@lilpoots thanks, I hope I can figure it out too! I'm using the Medela Pump in Style.
@JustBored10 let me know if you figure out any way to make it hurt less! I am trying to build up a freezer stash for when I go back to work in November, plus my husband gives him one bottle a day to make sure he will continue to take bottles for when he goes to daycare, so I unfortunately need to keep pumping regularly (right now I'm doing it twice/day).
@heatherlynn321 Cold compresses are AMAZING for the fire boulders!!! I hated that time period.. I do not want to go back to engorgement milk coming in..
At baby stores, Lansinoh makes a purple gel compress (set of 2) you can put in the freezer and stick in your bra. I love it. You can also warm them for mastitis. Its like a 3 in 1 use thing.
I love those Lanisoh gel packs! I actually don't think I've used them cold, but I've been getting clogged ducts periodically and using them hot really helps for that!
I'm very nervous about bottle feeding. I'm afraid she will have trouble latching once we start bottle feedings as well. Anyone experience this or am I just over reacting? Her latch is good now and 2 weeks old Saturday so I'm told she should be ok for at least one bottle in middle night and that would help me so much so I can sleep more
I'm very nervous about bottle feeding. I'm afraid she will have trouble latching once we start bottle feedings as well. Anyone experience this or am I just over reacting? Her latch is good now and 2 weeks old Saturday so I'm told she should be ok for at least one bottle in middle night and that would help me so much so I can sleep more
We started bottles at about 3.5 weeks. My son had no problems taking bottles and it hasn't impacted his nursing at all. Just be aware if the baby gets a bottle in the middle of the night, you have to pump at the same time or you'll lose supply.
@lilpoots We had the lip and tongue procedure done yesterday. It was a hard decision to make because the dentist said the case wasn't severe but wasn't mild either, and it was up to me if I could live with the breastfeeding pain. August is gaining weight and exceeding his diaper counts, but we're using a nipple shield for all feedings. We decided to do it in hopes of weaning from the shield. The procedure was done in less than 5 minutes using a laser and August nursed (with the shield) immediately after.
The rest of the day was a nightmare though. He refused to latch for the next 3 nursings, becoming hysterical. I pumped and syringe fed him the first time, and got him to latch with the shield after 30 minutes of crying (both of us
Abbreviated ending: nighttime feedings were better (using shield). Think he's just getting used to his new tongue mobility or could he be in pain from the procedure? Am I setting us up for failure relearning with the shield? I also have flat nipples so we may just always need to use the shield. I may try to wean again after the 2 weeks of lip and tongue stretching to be sure his cuts heal properly.
@thinkpositive2017 we had Elliot's tongue tie cut by an ENT last week. She never showed signs of being in pain after the procedure. I would maybe try to see an LC or your pediatrician ASAP to see if they can help with what's going on and make sure the ties were done correctly.
@thinkpositive2017 flat nipples can be so frustrating. One of mine is. My first son was tied and we also went to a pedi dds. I didn't use a shield after our revision, but it is totally possible to use one short term. Your baby is having to relearn everything. He could be uncomfortable, but most likely he's just confused. I will be thinking positively for you. Please do the same for us
Any advice for getting rid of a 2 giant hard clogged milk ducts under the armpit? I've tried multiple hot compresses, hot showers, massaging them, and have DS feed with his nose and chin pointed towards the clogs, but it's been 2 days and they're still super hard and not moving. I'm going to see the LC on Friday, but I'd love to fix them before then.
My milk hasn't come in quite yet but my nipples are a bit flat so we are using a nipple shield pretty consistently. He just struggles to latch to the are breast. I empathize with everyone else's pain; I haven't been crying yet but I've been cringing a lot. At least baby is getting colostrum. And I started using lanolin to (hopefully) prevent damage that would make it too difficult to feed. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences. It's really helpful for context for me as a FTM!
@heatherlynn321 have you checked to see if there is a milk bleb blocking your nipple? I would get those a lot with my first. It will look like a hard piece of milk stuck in your nipple. Google it on the kellymom site if you think it may be it. Also, have you pumped any on that side? I would turn it up a little higher and try that too.
Clustering feeding for 4+ hours is this even possible?!? I started pumping to have some freedom and I feel like my LO started eating non stop as soon as I started pumping. Am I just draining the breast to much?
I just read an article about how awesome this simple pump is. Has anyone tried it? I'll still use my medela when I go back to work, but for home, I like to just use my hand pump, but this seems like a better one.
@heatherlynn321 i have heard great things about that manual, but I don't have one. My medela practically rips my nipple off, so I haven't been using the manual.
Anyone else using the spectra s1/s2? I love this thing, but I'm not crazy about how the flange doesn't stay on tight, milk spills out of the threads easily and the bottle falls out of the cradle when empty. I've had milk spill all over way too many times. Transporting it and milk is going to be a pain when I go back to work.
Anyone else using the spectra s1/s2? I love this thing, but I'm not crazy about how the flange doesn't stay on tight, milk spills out of the threads easily and the bottle falls out of the cradle when empty. I've had milk spill all over way too many times. Transporting it and milk is going to be a pain when I go back to work.
I have the spectra s2! I'm ordering aftermarket flanges in a smaller size because the 24mm and 28mm that came with it are too big for me. The pumping bra that I use I keep on a pretty tight setting so that the flanges don't come loose!
Anyone else using the spectra s1/s2? I love this thing, but I'm not crazy about how the flange doesn't stay on tight, milk spills out of the threads easily and the bottle falls out of the cradle when empty. I've had milk spill all over way too many times. Transporting it and milk is going to be a pain when I go back to work.
I've pumped here and there with the spectra s1, but I have not had any of these issues! That is crazy!
Me: 27 years old DH: 27 years old Type 1 Diabetes since 2001, MTHFR hetero A1298T Dogs: Raider 4 yrs, Dex 4 yrs
Married in July 2014
TTC #1 since late Feb 2016
BFP #1 3/29/16 MMC: 5/5/16 BFP #2 7/6/16 SCH, D&C 8/4/16 BFP #3 12/26/16 EDD: 9/6/17 My Chart / My Diabetes/Pregnancy Blog My Type 1/TTC/Pregnancy Podcast: Juicebox Podcast Episode 118 A1Cs: 1/12/16 6.7% 5/25/16 6.0% 11/2/16 6.1% 3/22/16 5.8% 4/27/17 5.4% 6/13/17 5.3% "Sugar Fancy Tutu"
@Sugargirl1019 maybe the bottle I'm using is defective. I've only been pumping the one side. Speaking of which Duncan had his lip and tongue ties revised today. His lip was mild to moderate, but his tongue was severely restricted with a tight band and no tongue elevation. Hoping this helps him feed better and faster.
I just found out that DH has been using the kitchen sink sponge, the same one he uses to clean eggs off of pans and then leaves in our sink for days, to clean my pump parts. Like I appreciate that he wanted to be helpful, but you can't do that, there's so much risk of bacterial infection. I'm debating on if I need to throw out all of my pumped milk now, which hurts to do, because I had just started to create the beginnings of a tiny stash, but I also don't want my baby to get any sort of infection.
I just found out that DH has been using the kitchen sink sponge, the same one he uses to clean eggs off of pans and then leaves in our sink for days, to clean my pump parts. Like I appreciate that he wanted to be helpful, but you can't do that, there's so much risk of bacterial infection. I'm debating on if I need to throw out all of my pumped milk now, which hurts to do, because I had just started to create the beginnings of a tiny stash, but I also don't want my baby to get any sort of infection.
Ahhhh. I think I would throw away that milk. I had a specific brush and tupper ware container that was only to be used for my pump parts. I could see my DH doing that. He was using my water cup to water the plants outside. Not the same thing, but that grossed me out.
@jessieR358 Yeah, you're definitely right. Ugh, I'm so mad though, but like I can't yell at him because he honestly didn't realize what a mistake it was and was just trying to be helpful.
@JustBored10 Thats totally fine, my dishwasher kind of sucks though, and I noticed that parts weren't getting all the way clean, so that's why I handwash them.
@JustBored10 dishwasher is the perfect place to wash them. I hand wash pumping parts with out a sponge because I am using them so little right now, but when I go back to work I'll use the dishwasher and our bottle sanitizer.
Forgive me if someone already posted about this, I'm just reading through today. Anyone having a problem with a sleeping nurser? My daughter is latching great but almost instantly goes to sleep and then casually nurses. Feedings are taking about an hour. I've tried a wet washcloth to the face, tickeling feet, tapping her cheeks etc. nothing works, she's out after a few minutes. I had to exclusively pump with my first for 8 weeks because she wouldn't latch at all after being bottle fed for a few days because of weight concerns. I'm so determined to nurse exclusively these first few weeks but an hour each feeding is taking a toll.
@Turtle15SW, have you tried hand expressing a little milk befire she latches on? That way she can smell/taste it and may be more interested. If my girl falls asleep at the breast I'll massage my breast a little to express milk into her mouth which usually reminds her of the task at hand.
@Turtle15SW both my babes were/are sleepy at the breast. The only thing that works for the newborn is burping him. When he stops efficiency nursing, I put him on my shoulder and burp him. If he doesn't wake up, he can't be that hungry.
@Turtle15SW both my babes were/are sleepy at the breast. The only thing that works for the newborn is burping him. When he stops efficiency nursing, I put him on my shoulder and burp him. If he doesn't wake up, he can't be that hungry.
This has worked for me too. My babe typically is taking 30-45 minutes but has gone as long as an hour. Sometimes the other tricks work (cheek or feet rub, etc) but gently removing him from the breast to burp him will either spur him to latch a bit harder because he wasn't done or I can get him off and figure out next steps.
@Turtle15SW, have you tried hand expressing a little milk befire she latches on? That way she can smell/taste it and may be more interested. If my girl falls asleep at the breast I'll massage my breast a little to express milk into her mouth which usually reminds her of the task at hand.
I also used massage when my little guy was a sleepy nurser (he's 7 weeks now, so not as sleepy) to give him a little surge of milk. My husband would also change his diaper in between sides to wake him up.
Thanks all! The massaging while nursing helped today and the burping as well. She still would nod off, but not as much. I haven't tried the clothes off yet, mostly because it's so hard to get her hands in an outfit in the first place, ha! But, that's on the table for tonight's feeding. I think I'm going to schedule a LC appointment this week also. How long do most of you nurse at each feeding? Is 30 minutes the norm or longer?
Re: Breastfeeding Support
@JustBored10 let me know if you figure out any way to make it hurt less! I am trying to build up a freezer stash for when I go back to work in November, plus my husband gives him one bottle a day to make sure he will continue to take bottles for when he goes to daycare, so I unfortunately need to keep pumping regularly (right now I'm doing it twice/day).
I love those Lanisoh gel packs! I actually don't think I've used them cold, but I've been getting clogged ducts periodically and using them hot really helps for that!
The rest of the day was a nightmare though. He refused to latch for the next 3 nursings, becoming hysterical. I pumped and syringe fed him the first time, and got him to latch with the shield after 30 minutes of crying (both of us
Abbreviated ending: nighttime feedings were better (using shield). Think he's just getting used to his new tongue mobility or could he be in pain from the procedure? Am I setting us up for failure relearning with the shield? I also have flat nipples so we may just always need to use the shield. I may try to wean again after the 2 weeks of lip and tongue stretching to be sure his cuts heal properly.
Also, have you pumped any on that side? I would turn it up a little higher and try that too.
I just read an article about how awesome this simple pump is. Has anyone tried it? I'll still use my medela when I go back to work, but for home, I like to just use my hand pump, but this seems like a better one.
Type 1 Diabetes since 2001, MTHFR hetero A1298T
Dogs: Raider 4 yrs, Dex 4 yrs
BFP #2 7/6/16 SCH, D&C 8/4/16
BFP #3 12/26/16 EDD: 9/6/17
My Chart / My Diabetes/Pregnancy Blog
My Type 1/TTC/Pregnancy Podcast:
Juicebox Podcast Episode 118
A1Cs:
1/12/16 6.7%
5/25/16 6.0%
11/2/16 6.1%
3/22/16 5.8%
4/27/17 5.4%
6/13/17 5.3%
"Sugar Fancy Tutu"
Type 1 Diabetes since 2001, MTHFR hetero A1298T
Dogs: Raider 4 yrs, Dex 4 yrs
BFP #2 7/6/16 SCH, D&C 8/4/16
BFP #3 12/26/16 EDD: 9/6/17
My Chart / My Diabetes/Pregnancy Blog
My Type 1/TTC/Pregnancy Podcast:
Juicebox Podcast Episode 118
A1Cs:
1/12/16 6.7%
5/25/16 6.0%
11/2/16 6.1%
3/22/16 5.8%
4/27/17 5.4%
6/13/17 5.3%
"Sugar Fancy Tutu"
https://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products/850/quick-clean-micro-steam-bags