June '14 BFing/Pumping Questions Thread

jshrop

How can I correct a latch? My left nipple is so cracked and it feels like she's trying to chew off the end of my nipple. The right isn't as bad. We have a pediatrician appointment tues and I can see the lc then, but that's a full day away lol!

otter1103

meritmacalpine said:

Anyone with a Medela pump have the hands free bustier? The one I ordered just showed up today and it is so small it's ridiculous. I ordered based in their size chart but it doesn't even make it past my sides!
Wondering if anyone has run into this and knows just how small they run?

@meritmacalpine‌ I have one but was sized at my LC appt. I'm wearing a 36 C/D bra and my Medela hands free is a large if that helps you with some reference.

ETA- tag

britleann26

katekat8721 said:

@hollygb22 it doesn't spray, just leaks down my breast between the shield.

I have runoff whenmI'm unsealing (i think that's a made up word haha). My LC said it's normal. I just lean forward before unsealing and then have a burp cloth handy to wipe the undersides of the boob

Thanks! I started folding up burp clothes and sticking them under my breasts while pumping to catch the runoff. DH said it looks like I'm stuffing ... He's a nerd though.

meritsamomma

@otter1103‌ Thanks for the input! That's about the size I am right now. I was surprised at their chart saying Medium but figured they knew their product best. At this point I may just return it and wait until after birth and my milk coming in and ask my LC to size me!

ChristineBaker23

emilyh107 said:

Thank yall! We just had yet another dirty diaper and it was the mustard seedy poop. Glad to see it was all the mustard color this time though.

I have noticed a greenish tinge from time to time with now both of my breastfed babies. I remember with my first it would actually happen after I ate lots if avocado... Weird! A little green here and there is ok and probably just has to do with what's in your milk. The flavor, color, and consistency of breast milk can be affected by what we eat.

ChristineBaker23

shannonliggett said:

britleann26 said:

katekat8721 said:

britleann26 said:

@hollygb22 it doesn't spray, just leaks down my breast between the shield.

I have runoff whenmI'm unsealing (i think that's a made up word haha). My LC said it's normal. I just lean forward before unsealing and then have a burp cloth handy to wipe the undersides of the boob

Thanks! I started folding up burp clothes and sticking them under my breasts while pumping to catch the runoff. DH said it looks like I'm stuffing ... He's a nerd though.

That's what I do!

When pumping the first time I would kind of lean forward a little to keep it from pooling up. If it is leaking out of the shield though you are getting a bad seal and should try experimenting with different size shields. Breast milk is like liquid gold!

ChristineBaker23

Apologies if it has already been discussed but I've got a question about clogged ducts. I didn't experience this with my first so I'm not sure what to do. I have a pretty nice lump in my right armpit that I am assuming is a clogged duct (my theory is the nursing bra I packed for the hospital had stupid boning on the sides - dumb). It has been there for almost three days and I is pretty firm and moderately tender. I have applied heat and massage it regularly but it's not going down. Any suggestions? When should I seek professional help/is there anything they do?

roadspeckle

jshrop said:

How can I correct a latch? My left nipple is so cracked and it feels like she's trying to chew off the end of my nipple. The right isn't as bad. We have a pediatrician appointment tues and I can see the lc then, but that's a full day away lol!

@jshrop‌ - I'm a FTM too, and haven't had a lot of issues BF, but my mom did help me a lot, gave me lots of tips - she said try to have LO open mouth as big as possible, and put as much of your areola in their mouth as possible. Also, do you have lansinoh cream? Put that on after every feeding, it's ok to use in BF, and it helps wonders.

Edit: words are hard, even harder with sleep deprivation on board

roadspeckle

emilyh107 said:

So I guess we are going through that growth spurt they were telling me about. I think we've been feeding every hour. At least I get to lay back and catch up on my shows..

@emilyh107‌ - I feel for you girl! cluster feeding is hard and a little overwhelming - I felt like as soon as I was putting my breast away, he had already starved to death, wanting to eat again! my nipples had just started to heal up and took a hit... I have a feeling it's just the start of growth spurts. hang in there, chica!

diagonalley

ChristineBaker23 said:

Apologies if it has already been discussed but I've got a question about clogged ducts. I didn't experience this with my first so I'm not sure what to do. I have a pretty nice lump in my right armpit that I am assuming is a clogged duct (my theory is the nursing bra I packed for the hospital had stupid boning on the sides - dumb). It has been there for almost three days and I is pretty firm and moderately tender. I have applied heat and massage it regularly but it's not going down. Any suggestions? When should I seek professional help/is there anything they do?

If it hasn't gotten better in three days I would seek help now. Have you tried pumping to empty as much milk out as you can? I know that can sometimes help. Anyway, back to seeking help-you could have an infection from it being clogged and would need to get on an antibiotic if that is the case. From what I have read, it is not harmful to baby though.

ChristineBaker23

MommyP710 said:

ChristineBaker23 said:

Apologies if it has already been discussed but I've got a question about clogged ducts. I didn't experience this with my first so I'm not sure what to do. I have a pretty nice lump in my right armpit that I am assuming is a clogged duct (my theory is the nursing bra I packed for the hospital had stupid boning on the sides - dumb). It has been there for almost three days and I is pretty firm and moderately tender. I have applied heat and massage it regularly but it's not going down. Any suggestions? When should I seek professional help/is there anything they do?

If it hasn't gotten better in three days I would seek help now. Have you tried pumping to empty as much milk out as you can? I know that can sometimes help. Anyway, back to seeking help-you could have an infection from it being clogged and would need to get on an antibiotic if that is the case. From what I have read, it is not harmful to baby though.

Thanks, I will ask the pediatrician today at our newborn appointment. Would I go to an LC for this? It is not feverish or red just a pretty good size knot. About the size of the tip of my thumb.

Edit: posted before done.

diagonalley

ChristineBaker23 said:

MommyP710 said:

ChristineBaker23 said:

Apologies if it has already been discussed but I've got a question about clogged ducts. I didn't experience this with my first so I'm not sure what to do. I have a pretty nice lump in my right armpit that I am assuming is a clogged duct (my theory is the nursing bra I packed for the hospital had stupid boning on the sides - dumb). It has been there for almost three days and I is pretty firm and moderately tender. I have applied heat and massage it regularly but it's not going down. Any suggestions? When should I seek professional help/is there anything they do?

If it hasn't gotten better in three days I would seek help now. Have you tried pumping to empty as much milk out as you can? I know that can sometimes help. Anyway, back to seeking help-you could have an infection from it being clogged and would need to get on an antibiotic if that is the case. From what I have read, it is not harmful to baby though.

Thanks, I will ask the pediatrician today at our newborn appointment. Would I go to an LC for this? It is not feverish or red just a pretty good size knot. About the size of the tip of my thumb.

Edit: posted before done.

You can certainly discuss it with a LC and they will likely take a look at it and try to help you clear it, but if it is infected, I believe your obgyn is who would prescribe the antibiotics.

jshrop

@emilyh107‌ & @rachelnjacob‌ thanks ladies! I switched to the football hold and that seems to be helping some. She just likes to bite down and twist her head side to side at the beginning. It's like the nastiest titty-twister ever but it also pulls most of the areola from her mouth. The football hold is preventing some of that. The lanolin is helping too.

ChristineBaker23

MommyP710 said:

ChristineBaker23 said:

MommyP710 said:

ChristineBaker23 said:

Apologies if it has already been discussed but I've got a question about clogged ducts. I didn't experience this with my first so I'm not sure what to do. I have a pretty nice lump in my right armpit that I am assuming is a clogged duct (my theory is the nursing bra I packed for the hospital had stupid boning on the sides - dumb). It has been there for almost three days and I is pretty firm and moderately tender. I have applied heat and massage it regularly but it's not going down. Any suggestions? When should I seek professional help/is there anything they do?

If it hasn't gotten better in three days I would seek help now. Have you tried pumping to empty as much milk out as you can? I know that can sometimes help. Anyway, back to seeking help-you could have an infection from it being clogged and would need to get on an antibiotic if that is the case. From what I have read, it is not harmful to baby though.

Thanks, I will ask the pediatrician today at our newborn appointment. Would I go to an LC for this? It is not feverish or red just a pretty good size knot. About the size of the tip of my thumb.

Edit: posted before done.

You can certainly discuss it with a LC and they will likely take a look at it and try to help you clear it, but if it is infected, I believe your obgyn is who would prescribe the antibiotics.

Ok I may just call my midwife then, thank you! I wasn't sure which doctor I would need. I have never had to use a lactation consultant before despite all the breastfeeding I have done.

jshrop

My LC recommended Calendula cream instead of lanolin to help heal the cracked nipple. She said something about lanolin causing an increased risk of infection. Anyway, I forgot to ask if I have to clean it off before baby nurses. Anyone know if it's safe? I have a botanical cream version purchased from the doc. This is the ingredient list. @StrawberryDreams219‌ any insight?

roadspeckle

jshrop said:

@emilyh107‌ & @rachelnjacob‌ thanks ladies! I switched to the football hold and that seems to be helping some. She just likes to bite down and twist her head side to side at the beginning. It's like the nastiest titty-twister ever but it also pulls most of the areola from her mouth. The football hold is preventing some of that. The lanolin is helping too.

Yeah, lanolin. Lol. Sleep deprivation jumbling words but I'm glad you knew what I meant and I'm so glad you have made progress!!

britleann26

LO has some issues with her suction. For the past 2 days I have been pumping and feeding her with a bottle. Well today (just now) she seems like she has forgotten to swallow. I tried giving her the bottle and it would just trickle down her cheeks (she was basically just biting the nipple, not sucking or swallowing). So I switched to giving her milk via syringe and the same thing is happening. She is getting about 20% of milk down. The rest is just slowly pouring out of her mouth. Does anyone have experience with this? She was 3 weeks early. I'm trying to not freak out and wait until next feeding to see if she does again before I call the doctor. Any suggestions on possible remedies to help her along (so I can try if it happens again) would be extremely helpful!

temursgirl

@CharSamm‌ that's a very helpful chart. I've saved it for reference.

katekat8721

britleann26 said:

LO has some issues with her suction. For the past 2 days I have been pumping and feeding her with a bottle. Well today (just now) she seems like she has forgotten to swallow. I tried giving her the bottle and it would just trickle down her cheeks (she was basically just biting the nipple, not sucking or swallowing). So I switched to giving her milk via syringe and the same thing is happening. She is getting about 20% of milk down. The rest is just slowly pouring out of her mouth. Does anyone have experience with this? She was 3 weeks early. I'm trying to not freak out and wait until next feeding to see if she does again before I call the doctor. Any suggestions on possible remedies to help her along (so I can try if it happens again) would be extremely helpful!

Is she really tired? Maybe change her, undress her and rub her feet to wake her up a bit more. My baby was spitting up a lot of her milk one day and the pedi said we were probably overfeeding her or not burping her enough.

jshrop

@StrawberryDreams219‌ YES PLEASE!! if nothing else, for diaper rash and other skin issues they recommended it for that too

britleann26

katekat8721 said:

LO has some issues with her suction. For the past 2 days I have been pumping and feeding her with a bottle. Well today (just now) she seems like she has forgotten to swallow. I tried giving her the bottle and it would just trickle down her cheeks (she was basically just biting the nipple, not sucking or swallowing). So I switched to giving her milk via syringe and the same thing is happening. She is getting about 20% of milk down. The rest is just slowly pouring out of her mouth. Does anyone have experience with this? She was 3 weeks early. I'm trying to not freak out and wait until next feeding to see if she does again before I call the doctor. Any suggestions on possible remedies to help her along (so I can try if it happens again) would be extremely helpful!

Is she really tired? Maybe change her, undress her and rub her feet to wake her up a bit more. My baby was spitting up a lot of her milk one day and the pedi said we were probably overfeeding her or not burping her enough.

Thank you for the feedback! I'm thinking it's the bottle/nipple we are using for breast milk. Maybe she is getting tired of working so hard to feed because the flow is light. The next feeding I used one of those individual formula bottles (the ones they give you at the hospital) because I'm out of BM and she did fine. This child just likes to keep me on the edge of my seat ... And we tried undressing her to wake her up at the beginning. She would wake up but would proceed to ninja kick my breast the entire time and then smile about it. She's lucky she is so cute!

ChristineBaker23

@CharSamm‌ thank you so much for this lovely chart. Now I can text it to my father in law the next time he asks if we have had baby Cora's "diarrhea" checked out. He will NOT shut up about her poo being watery. She is breastfed, his kids were formula fed. I just want to smack him in the face with a book on breastfeeding. With first baby he told me formula was better for baby. I gave him a breastfeeding pamphlet with highlighted sections but seriously, if he says one more thing about Cora's poo it's gonna get ugly. :-w

jshrop

StrawberryDreams219 said:

jshrop said:

@StrawberryDreams219‌ YES PLEASE!! if nothing else, for diaper rash and other skin issues they recommended it for that too

@jshrop

This is a good tutorial with photos. You can leave out the lavender if you do plan on putting it on your nipples as I don't think it tastes very good. If you want to use it for skin irritation the lavender is fine to leave in and safe for tiny babies too. Oh and the "fast" method works just as well as the "slow" method so no need to wait a few weeks.

https://adelightfulhome.com/how-to-make-calendula-salve-and-why-you-should/

You can find high quality dried calendula on the mountain rose herbs website.

Thanks!!!!

fsumom

We had DS's follow up appt today! He's lost an ounce since we were discharged on Tuesday. His pediatrician is a bit concerned as he's lost 10% of his birth weight! This is frustrating as I'm trying my best to breastfeed. So we have to take him back tomorrow for a weight check and hope he hasn't lost any more weight or it's recommended we use a little formula.

With all that being said, we got home and DS latched on to both sides for a good 15 minutes each. Just before the doctor's appointment, my left breast was so engorged! Then when we got home it wasn't. I am so happy. I have been a mess these past couple of days.

katekat8721

emilyh107 said:

Today DD will breastfeed for a couple of minutes and get off my nipple and scream and scream when I try to get her to latch again. It's been a long process all day. I'm afraid she isn't getting enough milk or something? I currently have mastitis, could this be the problem. I don't want to starve her.

Is your boob engorged or anything? Maybe pump a little to make it softer and then have her try again? I have heard BFing through mastitis is ok and recommended, so I think you're good there!

katekat8721

Silly question. When I'm tracking the feedings I'm doing it old school with pen and paper... for the "time" should I put the time we start or the time we end? I don't think there's a wrong answer, I've just been doing start time and thinking I should change to end time.

diagonalley

katekat8721 said:

Silly question. When I'm tracking the feedings I'm doing it old school with pen and paper... for the "time" should I put the time we start or the time we end? I don't think there's a wrong answer, I've just been doing start time and thinking I should change to end time.

The NICU nurses said always time from when you start. So if they say to feed every 4 hours, you start the next feeding four hours after you started the last feeding.

katekat8721

@mommyp710 Thanks girl!! I've felt like I'm constantly nursing/pumping/feeding, and now I know... i am haha.

@emilyh107 woohoo! That seems to work for us too.

otter1103

Stupid questions from a first time BF'er : what does letdown feel like and does everyone feel it?

katekat8721

otter1103 said:

Stupid questions from a first time BF'er : what does letdown feel like and does everyone feel it?

To me it feels like cool water being poured down my chest (usually starting high near the collar bone).

rainbowdashh

otter1103 said:

Stupid questions from a first time BF'er : what does letdown feel like and does everyone feel it?

For me, it felt like tingling in my nipples. It was actually uncomfortable for the first few weeks. Not everyone will feel it, but I think most do.

roadspeckle

ohyealovely said:

otter1103 said:

Stupid questions from a first time BF'er : what does letdown feel like and does everyone feel it?

For me, it felt like tingling in my nipples. It was actually uncomfortable for the first few weeks. Not everyone will feel it, but I think most do.

This. Tingling in my nipples. It's the weirdest feeling, and at first I didn't recognize that this was what it was.

tbmadeamistake

otter1103 said:

Stupid questions from a first time BF'er : what does letdown feel like and does everyone feel it?

Mine is a super full feeling about halfway up my boob and a little bit of nipple tingliness. It doesn't last long, and comes a few seconds after he latches.

catsinawindow

otter1103 said:

Stupid questions from a first time BF'er : what does letdown feel like and does everyone feel it?

My letdown felt like a dull ache deep within my boobs.  As others have said, it was a little uncomfortable at first, but went away within a few weeks.

otter1103

Sorry, I just keep coming back with questions but you ladies are just so amazing at giving feedback.

Gel soothing pads for sore nipples. Worth a try or just stay with cool/warm when needed? I was thinking the gel pads would calm some of the sensitivity I have even with wearing the disposable pads. Or try reusable pads?

tbmadeamistake

@otter1103‌ i tried the gel pads the other day and Charlie did NOT like nursing after because they left a funny taste for him. I use the lanolin and occasionally ice.

Eta words

SarahS11

@otter1103 I have tried the gel pads, while they were very soothing right when you put them on, I agree with Lilygrace48 that they must leave a funny taste.  Latching after using them was never fun.

jshrop

rachelnjacob said:

ohyealovely said:

otter1103 said:

Stupid questions from a first time BF'er : what does letdown feel like and does everyone feel it?

For me, it felt like tingling in my nipples. It was actually uncomfortable for the first few weeks. Not everyone will feel it, but I think most do.

This. Tingling in my nipples. It's the weirdest feeling, and at first I didn't recognize that this was what it was.

Yep, tingly nips. Such a weird feeling.

tbmadeamistake

@emilyh107‌ last time I did find the fenugreek made a huge difference in my supply..it also sadly made a huge difference in the amount of time I spent with cramping diarrhea in the bathroom, so I didn't take it again. It is known to cause loose stools in some people and I'm just super sensitive to it for both that and supply. I tried it in the mothers milk tea. I did find that flax and oatmeal helped just enough that obfelt like they were worth it, but not so much that I had a huge over supply or engorgement.

rainbowdashh

@emilyh107‌ try oatmeal and tons of water! I've also been told pumpkin can help increase your supply. I tried mothers milk tea out of curiosity last time and it was disgusting! You could try lactation cookies too. There are lots of recipes for them.