Question: this is my first and I plan to breast feed, but I also want to pump and bottle feed so that my husband or whoever can also feed if I need a break and want to go out alone or if we want to have a date....eventually. Any mama’s do this and how did you go about it? How long did you wait before you introduced a bottle? How many feeds did you do with a bottle? Did you keep it consistent(like one feed per day) or just whenever? Any advice would be great!
@smashley09 You don’t want to introduce a bottle right from the get go because a lot of babies will take preference since it’s faster and easier than nursing. But you also don’t want to wait too long. I’d say sometime between weeks 4-6. Keep in mind that it won’t get easier and habitual until around the week 6 mark. Those first 6 weeks are the hardest. It’s a learning curve for both of you and there’s going to be exhaustion, sore nipples and all that glamorous stuff. Don’t get discouraged though! I nursed my oldest for 8 weeks and went on to nurse my youngest for 2.5 years.
Also, some babies just won’t take a bottle. My youngest was one of those. We tried 8 brands. Left him with family for stretches of time. Offered straws with sips of pumped milk. Etc. He never took pumped milk, formula or cows milk. Still won’t drink any of it to this day. We quickly learned that he would easily go 4-5 hours without nursing over taking anything else. It happens, don’t stress it. We did short date nights and I nursed him before and after with no issue (we waited until he was 6 months or so before trying to do stretches longer than an hour).
I started pumping once a day around 3 weeks to start a stash going. I would pump after the first morning feed around 4am - it was a pain, but I felt the most full at that time. We started introducing a bottle once a day around 6 weeks and MH would give the evening bottle every day an I would pump. We moved to 2 bottles a day around 8W so I could get a decent freezer stash going as in the beginning I could always pump about double what baby would eat. It worked fine for us - just remember babies typically have strong bottle preferences. We had to try 3 or 4 different bottles before DS would take it and we used preemie nipple size at first because you want to make sure baby is still having to “work” for the milk - a size 1 nipple might be way easier flow then the boob and then baby might start to prefer the bottle because it’s easier for them to get the good stuff.
@smashley09 If you want to build up a freezer stash, start pumping after baby is done nursing. You'll probably only get an ounce or so at first. But be careful with this, as it will increase your supply and you'll end up needed to pump after each feed if you do it too often. Pumping is a PITA and I was lazy, so I never built up a huge freezer supply. Major props to anyone who has exclusively pumped.
Try a bottle around 2 months. The recommendations keep changing in me so check if you take a class at your hospital. Mine wouldn’t take it until 3.5. Keep the newborn nipples on if your BFing. I’m sure we will be talking about this a lot after babies are here, it can be super stressful. I think I started doing one bottle a day at bedtime because dh worked and it was nice for him, plus then I could pump while he did bath and bedtime.
Mommas with fur babies, what’d you do to prepare them for baby?
I have a cat and I’m starting to get worried. We got a free nursing pillow and placed it into the nursery. We just moved into the house a few months ago so all that’s in the nursery is the nursing pillow and a box of diapers. I keep the door open because I want her to get used to baby things as we fill up the nursery. Well, this morning I discovered that she peed all over the nursing pillow (still in the bag). I’m afraid that she’s going to mark her territory on every new item we put in the nursery.
@drkoyya I’ve heard bringing things in the house and then moving them a few feet every day until the items finally make it in the nursery works for some people. I never found anything that was magical, and one of my dogs freaked out when he realized I was pregnant at five months. He was so off that we took him to the vet and he was diagnosed with anxiety and Lyme disease. Mine did not like when DD cried (and the one still hides when she does) but once she started eating they realized they get all the floor food. I just couldn’t leave DD in the little swings where they could reach if I was going to look away.
@drkoyya Cats can be quite sensitive. My older cat was with me through my first pregnancy and our only issue was that she liked to get in the crib, bouncer and swing. I sprayed her with a water bottle a few times until she backed off. My younger cat we just got a year ago. She went through a phase where she peed on DS2’s bed. I bought some spray from the pet store that discourages peeing in areas and sprayed that 3 times daily for a month. Also, put a cat box in the nursery area for now. Put it on the far side of the room and every 2 weeks or so inch it slowly towards the door. Plan to have it fully moved from the room before baby is born. I feel that the cat box trick really worked for us. She rarely goes in the room anymore.
@smashley09 I had to pump after every feeding for the first couple weeks because dd was jaundice and they didn't think she was getting enough. We cup or syringe fed her in that time and we were told to try a bottle between 6 and 8 weeks. I think that pumping in the beginning set me up with a great supply. After being told I didn't need to anymore, I used the haakaa for collecting from the other side while nursing because I leaked a ton. From the haakaa used the first 10 weeks of so I had a freezer stash of about 150 ounces.
I did bottles with dd a few times, she'd take them from me just fine, but she would not take them from MH. When I went back to work she would not take one from the sitter either. She ended up going straight to sippy cups and didn't eat much while away from me so ate a ton when I got home to nurse her. I'd suggest not buying many of a particular bottle because you may go through tons of bottles before finding one she'll take, or you'll have a ton of bottles she'll never take at all.
Like others said, pumping sucks. Big props to the exclusive pumpers. If I had my kid with me I would not pump obviously at work I had to and that wasn't bad, but dealing with a hungry baby and having to pump is just not fun the few times I tried to pump and have MH feed her she'd throw a huge fit and I'd end up having to nurse her after pumping and not have any milk left so she was still hungry.
@drkoyya or dog was pretty close to death when we brought dd home so I don't blame him too much but he would go into the nursery and pee on her rug. He was having accidents before that, so I'm not sure if it was against dd or just the rug have him good traction because he couldn't walk well. He was never aggressive to dd just indifferent. His brother passed shortly before dd was born so he was enjoying finally being an only child, and when our attention wasn't on him anymore I think he got a little angry.
@smashley09 we tried a bottle at around 3 weeks. She hated it at first but was okay with it after we wiggled the nipple in her mouth a bit. Then we did a couple of random here and there bottles (thanksgiving w/ lots of wine lol). A couple of weeks passed and when I went to my Christmas work party she refused the bottle. This went on for several more months until we found a bottle that worked (a lot of wasted frozen milk). She then only got a bottle when I was away maybe once every few weeks and for about a week we played around with dad giving a bottle at night but I hate pumping so I cut it off.
I second using a newborn nipple but definitely give it time because some babies are picky! I have a friend whose baby took the first random bottle with ease and never had any problems. You never know!
Anyone used a good baby scale? I BF and like the reassurance of having one (I took my daughter to a BF group once a week where I could weigh her, but where I live now they only have one every other week).
@smashley09 I agree with everyone to try to wait 4-6 weeks before introducing a bottle. Breastfeeding takes a lot of learning for you and baby.
I had milk supply issues due to PCOS and losing a lot of blood during labor so I nursed and pumped after each nursing session. Once my milk fully came in, I had a very large supply which caused me to always have to pump afterward. This worked out extremely well for us though because I built a HUGE freezer stash. DD self-weaned around 8 months which caused my supply to decrease... but since I had a nice freezer stash, we were able to continue using breastmilk through her entire first year!
As others have stated, pumping isn’t fun but it gets the job done. Definitely get an electric pump and a pumping bra to make your life easier. I literally pumped in the morning while brushing my teeth and such 😁
Also, I know we’re far from that time, buuuut we had blood sugar issues and milk supply issues in the beginning. I learned SO MUCH from our NICU nurse that we call Angel Susan. She’s literally the only reason that I survived the hump to get into breastfeeding and I love her for it. If anyone has any concerns or questions ahead of time, I’m very open about our struggles and journey to make it to successful breastfeeding. Feel free to PM me anytime!
I just remembered, last pregnancy I really liked Baby Gizmo for reviews of products, mostly strollers/car seats. She does a lot on YouTube so she has the actual product and walks through it for the review. Her kids are older, but I still think she does some baby stuff. She has a FB where she does giveaways and stuff too.
Let’s talk movement. When did you first feel hiccups? When did you first feel real punches/kicks (not just flutters)? When did you partner first feel baby? Particularly those who have had an anterior placenta.
I’m 95% positive I’ve been feeling flutters because they’ve been pretty consistent around bedtime and I’m also hyper sensitive to body sensations. I’m 75% sure I just felt the first hiccups but I’m not sure. (19 weeks+6 days, FTM)
edit for description: This morning I felt sharp repeated muscle spasms in my stomach. It only lasted 1-2 minutes but it was “rhythmic”
For my first pregnancy, it was about 18 weeks when I felt movements and knew it was the baby (not anterior placenta). I believe it was 24-25 when you could feel them from the outside.
This time I started feeling flutters at 16 randomly and now 17 more constant, but still very mild.
******TW******Siggy warning BFP1 04/24/2015 EDD Dec 2015 MMC 10W5d; BFP 2 09/25/2015 EDD June 2016 MMC 9wks; BFP 3 03/22/2016 EDD Dec 6th 2016
@drkoyya I had an anterior placenta with dd and really didn't feel anything I could definitely say was baby until 25/26 weeks. She was also breech and the most I ever felt was pushing of what I found out was her head and not butt on my stomach. She did it often and you could cleary see it from the outside around 32 weeks. Part of me thinks I was lucky because I didn't have any problems sleeping because I never felt kicks strong enough to wake me up, the other part of me is sad I didn't get to experience it. This time around in almost 17 weeks and I have been feeling the tiny flutters that I'm attributing to baby.
@drkoyya I felt DS from about 16 weeks, my OB sat and watched him move while I said I felt something. This time in the past week or so I am feeling this baby moving and rolling around. Hiccups were a weird sensation to me, it felt like something was jumping inside of me like when scare someone.
Yeah I definitely didn't feel anything for sure until 22+ weeks with an anterior placenta. I'm 19+ weeks now with a posterior placenta and I've been feeling flutters for a few weeks. Now I'm feeling definite movement.
**TW**
Me: 35 | H: 40 Married Sept. 2013 DS1: Nov 11, 2016 MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d) CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d) BFP! 8/24/19 DS2: May 10, 2020
I’m FTM and thought I started feeling things around late 16 early 17. I’m 19+1 and am FOR sure feeling babe now the last 2-3days. Way stronger. More distinct. Daily too which is reassuring. It’s still only once or twice a day when I’m relaxing, driving. My belly also “popped” around that time so maybe some of my organs moved making it easier lol.
@drkoyya I had an anterior placenta with my first and didn’t feel movements internally until about 22 weeks. I could feel them externally (with my hand) around 24 weeks, DH couldn’t feel until 25/26 weeks.
This time around I have an anterior placenta again, I’m 18.5 weeks and still haven’t felt anything that I know for sure is the baby. There are some times when I think maybe, but I just don’t know for sure yet.
With my first I felt a kick for the first time at 16 weeks, and then inconsistently (and only while sitting/lying down) for at least 5 more weeks. My partner was able to feel it from the outside at 19 weeks.
I was worried I wouldn’t feel anything this time around since I have an anterior placenta this time but I felt movement at 14 weeks (just one night) and then again last weekend at 18+5. It was so very clearly kicking (kicked my daughter as I nursed her lol) and I’ve been feeling some rolling around movement every once in a while. I’m interested in seeing when I’ll be able to feel consistent movement (probably past 22/23 weeks as others have mentioned)
What you’re feeling may very well be baby. You’ll know for sure in a couple of months
Reviving this to ask - what sorts of childbirth classes did you attend, and which did you find most valuable? My hospital has a bunch to choose from and I'm wondering if I need to try and do everything or if I can just pick and choose and get the most need to know info.
@heyybritt the ones that I enjoyed the most were ones about just labor in general, pain management/medication options at that hospital, and breastfeeding. I felt like that covered the broad spectrum of what I wanted to know and then I could ask my midwife any questions to fill in gaps.
@heybritt I'm currently in a Centering Pregnancy program. It seems we'll cover a bit of everything and it doubles as my routine checkups. So far so good. It's generally I think 10-12 classes... it started as monthly, but now in the second tri I think we are moving towards every other week.
@heyybritt Breastfeeding. That being said I went in knowing I wanted an epidural so I didn't do the pain management and we were scheduled for a labor class but I went into preterm labor so we cancelled since I was in the hospital.
@heyybritt We took a general parenting class (breastfeeding, diapers, etc) and also one offered at the hospital about labor stuff. They were fine. I think it’s helpful to do a brief one but, like mamaj1220 I knew I would probably get an epidural so didn’t do anything more intensive like hypnobirthing or Bradley. One good thing about the series-style classes is that you might find some potential friends there.
DD #1: April 2017 DD #2: May 2020 Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
I found a breastfeeding class at the local center to be most helpful. The childbirth class I went to at the hospital I found to be useless - it scared me and didn’t teach me much that was usable. If I had it to do over again, I’d just tour the hospital and read some books.
Re: BTDT - Questions for STM's
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
We have one, MH has never used it, but my daughter does request it when her nose is wicked stuffy she's 17 months.
FTM
BFP 08/25/19, EDD 05/04/20
I did bottles with dd a few times, she'd take them from me just fine, but she would not take them from MH. When I went back to work she would not take one from the sitter either. She ended up going straight to sippy cups and didn't eat much while away from me so ate a ton when I got home to nurse her. I'd suggest not buying many of a particular bottle because you may go through tons of bottles before finding one she'll take, or you'll have a ton of bottles she'll never take at all.
Like others said, pumping sucks. Big props to the exclusive pumpers. If I had my kid with me I would not pump obviously at work I had to and that wasn't bad, but dealing with a hungry baby and having to pump is just not fun the few times I tried to pump and have MH feed her she'd throw a huge fit and I'd end up having to nurse her after pumping and not have any milk left so she was still hungry.
I'm looking at one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07GWB63VR?colid=1IQPUXGXLMQJJ&coliid=I3GYXZJYXLXWT0&ref=br_ADD_TO_CART_title_link&th=1
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
Also, I know we’re far from that time, buuuut we had blood sugar issues and milk supply issues in the beginning. I learned SO MUCH from our NICU nurse that we call Angel Susan. She’s literally the only reason that I survived the hump to get into breastfeeding and I love her for it. If anyone has any concerns or questions ahead of time, I’m very open about our struggles and journey to make it to successful breastfeeding. Feel free to PM me anytime!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009MFUZE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://babygizmo.com/
- BFP: 3/10/16 — Baby Girl born 11/20/16
TTC#2 April 2019edit for description: This morning I felt sharp repeated muscle spasms in my stomach. It only lasted 1-2 minutes but it was “rhythmic”
FTM
BFP 08/25/19, EDD 05/04/20
This time I started feeling flutters at 16 randomly and now 17 more constant, but still very mild.
BFP1 04/24/2015 EDD Dec 2015 MMC 10W5d;
BFP 2 09/25/2015 EDD June 2016 MMC 9wks;
BFP 3 03/22/2016 EDD Dec 6th 2016
Married Sept. 2013
DS1: Nov 11, 2016
MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d)
CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d)
BFP! 8/24/19
DS2: May 10, 2020
This time around I have an anterior placenta again, I’m 18.5 weeks and still haven’t felt anything that I know for sure is the baby. There are some times when I think maybe, but I just don’t know for sure yet.
- BFP: 3/10/16 — Baby Girl born 11/20/16
TTC#2 April 2019With my first I felt a kick for the first time at 16 weeks, and then inconsistently (and only while sitting/lying down) for at least 5 more weeks. My partner was able to feel it from the outside at 19 weeks.
I was worried I wouldn’t feel anything this time around since I have an anterior placenta this time but I felt movement at 14 weeks (just one night) and then again last weekend at 18+5. It was so very clearly kicking (kicked my daughter as I nursed her lol) and I’ve been feeling some rolling around movement every once in a while. I’m interested in seeing when I’ll be able to feel consistent movement (probably past 22/23 weeks as others have mentioned)
FTM
BFP: 9/5/19 ~ EDD 5/15/20
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022