BFing help: engorged/pumping?

flymansWife

drive by post -- i need BFing help my poor boobs get engorged way too fast. the last few days i've been waking him up every two hours just to relieve my boobs sometimes pushing it to 3 hours cause i hate waking a sleeping baby but then we usually have a problem with DS being able to latch = screaming at the top of his lungs. 

so do i start trying to pump some for relief? don't touch the pump cause i don't want to end up with an oversupply? yesterday he fell asleep midway through a feeding and I couldn't wake him for the life of me so I ended up pumping but the next feeding he seemed really frustrated near the end like he hadn't gotten enough... ? any clue what I should do? 

and a picture of our cutie, just cause!

ssinca

oh.em.gee - he is SO cute!

I don't have any tips for BF but hope it gets better soon. 

MrsAJL

Beautiful Flyboy!

When I would get engorged, I'd pump just enough to relieve the discomfort, especially if Molly was sleeping and I didn't want to wake her.  

 

Abrooks

Don't pump - it will encourage more supply which is not what you want.  

 

Can you hand express a bit?  That's a better option. Let him sleep and hand express before you try to latch him so he's not latching onto a boulder. You can hand express into a bowl.  If that doesn't work or seems too much, pump - but just enough to relieve the pressure but not more than that.  

And for the sleepy baby - stimulate him during the feeding to keep him awake - blow on him, strip him down, wipe him w/ a cold wash cloth.  That will help too.   

balihaigirl

the LC i saw said i could pump a little bit to relieve the pressure, but don't empty your breasts.

your baby is SO CUTE!!!!!!  he is just perfect.  

Taytee

If he's sleeping a little too long during the day, that sounds like an excellent opportunity to take a quick shower and get some hand expressing out of the way! Soapy water makes it easy, just keep the boobs out of the direct spray or that can be too stimulating or painful.

He is just so adorable. I'm endlessly happy for you Fly!

michelleaxo

Awww, what a handsome little man   Congrats!

kiarox2002

michelleaxo:

Awww, what a handsome little man   Congrats!

He's so precious! 

mrs.wildman

I had to pump in order for DD to latch. Since I usually had to wake her up to eat at the beginning, I'd wake myself up a few minutes earlier and pump just to "soften" up and give DD the ability to latch. The hospital gave me a medela hand pump which I would just keep on my nightstand and was more quiet than the PISA. I wouldn't recommend pumping for relief as much as just timing the pumping around the feedings if you can so that you don't end up with oversupply.

HTH! FlyBoy is adorable!!

intheatx

Ditto all the previous advice...and your little boy is so stinkin' cute!!!

SaraLouiseBride08

Ohmygosh! He is so cute!!

First of all, your supply will calm down, and your breasts won't hurt so bad in a couple of weeks.

And ditto previous advice ... either hand pump or hand express just a little to relieve pain/allow latching.

In a few weeks, you supply will be more regular and he'll also be awake a lot more to eat

MrsMillerTime

Seriously. Ovaries. Aching.

AustinBride06

MrsMillerTime:

Seriously. Ovaries. Aching.

This.  I love his little peaceful smile!  He looks a lot like you, I think!

brooke152

omg, he is CUTE!

bluestreet

You've already gotten the advice you need. Just wanted to chime in to say "cuuuute!"

MrsNole

ssinca:

oh.em.gee - he is SO cute!

I don't have any tips for BF but hope it gets better soon. 

Ditto.

L L CG

Cabbage leaves!  Buy a cabbage, cut out a hole in the middle of the leaf, and put it in your bra around your boobs.  I was engorged for about 24 hours and cabbage really helped.  Also, ice packs.  I walked around Costco with ice packs in my bra.  You can use these a few times as long as the sweet boy is nursing, otherwise they are something that people use to dry up.  But don't be scared, I used them for 2 days (applied both alternating a few times) and I still have a fine supply.

aggieoj

I think you've gotten some great advice. GL w/ that

And he is stinkin adorable!!!

brideonjuly8

I pumped a couple ounces when I got home from the hospital because I just couldn't take it.  I had a great supply the first few months, but I wouldn't say I had an oversupply.  If you need to pump a little, I think you're fine to do it.  Having had a little more than I needed in the beginning and barely enough at the end, having more was way less stressful.  I would much rather have more than less!  I don't think it's that easy to give yourself oversupply issues.  Pumping can definitely make it worse though! 

L L CG

brideonjuly8:

I pumped a couple ounces when I got home from the hospital because I just couldn't take it.  I had a great supply the first few months, but I wouldn't say I had an oversupply.  If you need to pump a little, I think you're fine to do it.  Having had a little more than I needed in the beginning and barely enough at the end, having more was way less stressful.  I would much rather have more than less!  I don't think it's that easy to give yourself oversupply issues.  Pumping can definitely make it worse though! 

I totally agree.  I wouldn't worry so much about oversupply.  If I had to do it over again I'd pump a ton in the beginning just to start a stash.  That newborn milk is good stuff! 

KittyFX

L*L*CG:

brideonjuly8:

I pumped a couple ounces when I got home from the hospital because I just couldn't take it.  I had a great supply the first few months, but I wouldn't say I had an oversupply.  If you need to pump a little, I think you're fine to do it.  Having had a little more than I needed in the beginning and barely enough at the end, having more was way less stressful.  I would much rather have more than less!  I don't think it's that easy to give yourself oversupply issues.  Pumping can definitely make it worse though! 

I totally agree.  I wouldn't worry so much about oversupply.  If I had to do it over again I'd pump a ton in the beginning just to start a stash.  That newborn milk is good stuff! 

I concur with LLCG and SaraLouise. Engorgement is just something you have to go through but it is only temporary. Just do what you need to do, hand express to relieve some pressure and in a few days it will be gone. I wouldn't worry too much about oversupply, I suppose it is possible if you pumped a ton but you aren't going to do that.

Thanks for posting a pic of the cutie!!! Congrats!