STM breastfeeding question

Klittle779

hi ladies. I apologize i self admit I am a frequent lurker.

Klittle779

Edit...sorry my whole post didn't show up


hi ladies. I apologize i self admit I am a frequent lurker.

Klittle779

Sorry I have no idea what is happening. My phone is spazzing. My original post keeps deleting. My question is about STM BF and if anyone can offer some advice. My DS is 20 months and he was breastfed for about a week before I switched to formula. I am determined to try and BF with this LO however I am trying not to set myself up for failure. Didn't know if any STMs had any helpful advice for BF or if anyone is finding themselves in a similar situation where they formula fed first and and trying to BF. I plan on taking a class at the hospital....any advice is welcomed. Thank you

obryana6219

I was able to nurse DD for a few weeks before we found out she has a rare form of hypercalcemia.  That meant I couldn't nurse her anymore and that she had to have special low calcium formula.  I have every intention of nursing this LO.  All I can tell you is that it's something most women have to work at while others have no problems. If it's something you want to do just keep at it. Nursing isn't for everyone and all that matters in the end is that LO is fed.

Klittle779

@obryana6219 thank you! i appreciate it. I know I should keep that in the back of my mind that as long as LO is fed and happy and growing that's all that matters thanks

kbrands7

I'd definitely recommend checking out Le Leche League (either a local chapter to connect with other moms, or their book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding) along with kellymom.com. Both were invaluable resources for me when I had a lot of trouble breastfeeding initially with DS (we ended up bf for about 20 months). If you can request time with a lactation consult-- as much as you can while in the hospital and if possible, meeting before baby comes-- is also helpful. 

Probably the most important things to know going in are a few positions to try, how a latch should look and feel-- and how to train LO to latch better, and also know that feeding or pumping every 2hrs will help your milk to come in and your supply to establish strongly (plus it'll give LO lots of time at the breast to practice latching efficiently). There's a lot of information to gather along the way depending on your circumstances (ebf, pumping, or both/problems or not/etc.) Knowing where the information is and knowing some basics to get started is what I'd recommend so that things don't feel overwhelming. 

There are plans to do a breastfeeding check-in/help on this board which will probably get started as we get closer to term/as bf mamas request it.

araecasey

Can you share a little more about your first breastfeeding journey? 

Klittle779

@kbrands7 thank you....very helpful .....
 @araecasey With DS1, he latched pretty much instantly and was doing well. The issue was it was very overwhelming for me however and I was dealing with some postpartum/ baby blues that made it that much harder. In the end formula feeding worked better for all of us with DS1. However I always felt regret and felt that if I had just hung in there for a few weeks we would have been ok. The other issue I had was that he always seemed hungry yet I could never tell how much he was getting.

Mellbow

I had to supplement with a premie formula and continued to BF until DD was 9 months old.  If you get overwhelmed again, remember you can do both!  We had latching problems initially and then digestive issues and a less than stellar milk supply.  Just relax and remember you have options.  I find the lactation consultants at the hospital can make an already stressful situation (life/body change of being a new mom) even more stressful as they show you how/what to do and make you chart everything.  Then the nurses know the baby needs nourishment and encourage formula.  It is overwhelming!  Just knowing what to expect this time might help things along

Klittle779

@Mellbow thank you so much for your encouraging words! I will definitely be seeking the advice from the lactation consultants.  I feel way more prepared this time around and at least know what to expect which may make it easier...

araecasey

Klittle779 said:

@kbrands7 thank you....very helpful .....
 @araecasey With DS1, he latched pretty much instantly and was doing well. The issue was it was very overwhelming for me however and I was dealing with some postpartum/ baby blues that made it that much harder. In the end formula feeding worked better for all of us with DS1. However I always felt regret and felt that if I had just hung in there for a few weeks we would have been ok. The other issue I had was that he always seemed hungry yet I could never tell how much he was getting.

Well firstly, what a gift you gave your son of a week's worth of breastfeeding! Especially when you felt overwhelmed and were taking care of your own health as well. ANY amount of time at the breast benefits you and your little ones.

Secondly, I'd encourage you to find some support for immediately postpartum. I muscled through postpartum anxiety, and I still vividly remember feeling like I was drowning in it, especially because I was breastfeeding. I didn't realize just how demanding nursing a newborn could be. Just like you said, a newborn always seems to be hungry! I remember DD's ped asked me once how many times a day she was nursing, and I just answered "All the freaking time" because I had no idea. So one day I tracked how long she was on the breast; 17 hours that day. Nursing a newborn can be a soul drain!!! Granted DD was colicky, but still. It's a demanding job of a mom's mind and body. I wish someone had told me before I started out breastfeeding that for many babies, nursing is about more than just food. Newborns need to nurse for comfort, closeness, warmth, and to satisfy their strong need to suckle. I learned through my own breastfeeding journey with DD that the physical act of nursing a newborn helps organize their neural pathways! So much more than just milk.

So to me good support looks like... a provider who knows your history of PPD/baby blues; either a postpartum doula or friends and family ready and eager to help with DS1, meals, and household chores while you're busy nursing and resting with DS2; a partner who's educated and supportive of breastfeeding (insist he go to that class with you!!); the number of an IBCLC in your back pocket--bonus points if said LC does house calls; and an in-person and/or online lactation support group lined up such as La Leche League. You're welcome to join my LLL facebook group if you'd like! The seasoned moms in my group were the ones who pulled me in from the brink, gave me the strength to keep going, and insisted on taking care of me. 

Regarding your concern about "he always seemed hungry yet I could never tell how much he was getting," I'd first say that it sounds like you were nursing on demand, listening to your son's hunger cues, and ditching scheduled feedings. To this I say, bravo! You did well, mama! Please do that some more when you're nursing DS2. Not being sure how much milk your newborn is getting is a really common issue, and one that's pretty easy to put to rest in my opinion. Once your milk comes in, you'll know baby is getting enough if he's nursing between 8-12 times a day, having at least 5-6 wet diapers a day, pooping lots, growing, is reasonably content between feeds. If DS2 is doing all of these things, and you're still concerned, visit a lactation consultant or lactation support group with a high grade infant scale, and weigh baby before and after nursing. This will tell you the exact amount of milk baby took in during that feeding. Although... before jumping into weighted feeds, I'd encourage you to first try trusting your body to feed your little one without the help of "quantifying" your milk. Sometimes doing weighted feeds can actually make us even more stressed out about whether we're making enough. Because sometimes little one might eat several ounces, and sometimes little one might just be hanging out to comfort suckle and might take very little from the breast. When we attach a "number of ounces" to breastfeeding, we take away a little bit of control from our baby. Trust that your baby knows when and how much to eat, and trust that your body knows just what to provide him!

Klittle779

@araecasey .... you rock. Thank you so much for your response. Made me feel so much better. It's amazing how empowered you feel after you've done this already. Even though I know I will still feel like I'm  going crazy and I know i will certainly have many many moments of feelings of "I don't know if i can do this" Having a strong support system is so essential Luckily DH is very good and MIL and my mom both live 5 minutes from us. With DS i was so afraid to accept help. with DD I know I will be welcoming help. I think its a mental thing of wanting to be there for everyone and feeling utterly run down yourself. Knowing that these feeling are temporary and are completely normal is very comforting now. Just have to take a little time here and there for myself. I appreciate your inviting me to LLL facebook group . Thanks again for your response..hope youre feeling well

araecasey

Please hit me up, send me a message if you start feeling like that again.