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October 2018 Moms
knottieamusements
member
Breastfeeding/ Pumping General Discussion
knottieamusements
member
Hello!
Let’s use this thread for general discussion around breastfeeding/ pumping. Bring your tips, tricks, strategies, and questions!
The product spotlight for breast pumps is here: https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12726922/product-spotlight-breast-pumps#latest
Please remember “Fed is best” - every mom will figure out what is best for her and her baby.
Let’s use this thread for general discussion around breastfeeding/ pumping. Bring your tips, tricks, strategies, and questions!
The product spotlight for breast pumps is here: https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12726922/product-spotlight-breast-pumps#latest
Please remember “Fed is best” - every mom will figure out what is best for her and her baby.
Re: Breastfeeding/ Pumping General Discussion
Q2. - I've tried a few things before to increase supply but nothing was a super increase. I read earlier today about Gatorade (specifically blue) - anyone tried this before and had good/bad results?
So what we’d do for each feeding was nurse and then offer him a 2-3 ounce bottle afterward. Sometimes he’d take it, sometimes not, which was super stressful, but we kept weighing him every day and as long as I saw his weight increase, I tried to relax. I’d say around 3 months he was totally fine with switching from nip to bottle, and I nursed him until he was 10 months - I stopped because I hadn’t had my period yet and we wanted to start TTC.
I think that introducing bottles is a good idea earlier rather than later, but maybe not before you guys get nursing down. Having DS ok with bottles was soooo nice - it allowed DH to help and give me a break here and there, and it made it easier to leave DS with his grandparents while we went out.
The clearest thing to do is probably weigh him. We bought a baby scale and weighed him constantly. Also keeping an eye on diapers - if they’re decently wet often, they’re doing ok. But the scale was key for us.
I packed the pump, cooler, pumping bra, flanges, and 3-4 bottles with lids plus ice pack.
https://kellymom.com/
My milk came in within 24-48 hours with both my boys. My LC didn't want me to have issues with oversupply and suggested waiting 4 weeks before I start pumping. I was never good about having a strict pumping schedule prior to going back to work. I stopped pumped at 12 weeks with DS1 and 6 months with DS2. The most accurate way to know that your baby is getting enough is a weighed feed. I recommend waiting no longer than 4-6 weeks to introduce a bottle. I had approx. 80 ounces stored when I went back to work at 12 weeks with DS2. I packed 2 extra sets of pumping supplies since I only pumped twice a day at work and didn't want to worry about cleaning supplies during the day.
I had access to a private minifridge at my last job so I stored the pump parts in the freezer between sessions so I didn't have to wash them until I got home in the evening.
That reminds me - I should bring that up in my discussion with HR tomorrow. Can I get a minifridge in my office?
@kiwi2628 I only had one set of parts which was fine, but having multiples of the shields (and valves) would have been nice for when you're exhausted and don't want to wash them.
I also suggest, if possible, to have a couple of sizes of the breast shields ready to go. I needed the smaller ones and most stores don't carry them. I had to order them directly from Medela and wait for them to be delivered.
As a sidenote, my office just got a brand new lactation room last week! After watching my coworkers miserably find empty rooms to pump in for the last year and a half, I'm super excited to use it!
BFP #2: due 6/30/2017, MMC found 12/7/2016
BFP #3: due 10/21/2018
After about 2 months of this, we were able to exclusively breastfeed and get him off the nipple shield. I breastfed for 12 months.
Someone asked about increasing supply - i tried so many things that didn't work. Fenugreek, oatmeal cookies, blessed thistle...in the end the only thing that worked was a prescription for Domperidone. Worked wonders.
My question - Any moms with flat/inverted nipples have any tricks/tips to get feeding working right away? I fully expect to need the nipple shield again this time, but would love to get off it ASAP.
https://www.target.com/p/medela-personalfit-breastshields-24mm-2pk/-/A-10311658?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Baby+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Baby&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9003172&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-PPBzMyS3AIVl0oNCh0kZwr3EAQYAyABEgLOB_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I'd usually send one day's worth - 3-4oz bottles. That's how much he needed but also just all that I pumped so I had some single-serve formula in case it was needed (growth spurt). But usually 12oz was enough.
BFP #2: due 6/30/2017, MMC found 12/7/2016
BFP #3: due 10/21/2018
https://youtu.be/OUqRVSeBpY8
Here’s a link to one about breastfeeding in the first hours after birth. Be warned. LOTS of bare boobs in these videos (if that bothers you), but so helpful to see actual women and real latches!
https://globalhealthmedia.org/portfolio-items/breastfeeding-in-the-first-hours-after-birth/?portfolioID=10861
@tropical1982 I know several moms that swore by the blue gatorade trick. I've never tried it, but I have a feeling it's like everything else - works for some, not for others. I do know that a few of those moms drank so much of it it tinted their milk blue (or at least, they thought it did)!
Fresh pumped at room temp 3-4 hours
Fresh pumped in fridge 3-8 days
Thawed in fridge 24 hours
In-fridge freezer (old school) 2 weeks
Separate fridge freezer 6 months
Deep freezer up to 12 months
https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/milkstorage
As far as supplies, I bring a couple sets of flanges to work, a freezer pack/cooler and four empty bottles. I'm pretty fortunate that my company provides hospital grade Medela Lactina Select motors (at least they used to, so I'm assuming they still do) in the nursing moms area to use with the Medela hand pumps, so I would leave the pump plunger and tubing at work every day, and just schlep the bottles and washables back and forth.
I also highly recommend leaving a backup set of flanges and valves (and maybe even a hand pump) at your office if you're working. I can't even tell you the number of times I (or my husband, depending on who packed the bag that day) would forget the damned flanges or valves on the drying rack in the morning. It was such a crappy feeling scouring the pump bag and realizing I was missing an essential piece.
2. I tried almost everything recommended for increasing supply short of prescriptions. I didn’t use the blue Gatorade, but did use another sports drink. The only thing that ever increased my supply was dark beer. Found that out at 9months pp on a camping trip without the babies. Since I didn’t respond well to the pump, it was a little rough by the second day and I couldn’t wait to get home so they could help me out.
@jellybelly114 My boys were slow to gain weight (due to undiagnosed lip ties) so the LC told me to pump and supplement with a bottle of bm (or formula if I couldn’t pump enough) about a week after they were born. I would nurse them and then give a bottle. Within a week they were showing preference for the bottle because they didn’t have to work as hard for it. I mentioned this to the LC and they told me that it wasn’t possible because babies have no memories, but that was complete BS. They kept shortening their nursing sessions and looking around and wanting more milk from the bottle. I had to cut out the bottle after nursing to get them to nurse more. So nipple confusion, no, but definitely nipple preference.
@chopchop25 I was told the number of wet/dirty diapers each day was the best indicator as to if the baby is getting enough, but if you have any concern then you should supplement with pumped milk or formula. Signs to look for that indicate baby isn’t getting enough include not enough wet diapers, inconsolable crying, wanting to nurse constantly.
@sliztee I nursed and then pumped to build a stash for the few months I was returning to work. I hated the pump, so after I quit the job, I would pump maybe one or two times a day after nursing to build my stash back up for days we needed some for a babysitter. Once I was comfortable with the amount in the freezer, I would only pump when I was away from the babies to keep up my supply and hopefully replace some of what they were using while I was gone. I ended up having some left over bm that I donated to my sister (she had supply issues with her first). A friend donated through a Facebook group, so if you end up with extra milk, you can always donate to somebody in need.