@mltarrio and @mhuber223 my DD is 10 weeks today and I've been dealing with this for the past week and a half, mostly at night. It seems my letdown is really slow at this time and I have trouble hand expressing anything. I feel bad and I'm not sure what to do about it. It really frustrates her.
@mltarrio and @mhuber223 my DD is 10 weeks today and I've been dealing with this for the past week and a half, mostly at night. It seems my letdown is really slow at this time and I have trouble hand expressing anything. I feel bad and I'm not sure what to do about it. It really frustrates her.
DD is 8 weeks and started doing this last week. I thought it might be let down related but I alternate breastfeeding with bottle feeding pumped milk and she does this with the bottle too. I've started forcefully holding her head in place when she tries to pull away because my nipples were getting sore all over again. I also hope it's just a growth spurt because I can't breastfeed her in public like this.
So two things, one, @mltarrio DD has been doing this as well but I feel like it's bc she's fighting sleep and when she latches she pulls off quickly when her eyes flutter and then she just bobs around like she doesn't know what to do and then screams at my boob til she becomes super mad! So frustrating! She never does this at night though and she's a good night sleeper. She latches and may pull off but I don't even need to ever help her latch back she finds it, latches, nurses, and goes back to sleep. When she gets upset she swallows air, becomes more sleepy, screams harder, it's such a vicious cycle. I gave her a bottle twice today and she didn't even take that well but then with lots of soothing and rocking shed pass out. Someone or somewhere I read this can be a phase breast fed babies go through. Hope it clears soon!
Also, I haven't gotten mastitis up to now but I am afraid I may be getting it? My right breast at the top gets hard very soon after nursing and feels like a giant bruise! No fever so I am guessing clogged duct, beginning of mastitis? Is that what it feels like? I've been nursing a lot on that side, pumping to empty, took a hot bath, hot compresses, massages. Any other recs? I haven't been the best at getting out of bed to pump the past week when DD sleeps 5-7 hours so I'm sure that's my problem but it's so hard to get out of bed when she's sleeping!!
@dmendo01 It sounds like a blockage to me. The only other thing I can think to suggest is try different positions. It can contribute to blockages if not all areas around the areola are being stimulated during feeding. Since it's the top of the breast maybe try football, side lying, or saddle holds if you aren't already.
So my mom tried paced bottle feeding with a preemie nipple tonight with DS since he takes bottles too fast and wants 5-6 ounces. He got so frustrated she tried to give him the rest of the 2 or so ounces regular and he refused to take it and would only nurse after crying for quite a while. I go back to work tomorrow and now I'm worried he won't take the bottle at all while I'm gone for 5 hrs.
Ladies - I need your help coming up with a pumping strategy. Right now DD eats around 8:30 and then sleeps until 5:00 or 6:00 (I have no idea how she sleeps for so long but I'll take it!). Right now I stay up and pump at around 11:30 before going to bed at midnight so that I'm not uncomfortable by 5 or 6. I go back to work next week and cannot keep staying up until midnight. I would ideally like to pump at 10:00 and go to bed by 10:30. Do you think if I did that, my supply would go down a lot from going so long at night without pumping or would it just kind of even itself out to what the baby needs after a few days?
@JulieK79 I've kind of been going through the same with DD. DD goes to sleep between 8 and 10 pm and DS goes to sleep around 9:40. So I like to pump and go to bed around 10-11 and usually make it until 6-7am.
As the week has gone on I feel less uncomfortable come morning and can go just a little longer. If she still hasn't woken up when I do I go ahead and pump again, and prefer this so I don't feel like I'm drowning her with such a hard letdown. I'm actually getting more milk so I stopped worrying about my supply. The last couple night she's turned around to do some pretty hard core cluster feeding (nursing 30+ mins every 2 hrs) and I didn't have any issue keeping up with that either.
@mhuber223@preggoandglowing@dmendo01 Thanks for your replies. I'm sorry you all are dealing with this too, but it helps me to know that this behavior is at least somewhat normal and we are not alone in this problem.
@court11152325 I will be putting a call into our local warm line today to talk to a consultant. Hopefully she will have some ideas to make our feeding sessions go a little more smoothly.
@mltarrio Please share what the LC says, if you get a chance! DD and I can go to a support group at the hospital, but it's not until next Monday. It was canceled yesterday for the holiday.
@mhuber223 So the lactation consultant told me she thought it was a fast letdown. It makes sense to me that baby is pulling off and latching over and over to try to control the flow. Her latch has also been more shallow when she does get on, trying to clamp down to slow things down.
She suggested trying nursing in positions that give the baby more control, and gravity isn't working against her. She suggested leaning back while nursing, or laying down and having baby lay on my stomach. She also said that some women will pump it hand express to ease the letdown before baby gets there.
@mltarrio DD has done really well in side lying position with my fast let down. I tuck a burp cloth under her cheek and she has the control to latch and unlatch as she nreds as well she can let some milk out the side of her mouth if it's too much. Kellymom has some helpful info on heavy let down and oversupply (usually the cause of heavy let down).
Thanks @Mizuiro007 ! Is there anything you don't know about breastfeeding?
I've come to the conclusion that she's a breastfeeding goddess.
I'm pretty positive I'm faking my way through most days. To be honest, I've seriously been thinking about going back to school and trying to become an LC.
ETA this is something I haven't shared before but you ladies are making me think more and more that I could do it.
@mhuber223 So the lactation consultant told me she thought it was a fast letdown. It makes sense to me that baby is pulling off and latching over and over to try to control the flow. Her latch has also been more shallow when she does get on, trying to clamp down to slow things down.
She suggested trying nursing in positions that give the baby more control, and gravity isn't working against her. She suggested leaning back while nursing, or laying down and having baby lay on my stomach. She also said that some women will pump it hand express to ease the letdown before baby gets there.
Thank you! This totally makes sense with the bottle now too!
@Mizuiro007 You totally should become a LC! Not only do you seem to have all the answers, you're very kind and helpful and non-judgey (technical term).
@mizuiro007 You should do it! You'd be so great at that.
Everyone: DD seems to be having her reflux flare up. She is obviously uncomfortable, crying during and after feeding, arching back, burping then swallowing. So the ped said give her a day then call if we need to try switching meds. The weird thing, though, is that she's not taking her pacifier at all. She'll kind of allow it into the side of her mouth but won't get it in there correctly and then screams. Has anyone else experienced this? Could it be related to an upset tummy?
Has anyone had protein shakes while BF...I don't want to start and have it affect my supply. Any insights??
My doctor gave me the okay for a whey protein (low calorie), but told me not to use it as a meal replacement or to drink solely shakes (apparently people only drink protein as a diet?).
im using mine as a snack replacement after my work outs.
Has anyone had protein shakes while BF...I don't want to start and have it affect my supply. Any insights??
As long as LO doesn't have a dairy intolerance (although it's usually to casein) whey protein is fine. I know the process to get whey can make some people hesitant of it (chemicals and what not). I drink gold standard whey with water or milk when I eat dairy. But you could also look into some of the vegan pea proteins like Sun Warrior. Either way - a scoop of protein in a smoothie with some fruit or veggies used to be a go to snack for me before I had to watch dairy. Protein definitely shouldn't affect your supply.
@mizuiro007 You should do it! You'd be so great at that.
Everyone: DD seems to be having her reflux flare up. She is obviously uncomfortable, crying during and after feeding, arching back, burping then swallowing. So the ped said give her a day then call if we need to try switching meds. The weird thing, though, is that she's not taking her pacifier at all. She'll kind of allow it into the side of her mouth but won't get it in there correctly and then screams. Has anyone else experienced this? Could it be related to an upset tummy?
@mhuber23 is she trying to chew it? Have you checked her gums for signs of teeth? DH had 2 teeth by the time he was 2 months old so we're constantly on the look out!
@rmarie13 Oh man. She has been kind of drooling and rubbing her face. I didn't see anything in her mouth, but I'll be on the lookout!
DS is showing the same behaviors, ie the pacifier issue, the drooling and face rubbing. How long does it usually take before starting to see a tooth?? I thought we had more time before teething phase!
One of my mommy friends warned me about this. She said that while cutting teeth won't happen til later, the teeth themselves are already making some moves and making our babes uncomfortable. My DD definitely has moments of discomfort, and loves chewing on her hand, not sucking on the paci.
@mhuber223 and @rzaremba DS went through the full teething thing starting about this age and didn't actually cut any teeth until 6 months old. It doesn't always happen right away. I would agree with @caketimes friends there's a lot going on in the mouth right now. I also seem to remember saliva and tear production are also ramping up right now as they continue to mature. DS had a clogged tearduct at 14 weeks for this reason. No big deal but this is how the doctor described things then.
@rmarie13 Oh man. She has been kind of drooling and rubbing her face. I didn't see anything in her mouth, but I'll be on the lookout!
DS is showing the same behaviors, ie the pacifier issue, the drooling and face rubbing. How long does it usually take before starting to see a tooth?? I thought we had more time before teething phase!
At our 2 month appointment the ped said DS looks like he's starting to teeth. He's drooling, hands in mouth and has a rough spot on his gum. He but me while nursing the other day. I jumped because even toothy bites hurt a bit and are surprising. He looked surprised that it would bother me
What size bags do you all freeze pumped milk in? I work 3 afternoons a week and DS usually eats one bottle during that time but not very often the rest of the week. He takes around 2-4 ounces and is 2 months old. I had been freezing whatever I get from pumping (5-7 oz) but we are wasting a lot that way.
Hello everyone! I need some help/advice. DD is 10 weeks old and has been breastfeeding since day 1. 3 weeks ago I started going back to work. She will only take about 1-2 oz at a time from the bottle. I was being able to pump about 6 oz every 3 hours now suddenly I'm lucky to get 2 every 3 hours. DD is also refusing to breastfeed the last 2 days. Has anyone else had a similar situation? I have an appointment with her pediatrician because shes refusing to eat more than about 8 oz per day but she isn't acting hungry or upset so I'm not sure what it could be . Up until now she has been eating perfectly. She was 8 pounds when born and 13 at her 2 month appointment.
@kksquared I freeze in bottle sized bags, and a few 1 oz bags just in case she's cluster feeding. So typically 2.5 to 3 oz for now and as she starts nursing further apart I will freeze in 4-6 oz bags.
@kksquared I also freeze in different small quantities. I'm using Lansinoh freezer bags but I don't fill them up. I measure the milk with my storage bottles and freeze 3oz, 4oz, 2oz and 1oz at a time. I've got a couple 6oz and 5oz but not many. It'll be easier to combine smaller amounts than to try to guess if DD will use a whole big amount.
Milk supply question... So in the beginning I got a little lazy for a week or so and I think I ruined my supply. I was EBF but wasn't producing enough to keep him happy so we started supplementing. We're slowly starting to BF more and supplement less, but I still don't pump a whole lot (when I skip a feeding I still only pump 1-2 ounces. On a good day I get 5-6 ounces total). Is it too late to "up" my supply at 7 weeks PP? I'm drinking close to a gallon of water a day, I'm eating oats, snacking, cluster pumping and feeding, letting him nurse practically all day. I'm even taking fenugreek and I don't see a difference. I don't think I will ever be able to EBF again but I really hope to. When I leave the house I can never have enough milk pumped to sustain him through out the day.
@BethP321 first, it sounds like you're doing everything right (particularly pumping and nursing on demand). Second, what you get out of the pump is really not indicative of your supply. Some women don't respond as well to it. The best way to tell if your supply is adequate is diaper output and weight gain. If you have enough wet and poopy diapers and a baby that's gaining, then your supply is good!!
@BethP321 Exactly like @Court11152325 said. You're doing great with what you're trying. As long as you're producing there's a very good chance you can build it back.
The only thing I can think to maybe try warm compresses before and even during pumping. It can really help stimulate let down and you may notice some improvement in what you're able to pump.
Milk supply question... So in the beginning I got a little lazy for a week or so and I think I ruined my supply. I was EBF but wasn't producing enough to keep him happy so we started supplementing. We're slowly starting to BF more and supplement less, but I still don't pump a whole lot (when I skip a feeding I still only pump 1-2 ounces. On a good day I get 5-6 ounces total). Is it too late to "up" my supply at 7 weeks PP? I'm drinking close to a gallon of water a day, I'm eating oats, snacking, cluster pumping and feeding, letting him nurse practically all day. I'm even taking fenugreek and I don't see a difference. I don't think I will ever be able to EBF again but I really hope to. When I leave the house I can never have enough milk pumped to sustain him through out the day.
I'm in the same situation. We had to supplement due to jaundice and LO losing almost 1lb at his first checkup and I've not been able to get ahead of him now. He is 7 weeks old as well. I've been doing the same things but had to stop fenugreek. I've added pumping after every nursing session or when he eats and doesn't nurse (twice at night-he just falls asleep on my boobs and won't eat) and this has helped a little. I only pump 1-2 oz each session as well. There is a clinic LA Leche league referred me to and they said to try pumping 1 hr after a feeding and not directly after but I haven't tried that yet.
I tried lactation cookies and just made lactation granola bars. We will see if that helps. My lactation consultant told me to only give him 1 oz of formula after nursing until the next feeding to make him nurse longer but this results in him getting frustrated and crying/refusing to nurse and I couldn't do that. I'll continue trying and if anything helps I'll let you know. Good luck to you!
Any suggestions on what I can do about DD's relationship issues with my right boob? I have a strong/fast let down that I feel EVERY time and it was a problem at first mostly because of oversupply. Now that I've been EBF my milk has regulated (yayy no more engorgement!) and DD has learned to cope with my let down. She's a pro and usually finishes in 5-7 minutes... on the left side. I only nurse her one side at a time. When it's Ms. Righty's turn DD loses it. She won't latch on correctly so she takes in tons of air. She can't deal with the let down so she pulls off and then cries in frustration. In 3 minutes she pulls off and re-latches at least 10 times, burps a few times, chokes once or twice and has had enough. I've tried pumping before feeding her, changing positions (football, laying back, sitting up, cross cradle). Not sure if there is anything else I can do. Any advice?? TIA
@rmarie13 The best thing I figured out with DD was to feed her in a side lying hold (reclined and saddle holds are also good but side lying worked the best for us, just make sure to tuck a burp cloth under baby's head to catch the runoff). It gave her more control although she had to get used to it. It took a few times but she figured she could let some milk dribble and didn't unlatch as often. When she would unlatch because of let down I would just hold a nursing towel or burp cloth over my nipple and apply light pressure until the flow slowed then relatch. It was frustrating but over the last few weeks it's gotten increasingly better. Now it's rarely an issue (usually just in the morning after going longer overnight).
It helps that over time that not only does your supply regulate but baby matures and can handle a faster flow easier. While it's frustrating now it should definitely still get better.
Re: Breastfeeding advice, questions, ect
Also, I haven't gotten mastitis up to now but I am afraid I may be getting it? My right breast at the top gets hard very soon after nursing and feels like a giant bruise! No fever so I am guessing clogged duct, beginning of mastitis? Is that what it feels like? I've been nursing a lot on that side, pumping to empty, took a hot bath, hot compresses, massages. Any other recs? I haven't been the best at getting out of bed to pump the past week when DD sleeps 5-7 hours so I'm sure that's my problem but it's so hard to get out of bed when she's sleeping!!
As the week has gone on I feel less uncomfortable come morning and can go just a little longer. If she still hasn't woken up when I do I go ahead and pump again, and prefer this so I don't feel like I'm drowning her with such a hard letdown. I'm actually getting more milk so I stopped worrying about my supply. The last couple night she's turned around to do some pretty hard core cluster feeding (nursing 30+ mins every 2 hrs) and I didn't have any issue keeping up with that either.
@court11152325 I will be putting a call into our local warm line today to talk to a consultant. Hopefully she will have some ideas to make our feeding sessions go a little more smoothly.
She suggested trying nursing in positions that give the baby more control, and gravity isn't working against her. She suggested leaning back while nursing, or laying down and having baby lay on my stomach. She also said that some women will pump it hand express to ease the letdown before baby gets there.
ETA this is something I haven't shared before but you ladies are making me think more and more that I could do it.
@mizuiro007 You should do it! You'd be so great at that.
Everyone: DD seems to be having her reflux flare up. She is obviously uncomfortable, crying during and after feeding, arching back, burping then swallowing. So the ped said give her a day then call if we need to try switching meds. The weird thing, though, is that she's not taking her pacifier at all. She'll kind of allow it into the side of her mouth but won't get it in there correctly and then screams. Has anyone else experienced this? Could it be related to an upset tummy?
im using mine as a snack replacement after my work outs.
DS is showing the same behaviors, ie the pacifier issue, the drooling and face rubbing. How long does it usually take before starting to see a tooth?? I thought we had more time before teething phase!
The only thing I can think to maybe try warm compresses before and even during pumping. It can really help stimulate let down and you may notice some improvement in what you're able to pump.
I tried lactation cookies and just made lactation granola bars. We will see if that helps. My lactation consultant told me to only give him 1 oz of formula after nursing until the next feeding to make him nurse longer but this results in him getting frustrated and crying/refusing to nurse and I couldn't do that. I'll continue trying and if anything helps I'll let you know. Good luck to you!
I have a strong/fast let down that I feel EVERY time and it was a problem at first mostly because of oversupply. Now that I've been EBF my milk has regulated (yayy no more engorgement!) and DD has learned to cope with my let down. She's a pro and usually finishes in 5-7 minutes... on the left side. I only nurse her one side at a time. When it's Ms. Righty's turn DD loses it. She won't latch on correctly so she takes in tons of air. She can't deal with the let down so she pulls off and then cries in frustration. In 3 minutes she pulls off and re-latches at least 10 times, burps a few times, chokes once or twice and has had enough. I've tried pumping before feeding her, changing positions (football, laying back, sitting up, cross cradle). Not sure if there is anything else I can do. Any advice?? TIA
It helps that over time that not only does your supply regulate but baby matures and can handle a faster flow easier. While it's frustrating now it should definitely still get better.
https://somdbabywearers.weebly.com/blog/tips-and-tricks-for-breastfeeding-while-babywearing