Nursing 101

SarahF8611

@sreysawSrey Saw said:

FTM here. I was talking to a friend who just had her first and she was telling me about how her doctor told her to make sure to BF on both sides each time. What's the reasoning for that vs. what you all are saying about foremilk and hindmilk? Just curious!


I was told you just make sure the first breast is completely empty to make sure baby got all the hindmilk (it's much fattier) before switching sides. You switch which side you start on each time, that way if baby is not as hungry and doesn't finish second breast, they will get that hindmilk next time. I nursed on both sides for comfort mostly. If I didn't at least get a little of the second breast, it was way to long before the next nursing side. I never got matasis or anything and I think this helped. 

jenlynne0624

Download a tracker on your phone to keep track of feedings/diaper changes etc. I used one from Similac called strong moms and loved it. You can make note of how long each feeding was and which side you used to help your sleep deprived self remember.

ashleaf2018

If this was mentioned somewhere I missed it, but I want to try washable nursing pads. STMs, do you recommend disposables, washables, or both?

ve304856

ashleaf2018 said:

If this was mentioned somewhere I missed it, but I want to try washable nursing pads. STMs, do you recommend disposables, washables, or both?

I would start with disposables or overnight reuseables until your supply regulates. Then move to reuseable pads. I used disposable pads with my first, then switched to reuseables with my second. I like the bamboobies, but they do leak until you regulate your supply, but I think that would be the same with any reuseable pads.

jennbaylor12

ashleaf2018 said:

If this was mentioned somewhere I missed it, but I want to try washable nursing pads. STMs, do you recommend disposables, washables, or both?

I used washable and loved them (not surprising, I suppose, as I CD) for similar reasons as CD's....not constantly running out, only having to purchase them once, etc

zubenescamali

@ashleaf2018 some people love reusable nursing pads. I did not. Here's why:
they are thin. And I was a big leaker until we were done nursing. They would always leak. 
Nothing to keep them in place. Disposables have a little sticky strip that allows them to adhere to your bra and not move. I kept having to adjust the reusables to make sure they covered my nip exactly. Plus they fall out when you open your bra to nurse. Not a huge deal but you don't want pads to go flying when you try NIP.
No contour shape.  The overnight version did absorb better but was so bulky and the lack of contour made them highly visible under even my padded bras.
No leak resistant backing. Disposables have a soft absorbing side and a more plasticky leak containing side. Cloth is just cloth. In one end out the other.
To be fair, i only tried bamboobies, no other brands. So maybe there is something better out there. With these I had to get a new pad every time I nursed. And I had no confidence in public wearing them.

DiFazette

@Reigh007 I had a preemie (from memory your LO was born much earlier than mine at 34 weeks with IUGR).  Reading your info on nursing I'm wondering if there was anything special you did or your LC suggested to get your LO interested in nursing after 3 months on a bottle or tube feed?  We tried SNS, nipple shield and DS would be mad as hell since he was getting bottle fed and didn't want to work for his food.  Did you just push through that stage?  Our peds/ LC didn't want him to get too mad at the breast.

I ask because I'm now pregnant with twins and will likely have low birth weight babies again... I want to be sure I push in all the right ways to ensure nursing is a possibility.  EPing for twins makes me cringe after doing it for a singleton.  

jenlynne0624

@ashleaf2018I had both. I used disposable for a long time until my milk evened out and little man sttn and my body adjusted. Once I wasn't going through three pads a side/day I switched to washable. I LOVED Bamboobies. They're not sold at bru, and if you sign up through the bamboobies website then you'll get coupons for free pads a few times through out the year. They're so soft and don't show through your shirt. I've only tried the regular ones not the super absorbent or overnight, but those are on my registry for this time.

I liked Nuk and Lanishoh for disposables. Medela were ok, but I was a heavy leaker. I'd get a pair of milky milksavers too to put in your bra when you're nursing to catch some of the milk your other boob will leak when you're nursing from the other one.

yellingbanana

@ashleaf2018

I tried washable pads with both DDs. I had 2 big problems with them:
1. They leaked because I had a lot of milk. They didn't have a waterproof lining, which might be fine for those that don't leak a lot. I do. I have to change the reusable pads several times a day. 
2. They were lumpy and you could see giant lumps on my boobs. It looked silly, but I tried on and off, thinking maybe I could just use them
at night... But they leaked. 

After trying all of the different brands (easy to do when you leak a lot), Lansinoh was the most reliable for not leaking and not giving me lumpy looking boobs. 

ve304856

jenlynne0624 said:

@ashleaf2018I had both. I used disposable for a long time until my milk evened out and little man sttn and my body adjusted. Once I wasn't going through three pads a side/day I switched to washable. I LOVED Bamboobies. They're not sold at bru, and if you sign up through the bamboobies website then you'll get coupons for free pads a few times through out the year. They're so soft and don't show through your shirt. I've only tried the regular ones not the super absorbent or overnight, but those are on my registry for this time.

I liked Nuk and Lanishoh for disposables. Medela were ok, but I was a heavy leaker. I'd get a pair of milky milksavers too to put in your bra when you're nursing to catch some of the milk your other boob will leak when you're nursing from the other one.

They sell bamboobies at my BRU. That is where I always get them, or from the free pair they give away

ashleaf2018

Thanks everybody! I would've liked to do the reusables but I guess I'll just go into it with an open mind.  

princesslockness

@ashleaf2018 You might not need them for long. I was done using them, even overnight, in like 2 weeks. My supply just regulated that fast, and I never had the 'random baby cries = my let down' thingy.

maamawaabangi

@ashleaf2018
i too am a disposable nursing pad gal... Dispite using cloth for diapers (mostly) and seeking reusable and natural things. Bulky, lumpy and not user friendly... Plus they stay wet nearly your nipple and have to be changed more often, which isn't good. I ask for nursing pads at my shower... It's a must have for me! 

yellingbanana

@jenlynne0624 oh my gosh!!!!! I just looked up those milky milk savers. I must get those this time round!!! I could've saved so much milk... 
Thank you so much for posting that! 

jenlynne0624

@yellingbanana you're welcome! I'm so glad they could help you! I'm going to dump the extra milk into a bottle throughout the day so dh can feed baby. It's all going to be foremilk but it'll work! 

BabyRobbinsAdventure

I apologize if this has already been addressed but...
FTM here. Just found out my insurance covers a manual pump OR and electric pump (you choose). I did not anticipate having that choice, I figured I would work with whatever I got.

My question is: what are pro/cons of manual and electric pumps? Do you STMs have a preference and why?

princesslockness

@BabyRobbinsAdventure I would have insurance cover the electric. They tend to be more expensive(so have someone else pay), but typically have better add-ons. My medela PISA had a $100 add-on of 4 extra 5 oz bottles, small cooler that would hold them all, and an ice pack designed for the cooler.

I have a single manual ($35ish at walmart/free at WIC) that I use for the car/traveling and 2 electrics (1 from insurance and 1 motor from eBay) that I can leave at home and work. They are nice, but if we go somewhere and stay longer than anticipated - the manual is a godsend. I can snag a bathroom and 20-30 minutes and be fine.

jenlynne0624

Bumping this for new members and others that may have questions with registering and stuff

DiFazette

@BabyRobbinsAdventure I had an electric.  As an EPer with DSs, I couldn't imagine using manual for that many pumping sessions per day.  I'm sure it's fine supplementally, but not as a primary mode.  I would get an electric through insurance and buy a manual yourself if you decide you want/need one  - there's a pretty significant cost difference.  

PensiveCrayon

@BabyRobbinsAdventure Just echoing what PP's have said -- I'm planning on getting both, but I'll mostly use the manual for relief while I'm out. The electric is the more expensive, so it makes sense to put that one on insurance.

jenlynne0624

Bump in case there are new questions since we're getting SO. Close.

kbduke

How do you clean your pump? I have a PISA and wanted to clean/sterilize before baby is here. 

ea301

Related to kbduke's question above... do you have to clean off your breast nipples after a feeding? Or before a feeding to remove any residual milk? My husband asked me that today and I had no idea... 

SarahF8611

You should clean all the pieces (except tubing) every time you pump OR you can put them in a bag in a refrigerator if you're at work or something (that way any milk on them stays cold). I just used hot soapy water every day and then used sterilizer microwave bags every other day (medela sells these). I also had an extra set of everything which I would highly recommend. 

jennbaylor12

SarahF8611 said:

and then used sterilizer microwave bags every other day (medela sells these). I also had an extra set of everything which I would highly recommend. 

Ooohhh the Medela bags! I forgot about those.... I haven't stocked up at all. Damn

SarahF8611

@jennbaylor12 - I have like 25 from my first somehow. I think I thought they were one-time use and bought a TON.

princesslockness

kbduke said:

How do you clean your pump? I have a PISA and wanted to clean/sterilize before baby is here. 

If you dont want to use the bags you can boil the parts for 7-10(i think) minutes. I did that on Sunday evenings and then had my sets clean to go to work.

yellingbanana

ea301 said:

Related to kbduke's question above... do you have to clean off your breast nipples after a feeding? Or before a feeding to remove any residual milk? My husband asked me that today and I had no idea... 

Actual boobs? No, you don't need to clean them off. Breastmilk is actually this amazing restorative substance, so leaving it on your nipples is good. Your shower once a day will be fine. 
In fact, if your baby gets a rash on their face, it's great for clearing that up too! It's like a miracle liquid  

maamawaabangi

@ea301 no way! I think that would cause drying and cracking of nipples... particularly if you have sensitive skin. I don't shower daily either as it's crazy dry here and would be bad for my skin and a waste of time... just feed your baby and bathe and wash as needed. Just remember not to rub any lotions on your breasts that would be something you'd have to wash off. 

Oh and a friendly reminder ... I just picked up my "soothies" or gel pads for the first few days PP. I've used them every time and they are wonderful!

ea301

Thanks @yellingbanana and @maamawaabangi - that makes sense. I have dry skin too and was afraid that washing after every feeding would make things worse. It's good to know that it won't hurt the baby if I don't clean up 10x a day

princesslockness

@ea301 My doc and L's pedi actually encouraged me to leave a couple drops of milk on, then air dry. They said, and were right, that it would help with soreness and keeping infections away.

People also recommend using lanolin or coconut oil before/afterwards. I found every time I used lanolin I ended up with a plugged duct, while with coconut oil I never had that.

jenlynne0624

Sterilizing after multiple uses is a huge waste of time and is unnecessary. Heating plastic at that high of a heat often can make the plastic break down and the nasty chemicals that compose plastic can leech into the milk. Washing with hot soapy water is all you need to kill the germs. Sterilize when things are brand new and you won't need to do it again. That goes for pacis and things too.

Boobie milk is a miracle formula. I used it on everything- cuts, scrapes, cradle cap, diaper rash, etc and it made things heal much faster. Especially if/when your baby gets a clogged tear duct- that ish will heal it up faster than anything else.