@Foersty my hospital asks us to pay up front (along with the OB). We don't mind actually, because we get the payment out of the way. We have to wait until we actually get the bill from the insurance (post delivery of course) to get the money from our HSA account, so it's like getting nice bonus money back after the fact.
C-section mamas, what did you put in your hospital bag. My prior assumptions were all based on a two-day stay with a vaginal birth. Now that I'm looking at a scheduled c-section and a four-day stay, I'm not sure what to bring. What kind of clothes were you comfy in? Did you need things to do for four days, or did sleep and baby keep you occupied?
I know that different brands work on different kids. So how do you go about figuring it out? Do you buy a bunch of different brands and try them all out, or do you pick one brand and just try another if you keep getting leaks? How many diapers should I buy in newborn vs the next size up?
@Happyhiker I had a c section last time - I wore a nursing tank, maternity yoga pants, slippers and a robe the whole time. I also had a belly binder which I used immediately. I had my work laptop, kindle and cell phone and was fine. The hospital provided mesh undies, pads, nipple cream and a breast pump. My memory is a little fuzzy as it was 5 1/2 years ago but I don't remember being bored. I did have to make the trek to the nicu which was 4 floors down multiple times per day.
We buy a few different brands and find one that works then use up the others as quickly as possible haha. My first had constant blowouts no matter which brand and my second fit best in Huggies. Depends on the baby so I say get different brands!
@RunBooRun we used the pampers swaddlers we were sent home with at the hospital. I also had bought a small pack of huggies in nb size. for DS the swaddlers did the trick and then regular pampers until he chunked up and we switched to huggies for a bit. now we use buy buy baby or whatever store brand there is bc thankfully he isn't sensitive. whenever i buy a new brand i buy a small pack just in case they don't work.
i wouldn't buy a huge box of nb just because you don't know how long babe will be in them. all other sizes though i have been safe buying the economy size.
also, i recommend buying diapers with some kind of wetness strip or indicator at least in the beginning. i think both huggies and pampers have them. it's just one small thing that keeps you from second guessing if baby is wet
Personally didn't buy any diapers before baby arrived. Only needed to grab a small pack of newborns, and that, with the pack from the hospital, got us to needing 1's. From baby shower, and ppl stopping by to visit bringing diapers, i got to try all of the "name brands" : huggies, loves, and papers. And liked pampers best, so we stuck with that. as PP said-(and you said you know) every kid is different. Leg/butt Size wise, how they wet a diaper, on and on... every parent will swear by a different brand or no name brand. So: see what ppl give you, and buy a few small packs of other kinds to the first weeks/months and see what you like best! ETA: I think most ppl love pampers, but they tend to be the more expensive, so a lot of moms ive talked to try other brands because of price. I personally tried some NO-name brands and DD would always get a diaper rash-so it wasn't worth it for me.
Gonna start bugging you ladies with some questions so I am currently pumping since Will has a feeding tube and has absolutely zero interest in latching, something to do with him being born at 34 weeks so I'm trying to not get discouraged. I pump every 4 hours except for once during the night and my milk basically completely came in yesterday. My one breast feels great and like there's no issue but my other breast is engorged. I spend the same amount of time pumping on each so I don't get it. It's so painful that DH and I were trying everything last night. It produces a good amount, about 2oz, but is hard and painful. Any suggestions?
Gonna start bugging you ladies with some questions so I am currently pumping since Will has a feeding tube and has absolutely zero interest in latching, something to do with him being born at 34 weeks so I'm trying to not get discouraged. I pump every 4 hours except for once during the night and my milk basically completely came in yesterday. My one breast feels great and like there's no issue but my other breast is engorged. I spend the same amount of time pumping on each so I don't get it. It's so painful that DH and I were trying everything last night. It produces a good amount, about 2oz, but is hard and painful. Any suggestions?
What were you trying? I mean, you're saying pumping didnt relieve the pressure?
My milk came in unevenly too. Its way normal. My let down was way strong and my son would always prefer my right breast to the left for that reason. First, are you using a hospital pump? 2 oz is an okay amount once milk comes in, it's normal not outrageously a lot or anything. Are you sure you're totally emptying it? Sometimes there is a second let down.
I never had to pump for a preemie, so I'm legitimately asking not implying anything: why only pump once every 4 hours and once at night? Newborns would typically nurse every 2 hours or so, even at night. Doesn't it make sense to have a pumping pattern that matches a feeding one, at least in terms of preparation for the day when your little guy is ready to latch? Someone with more experience, feel free to contradict me if I'm way off base.
Pumping also can create more problems like blocked ducts and such. Ask the LC at your hospital to take a look if it's super painful.
Lastly, I wouldn't particularly worry about creating oversupply at this point since you'll be exclusively pumping for awhile. Worst case scenario you will get to donate the extra to the nicu. I wouldn't follow any advice you might get aimed at reducing the supply at this point, engorgement is uncomfortable but part of the game while your body figures out how much milk to produce.
ETA now that your milk is in, instead of pumping for a set amount of time you just pump until you don't get anything. I always waited a couple of minutes to make sure I wasn't going to get a second let down.
@alexxapplepiee make sure you utilize the lactation consultant at the hospital. When DS was born at 32 weeks I struggled with getting enough from pumping. I pumped every 3 hours even through the night. When DS finally came home from the hospital I continued visiting the lactation consultant to get help. They are pretty valuable resources and i feel necessary when you have a preemie. Feel free to reach out to me with questions about preemies. Good luck and congrats!
@Happyhiker comfy clothes, but obviously everything with a loose waist! I had some shorts and PJ pants that were the next size up that worked well. I don't remember being bored, I'll probably make sure I have a tablet so I can watch Netflix this time.
Alex married to M since 6.13.09 T - 3.3.14 A - 2.24.17
@alexxapplepiee echoing making sure you talk to a LC! I've never pumped for a preemie-so I can't help on that front-i know some ppl say taking videos on your phone of baby to watch while you pump can help. when my milk came in, and was painful a few things that helped: buying a cabbage -keeping it in the fridge, pulling off a cold leaf and sticking it on your boob! Hot shower & massage. & honestly time-took a few days to get passed the engorgement/pain stage.
@alexxapplepiee Don't want to echo what everyone else said, but @longliveregina was onto something about increasing how often you're pumping. Sounds like you might want to set your alarm at night so you can get up and pump. If your baby was home with you, you would be getting up a few times in the night for feedings, so I would increase not only your frequency of nightly pumping, but I would also pump more than every 4 hours. At the very least I would do every 3. Also, being uneven is totally normal. My right boob always produced more milk, but my left boob had a very forceful flow. Think of your breasts as sisters, not twins. Lastly, one thing that helped me in the beginning was puttting some type of heat on my breasts before pumping. I had a tube sock filled with rice that I would warm up and put on the girls for a little bit, which helped with letdown when pumping. When people spoke of a letdown, in the beginning I had no idea what that really meant, but you'll eventually learn what that feels like. For me it was like a tingling sensation and then there would be a influx of milk being released. Make sure the hospital LCs are helping you!
@alexxapplepiee my opinion might differ from everyone else's but here's my suggestion: even though one breast is engorged now, doesn't mean it will stay that way. Your breasts are trying to figure out how much milk to make-and they will adapt depending on how often you pump. So two things-the more often you pump, the more milk they will make. I wouldn't pump more often if you are getting 2-4oz each pumping session. I wouldn't pump longer than what it takes to fill the bottle to 3-4oz. If you pump longer than that, your breasts will continue to produce and continue to be engorged. You DO NOT need to empty your breasts every feeding(your baby definitely wouldn't if he was latching) and the milk never goes bad inside your breasts. And second, your engorged breast will go down and start producing less (I would give it about 3-7 days) if you pump them both at the same time.
A hot shower can help with relief BUT it will also cause let-down which is telling your breast to produce more milk. So be careful there too.
Wven though the engorgement is painful, it's worth waiting it out to give it time to go down.
I would still see if a LC can come visit you. Hang in there!
The LC was rather unhelpful when I wanted to talk to her. She said she couldn't come to NICU and she'd come when she could. For some reason, they told me every 4 hours and to skip like one at night. I don't go to bed early and I always wake up early so it's basically like 5 hours between. His NICU nurse showed DH how to massage today. Very first attempt on a bottle today and he drank all of it. He's up to about 15 cc's of milk per feeding. I'm gonna try everything you guys said though thank you.
The LC was rather unhelpful when I wanted to talk to her. She said she couldn't come to NICU and she'd come when she could. For some reason, they told me every 4 hours and to skip like one at night. I don't go to bed early and I always wake up early so it's basically like 5 hours between. His NICU nurse showed DH how to massage today. Very first attempt on a bottle today and he drank all of it. He's up to about 15 cc's of milk per feeding. I'm gonna try everything you guys said though thank you.
Yay for the bottle! That's a big deal Good luck with establishing your supply and finding comfort ❤
@alexxapplepiee you already got so much good advice and i don't want to repeat. just wanted to say hang in there and i'm so happy for you that he took to the bottle!
Does anyone remember when to start taking the Red Rasberry Leaf tea? I think it really helped me last time, but can't remember when I started drinking it.
Woah, I'm behind the ball! For some reason I was thinking drinking it too early could bring on pre-term labor, but I'm sure that's not correct now. What brand do you like?
the only two brands i ever see in the store are traditional medicinals and yogi. both are good so i buy what is on sale lol. actually on amazon theres a six pack of the traditional medicinals for pretty cheap so thats what i got this go around.
i usually throw a couple of tea bags in one cup of tea so i don't have to drink as many cups. make sure you steep is at least 10-15 min
Re: Ask a STM 1/16
yorkie mama to Oscar
FTM EDD 3.12.17
I know that different brands work on different kids. So how do you go about figuring it out? Do you buy a bunch of different brands and try them all out, or do you pick one brand and just try another if you keep getting leaks? How many diapers should I buy in newborn vs the next size up?
I have lots of diapers questions...
Samantha - 4/5/2017
We buy a few different brands and find one that works then use up the others as quickly as possible haha. My first had constant blowouts no matter which brand and my second fit best in Huggies. Depends on the baby so I say get different brands!
i wouldn't buy a huge box of nb just because you don't know how long babe will be in them. all other sizes though i have been safe buying the economy size.
also, i recommend buying diapers with some kind of wetness strip or indicator at least in the beginning. i think both huggies and pampers have them. it's just one small thing that keeps you from second guessing if baby is wet
From baby shower, and ppl stopping by to visit bringing diapers, i got to try all of the "name brands" : huggies, loves, and papers. And liked pampers best, so we stuck with that.
as PP said-(and you said you know) every kid is different. Leg/butt Size wise, how they wet a diaper, on and on... every parent will swear by a different brand or no name brand.
So: see what ppl give you, and buy a few small packs of other kinds to the first weeks/months and see what you like best!
ETA: I think most ppl love pampers, but they tend to be the more expensive, so a lot of moms ive talked to try other brands because of price. I personally tried some NO-name brands and DD would always get a diaper rash-so it wasn't worth it for me.
My milk came in unevenly too. Its way normal. My let down was way strong and my son would always prefer my right breast to the left for that reason. First, are you using a hospital pump? 2 oz is an okay amount once milk comes in, it's normal not outrageously a lot or anything. Are you sure you're totally emptying it? Sometimes there is a second let down.
I never had to pump for a preemie, so I'm legitimately asking not implying anything: why only pump once every 4 hours and once at night? Newborns would typically nurse every 2 hours or so, even at night. Doesn't it make sense to have a pumping pattern that matches a feeding one, at least in terms of preparation for the day when your little guy is ready to latch? Someone with more experience, feel free to contradict me if I'm way off base.
Pumping also can create more problems like blocked ducts and such. Ask the LC at your hospital to take a look if it's super painful.
Lastly, I wouldn't particularly worry about creating oversupply at this point since you'll be exclusively pumping for awhile. Worst case scenario you will get to donate the extra to the nicu. I wouldn't follow any advice you might get aimed at reducing the supply at this point, engorgement is uncomfortable but part of the game while your body figures out how much milk to produce.
ETA now that your milk is in, instead of pumping for a set amount of time you just pump until you don't get anything. I always waited a couple of minutes to make sure I wasn't going to get a second let down.
married to M since 6.13.09
T - 3.3.14
A - 2.24.17
I've never pumped for a preemie-so I can't help on that front-i know some ppl say taking videos on your phone of baby to watch while you pump can help.
when my milk came in, and was painful a few things that helped: buying a cabbage -keeping it in the fridge, pulling off a cold leaf and sticking it on your boob! Hot shower & massage. & honestly time-took a few days to get passed the engorgement/pain stage.
Plus hot shower and pump in the shower if you can. A manual pump can go in the shower with you if you have one. Massage and relax!!!
even though one breast is engorged now, doesn't mean it will stay that way. Your breasts are trying to figure out how much milk to make-and they will adapt depending on how often you pump. So two things-the more often you pump, the more milk they will make. I wouldn't pump more often if you are getting 2-4oz each pumping session. I wouldn't pump longer than what it takes to fill the bottle to 3-4oz. If you pump longer than that, your breasts will continue to produce and continue to be engorged. You DO NOT need to empty your breasts every feeding(your baby definitely wouldn't if he was latching) and the milk never goes bad inside your breasts.
And second, your engorged breast will go down and start producing less (I would give it about 3-7 days) if you pump them both at the same time.
A hot shower can help with relief BUT it will also cause let-down which is telling your breast to produce more milk. So be careful there too.
Wven though the engorgement is painful, it's worth waiting it out to give it time to go down.
I would still see if a LC can come visit you. Hang in there!
ETa: I personally only drink 1-2cups a day
i usually throw a couple of tea bags in one cup of tea so i don't have to drink as many cups. make sure you steep is at least 10-15 min