face." He has to lick them a few times before he's willing to latch on.
I haven't sampled the stuff, but it smells like chocolate. Just wondering if any other babies have the same reaction?

ksulli

If you had stitches, have you noticed them falling out? I just saw a string on the toilet paper that was clearly not discharge. I'm 2w pp tomorrow and will call my OB to make sure it's okay, but before they open I wanted to see if this happened to anybody else.

eta: sleep deprivation. This belongs in the stupid questions thread. Trying again.