I'll trade you some cute baby shots for your advice!!

Jnmac83

Hey ladies!! I've been MIA for a few days as we finished out our stay at the hospital and got home yesterday. We are doing pretty well for the most part, but I feel like every nurse and two LCs at the hospital told us conflicting stuff. My milk has finally come in and I'm trying to breastfeed the baby and start some storage of milk. But, it's harder than I thought. My 9.8lb baby likes to eat! We were feeding on each side and then supplementing with 1.5-2oz of formula after the feeding. Then my milk came in today and I was so happy when we didn't have to supplement! Until tonight, when I could just not get the baby full! He ate from both boobs for 20-30 mins each, then ate about 25ML I pumped and then ate 1.5 oz of formula because I was all out of juice, and frankly, sore as hell!! What gives? Am I doing it wrong?!?

Wondering if I'm missing something and also what kind of schedules you BF'ing ladies are on!

Also, can a baby sleep in a bouncy seat? Random, but he's finally asleep and my boobs need a break!!!

As promised, here are some pics I've wanted to post.

me meeting the baby after my csection. So overwhelming!!

 

Our new family

First picture

Going home day!!!

 

skooz

I don't know enough to answer your bf questions, but I thought I'd pass along my 2 cents about the bouncy seat. We let DD nap in hers. I read (I think in my Baby 411 book) that right now when they're only sleeping 2-3 hours at a time it's fine. Probably not a good choice once they're sleeping through the night though. Congrats on your little guy!

Cbarajas08

As far as doing it right, I would say the answer is in your babies diapers. As long as your LO has 6 wet diapers in a 24 hour period, then you should be good. Have you tried pumping to see how much milk you get from each side?? That may provide some more answers.
Right now, my DD eats about every 2 hours during the day on at least one side. If she shows signs of hunger after that, I burp her and switch sides. During the night she usually goes a stretch of anywhere from 3.5 to 5 hours and then eats every 2 to 2.5 hours. Our day schedule does change depending on her. Today she went a stretch of time where she ate every hour for a few hours.
If you have the opportunity to do a weighted feed at a hospital or BF group, I would recommend it. It gives you an idea of how much your LO is eating and offers the opportunity to speak to an LC.

Congrats!!!

Jnmac83

Ambsies:

He is really, really, really cute!

Thanks, Ambsies. I'm partial, but I agree! I can't believe how much I love the little guy!!!

Jnmac83

skooz:

I don't know enough to answer your bf questions, but I thought I'd pass along my 2 cents about the bouncy seat. We let DD nap in hers. I read (I think in my Baby 411 book) that right now when they're only sleeping 2-3 hours at a time it's fine. Probably not a good choice once they're sleeping through the night though. Congrats on your little guy!

Thanks, I kind of thought that, but I'm paranoid about EVERYTHING these days. He finally fell asleep and I want to sleep, but nervous.

Buona Fortuna

I'm wont claim to know all or even that much about breastfeeding but I will relate my ftm experience. First, you're not doing anything wrong! Keep feeding your little one! Breastfeeding is HARD. From my research babies like to suck - especially on mom. They will cluster feed for hours sometimes. Other times they just pacify themselves. I've had my lo on the boob for nearly 5 hrs straight before. It boosts your supply and helps bonding. Just stick with it. It gets better!

Daniellekrista

Is LO swallowing or just comfort sucking? Could be a latch thing. Could be that you just don't have a full supply yet. It took me a week not to have to supplement. Did you call an LC?

shakinros

What a cutie!

You're not doing anything wrong. Big babies need to eat more! My 9lb 3oz babe eats a ton too never less than 20 minutes on one boob in the middle of the night. Daytime is her big eating time and I spend at least an hour on each feeding session when she eats from both breasts.

I just started pumping once a day to see if it would increase supply. An LC told me to be prepared that around 3 weeks of age she would be eating even more. Yikes.

I am seeing plenty of wet diapers and I know she's gaining weight. I'm trying to just be ok with the fact that for at least a few more days, some of her evening feedings may be shorter than she'd like. If your little guy can get full most of the time and is wetting plenty of diapers, I think you're doing fine by him.

dangerkitty102

Gorgeous pictures and gorgeous child!

I had issues with breastfeeding my first in the beginning. For me, it turned out he was tongue tied and wasn't getting as much as it seemed. It took a full week for us to figure this out. This time, I invested in a baby scale so I could weigh before and after feedings to see exactly how many ounces baby is taking in. And also to make sure weight is going up. It was just too scary last time to see how much weight my baby had lost after the first week.

Anyways, I just throw that out there as a possibility - getting a scale.

It also sounds like it could be comfort sucking. It definitely will increase your supply, but have you tried swapping in a pacifier once you're sure your breasts are empty? Does he just continue to suck on the empty breast or does he get frustrated that nothing is coming out any more?

 

PBear93

When my LO was about a week old she nursed for several hours at night and just wasn't getting full and I had to supplement with formula.  Its called cluster feeding. 

https://kellymom.com/parenting/parenting-faq/fussy-evening/ 

babyike

LOVE his chubby cheeks Jnmac!!!

As for the BFing advice... I've nursed all three of my LOs using the "on demand" method.  Meaning, if LO acts/looks hungry (sticking tongue out, trying to suck on hands/blanket/anything) then I nurse him.  Scheduling BFing sessions is super tough this early on, so IMO just nurse your little man when he seems hungry (or at least every 2 hours).  This will help to build up your milk supply as well.  Yes, your nips and boobs will get sore from all that working out, but the lanolin helps with the tenderness.  Also remember that your supply will be at its lowest in the evenings, so try to save your pumped milk/supplementing for then.  Your supply will catch up within a few days hopefully.  Drink a sh*t ton of water too.  Dehydration while nursing is the effing pits for sure!  

You're doing great!!!  Thanks for sharing the pics