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July 2019 Moms
mamanbebe
member
Breastfeeding & Pumping Questions & Support Thread
mamanbebe
member
Inspired by the excellent discussion going on in @tiredmommei 's thread
This is a place to ask questions and offer support about breastfeeding and pumping.
It is also a **Judgement-Free Zone** where "fed is best" and any pointed comments intended at shaming women for their choices will be unwelcome.
This is a place to ask questions and offer support about breastfeeding and pumping.
It is also a **Judgement-Free Zone** where "fed is best" and any pointed comments intended at shaming women for their choices will be unwelcome.
Re: Breastfeeding & Pumping Questions & Support Thread
I have hypoplasia/IGT. Combined with having a CS, I had a really difficult time breastfeeding. I went to a fabulous class, I hired a lactation consultant, I was told to breastfeed, pump after feeding and supplement to both increase supply and help get my baby back to birth weight because he was losing more than 10%.
I could only produce about 1oz per breast every 2-3 hours and the only increase I saw was first thing in the morning when it had built up to about 3oz per breast while I slept longer stretches.
I tried all the teas, supplements, recipes, etc, and nothing helped increase supply.
It was intensely stressful feeding, pumping, cleaning bottles and parts round the clock and I was not bonding with my child. After almost a month I decided to switch to formula and it went totally fine, but I received a lot of shame from my support network.
I'd like to try breastfeeding again but I'm curious if anyone else has been dealt a similar hand and found better success?
I’m hoping this time the supply issue does not affect me again however if it does I have made peace with the idea of formula feeding another baby. But it would be such a joy to have a successful breastfeeding journey so I’m trying to go into this better prepared than I was the first time.
We had to give formula but I opted for assisted lactation (basically I attached a tube to my nipple and the tube went into a bottle of formula, so DD would have both my nipple and the tube in her mouth. When she sucked she got formula, but the action of sucking worked like a pump to try to get my milk going). On top of this I had to pump for 20 minutes on each side after every feed. I was lucky to get 1mm of milk when I pumped (this was a hospital grade electric pump). I started taking medication to try to get my supply going.
It was exhausting. I was either nursing (with tube attached), washing feeding tubes, or pumping. And they kept uping my dose of the medication.
I wanted to quit and just start giving her a bottle but my mom pretty adamantly did not like that idea and made me feel terrible for even thinking about it. I was really angry with her at the time but I kept going.
When DD was about 2.5 months she started spitting out the tube when she was nursing. By this point I was no longer pumping and was weaning myself off the meds. But my milk had started to come in.
I kept suplementing for a while because my supply was low and I didn't trust it but DD started refusing the bottle and all formula after a while. I ended up exclusively BFing from about 3 months to around 8 months (we tried solids at 6 months but she reacted badly to them so we had to wait a bit longer before trying them again). I kept BFing until my hospital stay last year (DD was almost 4) when my milk dried up during the week I was there as I couldn't see DD.
Anyways, all that to say the process sucked and I hated every second. It was exhausting and I was completely fine if we had been a FF only family. But in the end I'm glad my mom made me stick with it.
I'm hoping this time goes more smoothly but I'm prepared either way if it doesn't.
@Panaceia Thank you so much for detailing your journey. I am sorry that you did not have more positive support from your mom, but I'm glad you were able to come through the process with some definite success. Do you feel like any of your particular efforts helped more than the others?
The lactation consultant had me use nipple shields to ease the process for DD which kept her latched longer. However, she made me pump with a hospital grade pump after each feed with the nipple shields to make sure my breasts were emptied and my husband gave her that milk back with a syringe. That process lasted through 6-8 weeks and I have to say, passing baby off to my husband after every feed was so exhausting...I missed the best cuddles!! However, thanks to this I was able to get my supply up enough to successfully breast feed until she was one and I chose to end it.
Everyones experience will be different, but I just wanted to share, because if for any reason, you need to supplement, it is okay, and you still may be able to nurse for as long as you would like. It’s so hard going in, being set on breastfeeding and having issues, but as long as baby is healthy, and mamas needs are being taken care of, that’s all that matters!
@nolemomma14 What you said about the formula amount is totally news to me. I think I started off at 50/50 and then eventually it was like 20/80, which was really disheartening. Thank you for sharing.
@Panaceia I am really intrigued by the supplemental nursing systems now. What brand did you use?
I had to start supplementing when she was about 9 months old because I was too exhausted pumping when traveling for work (trains, airports...) because I had to constantly keep my milk cold as I never was able to build a huge supply. Airport security was always so frustrating with the little ice packs (favorite comment was I couldn’t bring it unless my baby was with me...I was like, umm I wish she was here too so I didn’t have to travel with this stupid pump!!) also used the milk stork program when traveling in the US which overnights milk to baby.
I have to say looking back on it that I got a bit too obsessive about the not supplementing once I was finally established for fear of losing my supply. This time around there are definitely things I would relax about...
This time around, I will be more reasonable with introducing formula if I need to.
In case it helps anyone, I would pump every morning after the first feeding because I was always the fullest then. I taught my body I needed a little more in the morning. This led to a decent freezer stash that became super helpful!
https://aeroflowbreastpumps.com/qualify-through-insurance
https://yummymummystore.com/insurance/insurance-pumps.html?dir=asc&mode=grid&order=sort_priority
https://www.edgepark.com/home-wellness/breast-pumps-and-supplies/c/L2-41
They will contact your doctor's office and get the prescription and then work with your insurance to fulfill your pump, and give you a list of pumps covered by your insurance to choose from. I used this type of company and it was simple. I recommend going through one of these companies (think of them as the pharmacy for breastpumps).
I will say, if you want a specific pump and one of the companies doesn't give you the option, try another one. I really wanted the Medela Pump in Style, but I first went through Yummy Mummy who didn't offer it. I then contacted Edgepark and they were able to get it.
Then, I wound up purchasing my Spectra out of pocket, because I wanted to leave a pump at work. I ordered it through Amazon. FYI, you can use HSA/FSA to cover ALL breastfeeding related purchases. Pumps, accessories, nipple cream, all of it!
I guess the good news is that it couldn’t have been that traumatizing as I wouldn’t have even remembered that trick if you hadn’t brought it up
I also want to put a plug here for La Leche League. Find your local group - they are available for anyone with questions or interested in a nursing support group. LLL was a valuable resource for me with every baby.
The first few weeks are the hardest as both you and your baby are learning and adjusting. Definitely use the LC provided in the hospital. She'll show you different techniques to latch and different holds. Amazing resource. They can also give you a ton of local resources to help you including the LLL.
, 💙💙💙💙💙💙
Our last nursing together was probably one of the sweetest, although bittersweet, moments I have had with my daughter.
This article discusses the issue and how to resolve it:
https://www.sdbfc.com/blog/2012/9/4/battling-and-resolving-excess-lipase-in-breastmilk
Kelly Mom is an amazing resource for all things breastfeeding!
https://kellymom.com
, 💙💙💙💙💙💙
I have been nervous to read or even post in this thread. Needless to say my first BF experience was not very good. There was an early (day 4) hospital stay due to little guy not making many wet diapers and becoming lethargic. Realized he wasn't getting much from my boobs. My supply was non existent and I did the whole feed/pump/sanitize/fenugreek/oatmeal/liters of water/never sleep routine for a couple months before my mental health starting taking a toll. I was going down a dark path, crying 4-5x a day and just feeling major guilt about the whole process. My pumping session would give me a few drops, DROPS! One early morning, 2am, I broke down and gave baby a bottle of formula. He was completely satisfied, I was happy and I realized being a happy/relaxed mom was best for both of us. We eventually went completely formula fed after 10 weeks.
This was just my experience and I in no way want to scare FTM's. But just know your mental health is very important and for me it was fragile those early days. I felt such shame and guilt at the thought of switching to formula at first but it ended up being the best decision for our family.
This go around I will give BF'ing another try but with way less pressure.
20. Engaged. Single Parent. College Student in 2017. SAHM.
Just taking things as they come and doing the best I can for my kids.
Michael Anthony | April 11th 2015
Baby Boy #2 | May 12th 2017
My first was a c-section after pushing for a couple of hours with no progress. I spiked a fever in labor and that led to a few little complications for baby when he was born that necessitated a meal of formula. At the time I had read a lot that really turned me off of formula, and I was pretty against supplementing. For the rest of the time in the hospital I did NOT supplement even though my milk had not come in (I didn't fully understand that at the time). Every meeting with the LC went well - she complimented his latch and said we seemed to have a great nursing relationship already. I honestly feel like she gave me a false sense of security, because I thought everything was fine.
Fast forward to when we got home (after a day in the bili blanket) and he hadn't pooped and didn't have many wet diapers. I was FREAKING OUT. The post partum hormones left my crying basically all the time because I felt like I was failing my baby. (Spoiler alert...it was just that my milk hadn't come in - and wouldn't for maybe a WEEK after he was born). I reluctantly supplemented in those early days to get results in the diaper but was anxious to stop. After the first week or two he was EBF until around 6 months (and I always fought with my supply - cue pills, teas, oils...ALL THE THINGS) and my supply tanked from 6-9 months as we transitioned to totally formula fed. I was disappointed but not devastated.
BABY 2: Repeat c-section. I knew my milk would be slow to come in and asked for formula in the hospital before they even suggested it. I let her spend plenty of time on the breast but wanted her tummy to be full and didn't want the STRESS of wondering if she had eaten enough. My milk came in sooner - maybe day 4 - and I was able to breastfeed her until around 16 months.
SET. SHORT. TERM. GOALS.
If your only goal is to breastfeed for a year and you don't make it, you're going to have regrets or be disappointed. If your goal is to breastfeed for a month, and you make it - you can celebrate! And set a new goal. If you make it to that goal, CELEBRATE AGAIN. You're doing great! (And you're doing great even if you don't make your goal - you're keeping a person alive!)
So yeah, set small goals. I literally had no choice to switch to formula if I wanted my kids fed... tried everything I could to boost my supply. I remember with my first, literally in tears giving him a bottle of formula because I was upset with myself. BUT, once we made that switch, we were both in such a better state mentally!! It was such a relief.
1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, etc... celebrate every one of them!
I wanted to breastfeed but was struggling and do to the weight loss started supplementing. I saw a lactation consultant, my daughter had a great latch. She was getting something, but not much. I tried supplementing with a tube and bipolar shield. She hated it and I hated it. I tried pumping around the clock every three hours. I was lucky if I got an ounce total for a day. I tried supplements, I tried foods, I tried everything too boost my supply. I developed PP depression and hated those first few months. After 3 months, I gave up trying to do it. It was the best choice I made for myself. The depression lifted and I got to actually enjoy my daughter.
With my second, the same symptoms started in the first week. I waited for my milk to come in but again, I was getting drops from Pumping. I stopped then and there, I didn't want to put myself through the whole ordeal again. I'm not going to bother the third time around, a little in the hospital but that's it.
I let the expectation that BF comes easy and everyone can do it wear on me that first time. I let the criticism of others bring me down. All the “why are you spending money on formula”, “breastmilk is so much better” and ”I never had to use formula” comments got to me. They made me feel like a failure.
The truth is it is hard, not everyone can do it, and not everyone will enjoy it. Your not a failure if you can't or decide not to because you hate it. I wish someone would of told me this, because it would of saved me a lot of depression and resentment those first few months.
https://balancedbreastfeeding.com/breastfeeding-the-late-preterm-infant-36-37-weekers/
My biggest issues actually had to do with oversupply, which if you are lucky enough to have, you may encounter issues such as overactive letdown or your baby almost choking on your milk. Fortunately, these are fairly easy to fix!
@ameliabedelia-2 I also have high lipase with my milk. Fortunately, my first drank/drinks it no problem! My second will drink it but just not from a bottle lol. So you may luck out if you have this issue and your baby will drink it just fine!
Here to offer support, advice, tips, whatever is needed! Especially if you are considering tandem nursing. It's been a really great experience for me and my kiddos. If you are interested even a tiny bit in breastfeeding I really recommend giving it a try. And don't give up on a bad day. If it's not for you (or your baby) that's ok, but it's great to try! I never thought I'd be a crazy breastfeeding lady, but I guess I am lol!
My first two stopped around one year but my third, for some reason, hasn't been ready to stop. We've passed the 22 month mark and honestly I feel like between the nursing and the pregnancy I'm getting the life sucked out of me. I'm actually interested in tips on how to END the nursing relationship with my almost 2yo before the next one is born. Weaning was so peaceful with my first two. But at this point we're having tantrums when I say no. Anyone have experience weaning a 2yo??
Question: has anyone used the Willow pump? If so, how was it?
link: https://www.willowpump.com/