Breastfeeding & Pumping Questions & Support Thread

creamcheeseplease

Ask any and all BF and pumping questions here!

** I can make this just a baby feeding thread if we want to combine Formula questions here, or we can have a separate thread ** 

purplefan1

I can not promote the idea of a hand pump any more emphatically. Well in to my BFing journey I finally grabbed one from Target for like $20 and it made all of the difference for me. I could easily hand pump in the car when she was hysterical, I could use the hand pump to get started and get her eating so I could finish with the electric pump, and on days I was pressed for time at work but still needed to pump, the hand pump made it so I could express milk quickly without the wholw production of setting up the electric pump. Also, I tended to get more out of my hand pump than my medela. I plan to look in to a different electric pump this time but still love on my hand pump!

rogro118

I agree with @purplefan1, and get a Haakaa or two!  They’re amazing to take some pressure off or to use on the opposite side that you’re nursing on to catch any leaks and build up a supply, especially in the beginning when too much pumping too early causes oversupply (like I managed to do to myself)!

gumby22c

I agree with having a manual hand pump! It came in handy when I was traveling and occasionally when I just needed a quick pump and didnt feel like using my plug in one. 

emeraldcity1214

I second the Haakaa. Got one last time and I was able to store 4-6 oz each nursing session in the beginning. Plus it helps with overactive letdown so baby isn't drowning. 

emeraldcity1214

Also, if you struggled BF with your first you may not have those same struggles with your second. This may not be true if you ended up throwing in the towel (no judgement there, everyone needs to do what is best for them and their baby) with the first baby. It took me 3 months to get a good latch with DD1. My nipples were just ruined. She nursed for 16 months. BF baby #2 just popped right on and never skipped a beat. I had pretty flat nipples with my first BF baby and I think that is what caused all our issues. With my second my nipples were not flat at all and he could just latch on with no problem. 

creamcheeseplease

Could not agree more about both the hand pump and the Hakaa, with the Hakaa you can just use it to collect the milk that naturally leaks off the other breast while you are nursing. I had a small hand pump by medela and kept it at work, there were a couple times I forgot a part of my pump and the hand pump totally saved me. It was also helpful at the end when I was stopping BF and just wanted to slightly relieve the pressure. 

DS and I had issues with BF, he didn't latch correctly in the hospital, but everyone kept telling me he had, even the LC. Then by the time it was clear to everyone that he had not, he had lost a lot of weight and we began supplementing with formula. I was able to BF for about 5 months with a nipple shield, which I found out about on my own and honestly I was so grateful for it. I know a lot of people don't like the shields but for us it was absolutely necessary. Then he slowly stopped showing interest in BF around 4/5 months and only wanted his bottles, so I pumped for a few more months before switching to formula when he was around 9 mo. This time, mainly due to cost, I want to keep pumping up for the whole year and I want to build a good freezer stash before I return to work (any advice for that is welcome!)

If this BF journey isn't easy/working, I have no issues exclusively pumping. I will have formula ready to go and with me in the hospital as I also received some judgement from the nurses when we had to supplement. I will have nipple shields ready to go as well. I felt a lot of guilt and shame last time that it wasn't working out to be this perfect journey, and this time around I want to be as prepared as possible to not have those feelings and just do what I need to do to keep everyone fed and happy. 

rogro118

@creamcheeseplease if you plan on pumping a lot, look into the Spectra pump, the blue one is portable and amazing.  It’s super quiet and you can use it anywhere because of the battery.  I’ve pumped in the car, airports, walking around the house...it made such a difference after my first pump.  I switched from the Madela  that I received at the hospital and I was so happy I did.  Also, look into angled flanges so you can lean back if you’re sitting down and don’t need to be stuck straight up for the whole pump session.  I used a nipple shield for a while too, my son had pretty bad lip and tongue ties that weren’t noticed for a few weeks.  We had his tongue revised at 2 or 3 weeks and it was done wrong so it reattached even thicker and we didn’t know until we went to have his lip done at 9 weeks.  The final revision made all the difference with his latch though. I’m still so sad I had to suffer for those first two months, it was torture and I was super hard on myself about it, so I see where you’re coming from!  

creamcheeseplease

@rogro118 thank you! I will look into Spectra. I will likely get 2 pumps to make my life easier since I will be pumping so much after I go back to work, and I'd like to leave one at work for convenience. And I've never heard of the angled flanges so I will definitely check that out!

rogro118

@creamcheeseplease I found mine on Amazon, they were a game changer!

emeraldcity1214

I haven't hear of angles flanges either. That is brilliant. 

purplefan1

Yes to the nipple shields!! Mine couldnt latch and had a tongue tie which we fixed but she still couldnt latch on her own until about 4 months. I had to research the nipple shield myself as well even though we were in and out of the LC the first 3 weeks. She was losing weight so much and had crystallized urine meaning she was almost completely dehydrated. They were recommening formula and having my husband hold my nipple in a "nipple sandwich" (like that was ever comfortable or sustainable at all) and I asked about the shield and they seemed appalled.  It worked so well for us but I was also stoked when we could stop using it. Breastfeeding was NOT easy for us so Im glad to hear it might be different next time around. Plus I feel I know a little more what I am doing (like at the hospital I wasnt putting her to breast NEARLY enough). Even with classes and books there felt like such a learning curve to it for me.

purplefan1

In case any one is interested, I kept track of a lot of stuff (data and tracking thingshelps me stay sane some times), here are the stats of nursing, pumping, etc for one year (birth to 1st birthday). I only nursed to the 10th month and finished pumping about two weeks later and used the rest of that supply and formula to supplement months 10-12.

Keep my mind, with my little ones nursing issues including the ties, our nursing sessions in the first months would usually take 40 minutes at a time. It was exhausting but these numbers helped me feel validated on why it felt so exhausting!

In one year-

804 hours and 54 minutes nursing

108 hours and 16 minutes pumping

1,104 oz pumped

780 bottles fed

1,007oz of milk

1,715oz of formula

2,750 diaper changes

Kurtni

I had a great breastfeeding journey with Patrick until I went back to work when he was 5 months. I responded really poorly to the pump and my supply dropped a lot. We started combo feeding at 6 months and I kept going a few months after that but he started preferring the bottle. 

Im hoping to try a different pump this time around. I know this will be my last baby and I’d really like to nurse longer this time. 

I didnt have a haaka but had but had the milk saver cups. If you forget you’re wearing one and lean forward you spill breastmilk all over yourself 😂 so glamorous. 

rogro118

@purplefan1 I forgot about the “nipple sandwich” 😂. I spent many hours at the lactation consultant those first few weeks too.  Between those visits and giving birth I didn’t have an ounce of modesty left!  I’m glad I’m going into it knowing much more this time around, especially knowing what to expect if baby has ties.  

purplefan1

@rogro118 I had to really pursue the tongue tie. The pediatrician dismissed it. The LC thought they saw one but wasnt sure. Luckily I researched and found a dentist that does lazer release and even in there I made them check both lips and they were surprised to see both lips tied as well. She has a gap in between her front teeth from the upper lip tie but it really did change our nursing relationship and her eating habits overall. Im also glad at how quick the process was. My SIL waited until her son was 6 and he had to be knocked out for the procedure.

rogro118

@purplefan1 we had a very similar experience!  The third lactation consultant we saw noticed it, so we went to Massachusetts Eye and Ear, suppose to be the best of the best..they cut his tongue and said they couldn’t do his lip until he had all of his teeth.  His tongue grew back because they didn’t get the posterior tie.  By 7 weeks nothing got better so I found a pedi dentist that lasered them and by our appt at nine weeks it had already changed his gums and made his palate super high.  He has the (very cute) gap in his front teeth too.  I’m so happy we had it done, because my sister did not revise my niece and she had to start speech services in Kindergarten because of it.  I’m tongue tied too and I’ve totally contemplated getting revised myself.    

creamcheeseplease

All of the tongue tie talk is very interesting.. At first in the hospital, the LC and nurses said my son did not have one. Then, after we were clearly having issues, they looked more closely and said he did have one, but it was very very minor and they didn't feel it should be causing the issues. We had him looked at by the pedi, and she said the same thing. By that point we had started with the nipple shield and ended up not pursuing evaluation any further, but I wonder what an actual specialist would have said. 

Also.. the nipple sandwich is the worst

purplefan1

@creamcheeseplease it would be worth still getting it looked at. Tongue ties can cause speech issues. I highly recommend a pediatric dentist who is knowledgable in TTs and laser release (not cutting it with scissor. I think one of the biggest advocates in the field is Dr. Ghaheri. You can check him out on Facebook or at this link.

https://www.drghaheri.com/

LoneStar21416

My son had a lip, tongue, and buccal ties.  We had all of them removed via a laser with a pedi dentist around 8 weeks.  I'm not sure how much it actually helped us with BF, to be honest.  His weight was always all over the place the first few months and I think my supply was just never very good once the initial hormones faded.  I visited with one particular IBLCE many times post-partum and all of the ties were obvious to her.  I think the LC in the hospital noticed it too.  I exclusively BF while on maternity leave.  I started supplementing with one formula bottle a day about a month after I went back to work -- so around 4 months, and was pumping constantly.  I don't think I ever really responded very well to the pump and I think, in general, my supply was not super great -- maybe from him not latching great initially and not creating more of a demand.  Around 7 months, I stopped BF and pumping completely and he was totally on formula.  When I initially was done BF, I felt so super committed to wanting to make it work even longer with a second baby.  Now I feel super meh about it.  He thrived on formula as well, and it was a lot less stressful for me. I felt lucky in that he never preferred boob over bottle, or the other way around, and always switched seamlessly between the two.  He also took his formula bottle like it was nothing different than BF!  I guess all that is to say, we'll just see how it goes this time around.  I feel much less pressure.

I actually feel like his tongue tie may have reattached a little bit, but I haven't had it reevaluated again (he's almost 2.5) since he's never had problems with solids or and his speech seems excellent for a not-yet 2.5 year old. His regular dentist has never mentioned anything, but I don't think they specialize in that so it may not even be something they'd pick up on.

rogro118

There’s a great Facebook group about ties too, I think it is Tongue Tie Baby support group, or something similar.  They have a list of preferred providers all around the country that do laser revisions as well as to a of files with information regarding how ties can effect is later in life.  It’s all very interesting!

runningfortwo81

Me reading this thread.... I have so much to learn!

lovesclimbing

purplefan1 said:

>snip< Also, I tended to get more out of my hand pump than my medela. >snip<

*lurker from March*

So weird! This is me, too! I'm a SAHM, so I only bought a manual, the Medela Harmony, with my first because I never planned to pump more than for the occasional date night bottle. Then my second was born who had (and has) a poor latch and gained weight very slowly requiring me to pump and bottle feed after every feed. I tried hospital-grade electric pumps, and I never got as much. With one electric, I pumped one side with the electric and then the other side with the manual shortly after. Both sides were similarly "full." I got the same amount in half the time with the hand pump. 

I'd recommend to anyone who is trying to keep their supply up or is worried about diminishing supply while back at work to use a manual or finish off after electric pumping with a manual for a few minutes. My personal feeling is that it has to do with having more nuanced control with the manual. My strokes with the manual tend to be longer with minimal/no time between the strokes. And I can slow down or speed up or pause easier with the immediate hand control rather than turning a dial or punching buttons. 

JBos82

With my first, my milk came in late (I think she was around 6 days old) so we were supplementing with formula. And my supply was absolute crap. I’d pump for 20 minutes and would be lucky to get an ounce from both sides combined. At 8 months, we were both over it. She also wrecked my nipples from cluster feeding her first night and the left one took like a month to heal.

With my second, she nursed like crazy and my milk was fully in within 2 days. My supply was crazy, I’d sometimes pump 5 ounces a side. Totally different experience. She would sleep long stretches at night, so I’d wake up in the middle of the night and use my Medela hand pump to express a few ounces so I could sleep comfortably. I also have a Haakaa and used it to get milk out of the side she wasn’t nursing from. I had a great freezer stash with her, too, insane compared to my first. She literally stopped nursing a month ago, just after her second birthday. Which I was a little sad about, but I also like having a little of my personal space back before baby comes. She was down to maybe once a day, twice if she was sick or super needy, and I quit pumping last August. My husband would give her formula once in a while to give me a break.

Nursing can be really easy, or it can be really, really freaking hard. Don’t beat yourself up if you’re having a tough time. Contact your hospital’s lactation consultant (one should see you while you’re there at least once or twice), go on Kellymom.com and the La Leche League website. Reach out to friends and family... and us! And if you supplement with formula or fully switch to it, there is literally no shame in that game. 

creamcheeseplease

Exactly what @JBos82 said - there is nothing wrong with using formula. I spent so much time beating myself up over supplementing. I will absolutely not waste my time again making myself feel bad about how I’m feeding my child. 

Last time, I returned to work with no freezer stash, and only pumped for the next day/then supplemented for the rest of the days feedings what I couldn’t produce. This time is like to try building a stash. I’ve read a bunch of “schedules” but wondered if anyone had advice about that?

emeraldcity1214

@creamcheeseplease I have no real advice on making a schedule for pumping. I hate pumping and my body doesn't respond to pumps. I think the haakaa (sp?) Is great though and I highly recommend it. You can get a ton of milk just by collecting your letdown while nursing. 

I think it is important to point out that it can take time for your body to respond to the pump. You could pump for 20 minutes and get absolutely nothing but that doesn't mean your baby isn't getting anything. You have to get your body used to a pump. Once that happens you will get more. 

purplefan1

@creamcheeseplease once we have established a (hopefully) positive nursing relationship in the first couple of weeks I plan to start doing some pumping after feedings. So once baby is happy, Ill pump about 5-10 minutes after. Or if I happen to have a crazy supply this time (makes me laugh because it definitely didnt happen last time but I guess could) Ill hand pump a little at the beginning to make it easier for baby to eat and save all of that. I plan on going back to work by 6 weeks so will need to get baby used to bottle and start having a freezer and fridge supply pretty early on. I would like to do exclusive breastmilk the first 6 months because of family history of weight issues and my history of GD but will also try not to angst about my supply or production nearly as much as I did. And also will supplement formula if there are any problems or concerns.

JBos82

@creamcheeseplease I would usually pump a few hours after bedtime, around 10/10:30pm, and then I’d go to bed. Then if I needed to in the middle of the night, and quick with a hand pump during the day if my husband gave a bottle. I think I pumped for the first time when she was around 1-2 weeks old, but it took a while until I got a real routine. I had a decent stash saved by the time I went to work. Then at work I’d pump twice (10 and 2) and continued the nighttime pumps for a while.

darmargrayoh

Great thread. I’m a FTM and have no idea what I’m doing, especially when it comes to breastfeeding. I will check out the websites mentioned as well. 

emeraldcity1214

@darmargrayoh I highly recommend getting a BF book to read through. It will teach you how to hold the baby while nursing and help with possible problems that may come up. I still refer to my BF book when I'm in the hospital just to make sure I'm holding the baby right etc. 

mimigarden

Thanks everyone for this thread!  As a FTM it's really helpful.  In fact, I just started my baby registry with the Haakaa!

gapmom2019

Does anyone have experience, or know someone, with breastfeeding after a breast lift? I had one two years ago (not thinking I would be having another baby). I breastfed both my daughters and really would like to BF again. My OB said it’s possible but that I may have to supplement if my supply is not what it was before. I do plan on speaking to a lactation consultant, but wanted to ask here first. 

emeraldcity1214

@tortillapadilla32 My first question is how do you know you dried up? Did your breasts not feel as full? You weren't able to pump any milk? You didn't feel a letdown? I'm asking because it takes days for your milk to down regulate and dry up. So most likely you weren't dried up, you just didn't feel full. Or it felt like baby wasn't getting anything while nursing. 

My best advice is to not go by what you're pumping. I can't get my body to respond to a pump so unless I'm pumping regularly, I'm not going to get anything but a few drops. After a few weeks (sometimes around 2 months) your milk supply levels out and you stop getting as engorged. That can make you feel empty. If this is happening, listen for your baby to swallow. How often are they swallowing? Every times they suck or after 2 sucks? These are all normal and means that baby is getting milk. Also, the best sign of whether baby is getting enough is diaper output. How many wet/dirty diapers do they have within a 24 hour period. 

If baby doesn't seem to be getting satisfied and wants to keep nursing, that is called comfort nursing. It is actually a good thing because it encourages your supply to increase and usually happens right before a growth spurt. I highly recommend getting a book on BF. I have one that is amazing. Read it, take it to the hospital, refer to it while trying to figure it all out. I will look for a link to the book and post it. 

Eta: link to book

The Complete Book of Breastfeeding, 4th edition: The Classic Guide https://www.amazon.com/dp/0761151133/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GVz-Cb4JVHGH3

blg116

Ok, FTM over here and I'm kinda stuck. I'm just really not excited about the idea of breastfeeding. I don't know why, I don't have anything against it. I know that its bonding time for mom and baby, and ensures baby gets all the nutrients and all that jazz. And I just.... dont want to do it. I'm sure I will (if I'm able of course), I'm just struggling with it right now. 

Any words of wisdom or advice? Will this feeling pass? I feel like a shit mom already and I'm not even halfway through being pregnant.

emeraldcity1214

@angieeeeee There is nothing wrong with not BF. If you don't want to, don't feel guilty about that. BF is a lot of work up front but in the end, once you get the hang of it, it is very convenient and easier than bottle feeding. I don't have to worry about warming bottles, I just pop a boob out. No cleaning mountains of bottles, etc. That's a huge perk to me. 😂

There is absolutely nothing wrong with FF from the beginning if that is what is best for you and baby. I tried to BF my oldest and I didn't realize what cluster feeding was and thought he wasn't getting enough so I gave up and FF. He is perfectly fine from being FF. You will also bond with your baby, whether you BF or FF. 

Fed is always best! 

Dancer688

@angieeeeee - It is okay either way you go.  I was definitely not exciting about the prospect of BF at all.  I had my husband pressuring me to BF all the way to a year and I was definitely pushing back against that because it is my body.  

Once the baby was born I did half and half for a few weeks about the time you get into a rhythm and all the cracked nipples go away before I decided that nursing was 500x easier (for me) then dealing with formula and bottles.  It could have just as easily gone the other way but it was good mentally for me to try both to see what worked for me.

ABabyMarshall

@angieeeeee As PP said, no worries and don't stress it too much and definitely don't be harsh on yourself!

creamcheeseplease

As some PP said, I didn’t enjoy Bf either. I absolutely will pump for cost reasons, but honestly if BF doesn’t work out I will stop fighting it and exclusively pump and supplement with formula if needed. That might be another option for you.

its hard because you can feel like a bit of a failure if you don’t have this magical BF experience, but my baby had no trouble bonding to me being bottle fed either. 

rogro118

@angieeeeee I’ll echo what everyone else said, don’t feel bad about any of your decisions!  My sister didn’t even attempt to BF with either of her babies, knowing that it was simply something she didn’t want to do. She has a demanding job and wanted spend her leave enjoying her babies while not worrying about establishing feeding, learning something new, etc.  There’s no wrong reason not to feed your baby one way or another.  I can tell you that she’s bonded with her daughters just as much as I have with my son who I bf for a year.  If it makes you feel better, put your effort into researching the best bottles and formula that you’ll want to use.  Also, not sure how your hospital is, but some do push bf, so be prepared to advocate for yourself and your decision, don’t let anyone push you around (you don’t seem like the type for that anyways!).  Having a baby is stressful enough, make your choice and be at peace with it, don’t let it stress you out anymore than you need to be!

blg116

Thank you everyone! 

I think my nervousness about BF stems mostly from how am I supposed to make it work when I go back to work. I've heard my job has great maternity leave, but once I come back idk how I'm supposed to pump if I need to or how any of that is gonna go. MHs workplace has a dedicated area for women to pump, mine does not. So do I just try to suck it up for 8 hours, or do it in my car at lunch time? Or whip out a boob at my work station and just get down to business? Lol. I've gotten close with a few of my coworkers who have had babies recently, I guess I can just ask one of them how they did it. 

emeraldcity1214

@angieeeeee I'm almost positive your employer has to provide a place for you to pump as well as give you breaks in order to pump.