So last night, I sat down to pump at work, and drops. I tried just doing 1side at a time (instead of double pumping). Holy cow, that made such a difference! She only nurses on 1 side a feeding and I've only really ever pumped 1 side at a time, so I guess it makes sense. It takes me a bit longer but the milk actually comes out faster, so not terribly longer. Ended up with 7 ounces. All the praise hands!
@ldsjm123 if you want to try double pumping again, start with one side first and wait for a let down. Then put the other side on to pump. I've had better luck with that then starting with both at the same time.
Welp. I'm done breast feeding. I tried boosting my supply, but when I went in for a weighted feed Q hadn't gained any weight and he still only ate 2.5 oz. The lactation consultant told me I needed to contact my doctor because she was worried about how little he was eating and how far he dropped off his curve. So I called the pediatrician and she said I need to stop nursing and either pump and give him 6 5oz bottles a day or switch to formula ASAP. She was really worried about what is happening and didn't even want to give me 2 more weeks to work on it. So I'm done as of tomorrow . I have a few bottles in the fridge and I am nursing him then giving him a 2.5 oz bottle on top of that. The first time I did it, he ate off the bottle so vigorously it was amazing! I have never seen him eat like that off of me! He grabbed the bottle and went to town even though he just nursed. It made me realize that he is definitely not getting what he needs off of me. So I have until tomorrow to get used to the idea but then we are switching to formula. It's hard emotionally but I know it's what it right for my boy so I am moving past it and working on figuring out the logistics of what we need, how to plan my day, what I need in my diaper bag, etc. It's helping me keep my mind off the emotional part. Thanks for all of your support ladies. It means the world to me.
@arhodes You are doing an amazing job!! I was just thinking about you today and wondering how it is going. I know exactly how you feel. If you need anyone to talk to or advice, I am here. I went through the exact same thing you did and I know how hard it is. You are doing what is best for him, and that is what matters! You are a great mom. My lactation consultant recommended nursing and then supplementing. She told me not to give up, so I got two more months of breastfeeding in.
Logistics wise, one thing that helped me was getting a little round container where I could put three servings of formula in it. Each serving is in a separate section and you just spin the cap to the serving you need. That way everything is already measured out and you just need a bottle already filled with water or access to water.
@arhodes Q is lucky to have such a great momma! You are awesome. Good thinking distracting yourself with the planning. Much love and hugs to you.
Also, just because he isn't going to be getting his food from nursing, it doesn't mean you have to have him give up comfort nursing. That can be as much of a bonding as breastfeeding. just instead of being a dairy cow, you're a pacifier.
Thanks ladies!! I'm starting to come to terms with the whole thing. Now I'm just worried about how bad my boobs are going to hurt
If you want, you could pump a little over the next week or so to help ease the transition. You could mix the milk with his formula. Every 2-3 days eliminate a session.
This might be a dumb question, but since I just started formula and I don't know what to do, I thought I'd ask you ladies! If Q wakes up in the middle of the night acting hungry, do I feed him a bottle? I would feed him when I was breastfeeding, but I don't know how it works with formula since you have a certain amount babies should be getting per day. Should I do a full bottle, or half?
@arhodes6 I feed her a normal bottle at night. Some times she drinks it all sometimes she doesn't. Sometimes is wakes up twice and I'll feed her both times if she seems hungry. Also according to the chart she should.be drinking 26-30 oz, but she never does. She drinks probably 22-25 oz on most days. She's gaining right on track and has stayed at the 50th percentile. Also, I feed her on demand. So don't worry too much about it unless his weight drops or he skyrockets in weight. Hope this helps.
@babycakesday thanks! I assumed I would feed him if he woke up, especially since we are dealing with him falling off his weight curve, but then I read that I shouldn't give him more than 32 oz. in a day. I feel like I'm second guessing everything again with this new routine. Thanks for the advice!
I usually don't feed her at night anymore. However, she has been sleeping through the night for quite awhile now so it is really rare! I make sure she drinks all her calories in the daytime and she sleeps well. However, when we first switched and she was super skinny I fed her at night until she got her weight up!
Anyone who went to formula, did you end up with plugged milk ducts when you weaned? It's been 2 weeks now and my boobs are still leaking and I have plugged ducts that hurt anything that you did to help?
@arhodes6 I am not weaning, but you will want to take care of those milk ducts because it can turn into mastitis. To help with clogged milk ducts I massage out the clog while pumping/nursing, place heat on the clog or take a hot shower and have the water run over them, and just keep on expressing milk even though it seems counter intuitive to weaning.
@adough27 thanks! That's exactly what I am doing because I'm scared to get mastitis! I had it once while nursing and it's terrible. But you're right, it does seem counter intuitive.
The last couple days I have had pain on my right breast, like a raw almost burning sensation, and it hurt like hell when I pumped or LO latched. I was getting nervous because my right breast is such a trouble maker, I had mastitis twice, both times caused by this breast. I was checking out my breast (because the discomfort was unlike anything I experienced before) and found a milk blister, I drained it and I am feeling less pain, but until I googled what it was, I had no idea you can get milk blisters! The things you learn!
Well, I think I'm done breastfeeding too. My supply tanked when I went back to work and was only able to pump once on shift (and sometimes not at all if it was busy). I've been trying to pump at home and feed her, but my supply has slowly been tanking and this morning I got less than an ounce. I was hoping to make it through winter for the antibodies but doesn't look like it will happen. I'm pretty sad even though I know she's fine on formula. DH just keeps telling me I just need to 'pump more' , which makes me want to strangle him.
Pump more? What an easy solution lol. I understand your want to strangle him! Do what's best for you and babe! Good job making it this far. You made it through half of winter .
My milk supply seems great during the day but lower in the evenings. I think DD2 might be waking so much in the night because she's hungry. I gave her 3 1/2 oz in a bottle last night plus 1 breast and she slept better. I pumped both breasts 2 hours later (10 PM) and only got 3 oz total. She is 18 1/2 lbs and 75th percentile for weight so she's not stuggling too much.
I'm going to buy Mother's Milk tea and brewer's yeast today. Anyone have a good lactation cookie they like? Any other suggestions for me?
My milk supply seems great during the day but lower in the evenings. I think DD2 might be waking so much in the night because she's hungry. I gave her 3 1/2 oz in a bottle last night plus 1 breast and she slept better. I pumped both breasts 2 hours later (10 PM) and only got 3 oz total. She is 18 1/2 lbs and 75th percentile for weight so she's not stuggling too much.
I'm going to buy Mother's Milk tea and brewer's yeast today. Anyone have a good lactation cookie they like? Any other suggestions for me?
I Have to pump 3 nights a week between 9-10 pm at work. So i totally understand about the lower night supply, im the same way! I've perfected this milk shake and drink it daily now. It keeps me ridiculously full so typically have it as my breakfast. It fills a large tervis tumbler and nutrition wise it's 570 calories, 29g of protein (!!), and 19g of fat. I make mine in my vitamix.
1/2 C vanilla Almond milk (or milk and a dash of vanilla) 1/2 C water 2 TBSP flax seed 2 TBSP cocoa powder 1TBSP Brewers yeast 1TBSP peanut butter 1 banana (I prefer frozen) 1/2 C oatmeal Some chocolate chips (optional) 1-2ish C Ice. (Depends if your banana is frozen and how cold/icee you like your shake.)
Sometimes I need to add a bit more water. And you're looking for it to be a smooth milkshake consistency. I genuinely enjoy drinking it. It took 13 days of tweaking it! This accompanied with drinking lots of water consistently has me pumping 6-9 ounces at night.
My milk supply seems great during the day but lower in the evenings. I think DD2 might be waking so much in the night because she's hungry. I gave her 3 1/2 oz in a bottle last night plus 1 breast and she slept better. I pumped both breasts 2 hours later (10 PM) and only got 3 oz total. She is 18 1/2 lbs and 75th percentile for weight so she's not stuggling too much.
I'm going to buy Mother's Milk tea and brewer's yeast today. Anyone have a good lactation cookie they like? Any other suggestions for me?
I Have to pump 3 nights a week between 9-10 pm at work. So i totally understand about the lower night supply, im the same way! I've perfected this milk shake and drink it daily now. It keeps me ridiculously full so typically have it as my breakfast. It fills a large tervis tumbler and nutrition wise it's 570 calories, 29g of protein (!!), and 19g of fat. I make mine in my vitamix.
1/2 C vanilla Almond milk (or milk and a dash of vanilla) 1/2 C water 2 TBSP flax seed 2 TBSP cocoa powder 1TBSP Brewers yeast 1TBSP peanut butter 1 banana (I prefer frozen) 1/2 C oatmeal Some chocolate chips (optional) 1-2ish C Ice. (Depends if your banana is frozen and how cold/icee you like your shake.)
Sometimes I need to add a bit more water. And you're looking for it to be a smooth milkshake consistency. I genuinely enjoy drinking it. It took 13 days of tweaking it! This accompanied with drinking lots of water consistently has me pumping 6-9 ounces at night.
This sounds awesome and a nice alternative to eating instant oatmeal every day. Do you have to make this every morning or are you able to make enough that will hold in the fridge for the next day or two?
I do make it daily because of the ice. However I have made freezer packs. I prefroze the dollops of peanut butter on plastic and then put them in ziplocks along with bananas being peeled and frozen. I premeasured all the dry ingredients into sandwich bags (1 bag = 1 smoothie worth of stuff) and keep them in the fridge. Def makes morning prep quicker and less dishes. It's
Just bad coincidence then. I'm now officially sick. The bad stomach pain and diarrhea turned into throwing up. Thankfully DH is home from his work conference to help. I just feel bad that he is also exhausted.
How have you ladies gone about feeding veggies to your babies? Nat eats fruits no problem but I've tried spinach, peas, sweet potatoes and squash but she literally gags and spits it out. I've tried mixing them in with fruit which sometimes works but sometimes I suspect she's caught on to me and she takes two spoonfuls and refuses the rest lol. She eats plenty of fruit but I'm not sure I just want her eating fruit and cereal only (plus breastmilk)
@AshGee18 how do you serve them? Are they puréed? AJ won't eat puréed veggies, but likes them just forked mashed or soft roasted. We've done mashed sweet potato, sliced avocado, fork mashed carrots, fork mashed peas, fork mashed broccoli and carrots, and roasted carrot pieces, roasted eggplant, roasted broccoli, and roasted cauliflower. I always introduce them when I'm eating them. He sees me eat it and gets interested, then is more into it when I give him some.
@FTM53 yeah I puree them in the baby bullet. She's okay with avacado puree, but every other veggie ive tried she gives me the "tha f*** is this?" look lol. I'll try them not pureed and see if that works! Thank you!
Elijah's favorite food is pears so I mix the foods he doesn't like with them. At first I was doing like 90% pears, 10% veggie (squash or seeet potato usually) but now I can do half and half. I win!!!!!
Re: Feeding Your Baby
Logistics wise, one thing that helped me was getting a little round container where I could put three servings of formula in it. Each serving is in a separate section and you just spin the cap to the serving you need. That way everything is already measured out and you just need a bottle already filled with water or access to water.
Also, just because he isn't going to be getting his food from nursing, it doesn't mean you have to have him give up comfort nursing. That can be as much of a bonding as breastfeeding. just instead of being a dairy cow, you're a pacifier.
I'm going to buy Mother's Milk tea and brewer's yeast today. Anyone have a good lactation cookie they like? Any other suggestions for me?
1/2 C vanilla Almond milk (or milk and a dash of vanilla)
1/2 C water
2 TBSP flax seed
2 TBSP cocoa powder
1TBSP Brewers yeast
1TBSP peanut butter
1 banana (I prefer frozen)
1/2 C oatmeal
Some chocolate chips (optional)
1-2ish C Ice. (Depends if your banana is frozen and how cold/icee you like your shake.)
Sometimes I need to add a bit more water. And you're looking for it to be a smooth milkshake consistency. I genuinely enjoy drinking it. It took 13 days of tweaking it! This accompanied with drinking lots of water consistently has me pumping 6-9 ounces at night.
@Ladybug2821
and gets interested, then is more into it when I give him some.