@keiragann Just wanted to commiserate. I've only been at it 3.5 weeks but it feels like 6 months because of the emotional and physical roller coaster. The situation-and my attitude about it- literally changes day to day. Sometimes hour to hour. I also have been all over the lactation consultant. I email her probably 3 times a week (usually in tears post 3am feeding) with a new problem. Half the time, I email her again 6 hours later to say "disregard, but here's this NEW problem I'm having!". BUT when I'm in my right mind, I know Whether we stick with breastfeeding/pumping or switch to formula or do a mix of both- it's enough. Its enough because we are enough and our LOs will love us, no matter what.
Also, this is the LC's job! Try not to stress about that part. I'm sure you are not annoying. You're a new mom attempting something really bloody hard. If breastfeeding was easy and obvious, LCs wouldn't even exist.
@esscapelle Overactive letdown? I have a really forceful letdown (apparently) and so sometimes DD will spaz out and pull off a few times early in the feeding.
Does anyone's LO pull off your breast multiple times during feeding? Sometimes my little guy wiggles all over and unlatches himself then keeps wiggling so much looking for my nipple but won't re-latch and it's so frustrating. I know it's not because he's full because he's actively searching for it, and it's usually only been 5 minutes of feeding when this happens. It's so frustrating!
DS does that sometimes if he needs to burp, has gas or needs to poop.
Frustrated! I love to nurse DD but am starting to get so frustrated with the comfort nursing! I cannot hold my baby without her needing to nurse. She will be completely inconsolable until I give her what she wants. She ate for 45 minutes, slept for 20 and then DH held her she took her paci and was fine and then he left and as soon as I got her she screamed bloody murder, wouldn't take the paci, and when I finally nursed her she nursed for maybe 1 minute and passed out! It's causing me to really want to just pump and give her a bottle but I feel like I will regret it so I just need to rant a little!
@dmendo01 aw I went through that as well for almost 7 weeks. It was overwhelming how much I just sat and nursed. It all changed now and he's done with me after 10-15 mins. So what does that mean for a baby that can't chill if he doesn't fall asleep right after? Exhausting attempts to prevent him from crying for an hr and a half until next feeding. Lol I miss him comfort nursing now. Just perspective I find ironic.
Has anyone noticed an issue with caffeine? I've avoided it entirely, but sometimes I'd love a diet soda or tea (I don't drink coffee). Caffeine is supposed to have a long half life, so I really don't want a baby jacked up on caffeine when I'm trying to sleep.
I drink a cup of coffee during his first morning feed or else I would fall back asleep. One cup doesn't seem to make any difference to how he sleeps, but more caffiene than that makes him gassy. Soda and tea have even less caffiene than coffee so give it a try and enjoy
I drink a cup of coffee during his first morning feed or else I would fall back asleep. One cup doesn't seem to make any difference to how he sleeps, but more caffiene than that makes him gassy. Soda and tea have even less caffiene than coffee so give it a try and enjoy
I also drink one cup in the morning and don't really notice a change with LO being gassy or not sleeping because even if I don't drink it, he still doesn't have his first nap until about 2-230
DD fights daytime naps but sleeps wonderfully at night. I drink a can of diet Mountain Dew in the morning probably every 3 days bc I also am not a coffee drinker and she does the exact same whether I drink it or not.
DD does better if I limit my caffeine intake. I can't function without some but just trying to stick to a steady low intake through the day and try to keep my daily total the same as I did during pregnancy.
Thanks everyone. I'm going to try a (kind of large) cup of hot tea in the morning and see how it goes. I've gotten tiny amounts of caffeine here and there, but not like drinking an entire soda or tea. So we'll see how it goes. Hopefully experimentation day doesn't kill me. We're also trying to teach DD to sleep in the pack n play!
FWIW, I discovered the hard way that I had to stay away from caffeine all together. Had some when baby was around 5 weeks old and he was awake and fussy for nearly 3 days. Granted, I probably had more than they say is the allowed amount, but I was so tired that I was having trouble keeping track. My body processed the caffeine in the normal 6-8 hours but his took three or four times as long.
Let's talk nipples.. I'm a FTM, I overcame the cracked, bleeding nipples but I'm still experiencing pain during the first 15-30 seconds after DD latches on. The pain is definitely getting better though so I have a few questions now that I'm making progress. Are some of you 100% pain free or is there always a bit of soreness?
I've used lanolin from the start. Do any of you who have no pain use this? Like, do nipples need lubrication to prevent soreness, etc.
I've also been using gel soothies from the start and I think I'm ready to stop using (they are pricey). Do you all just wear a nursing bra with nothing in between? I'm so used to the soothies it seems too easy ha! Or are nursing pads worn 24/7? Please enlighten me.
I wear a bra with either disposable pads or bamboobies at all times. I don't leak a lot, but when I do it's a lot.
I've never used lanolin. I had earth mama angel baby nipple butter, but I started using coconut oil and it's AMAZING! It's really helping since my nipples are a little tender. I've used coconut oil for a week and it has helped soooo much.
I have pain for 5-15 seconds when she latches on, more so on the left than right. But my LC said it's pretty normal for latch on to always hurt.
I have pain the first probably 10 seconds of latch as well. I was hoping it was all because our latch isn't perfected yet, but reading the above I guess this might just be the reality?
Lanolin did nothing for me. I just started using Motherlove nipple cream on someone's recommendation and it's pretty great. It goes on so much smoother and easier and keeps my nipples really soft.
I wear a sleep nursing bra most of the time (because I'm at home on maternity leave) without anything between but when I have to go out into the world, I wear a nursing bra with the gel soothies. They are pricey but you are re-using them right? I just like having that barrier.
I also have sore nipples from time to time. I don't put anything on them, and they feel better if I go braless around the house. I usually just wear a camisole and a zip up or long sleeved tee shirt. DD has give from 6 to 10+ pounds, so I attribute the soreness to poor positioning since I'm working with so much more baby!
Alright, I've been dairy-free for a few weeks now, and DD's gas seems to be returning.
Some background -- I've always had a sensitive stomach, and have even had what I think was an ulcer. (Long story, but I was living in a rural, impoverished area doing a teaching program and between my job demands and the resources available, my issues were never really diagnosed.) Dairy has always soothed my stomach, so I always thought it was strange that DD would react poorly to it.
If the gas continues to get worse between now and her 2 month appt next week, what other things do people cut from diets? I know soy is a big one. I'm wondering if I need to cut back on spices. She seems unhappy if we have chili or other foods with spice.
Eta, I've also been gassy myself lately. Could that be indicative of what's bothering her?
I think soy and gluten are the other culprits for gas. I also cut dairy and DD still has gassy days. I've been contemplating keeping a food journal just to get an idea of what I'm eating on days when she's gassy (though it's nothing like when I was eating dairy) @mhuber223
Oh and you can also express a little milk and rub on your nipples and then let air dry too. I do that and then put coconut oil on afterwards and it's been a game changer for me
@preggoandglowing I wear nursing bra or tank all the time with disposable pads 24-7. I decided to do this after trying different ones and leaking through my shirt in public! My nipples are actually almost not sore with latch anymore, occasionally on the left but DD pulls off a lot and that does hurt. Feels like she's ripping all the skin off of them. I was using the earth angel but wasn't noticing a lot of difference when they really hurt so I just suffered through. DD is 5 weeks. They are sore to touch otherwise though I may try to coconut oil as I have some here already for cooking.
@mhuber223 a lot of people I have noticed are trying probiotic drops for their gassy little ones. May be worth looking into.
@mhuber223 I've seen eggs, cabbage and garlic commonly listed as well. I honestly feel some babies are just gassy. DD is. We've been doing probiotic drops and gas drops and she still has some pretty major gas but since it's no longer bothering her the majority of the time and she isn't bloated
@preggoandglowing At 10 weeks I rarely have nipple pain, although hello tender breasts. Occasionally I'll have nipple pain if she starts to mash (then I pull back and she's starting to figure out not to do this) or recently after passing a blockage my right nipple felt like week two all over again.
I wear nursing bras and disposable pads or bamboobies 24/7 as well. Sometimes still use nipple balm if I feel I need it but mostly not. Mostly I get by now with a little expressed milk like PP said, and using a very mild cleanser when I wash that doesn't strip natural oils.
As an alternative you can try lilypadz nursing pads. Or for the tenderness Bamboobies reusable pads are soft velour and very comfortable to wear.
I wear a sleep nursing bra most of the time (because I'm at home on maternity leave) without anything between but when I have to go out into the world, I wear a nursing bra with the gel soothies. They are pricey but you are re-using them right? I just like having that barrier.
I reuse the soothies for about a week. I wash them without soaking but am worried about bacteria so I replace them about once a week.
@preggoandglowing Yeah, j guess that's about the frequency I've replaced them too. I'm about to replace my 3rd set and DD is almost 4 weeks. I don't really leak (knock on wood) so I just wipe off the nipple cream from them, if any, and put them back in the fridge! The price is worth it to me (for now) but you're right- wouldn't want to do it forever.
@Court11152325 I should totally keep a food journal. Thanks!
Besides dairy, I've noticed tomato sauces or anything acidic are the absolute worst with making Henry gassy. If I eat pizza he's miserable all day, so sad because I love pizza. So I've cut spaghetti, pizza, heavily spiced foods, anything with onion, limit caffiene intake and started eating more bland foods such as fish. I have noticed things that make me slightly gassy will make him gassy, as well but worse.
@preggoandglowing zero pain now. He only time I had discomfort was when I had thrush. I wear nursing tanks all day and no bra along with disposable pads (eventhough I blame thrush on them.) Needless to say I still wear them daily just replace them multiple times per day. Oh and put on nipple cream for 1 day at the hospital but never again. Lo cluster fed for 6 weeks therefore it was nearly impossible.
DD is fussing so badly at the breast these last few days i don't know what her problem is but I can't even get her to latch and have to give her a bottle. If I bounce up a down while she's at the breast she may latch on but not always. I try and calm her and try again but it doesn't seem to work. Any thoughts? My only thinking is she's being lazy and knows she'll get a bottle so she just won't latch. Any ideas?
@kdoak2015 Sometimes I've been having an issue with DD lately where she's used to my fast letdown and when the flow slows she gets frustrated even though she's still getting milk. Maybe it's something like this with your DD. Laziness, like you said and being used to the bottle being a little quicker easier. Occasionally it's been helping me to hand express a little to get milk flowing easier then latch again. If that doesn't work sometimes I switch sides and once she's a little more full and getting drowsy she doesn't mind it slower.
@kdoak2015 Sometimes I've been having an issue with DD lately where she's used to my fast letdown and when the flow slows she gets frustrated even though she's still getting milk. Maybe it's something like this with your DD. Laziness, like you said and being used to the bottle being a little quicker easier. Occasionally it's been helping me to hand express a little to get milk flowing easier then latch again. If that doesn't work sometimes I switch sides and once she's a little more full and getting drowsy she doesn't mind it slower.
Its at the initial latch before she even gets anything, she just open mouth screams and won't latch. I even squirt a tone in her mouth and still nothing. Sometimes I cave and just grab a bottle other times we'll fight it out. So don't think it's the let down.
@kdoak2015 does she do it all the time? DD does that sometimes but more so when she's really sleepy and if she doesn't get latched right away she gets frustrated and shakes her head and starts screaming and then it's just a terrible process altogether.
So, my LO since birth has pooped about 6x/day until about two days ago. She's going about 24 hours now and now her gas smells horrible! I guess because her poo is sitting in there longer, but she also acts like she is having some gas pains now more so than she ever has and has been especially fussy during feeding sessions like her belly is hurting? I have done the gripe water but it hasn't made a difference. So I have been wonderin about probiotics? Or maybe this will work itself out as her belly adjusts? Has this happened to any of your LOs? Also TMI but poo has always been liquid yellow seedy and still is.
So, my LO since birth has pooped about 6x/day until about two days ago. She's going about 24 hours now and now her gas smells horrible! I guess because her poo is sitting in there longer, but she also acts like she is having some gas pains now more so than she ever has and has been especially fussy during feeding sessions like her belly is hurting? I have done the gripe water but it hasn't made a difference. So I have been wonderin about probiotics? Or maybe this will work itself out as her belly adjusts? Has this happened to any of your LOs? Also TMI but poo has always been liquid yellow seedy and still is.
Babies will start pooping less frequently as they get older. I suggest asking your pedi what they consider normal. I've heard as few as 4 days in between to as many as 7. Babies are only considered constipated if their poop is hard. My baby will go 1-3 days without pooping any more than what looks like a shart. Then when she does poop is 2-4 huge dirty diapers that day. We often get a blowout the first one.
@taysun I did talk to my pediatrician but I am mostly worried about her gas. She just seems to be having trouble with it since things aren't moving through the gut as quickly as they used to. Don't know if probiotics would help. Pedi recommended gas drops but they just don't seem to be making a difference. Just feel bad for her.
@taysun I did talk to my pediatrician but I am mostly worried about her gas. She just seems to be having trouble with it since things aren't moving through the gut as quickly as they used to. Don't know if probiotics would help. Pedi recommended gas drops but they just don't seem to be making a difference. Just feel bad for her.
I do bicycles before every diaper change when she's on the changing pad to help get things moving. Also I do the colic hold and massage her belly if she seems fussy. A lot of people do probiotics and all kinds of drops but I don't think we have a problem to need it, babies have gas and DD doesn't seem terribly bothered by it like some babies seem to be. Hopefully someone with experience with probiotics can give you some input.
@dmendo01 DD is still pretty regular but we give her daily probiotic drops. The pedi has been hugely supportive of this and had use add in gas drops. We've been trying to give them around her worst times of day and if we can tell she swallowed air during a feeding. She's still a very gassy girl but seems to pass it comfortably. She does still get a bit fussy building up to a larger bm but doesn't seem to strain passing it which is good. I hope this helps. We also plan to try the biogaia plus vitamin D soon.
ETA: DD is 10 weeks and also still having dark brownish yellow sedy liquid stools whicheck our pedi says is normal.
@dmendo01 DD was very gassy and spent a lot of time crying about it, so we tried the probiotic drops. I figured they couldn't hurt, and her crying decreased significantly. I also cut dairy, but I've accidentally eaten things with dairy and didn't notice a difference, so I think the probiotics have helped. DD is also burping a lot better, though, so maybe that's it.
Re: Breastfeeding advice, questions, ect
Also, this is the LC's job! Try not to stress about that part. I'm sure you are not annoying. You're a new mom attempting something really bloody hard. If breastfeeding was easy and obvious, LCs wouldn't even exist.
i do still use lanolin...not all the time, but when my nipples are feeling sore I do. I should probably use it more often.
i wear a nursing tank top or bra with disposable pass 24/7. I'm way too leaky to get by without the pads.
I've never used lanolin. I had earth mama angel baby nipple butter, but I started using coconut oil and it's AMAZING! It's really helping since my nipples are a little tender. I've used coconut oil for a week and it has helped soooo much.
I have pain for 5-15 seconds when she latches on, more so on the left than right. But my LC said it's pretty normal for latch on to always hurt.
Lanolin did nothing for me. I just started using Motherlove nipple cream on someone's recommendation and it's pretty great. It goes on so much smoother and easier and keeps my nipples really soft.
I wear a sleep nursing bra most of the time (because I'm at home on maternity leave) without anything between but when I have to go out into the world, I wear a nursing bra with the gel soothies. They are pricey but you are re-using them right? I just like having that barrier.
Some background -- I've always had a sensitive stomach, and have even had what I think was an ulcer. (Long story, but I was living in a rural, impoverished area doing a teaching program and between my job demands and the resources available, my issues were never really diagnosed.) Dairy has always soothed my stomach, so I always thought it was strange that DD would react poorly to it.
If the gas continues to get worse between now and her 2 month appt next week, what other things do people cut from diets? I know soy is a big one. I'm wondering if I need to cut back on spices. She seems unhappy if we have chili or other foods with spice.
Eta, I've also been gassy myself lately. Could that be indicative of what's bothering her?
@mhuber223 a lot of people I have noticed are trying probiotic drops for their gassy little ones. May be worth looking into.
@preggoandglowing At 10 weeks I rarely have nipple pain, although hello tender breasts. Occasionally I'll have nipple pain if she starts to mash (then I pull back and she's starting to figure out not to do this) or recently after passing a blockage my right nipple felt like week two all over again.
I wear nursing bras and disposable pads or bamboobies 24/7 as well. Sometimes still use nipple balm if I feel I need it but mostly not. Mostly I get by now with a little expressed milk like PP said, and using a very mild cleanser when I wash that doesn't strip natural oils.
As an alternative you can try lilypadz nursing pads. Or for the tenderness Bamboobies reusable pads are soft velour and very comfortable to wear.
Babies are only considered constipated if their poop is hard.
My baby will go 1-3 days without pooping any more than what looks like a shart. Then when she does poop is 2-4 huge dirty diapers that day. We often get a blowout the first one.
ETA DD is 8 weeks
A lot of people do probiotics and all kinds of drops but I don't think we have a problem to need it, babies have gas and DD doesn't seem terribly bothered by it like some babies seem to be.
Hopefully someone with experience with probiotics can give you some input.
ETA: DD is 10 weeks and also still having dark brownish yellow sedy liquid stools whicheck our pedi says is normal.