I can't keep up with her demand though and we had to start supplementing formula. She lost a pound since her delivery on Tuesday night. We have to go back for a weight check on Monday because of it.
I am reminding myself that it is only day 4 and some women's milk can come in as late as 7 days.
*TW Spoiler*
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks. 10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery 11/2/17 Twin A & B born 11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU Benched 6 months BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
@entropicallyfavored I've had similar issues with a fast letdown. Baby E sometimes starts choking and gasping for air. Mean while my boob is spraying milk all over. My technique is anytime that happens I express into a burp cloth before I let her latch again. She seems to be getting better and having less difuculty, but it's more of an issue the fuller I am when she eats. You could also try popping the baby off right after let down and expressing into a towel for a while. That way he never gets frustrated and it will hopefully lead to a longer feeding session and less sessions over time.
@entropicallyfavored when Levi sleeps for a long stretch at night my boobs are so full he can't latch, and even if I use a shield he will sometimes choke. So I try to pump for a few minutes before I feed him. But a shield might be helpful for you too, it can't spray everywhere and choke him as easily with the shield
So I think I have mastitis. Anyone ever had this previously? I am so miserable. Aside from my boob hurting my whole body is aching and I've got those chills that feel like needles all over your skin if you get cold enough. I am going to call the Dr today. Wondering if anyone else has had this.
So I think I have mastitis. Anyone ever had this previously? I am so miserable. Aside from my boob hurting my whole body is aching and I've got those chills that feel like needles all over your skin if you get cold enough. I am going to call the Dr today. Wondering if anyone else has had this.
I haven't, but those are basically the signs I was told to look out for. Since I had a lumpectomy while pregnant and they had to cut through my milk ducts, they basically guaranteed that I will get mastitis at some point. I hope you get some relief soon! I've heard it's pretty miserable!
So I think I have mastitis. Anyone ever had this previously? I am so miserable. Aside from my boob hurting my whole body is aching and I've got those chills that feel like needles all over your skin if you get cold enough. I am going to call the Dr today. Wondering if anyone else has had this.
I haven't, but those are basically the signs I was told to look out for. Since I had a lumpectomy while pregnant and they had to cut through my milk ducts, they basically guaranteed that I will get mastitis at some point. I hope you get some relief soon! I've heard it's pretty miserable!
It's awful. I hope somehow you magically don't get it. This is zero fun. I'm hoping the OB office can prescribe meds today.
I never got mastitis (and knock on wood for this one too). But I did get clogged ducts and that was super painful and worrisome. I'm thinking about you!
Earth mama, Angel Baby milkmaid tea worked great for increasing my supply. I would drink a cup at night and my supply the next morning was always better than when I didn't drink it.
I picked some up yesterday! Will be drinking it tonight. Hope it works!
@AliKay20 Thought of you last night. I was feeding DD and I was like, wtf did she pee on me? Nope, my left boob leaked all over. Guess I may have to purchase the milk savers. I'm just so freaking excited my boobs are waking up.
*TW Spoiler*
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks. 10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery 11/2/17 Twin A & B born 11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU Benched 6 months BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
I woke up in a puddle again this morning. My nipples are getting sore from not using the shield, so I didn't wear pads to bed. Anyway, I pumped and got almost 3 ounces! Even got more from my dud boob! Lol but now I'm worried all this milk I've been freezing might go to waste if ds doesn't like it. I didn't even know that could happen. I was hoping to introduce bottles next week for one feeding a day, but I think I might have to wait longer since I've been using the shields a couple feedings a day again just to save my nipples.
I can't keep up with her demand though and we had to start supplementing formula. She lost a pound since her delivery on Tuesday night. We have to go back for a weight check on Monday because of it.
I am reminding myself that it is only day 4 and some women's milk can come in as late as 7 days.
Don't feel bad at all about supplementing!
We had to start out 99% formula and are now at about 20% formula. Baby Boy had one good first breastfeeding session after the c-section before he started vomiting bile acid and went to the NICU, where he was on an IV for 24 hours and then could start deeds. Because he had already lost weight and had to slowly ramp up eating because of gastro issues, it was supplementing or further risk his health. My milk didn't come in for a couple days, despite pumping every 3 hours. When we could start back up breastfeeding, he was either too hangry to try or too sleepy to try, so it was pumped milk and formula. He's about 10 days old now, and maybe 2 feeds a day he breastfeeds long enough so I don't have to pump to finish the job. And, I'm not quite pumping enough to meet his hunger. When we saw the pediatrician at about 6 days post birth, he said Samuel was still below birth weight and instructed us to wake to feed every 3 hours and that putting on weight was top priority, so keep supplementing if we need to. The last few days he's gone through a growth spurt, several times taking full feeds (about 2 oz) every 2 hours. I'm crossing my fingers that the growth spurt ends soon, he regains weight, and we get clearance to let him go a little longer at light between waking to feed.
All that to say, do the best you can, and if that means supplementing to ensure baby is healthy, do it. Totally doesn't make you any less of a Mom. In my book, my current crazy regimen of trying to breastfeed, pumping when Baby doesn't finish the job, and topping off with whatever formula we need to get Baby fully fed earns me a medal, and doesn't at all make me less of a Mom. The same for what you're doing!!
I've been wearing the milkie milk saver while breastfeeding and it definitely is worth using because I sometimes catch even half an ounce! But any drop saved is worth it to me. Plus I hate dripping all over my bras or the baby lol
@kwilliams3402 Thank you. I think you definitely deserve a medal by the feeding schedule you have been running. It's exhausting for sure! I hope your LO gets back up to the weight they need. I'm also dreaming of being able to go longer between feeds. DD today has basically been eating every 1.5 to 2 hours. I feel like I'm running a milk factory!
*TW Spoiler*
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks. 10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery 11/2/17 Twin A & B born 11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU Benched 6 months BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
@midwestbaby I know what you mean about running a milk factory. First few weeks, DH would constantly tell me to pump while A was in the NICU. I told him I felt like a fking cow and he needs to do better in not making me feel like one. He felt bad and then he goes, "can you imagine actual cows? They constantly get these cows pregnant just so they can maintain milk supply."
Um, wrong timing DH. Bring on the hormones/PP baby blues. I ugly cried so hard - thinking of those poor cows as I was pumping.
Try to think of formula as a good thing for baby Aria for now. She needs those calories. I am supplementing with formula too; I wasn't happy about it at first but it would break my heart to see that my tiny peanut is not gaining weight as time goes by.
Also per RN's and pediatrician, it's not abnormal for babies to lose weight in the first week or so but gain it back to their birth weight by week two. Don't worry if Aria lost a little weight - she will catch up and more!
@jacmkelley I had mastitis twice and it is horrible. It really feels like you have the flu or something. Fever, chills, body aches, and really painful (usually hot and red) spot on the breast. You have to be on antibiotics for it.
@jacmkelley I had mastitis twice and it is horrible. It really feels like you have the flu or something. Fever, chills, body aches, and really painful (usually hot and red) spot on the breast. You have to be on antibiotics for it.
I'm so exhausted doesn't my body know I have two kids and a husband to care for???!
@kwilliams3402 Thank you. I think you definitely deserve a medal by the feeding schedule you have been running. It's exhausting for sure! I hope your LO gets back up to the weight they need. I'm also dreaming of being able to go longer between feeds. DD today has basically been eating every 1.5 to 2 hours. I feel like I'm running a milk factory!
I totally feel like a milk maid over here too. Our original plan was to slowly start transitioning to bottles at 2 weeks so Baby is 90% bottles when I go back to work after 12 weeks, and we're still going to do that. I'll still pump, but I can move the timings to get more sleep. I am counting down the days... We hit 2 weeks Thursday!!
@jacmkelley I'm sorry you feel so terrible. I hope you can get it figured out and feel better soon! It's so hard care for baby and other kids when you're miserable
Does anyone plan to start pumping to start a freezer stash? I guess my main motivation to pump is to introduce a bottle so that DH could maybe do one of the nighttime feedings on weekends so I can get a longer stretch of sleep. Of course, if there's enough to start storing a little bit, that wouldn't be a bad thing either! I just am not decided on when the best time to start and when to introduce a bottle might be to hopefully avoid nipple confusion.
TTC 9/2013
BFP#1: 9/28/2013, EDD 5/28/13, MC confirmed 10/15/13, D&C 10/17/13
I started pumping in the hospital as advised by the LC and nurses to make sure baby was eating enough since his latch was questionable. I happen to have an over supply so now it's hard to stop. I try to limit it to once or twice a day now. Hubby did the night feeds this weekend though and it was so nice to sleep a little longer. In other news... my little one has been alternating between ten minute naps, crying, and eating since 6am. I guess this is what you all mean by cluster feeding... I just want a nap!
@kriley602774 I was going to ask the same question. I'm still dealing with engorgment so I'm not sure that now is the best time, LO is 5 days old. While I do want to build up a freezer stash, I don't want a big oversupply issue. I wish I would have written down what I did with my first bc I feel like that worked well... I want to say it was around the 2 week point before I started pumping?
Last time I would pump about 30 mins - hour after the morning feed, bc baby usually took a decent morning nap. DH would feed a pre bedtime bottle, and I'd pump again around that time. So I was only adding in one "extra" pumping session. I could usually get a little more out of pumping though so I had a decent stash by the time I returned to work. Once I started working I'd only feed from one side in the mornings and use a hand pump on the other, then pump at work twice a day. I also would nurse at night instead of the bottle since I was pumping so much at work. I was able to add a little extra to the freezer each day as well. With that schedule I was able to stop pumping at work around 10 months and still keep baby on breastmilk for a year, which was great. I really struggled with pumping at work (time and location), and I think that this time it will be even more of a challenge.
When is everyone else going to start pumping and introducing a bottle?
Like @court5608, I had to start pumping in the hospital due to a bad latch, pumped at home for the first week, and now I overproduce, drip milk every two hours, and have very painful and overactive letdown.
I'm not sure if all of that is from pumping early and aggressively (I'm a FTM and had no idea; was pumping 20-30 mins per side in the beginning) or if it was coincidental, but if you can hold off on pumping, I would.
Our baby chokes, gags, and panics while breastfeeding now, so I don't think that is worth the "stash" of milk that we have going. I'd rather work on the stash later than have baby so anxious about feeding, not to mention the serious mom-guilt when my breast milk is the biggest stressor in baby's life right now.
I only pump when I'm engorged and baby doesn't eat enough to fix it. I usually pump once or twice a day, after his longer stretches of sleep at night. And since hrs still ebf, everything I pump, about w to 4 ounces a day, goes in the freezer. I plan to introduce bottles in a week or two when I'm confident in his latch
I started pumping this weekend. I have an under supply issue, so I'm hoping it will help me to increase. I'm still producing enough to not have to supplement, but I can tell my supply is already dropping. I pump three times a day, once after first morning feeding, once around noon and then once around 9:30 before I go to bed. DH has been trying to give a bottle at 10:30 to give me a longer stretch of sleep (hasn't been very successful), so the 9:30 pumping is to make up for that feeding. I freeze about 6 oz a day and use 3 for the nighttime bottle.
I go back to work part time at 9 weeks so I need LO to be able to take bottles, and I need to have a stash built up. The lactation consultant recommended waiting at least 3 weeks to start pumping, but I think you have to do what works best for you. If you have an oversupply issue, though, I don't think pumping is a good idea until it regulates. All it will do is signal your body to make more milk.
@kriley602774 With DS I started pumping at 6 weeks and creating my freezer stash. This also allowed me to start introducing the bottle at least for one feeding a day (DH would feed him) at first so DS would start getting used to the bottle since he would be in daycare when I went back to work. If I remember correctly, I think the reason why I started at 6 weeks was because I read that usually your milk supply is good and regulated by then (or at least close to it) and baby should have gotten the hang of breast feeding so nipple confusion with the bottle wouldn't be as likely. This worked for me and DS, each mommy and baby is different.
I would pump probably twice a day in between regular feedings, maybe more if I felt up to it. I would set aside enough for him to have a bottle feeding when DH got home. Usually during that feeding is when I would do another pump to keep up my schedule, and freeze everything else I pumped that day. Little by little I created a nice little stash for when I started going back to work and even used a little bit before then to get him and DH used to feeding without me being around (freedom!!!).
I cannot stress how important the freezer stash is, even if you are a stay at home mom planning on being connected 24/7 to the kid. One week I was completely down and out due to a stomach virus, I didn't want to eat or drink and it severely impacted my milk supply. It took a full week to get back to normal with lots of feedings, pumping, and supplements. The freezer stash saved my butt!
J is 6 days old. LC said I could start pumping at 2 weeks. While his latch is a little shallow, my supply is good for now.
With my preemie DD, I EP'd for the first 6 weeks. Hats off to any exclusive pumpers. It's a total bear to EP and feed every 2 hours (wash the supplies, get back and forth to the fridge, etc). It was very stressful to plan ahead and have enough to be stocking away for the freezer. I used fenugreek and mother's milk but I'm not sure how much they helped my supply. I think a lot of my anxiety came from being a FTM and worrying that I had enough. Luckily through a shield and then eventually on her own she learned to BF. We were able to EBF for a long time (she wasn't a big food eater) and eventually self weaned at 27 months.
I'm feeling much more laid back this time around. Call it being a STM or having a much chiller L&D and baby, but I'll take it.
Does anyone else's LO nurse for a short amount of time on one side and then pass out for a couple of hours? C has gained weight but now his nursing has slowed down.
Does anyone else's LO nurse for a short amount of time on one side and then pass out for a couple of hours? C has gained weight but now his nursing has slowed down.
I've been struggling with this since baby boy was born, but at about 10 days out, he's gotten better and now will stay awake to empty one side. It was so frustrating in the beginning when he was losing weight and we had to supplement. The last couple days, he's at least nursed long enough for a couple sessions a day to spare me pumping to finish the job, so that's good. I think we just have lazy eaters on our hands!
Thanks ladies! C ebbs and flows with how often he wants to nurse since birth. He's gained almost a pound between his first and second doctor's appointment and we're now strictly bfing/pumping. We supplemented in the beginning when I was so engorged and he ripped up my nips.
Is anyone exclusively pumping? I breastfed for the first 2 weeks, but with twins it just became too much. I found myself stressing out about it too much and not enjoying as much time with my babies. Last week I started exclusively pumping and I've been a lot happier, plus others can help with their feedings. I'm also producing more now that I'm on a good pumping schedule. I'll still breastfeed occasionally for bonding purposes, but they're mostly bottle fed at this point.
I have to go back to work part time 2 days a week starting next week so I started pumping over the weekend. Thus far, i have only pumped when she feeds from only one side ( I pump the other). I only pump a few minutes at a time. So far, I have just been aiming for 2oz a day to freeze, but I am going to try to add a real pump tomorrow and see if I can get a little more output. If I wasn't going back to work so soon, I'd wait a little longer
Married May 2014 DD born August 2016 Baby #2 due December 2017
Is anyone exclusively pumping? I breastfed for the first 2 weeks, but with twins it just became too much. I found myself stressing out about it too much and not enjoying as much time with my babies. Last week I started exclusively pumping and I've been a lot happier, plus others can help with their feedings. I'm also producing more now that I'm on a good pumping schedule. I'll still breastfeed occasionally for bonding purposes, but they're mostly bottle fed at this point.
We have a weird hybrid of pumping and breastfeeding over here because baby acts like a wild banshee and won't breastfeed about half the time and had a lot of trouble staying awake long enough to breastfeed, and he's got to eat enough to regain birth weight. I go back to work in 10 weeks and starting Thursday, when he turns 2 weeks, plan to gradually replace all feeds with pumped bottles. I wish this kid would just pick breast or bottle and be consistent... This hybrid of both is a real pain!! I know how much work the pumping is, so kudos for doing it!
Engorgement is real and I don't know what to do! I'm 4 days PP, milk came in Saturday and over the past two days my boobs have nearly tripled in size and are pretty firm all the time. LO is nursing like a champ, generally every 2-3 hours, 10 minutes a side on average. I never feel like she's completely emptying. How do I get some relief of pressure and hardness? I know I shouldn't pump yet (LC @ the hospital said to wait and pump until 3weeks PP).
Should I just use ice? Warmth? Pumping very small amount?!
You guys... I really think drinking 1 beer every night is boosting my supply just a little. I pump every morning once or twice when I get engorged over long stretches of sleep. I usually get 1.5 to 2.5 ounces altogether. Today I got 4.5! I might have gotten a little more but the one tube was full. I'm excited to have a bit of a stash already, and at this rate it's going to grow fast!
Re: Breastfeeding
I can't keep up with her demand though and we had to start supplementing formula.
I am reminding myself that it is only day 4 and some women's milk can come in as late as 7 days.
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks.
10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery
11/2/17 Twin A & B born
11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU
Benched 6 months
BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO
BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
Someone needs to invent some sort of solution for this...
I am going to call the Dr today. Wondering if anyone else has had this.
I never got mastitis (and knock on wood for this one too). But I did get clogged ducts and that was super painful and worrisome. I'm thinking about you!
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks.
10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery
11/2/17 Twin A & B born
11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU
Benched 6 months
BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO
BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
We had to start out 99% formula and are now at about 20% formula. Baby Boy had one good first breastfeeding session after the c-section before he started vomiting bile acid and went to the NICU, where he was on an IV for 24 hours and then could start deeds. Because he had already lost weight and had to slowly ramp up eating because of gastro issues, it was supplementing or further risk his health. My milk didn't come in for a couple days, despite pumping every 3 hours. When we could start back up breastfeeding, he was either too hangry to try or too sleepy to try, so it was pumped milk and formula. He's about 10 days old now, and maybe 2 feeds a day he breastfeeds long enough so I don't have to pump to finish the job. And, I'm not quite pumping enough to meet his hunger. When we saw the pediatrician at about 6 days post birth, he said Samuel was still below birth weight and instructed us to wake to feed every 3 hours and that putting on weight was top priority, so keep supplementing if we need to. The last few days he's gone through a growth spurt, several times taking full feeds (about 2 oz) every 2 hours. I'm crossing my fingers that the growth spurt ends soon, he regains weight, and we get clearance to let him go a little longer at light between waking to feed.
All that to say, do the best you can, and if that means supplementing to ensure baby is healthy, do it. Totally doesn't make you any less of a Mom. In my book, my current crazy regimen of trying to breastfeed, pumping when Baby doesn't finish the job, and topping off with whatever formula we need to get Baby fully fed earns me a medal, and doesn't at all make me less of a Mom. The same for what you're doing!!
Me (32) DH (34) | |
BFP #1 4/5/12 | Natural m/c on 4/18/12 (6w1d)
BFP #2 8/23/12 | DS born 5/3/13
BFP #3 12/6/15 | DD born 8/23/16
BFP #4 2/22/19 | EDD 10/28/19
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks.
10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery
11/2/17 Twin A & B born
11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU
Benched 6 months
BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO
BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
Um, wrong timing DH. Bring on the hormones/PP baby blues. I ugly cried so hard - thinking of those poor cows as I was pumping.
Try to think of formula as a good thing for baby Aria for now. She needs those calories. I am supplementing with formula too; I wasn't happy about it at first but it would break my heart to see that my tiny peanut is not gaining weight as time goes by.
Also per RN's and pediatrician, it's not abnormal for babies to lose weight in the first week or so but gain it back to their birth weight by week two. Don't worry if Aria lost a little weight - she will catch up and more!
TTC 9/2013
BFP#1: 9/28/2013, EDD 5/28/13, MC confirmed 10/15/13, D&C 10/17/13
BFP#2: 1/10/2014, EDD 9/19/2014
In other news... my little one has been alternating between ten minute naps, crying, and eating since 6am. I guess this is what you all mean by cluster feeding... I just want a nap!
insert chorus from "I won't give up," by Jason Mraz
one determined mama.
Last time I would pump about 30 mins - hour after the morning feed, bc baby usually took a decent morning nap. DH would feed a pre bedtime bottle, and I'd pump again around that time. So I was only adding in one "extra" pumping session. I could usually get a little more out of pumping though so I had a decent stash by the time I returned to work. Once I started working I'd only feed from one side in the mornings and use a hand pump on the other, then pump at work twice a day. I also would nurse at night instead of the bottle since I was pumping so much at work. I was able to add a little extra to the freezer each day as well. With that schedule I was able to stop pumping at work around 10 months and still keep baby on breastmilk for a year, which was great. I really struggled with pumping at work (time and location), and I think that this time it will be even more of a challenge.
When is everyone else going to start pumping and introducing a bottle?
I'm not sure if all of that is from pumping early and aggressively (I'm a FTM and had no idea; was pumping 20-30 mins per side in the beginning) or if it was coincidental, but if you can hold off on pumping, I would.
Our baby chokes, gags, and panics while breastfeeding now, so I don't think that is worth the "stash" of milk that we have going. I'd rather work on the stash later than have baby so anxious about feeding, not to mention the serious mom-guilt when my breast milk is the biggest stressor in baby's life right now.
I go back to work part time at 9 weeks so I need LO to be able to take bottles, and I need to have a stash built up. The lactation consultant recommended waiting at least 3 weeks to start pumping, but I think you have to do what works best for you. If you have an oversupply issue, though, I don't think pumping is a good idea until it regulates. All it will do is signal your body to make more milk.
I would pump probably twice a day in between regular feedings, maybe more if I felt up to it. I would set aside enough for him to have a bottle feeding when DH got home. Usually during that feeding is when I would do another pump to keep up my schedule, and freeze everything else I pumped that day. Little by little I created a nice little stash for when I started going back to work and even used a little bit before then to get him and DH used to feeding without me being around (freedom!!!).
I cannot stress how important the freezer stash is, even if you are a stay at home mom planning on being connected 24/7 to the kid. One week I was completely down and out due to a stomach virus, I didn't want to eat or drink and it severely impacted my milk supply. It took a full week to get back to normal with lots of feedings, pumping, and supplements. The freezer stash saved my butt!
With my preemie DD, I EP'd for the first 6 weeks. Hats off to any exclusive pumpers. It's a total bear to EP and feed every 2 hours (wash the supplies, get back and forth to the fridge, etc). It was very stressful to plan ahead and have enough to be stocking away for the freezer. I used fenugreek and mother's milk but I'm not sure how much they helped my supply. I think a lot of my anxiety came from being a FTM and worrying that I had enough.
Luckily through a shield and then eventually on her own she learned to BF. We were able to EBF for a long time (she wasn't a big food eater) and eventually self weaned at 27 months.
I'm feeling much more laid back this time around. Call it being a STM or having a much chiller L&D and baby, but I'll take it.
Yes. I keep trying to wake him up to take the other side!
Married May 2014
DD born August 2016
Baby #2 due December 2017
Should I just use ice? Warmth? Pumping very small amount?!
How long does this initial engorgement last?!
Me (32) DH (34) | |
BFP #1 4/5/12 | Natural m/c on 4/18/12 (6w1d)
BFP #2 8/23/12 | DS born 5/3/13
BFP #3 12/6/15 | DD born 8/23/16
BFP #4 2/22/19 | EDD 10/28/19