So I'm reading The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and they bring up when babies ask for milk. Do you guys have plans for what you'll call your boobs/nursing to your children (or already do if you already have kids)? I'm trying to figure this out because I don't necessarily want my kid yelling "Mommy, I want boobies!"
@RainMira9e I taught my son the sign for milk, which he was able to use starting around 6mos. Since he never had breastmilk and cow's milk at the same time, just asking for "milk" worked for us.
@RainMira9e I taught my son the sign for milk, which he was able to use starting around 6mos. Since he never had breastmilk and cow's milk at the same time, just asking for "milk" worked for us.
Same here! At first, I thought baby sign language was a little crazy, but I'm glad we did it. She really only used a handful of signs - milk, more, all done and dog - but they really helped. I nursed til 18 months, and for the last few months she would say milk out loud and also do the sign.
Just ordered a set of Kindred Bravely sleep nursing bras. I'm a second time mom, and nursed for 2.5 years with my first. I just had a few sets of target sleep bras with my first, which barely worked for my bigger chest (40DD). I ordered a XL and I think I'm going to return them for a large. They have busty bras too!
They are so much more freaking comfortable, thicker fabric and gives some support which is a big plus, super soft cotton that Im not taking these things off. Totally worth the extra cost if you are bigger chested like me. And no I'm not endorsed by this brand, just know what I like!
Hi all... I've been playing catch-up on this thread. I'll throw in some knowledge as a STM who BF exclusively for 14 months. I hope not to offend anyone out there in TB land, but I just did it with no knowledge or research into it - like a cavewoman would, I suppose... I just put her on my breast and let her nurse as she needed. (I regret now not having any done any real research into latching - my nipples certainly paid the price initially...) However... I hope that any out there who have fears/doubts attributed to too much information can find encouragement from my experience.
My DD was born with a short-frenulum (tongue-tie) and had a very high palate, which, the lactation consultant had warned me about, as both could cause trouble with nursing. Neither did cause any issues (except the pain I experienced as a FTM, who didn't really know how to properly get her latched). The hospital staff & LC encouraged me to cut her frenulum, which I flat out refused to do! I did not introduce paci's or bottles for months, and then, when I did - she rejected them. She would absolutely NOT take an artificial nipple, which was very, very difficult for many reasons. Luckily at the time, I was a SAHM. @TurtleMomma I wish I had known to try a syringe or spoon! Silly me for not having any real support or knowledge!
While I think its a good idea to know the basics surrounding BFing, I would really encourage all who are new to the "art" to arm yourself with basic info, and be willing to adjust. I am 100% in agreement with my disdain for absolutes. Things don't always go as planned, and when they don't its simply amazing to have a group of supportive moms out there to help guide us. Big ups!!!!
@annabenanna - I bought just one glass Minbie 6oz bottle with extra-slow nipples for now. However, I did also get the Lansinoh starter kit (2 5oz & 2 8oz BPA/BPS free bottles, 2 slow-flow & 2 med-flow nips + milk storage bags) from my mom. (I like that the bottles are BPA & BPS free for travel, but plan on glass-bottle feeding mostly). Looks like the Minbie nipples will fit the Lansinoh bottles (which is what I hoped for)... But, I have a lingering fear that little Mr. will be like his big sis and refuse any kind of nipple besides momma's
@TurtleMomma (or anyone else)- any advice re avoiding nipple rejection with bottles? I plan on pumping and introducing a bottle around 4 weeks... fingers crossed!!
Did anyone have luck with supplements to boost supply? I didn't make it long with DS because my production was so low.
I used a liquid form of a herbal concoction called Maxi milk. I got it from my local healthfood store. I only used it with my first baby, second baby my boobs seems to have a better idea of the job.
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@ByeBabyBunting I used fenugreek and oatmeal to boost my supply and it worked, but it can be spendy (as PP said) because you have to take a lot of fenugreek. This time around, I'll do the same but I'm also going to try lactation cookies and smoothies.
@Alikvasnok As far as I know, there is no sure-fire way to prevent a baby from rejecting artificial nipples (regardless of when they are introduced). I think it just boils down to the personality of the babe, tbh.
@Alikvasnok, i looked up the minbie...the reviews on amazon are mixed.
Also, because I looked up the minbie, I went down the rabbit hole of other bottle brands: Comotomo, Avent Naturals, MAM, Tommee Tippee, Bare Baby. I got so overwhelmed!
@annabenanna Oh man, researching bottles sent me over the edge. I finally just googled "Best bottles for breasted babies" and then registered for a couple of two different kinds. Lol
So I'm reading The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and they bring up when babies ask for milk. Do you guys have plans for what you'll call your boobs/nursing to your children (or already do if you already have kids)? I'm trying to figure this out because I don't necessarily want my kid yelling "Mommy, I want boobies!"
Oh, this is a great question! Unfortunately both the English "nurse" and German "stillen" are difficult words for young kids.
Thanks everyone for the advice about baby signs - I can't believe I forgot about that!!! Did you use a particular resource or just YouTube? @kmvisoli@mommathoner@TurtleMomma
Anybody else already getting sore glands in their armpits? I haven't felt this since I had clogged milk ducts while BFing LO. They get sore, and then my nipples start hurting too. Oh bewbies... why are you so cruel?
So I'm reading The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and they bring up when babies ask for milk. Do you guys have plans for what you'll call your boobs/nursing to your children (or already do if you already have kids)? I'm trying to figure this out because I don't necessarily want my kid yelling "Mommy, I want boobies!"
Oh, this is a great question! Unfortunately both the English "nurse" and German "stillen" are difficult words for young kids.
Thanks everyone for the advice about baby signs - I can't believe I forgot about that!!! Did you use a particular resource or just YouTube? @kmvisoli@mommathoner@TurtleMomma
We have the Baby Signing Time DVD, and the book "Baby Sign Language Basics" by Monta Z Briant. I also have a board book called Baby Signs which DS likes looking at, but the signs in that book differ from the ones on the video and in my book. The Signing Time DVD is mildly annoying, but DS loved it and actually learned some signs just from there without me ever using them.
I used a combination of methods once my son was diagnosed with his speech delay (about 18 months). Babysignlanguage.com was good, Baby Signing Time (video) was good, we did various books. Mostly, I'd see what things my son would commonly need/want and I just looked up those signs specifically as needed. He learned way faster that way because the signs were relevant to his interests.
@books&icecream I started with Google and sorta winged it. Then I surprisingly found a free class at a nearby library. They taught us the basics and sent us home with a great packet of information with basic signs. I also rented the first Baby Signing Time DVD from our library ... but after a few weeks, we had the basics down and I didn't get any more.
I've read through this thread and I don't remember it being discussed but if it has, sorry for the repetition.
I am am wondering about positions. i remember reading about nursing positions and that you should change positions, like don't always use the football hold (which I hated). Do the football hold one feeding then do the cradle hold etc etc. the reasoning was because it helps clear all your milk ducts. Is this true? Should you change the baby's position with each feeding or can you always feed in the same position or whatever feels comfortable to you?
@serenaxo84 I am not an expert by any means so take this with a grain of salt, but I nursed my son for almost two years and I almost exclusively used the cradle hold. I may have used the side-lying position a few times when I was exhausted, but I never used any of the others. I only had mastitis once and that was when my son was starting to eat more solid foods and I had an oversupply. I had a few clogged ducts (no more than 3) and I just fed a ton on that side until they cleared. I think you get a feel for what works for you and you tend to stick with it. If a position isn't comfortable, it might discourage you from feeding which might lead to the problem you're trying to avoid.
If babe is nursing effectively and you aren't having problems with clogged ducts, do whatever is comfortable for you. If you have a clogged duct, changing positions can definitely help clear things up. Sometimes you'll notice babe doesn't like a particular position for whatever reason, that's totally fine.
Nipple shields are kind of like plastic covers/barriers that go over your nipple during a nursing session. Babe latches on over the shield and nurses that way.
NSs can be helpful for moms with flat or inverted nipples because it gives babe something to latch onto. It can also be helpful in cases where mom is sustaining nipple damage from a bad latch from things like lip and/or tongue ties, muscle tension in the neck and jaw of babe, etc. In any case, it is meant to be a short term solution until the underlying problem can be corrected.
@ignoscemihi and @turtlemomma thanks! That for some reason really stressed me out my first go around! Glad to know I can do what feels most comfortable to me and go from there!
I have another question: Does everyone actually feel the let down? I didn't last nursing long with DS1 but it was a few weeks and I used a manual pump to avoid engorgement but I never actually felt a let down...am I missing something? Did I just not realize?
@serenaxo84 Everybody is different, but I definitely felt when my milk was about to let down. I would get a tingling/burning sensation in my nipples, then they'd just start leaking like crazy.
@serenaxo84 I never felt it, so I wouldn't worry if you never felt it either. After a few weeks, I could see it clearly when I was pumping ... or, if DD would pop off unexpectedly, milk would just spray all over her face - quite comical!
@serenaxo84 My let down felt kind of like a pressure build-up then release, or like the feeling of stretching a rubber band. I was more attuned to the feeling of it a few weeks in.
It's normal to feel letdown and it's normal to not feel it. It's also normal to go from feeling it to not feeling as time passes. Every body is different and feeling/not feeling has no bearing on your supply.
Thanks ladies!!! I wasn't sure and I feel like you read about letdown all the time! I do remember having a little pins and needles feeling in my nipple but not when I was actually nursing. I gave up way too early last time and really didn't feel in tune with my body. Hoping for more ease in my mind and relaxation this time around!
My letdown was also like @kmvisioli described - kind of a pressure release, and I could feel uterine contractions too at times (not always). It felt kind of warm and relaxing all through my body, but more intensely at my breast and nipple. I didn't always notice it, and I think it became more noticeable after the first couple of months.
So I'm reading The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and they bring up when babies ask for milk. Do you guys have plans for what you'll call your boobs/nursing to your children (or already do if you already have kids)? I'm trying to figure this out because I don't necessarily want my kid yelling "Mommy, I want boobies!"
Oh, this is a great question! Unfortunately both the English "nurse" and German "stillen" are difficult words for young kids.
Thanks everyone for the advice about baby signs - I can't believe I forgot about that!!! Did you use a particular resource or just YouTube? @kmvisoli@mommathoner@TurtleMomma
We have the Baby Signing Time DVD, and the book "Baby Sign Language Basics" by Monta Z Briant. I also have a board book called Baby Signs which DS likes looking at, but the signs in that book differ from the ones on the video and in my book. The Signing Time DVD is mildly annoying, but DS loved it and actually learned some signs just from there without me ever using them.
I'm ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter, if you have questions feel free to shoot them my way and I can record myself doing the sign and send it
I just caught up on this thread and it's left me with 3 questions:
1. What is "let down"?
2. Is there a benefit to using glass bottles vs plastic if pumping and heating BM?
3. When BFing, should you be sitting in a chair with arm rests or no?
1. Let down is when your milk starts flowing. It usually happens a minute or two into your feeding session.
2. I have no good answer for this.
3. It seems from Facebook that most people prefer armrests for breastfeeding, but I preferred using the Boppy pillow in the middle of the couch. Maybe it's because I'm short, but armrests are usually too high for me and I find them uncomfortable for breastfeeding.
@LauraPCOS most people choose glass over plastic for environmental or personal health reasons (like avoiding chemicals in plastic). The only big negative I've heard from friends is that they are much heavier if you have them attached while pumping!
I wasn't planning on warming bottles! I did a few pumped bottles for DS and always served them cold out of the fridge. Do a lot of people warm BM bottles? I was hoping to avoid that whole warming thing!
Re: All Things Breastfeeding
DS just signs "milk" and I call it "nursies"
They are so much more freaking comfortable, thicker fabric and gives some support which is a big plus, super soft cotton that Im not taking these things off. Totally worth the extra cost if you are bigger chested like me. And no I'm not endorsed by this brand, just know what I like!
Hi all... I've been playing catch-up on this thread. I'll throw in some knowledge as a STM who BF exclusively for 14 months. I hope not to offend anyone out there in TB land, but I just did it with no knowledge or research into it - like a cavewoman would, I suppose... I just put her on my breast and let her nurse as she needed. (I regret now not having any done any real research into latching - my nipples certainly paid the price initially...) However... I hope that any out there who have fears/doubts attributed to too much information can find encouragement from my experience.
My DD was born with a short-frenulum (tongue-tie) and had a very high palate, which, the lactation consultant had warned me about, as both could cause trouble with nursing. Neither did cause any issues (except the pain I experienced as a FTM, who didn't really know how to properly get her latched). The hospital staff & LC encouraged me to cut her frenulum, which I flat out refused to do! I did not introduce paci's or bottles for months, and then, when I did - she rejected them. She would absolutely NOT take an artificial nipple, which was very, very difficult for many reasons. Luckily at the time, I was a SAHM. @TurtleMomma I wish I had known to try a syringe or spoon! Silly me for not having any real support or knowledge!
While I think its a good idea to know the basics surrounding BFing, I would really encourage all who are new to the "art" to arm yourself with basic info, and be willing to adjust. I am 100% in agreement with my disdain for absolutes. Things don't always go as planned, and when they don't its simply amazing to have a group of supportive moms out there to help guide us. Big ups!!!!
@annabenanna - I bought just one glass Minbie 6oz bottle with extra-slow nipples for now. However, I did also get the Lansinoh starter kit (2 5oz & 2 8oz BPA/BPS free bottles, 2 slow-flow & 2 med-flow nips + milk storage bags) from my mom. (I like that the bottles are BPA & BPS free for travel, but plan on glass-bottle feeding mostly). Looks like the Minbie nipples will fit the Lansinoh bottles (which is what I hoped for)... But, I have a lingering fear that little Mr. will be like his big sis and refuse any kind of nipple besides momma's
@TurtleMomma (or anyone else)- any advice re avoiding nipple rejection with bottles? I plan on pumping and introducing a bottle around 4 weeks... fingers crossed!!
Also, because I looked up the minbie, I went down the rabbit hole of other bottle brands: Comotomo, Avent Naturals, MAM, Tommee Tippee, Bare Baby. I got so overwhelmed!
Oh, this is a great question! Unfortunately both the English "nurse" and German "stillen" are difficult words for young kids.
Thanks everyone for the advice about baby signs - I can't believe I forgot about that!!! Did you use a particular resource or just YouTube?
@kmvisoli @mommathoner @TurtleMomma
DS#2 due 25 April 2019
I used a combination of methods once my son was diagnosed with his speech delay (about 18 months). Babysignlanguage.com was good, Baby Signing Time (video) was good, we did various books. Mostly, I'd see what things my son would commonly need/want and I just looked up those signs specifically as needed. He learned way faster that way because the signs were relevant to his interests.
I am am wondering about positions. i remember reading about nursing positions and that you should change positions, like don't always use the football hold (which I hated). Do the football hold one feeding then do the cradle hold etc etc. the reasoning was because it helps clear all your milk ducts. Is this true? Should you change the baby's position with each feeding or can you always feed in the same position or whatever feels comfortable to you?
If babe is nursing effectively and you aren't having problems with clogged ducts, do whatever is comfortable for you. If you have a clogged duct, changing positions can definitely help clear things up. Sometimes you'll notice babe doesn't like a particular position for whatever reason, that's totally fine.
Nipple shields are kind of like plastic covers/barriers that go over your nipple during a nursing session. Babe latches on over the shield and nurses that way.
NSs can be helpful for moms with flat or inverted nipples because it gives babe something to latch onto. It can also be helpful in cases where mom is sustaining nipple damage from a bad latch from things like lip and/or tongue ties, muscle tension in the neck and jaw of babe, etc. In any case, it is meant to be a short term solution until the underlying problem can be corrected.
EDIT: KellyMom describes it a little more in depth
https://kellymom.com/ages/newborn/nb-challenges/wean-shield/
It's normal to feel letdown and it's normal to not feel it. It's also normal to go from feeling it to not feeling as time passes. Every body is different and feeling/not feeling has no bearing on your supply.
@serenaxo84
My letdown was also like @kmvisioli described - kind of a pressure release, and I could feel uterine contractions too at times (not always). It felt kind of warm and relaxing all through my body, but more intensely at my breast and nipple. I didn't always notice it, and I think it became more noticeable after the first couple of months.
1. What is "let down"?
2. Is there a benefit to using glass bottles vs plastic if pumping and heating BM?
3. When BFing, should you be sitting in a chair with arm rests or no?
2. I have no good answer for this.
3. It seems from Facebook that most people prefer armrests for breastfeeding, but I preferred using the Boppy pillow in the middle of the couch. Maybe it's because I'm short, but armrests are usually too high for me and I find them uncomfortable for breastfeeding.