Update

MrsZiz

Things have been CRAZY busy here with 2 kids, I feel like I'm lucky to grab a shower some days It's SO worth it though! It hasn't left me much time to respond to posts on here but I have been reading in the middle of the night when I'm nursing. Grayson is still eating like crazy, I'm getting not much sleep, we had my dad's celebration of life, which meant taking 2u2 on a plane which was interesting and Bella's been fighting a diaper rash which means we now have both kids on probiotics (Grayson is REALLY gassy and spits up a ton!)... Other than that nothing much is new. I still don't think I've fully grieved my dad being gone, I feel like it comes in waves, maybe that's normal. 

 A few questions: For CD mama's: Which wet bag do you use for the diaper bag? I have a monkeyfootdesigns one but it's on it's last leg so I need a new one. 

For BF mama's: When did you start pumping to get a freezer stash? I pumped with Bella EARLY because I had major engorgement, this time it's been ok so I haven't pumped yet. Also with B I think I had the same issue as Lori, should I scald my milk just to be safe? She still drank it but I'm not sure...  

vanilla15

I can't imagine having 2.  One is so much work! 

I think I started pumping around 3 weeks.  Just after the first morning nursing session (not the 4-5am, but maybe around 8-9am feeding).  I have the same issue with the lipase, but LO has never had a problem taking the frozen milk so I have never scalded it.  I am sure every baby is different though.

lelekay

Good for you taking 2u2 on a plane!

I use Planet Wise wetbags.  They are great at holding in wetness and odors, and I like zipper bags.  My only complaint is that the inner liner always turns out in the wash, but it's really easy to pop it back in.  The small one holds just 1-2 pockets or AIOs, and the medium one (the one we usually take in the diaper bag) holds 4-6.  They also have a large, and it holds maybe 6-10.  It's what we use for daycare.

SanHawaii08

wow, i can't imagine traveling with 2u2!!  good for you!!

we use planetwise bags too, the mediums for diaper bag.  the wet-dry bags are nice b/c you can put clean dipes on the dry side.  i've heard such good thing about the mfd ones though, i was actually thinking about getting one of those when i need a new one!

as for grayson's gassiness and spittyness - any chance it's a dairy thing?  E was super gassy and spit up a TON until i cut dairy (and soy, and eggs) out of my diet.  might be worth a shot.  you would see a difference in 1-2 weeks.  watch out for all the hidden sources of dairy though.  kellymom has a good article about it.  or, it could just be something he'll grow out of, since he's still so young!

i started pumping about 5 weeks before going back to work - i started out 1x/day every 2 days or so, then bumped it up to 1x/day every day.  i was able to start from nothing (i had to give away my old allergen-filled stash) and was able to freeze about 130oz this way.  but i guess it depends on how much stash you want, and how often you want to pump!  b/c i waited until E was almost 4 months to start pumping 1x/day, i was able to get more each session, since i would pump at night, during his long stretch of sleep.  if you pump after every feeding, you'd have to do it more often to get the same amount of milk.  

MrsZiz

SanHawaii08:

 i've heard such good thing about the mfd ones though, i was actually thinking about getting one of those when i need a new one!

as for grayson's gassiness and spittyness - any chance it's a dairy thing?  E was super gassy and spit up a TON until i cut dairy (and soy, and eggs) out of my diet.  might be worth a shot.  you would see a difference in 1-2 weeks.  watch out for all the hidden sources of dairy though.  kellymom has a good article about it.  or, it could just be something he'll grow out of, since he's still so young!

I love our MFD wetbag but they are more expensive than the planet wise or other brands so that's why I was looking into something else. We've only had one wetbag for the diaper bag the entire 20 months and now the PUL is breaking down.

I cut out dairy with Bella for awhile and it never helped her. I *think* he's just overeating, the kid eats and eats then wants more and then spits up. As far as the gassiness I'm not sure if its related to my letdown (which is intense!) or it's related to my diet. We've started probiotics and that helped within days for Bella's gassiness so we'll see what happens with Grayson.

Thanks for the pumping suggestions ladies! I'm thinking I'll start next week. I HATE pumping but I know I have to, I always have to remind myself it's to help make it to my goal. I swear if I could just nurse my baby and not pump, I would love BFing so much more! 

SanHawaii08

vanilla15:

I think I started pumping around 3 weeks.  Just after the first morning nursing session (not the 4-5am, but maybe around 8-9am feeding). 

wow, how much do you have stored?  I feel like such a slacker now haha.  i EP'd for the first month, and it was just so nice to have a *break*.  but i've been totally stressed about my supply since going back to work, so now I'm wishing I had started earlier!  

vanilla15

SanHawaii08:

vanilla15:

I think I started pumping around 3 weeks.  Just after the first morning nursing session (not the 4-5am, but maybe around 8-9am feeding). 

wow, how much do you have stored?  I feel like such a slacker now haha.  i EP'd for the first month, and it was just so nice to have a *break*.  but i've been totally stressed about my supply since going back to work, so now I'm wishing I had started earlier!  

I have a ridiculous amount in the fridge.  At least 400oz (which i remember after reading that article about donating some woman had way more than that) but still way more than LO could ever use before it goes bad.  Plus, I rarely use what is in the freezer just b/c I pump enough during the day for LO and then some.  I was pumping 4x/day since I am back at work, but I recently dropped that 1st early morning pumping (after 1st nursing).  So while I think there was definitely overkill, I was really worried about my supply completely tanking when I 1st went back to work.

SanHawaii08

vanilla15:

I have a ridiculous amount in the fridge.  At least 400oz (which i remember after reading that article about donating some woman had way more than that) but still way more than LO could ever use before it goes bad.  Plus, I rarely use what is in the freezer just b/c I pump enough during the day for LO and then some.  I was pumping 4x/day since I am back at work, but I recently dropped that 1st early morning pumping (after 1st nursing).  So while I think there was definitely overkill, I was really worried about my supply completely tanking when I 1st went back to work.

oh yeah, i remember your 400oz now if i had that much, it'd take up half the space in our freezer!  (which is ridiculously tiny).  sigh.  i'm impressed.  and totally envious

Married2MrWright

Chiming in late...

We use these Kushies Large "On The Go" wet bags for our diaper bag. We put 4 -5 clean PFs, and extra cover, wipes (disposable travel case) and diaper cream in one and the other is empty for wet/dirty collection. But if I had two kiddos I'd just use these for dirties and actually carry the clean stuff IN the diaper bag (which I don't do because I prefer to have a grab 'n' go stash in this little handy drawstring bag).

Truth be told, Libby's had an off-and-on diaper rash since mid-January and the only way we've been able to keep it completely healed is to use disposable diapers. I am so sad that the CDs are going unused and we're spending $$$ on sposies. But I cannot have her rashy just so we can CD. So I don't know what we're going to do...I was thinking of trying probiotics too...she eats yogurt daily but seems she might need a supplement.

As for pumping, I started at around 4 weeks PP but I created an oversupply issue and had to trash my frozen stash due to the excess lipase issue. So when I went back to work I had nothing frozen. I just pumped and left the fresh milk for her. Whatever was left over was frozen and stored. But she never did take to thawed BM. So it was fresh (scalded immediately and refrigerated) or she'd just hold out until I got home from work. She only every took 3-4 oz. of pumped (scalded and refrigerated) milk while I was at work. Anyway, before you take on scalded, I'd test your milk to see how fast it "turns."

Scalding is a PITA, especially if  you have to do it right after pumping (like I did, because my milk "turned" quickly...like in under 2 hours). Some moms with excess lipase have a bigger window before the milk heads south, so they can collect their milk all day and then scald it in one big batch at the end of the day. Also, scalded milk does lose some of it's immunilogical properties. It's still beneficial and nutritious, just not as chalk full of all the good stuff. So as long as you're not EPing, it should be fine to provide scalded milk to your LO. I stopped pumping about a month ago and I realize now that if I just could pump and not do the scalding thing each time, I probably wouldn't have loathed it as much. Don't get me wrong, I was glad to be able to do it (and had a great stash that I donated to an adoptive mom and her baby) but scalding just adds insult to injury for a busy, pumping mom!

redshoegirl

I don't CD or BF so no advice, but I wanted to give you a big ole for traveling with 2u2. It's SO scary and intimidating first to even leave the house with two babies, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes!

kinibruin

redshoegirl:

I don't CD or BF so no advice, but I wanted to give you a big ole for traveling with 2u2. It's SO scary and intimidating first to even leave the house with two babies, but the more you do it, the easier it becomes!

from me too sarah! *hugz*