6/26 Nursing and/or Pumping Support Thread

Taymiller

Thanks AmyG! I really need to not worry so much, Murphy was back up to birth weight at 5 days old. FTM mom overthinking and worrying about every little thing.

lola4411

@AmyG*‌ thanks!

JulieSmiles

tclayton53 said:

LO fed at 1 for 25 minutes and then took a 20 minute break and then started to feed again. When does the next feeding start if we are feeding her every 3 hours? Based off the 1:00 feeding or the 1:45 feeding?

My LO is always ready 3 hours from the first time regardless of if she had an extra feed in there.

Damnliz

Just needed to vent- my LO will be 3 weeks on Tuesday. I forgot how much work and exhausting nursing a newborn is. I'm exhausted- but still have to get up to take care of my other two children. Of course my DH is working something crazy like 36 hours (he's a firefighter so he works 24hr) this weekend. Ugh I'm in survival mode. That is all. Thanks for listening.

fsumom

Damnliz said:

Just needed to vent- my LO will be 3 weeks on Tuesday. I forgot how much work and exhausting nursing a newborn is. I'm exhausted- but still have to get up to take care of my other two children. Of course my DH is working something crazy like 36 hours (he's a firefighter so he works 24hr) this weekend. Ugh I'm in survival mode. That is all. Thanks for listening.

You are not alone. I'm struggling and my DS will be 4 weeks tomorrow. It doesn't help that DS isn't nursing well so I'm pumping and bottle feeding mostly. It will get better. Hang in there.

whoberry

Large busted ladies- what's your favorite brand nursing bra and where did you get it? I'm probably a 36H right now. I just ordered a few Elomis from Nordstrom and I'm shopping around at other websites too. TIA 

jsnyder79

Damnliz said:

Just needed to vent- my LO will be 3 weeks on Tuesday. I forgot how much work and exhausting nursing a newborn is. I'm exhausted- but still have to get up to take care of my other two children. Of course my DH is working something crazy like 36 hours (he's a firefighter so he works 24hr) this weekend. Ugh I'm in survival mode. That is all. Thanks for listening.

With you on this. I had it easier with DD. now having DD at 3 1/2 and having a newborn is one of the most stressful things I have ever dealt with. I walked upstairs last night to get something and almost burst into tears thinking how badly I wanted to climb in my bed and sleep all night.

And I have cracked bleeding right nipple and DS won't latch on left and so I'm pumping all the time. Oh and I occasionally see what appears to be dimpling in my areola when I'm breastfeeding occasionally so I'm freaking myself out about that.

It will get better...i just hope sooner rather than later

kbellizio3

whoberry said:

Large busted ladies- what's your favorite brand nursing bra and where did you get it? I'm probably a 36H right now. I just ordered a few Elomis from Nordstrom and I'm shopping around at other websites too. TIA 

I got a sports bra from motherhood maternity that supports really well that I love. I'm a 40DD (and stayed in my regular bras while pregnant) they measured me at a 38F or something at MM. Their website seemed to have a better selection of larger sizes so maybe try there? Reasonably priced too.

BMaidPlanner

I am really comfortable laid back nursing on the couch (feel more supported doing it here than in bed, because I can switch sides so she us always on the inside of the couch.)

Thanks to everyone that assured me I could do this position with big floppy boobs and a tiny newborn! This and football hold seem easiest. I also like not having to sit up with the boppy and my butt falling asleep all the time. She seems pretty comfy too. Thanks again!

shellbell813

Thrush question. LO now has these little white patches on the inside of his lips. Nowhere else. I tried to rub them off and they won't but they don't seem to hurt him either. I'm also not experiencing any crazy pain myself. I'm wondering if it's just where his gum has gotten a little pruny from eating so often. Is that possible? I figure we will formula feed exclusively through the weekend to see if it clears up and otherwise will go in to see the pedi on Monday.

elsa1688

@shellbell813‌ If it is thrush, I don't think there is a reason to not bf

shellbell813

I figured it would keep it from spreading if it was... I could be totally wrong tho.

shellbell813

@AmyG*‌ @elsa1688‌ thanks! It actually seems to have disappeared after his last feeding so hopefully it was just milk residue or pruny gums. I will definitely keep on breast feeding then. Much easier than going to full formula!

sunny1310

Does anyone else get really gassy while bfing? (Me not baby)

JulieSmiles

sunny1310 said:

Does anyone else get really gassy while bfing? (Me not baby)

I do! I don't know if there is a correlation between bfing and farting, but i notice one.

elsa1688

So, if baby is a few months old (let's say 3) and you want to go out. If baby is EBF, then you pump a bottle for when you are gone. Do you just always time things between feedings? If you go to a concert, how are you supposed to pump to replace a feeding?

MrsBHM

So my husband just did a night time feeding with a bottle of pumped BM and I got up right after he put baby to bed & pumped. I got 8.5 oz of milk in about 12 min of pumping. I know my LO isn't taking that much so what can I do about it...I was painfully engorged when I went to pump. It seems like the engorgement is always bad at night when my LO is going a tad longer btwn feedings but I would've thought my body would catch up to this by now. I just want to be able to sleep a few hrs without my boobs feeling like they're gonna explode!!

kittenslove

I'm worried my little one isn't getting enough hind milk. I changed his diaper twice today and his poo was a dark (hunter) green. This is the first day is poo wasn't mustardy with seeds. Dr. Google seems to think thi could be an issue with him not getting enough fat. I feed generally only on one boob at a time (will switch if it is becoming painful) this past feeding he was on my left, and it pumped after because my right felt full. I decided to pump left to see how much was "left" and got about an ounce. Is this over supply? How do I balance my milk to little one? Also, how do I know of it's a fore/hind milk balance vs a sensitivity to food? I have had quite a bit of dairy the last two days (celeral, oatmeal, and drinking milk). Other then green poopy, little one does seem to have more gas then normal.

elsa1688

kittenslove said:

I'm worried my little one isn't getting enough hind milk. I changed his diaper twice today and his poo was a dark (hunter) green. This is the first day is poo wasn't mustardy with seeds. Dr. Google seems to think thi could be an issue with him not getting enough fat. I feed generally only on one boob at a time (will switch if it is becoming painful) this past feeding he was on my left, and it pumped after because my right felt full. I decided to pump left to see how much was "left" and got about an ounce. Is this over supply? How do I balance my milk to little one? Also, how do I know of it's a fore/hind milk balance vs a sensitivity to food? I have had quite a bit of dairy the last two days (celeral, oatmeal, and drinking milk). Other then green poopy, little one does seem to have more gas then normal.

J has had a few greener than usual poos and I figured it was normal to have some variation. Following if it's not.....

LKHoffa

Is anyone's baby still hungry after an hour + bf session?! Or hungry 30 min later???

kittenslove

I have another - anyone wake up to a sore breast? My left boob feels like it was put into a vice, it is so sore. Pumping now, wondering if this could be a clogged duct? Hurts like hell!

BMaidPlanner

elsa1688 said:

So, if baby is a few months old (let's say 3) and you want to go out. If baby is EBF, then you pump a bottle for when you are gone. Do you just always time things between feedings? If you go to a concert, how are you supposed to pump to replace a feeding?

Maybe pump in the car in the way there or on the way home and use cooler packs to keep the milk chilled until you get home? I think the pumping to replace feedings is to keep up supply and help with engorgement, but probably doesn't need to be timed exactly right.

LKHoffa

Tdonatoni said:

@LKHoffa‌ that has been my life for the past 36 hours and I'm exhausted. I'm chalking it up to a growth spurt.

It's been mine for a week- I am having trouble functioning lol a human let alone as a mom right now!

JujuB22

kks4471 said:

I'm just wondering if our BF schedule is normal, because it's driving me crazy. During the day, LO can barely make it 1.5 hours in between feedings. I feed him for 10 minutes, burp him, then do another 10 minutes or so. Today, he cried at the 20 minute mark, and I ended up feeding him for 30 minutes three separate times.
The only good this is LO does sleep up to 3 hours at night. Tonight I fed him at 1am, and now at 4am. I am thankful to get some sleep after his daily 10pm colic tantrum.

So basically, I feed him for 20+ minutes, every 1.5 hours. It's driving me crazy!!! I feel so glued to the chair. I keep telling DH I want to give up EBF and give formula. Is this a normal daytime feeding schedule? It just seems like too much to me.

Parker's schedule is similar to this. I have been nursing mostly during the day every 2 hrs, pumping, and doing bottles at night so dh can help and I can get some sleep. Jealous that your LO goes for 3 hours at night.

We give formula here and there because when I go back to work he will need it. I highly doubt I will be able to pump at work . I thought formula helped them sleep longer because it's slower to digest, but so far I haven't seen a difference

sunny1310

I was just pumping both sides because my husband got up this morning and have our son a bottle so that I could finally get some sleep. I got almost 6 oz out of the left boob and barely 2 out of the other.
Does anyone else have this issue or know how to get the right to start making more? I know they are never equal but that seems like a big difference.
@AmyG*‌

lest12

I am brand-spanking new to pumping and have a few questions that are probably old news to you guys by now, so please humor me!

1 - how do you mark the dates on the bottlre? Sharpie?

2- my lc told me to start pumping 2x a day. Do I need to sterlize the equipment after each session?

Taymiller

lest12 said:

I am brand-spanking new to pumping and have a few questions that are probably old news to you guys by now, so please humor me!

1 - how do you mark the dates on the bottlre? Sharpie?

2- my lc told me to start pumping 2x a day. Do I need to sterlize the equipment after each session?

1. We bought little stickers to put the dates on our bottles but haven't used them because we don't have a huge store of milk, just 100ml at any given time.

2. We just rinse ours with soapy water after every use.

jenlynne0624

@AmyG*‌ you rock my world. Thank you for the advice and overall stopping my freak out session. He's doing really well

fsumom

So I didn't really nurse DS yesterday. It's apparent he's not successful so I fed him by bottle all day. I felt much more relaxed not having to nurse, pump, and bottle feed. I was able to feed him all day with pumped milk. He was 8lbs2oz this morning so he gained. I'm not giving up on nursing but I just needed a break.

fsumom

Thanks @yellowbird219‌. That's how I feel. I know exactly what he's getting by bottle feeding. When I was nursing, I had no idea how much to supplement unless I did weighed feedings every meal but that would be too time consuming.

otter1103

I'll add a lighter post here. The alpha puggle, Vegas, just jacked my pumping chair. In his defense, this was his chair for a few weeks before it went into the nursery but still...

MrsRahl

OK stupid question that may have already been asked. If I pumped both sides and only got 2 oz. And put in fridge yesterday. Can I pump more later today and add to that or do I have to freeze just this 2 oz. Also can you freeze after refrigerating for a day or 2?

lest12

AmyG* said:

Taymiller said:

lest12 said:

I am brand-spanking new to pumping and have a few questions that are probably old news to you guys by now, so please humor me!

1 - how do you mark the dates on the bottlre? Sharpie?

2- my lc told me to start pumping 2x a day. Do I need to sterlize the equipment after each session?

1. We bought little stickers to put the dates on our bottles but haven't used them because we don't have a huge store of milk, just 100ml at any given time.

2. We just rinse ours with soapy water after every use.

masking tape on the bottle and sharpie works really well.  it will stay on thru washings if you want it to and comes off without leaving residue (unless you leave it on for years).

why are you pumping 2x a day?  supply issue?

you can refrigerate pump parts between pumping sessions, and then clean with soap and water at the end of the day.  sterilize according to what you think, most moms start out sterilizing and realize it really isn't necessary.

No supply issue at all (luckily).

How often does everyone usually pump?

elsa1688

@lest12‌ I was told not to pump until I had a regulated supply (4 weeks ish). Pumping twice a day with a good supply sounds like it would send you into oversupply

Taymiller

@lest12‌ - I pump once or twice a day so that DH can feed the baby too. My LO is 10 days old so I am not following the rule of waiting 3 weeks. I am also pumping to save my nipples, they need a break at least once a day.

cinnamonsmiles

Mom&nurse said:

*condensed to save space*

So I am dealing with a similar situation on my LO. DH has what I believe is a tongue-tie, so I had LO checked in the hospital due to the sucking action being really painful. I had two nurses, a pedi, and a LC look at it and all told me that it is there but not a bad one (his tongue can reach just past his lower lip) and none were concerned. Then on our second day in the hospital they weighed him and he had lost 10% of his birth weight. The LC came back with a shield and told me to pump daily, feeding him some as supplement via cup. Now we're having to go in and get checked every few days. We went in for a checkup yesterday and he had gained almost 2oz in 24 hours so they let us go without any problem.

So I have a few questions to go with this...and as reference LO is 4 days old today (born the 25th):
1.)  Should I press harder to gt the TT looked at/clipped? Everyone tells me it is mild and the shield seems to be working, but I'd rather not use one if it'd be possible

2.) During the day, LO eats for 15-25min on each side, then moves to the other for a total of 30-50min BF sessions. He then will fall asleep on the boob but is up 30min after I put him down to bed wanting to feed again. Is this his way of catching up from the weight lost? At night he wants to sleep more than 3 1/2hrs at a time but I wake him up (so I don't know how long he'd go without me doing that). Should I let him sleep normally and feed on demand, or due to his circumstances wake and feed anyway?

3.) Though I was recommended 4x, I only pump once due to me feeding him so often. when I pump, I get 1oz total from both sides after a 10-15min session  and keep it in the fridge. How much extra should I be giving him after he has a BF session? Should I try pumping more often?

4.) LO really only started having wet/dirty dipes today - he peed at birth and cleared out the meconium on day 2 and didn't really go after that until we were about to leave the hospital on day 3. Today he has peed all over the place three times and pooped the same. Is this normal as he is trying to gain back weight? Or should there be more?

Sorry it's so long and involved.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as I am feeling pretty down about the whole situation

BMaidPlanner

@lest12 why twice a day?

BMaidPlanner

Those who introduced breast milk bottles now and then to get sleep, what week did you start?

I am worried about her not going back to breast if I start too soon. At 2.5 weeks now.

JulieSmiles

BMaidPlanner said:

Those who introduced breast milk bottles now and then to get sleep, what week did you start?

I am worried about her not going back to breast if I start too soon. At 2.5 weeks now. </blockquote

We started Friday just due to a hard day and me needing a break. DD was 3.1. We have not had any issues.

sunny1310

BMaidPlanner said:

Those who introduced breast milk bottles now and then to get sleep, what week did you start?

I am worried about her not going back to breast if I start too soon. At 2.5 weeks now.

We did just 2-3 days before he was 3 weeks