New mom here w/lots of ?'s

Re: New mom here w/lots of ?'s

• MelodyMoonstone

  February 2010

   *When it comes to breastfeeding, when is the best time to introduce a bottle, I asked the lactation specialist and she said at about four weeks, if I recall correctly My LO lost too much weight, so we had to supplement with EBM.  So, he took a bottle right away.  We didn't have any nipple confusion issues.  But, I think you are supposed to wait 4-6 weeks before introducing a bottle or paci.*If you breastfeed and bottle feed, when you make your daily outdoor treks how do you feed baby?  I was thinking of having a couple of bottles of my pumped milk, but how do you warm or do you need to warm?I try to leave and run errands right after he eats.  It's easier then bringing a bottle with me.  Otherwise, I keep a wrap in my bag and cover and feed him.  *How much does your baby sleep?  Day 1 at home was not bad at  all, but day two LO slept for 4 hours, I woke him up to feed/change and it took us almost four hours of feedings and changes to put him back to sleep, now he's napped pretty much all day.He slept constantly.  It was a bear to wake him up to eat. *Baby Blues?? Any of you suffer from this?  I started crying just staring at my precious baby because I'm so in love with him, then when we had family visit I felt like a nervous wreck and felt overwhelmed with all the people and "advice"  and the water works started again.  Last night when I showered LO woke and and was crying I felt bad because I felt like a bad mom having DH trying to calm him while he wanted a feeding.I was an emotional roller coaster for about 3 weeks after the baby.  Totally normal! 

  

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• kattyleigh member

  February 2010

  JOHNNIFER:

  is the best time to introduce a bottle, I asked the lactation specialist and she said at about four weeks, if I recall correctly  Yes I think around a month is best.  We gave her a bottle on day 3 because she had jaundice and had NO problems going back and forth between breast.  I am so glad we did this because now I can swap out a bottle any time for convenience.

  *If you breastfeed and bottle feed, when you make your daily outdoor treks how do you feed baby?  I was thinking of having a couple of bottles of my pumped milk, but how do you warm or do you need to warm? I personally have no problems supplementing with formula so when I'm out an about I just bring a bottle of water and some formula powder all ready to go if she gets hungry.  She doesn't mind the room temperature water.  I am not sure how moms do it with frozen BM.
  

   *How much does your baby sleep?  Day 1 at home was not bad at  all, but day two LO slept for 4 hours, I woke him up to feed/change and it took us almost four hours of feedings and changes to put him back to sleep, now he's napped pretty much all day. It will take a few weeks for your LO to get adjusted to days/nights.  You can't really do a "schedule" right now.  Just let him dictate when he eats and sleeps.  From what I understand, you are supposed to wake them to feed every three hours until they have regained their birth weight and then you can let them wake naturally to feed.  But for the first month or so, most LOs wake every 3 hours to eat anyways.  Nap when you can!!!

  Congrats to you mama!

  Report0 Reply
• vmgetl

  February 2010

  We introduced a bottle at 1 1/2 weeks old.  My baby latches great and now I am to the point where I pump mostly, unless I am too lazy to make a bottle, then I'll BF.  She has never had nipple confusion and it works for us.

   For our daily treks, I always pack 2 -3 bottles in a little icepack cooler thingy that came with my pump.  I feed Gianna before we leave the house and change her so she is fresh for a while.  She gets fussy at about 3 hours for a feeding, so I can just warm up her bottle and we are good to go.  It's much more stressful to pack her stuff in her diaper bag than it is to be out with her.  I always worry I'll forget something important.

   

  Report0 Reply
• amoureux

  February 2010

  Aidan is very cute!!

  JOHNNIFER:

  Hi all! 

   I had my first baby this past Tuesday and I have many a questions and was hoping you could help me out. P.S I feel like I didn't prepare enough and I should know these things
  

   *When it comes to breastfeeding, when is the best time to introduce a bottle, I asked the lactation specialist and she said at about four weeks, if I recall correctly  Yes, between 4-5 weeks is great. Get BF well established first.

  *If you breastfeed and bottle feed, when you make your daily outdoor treks how do you feed baby?  I was thinking of having a couple of bottles of my pumped milk, but how do you warm or do you need to warm?   Don't worry about warming it to an exact temp each time. If you start that you will regret it!    Our son will take it room temp, a little cooler, a little warmer.  
  

   *How much does your baby sleep?  Day 1 at home was not bad at  all, but day two LO slept for 4 hours, I woke him up to feed/change and it took us almost four hours of feedings and changes to put him back to sleep, now he's napped pretty much all day.   The first week it is very normal for them to sleep almost all the time.

  *Baby Blues?? Any of you suffer from this?  I started crying just staring at my precious baby because I'm so in love with him, then when we had family visit I felt like a nervous wreck and felt overwhelmed with all the people and "advice"  and the water works started again.  Last night when I showered LO woke and and was crying I felt bad because I felt like a bad mom having DH trying to calm him while he wanted a feeding.  Also normal!

   So far these are a few of my questions, hope they make sense.
  

  Report0 Reply
• JOHNNIFER

  February 2010

  Thank you ladies, this is really learn as you go for me, it's great to have other mommies out there willing to share their experience and advice!!!
  

  Report0 Reply
• cubuff98 member

  February 2010

  1) We introduced a bottle at two weeks to try it, but didn't really do one every day until she was about 6 weeks.

   2) I BF in public with a shawl over me.  But we do bring along a bottle with nursing water (room temp) and some formula in a baggie and mix if needed. If you keep nursing water out of the fridge, you shouldn't need to warm it up.
  

   3)  From 0-6 weeks she slept for 1-3 hours at a time around the clock.  After that, she started 4-5 hour stretches and now at 10 weeks she sleeps 7 hours at night.
  

  4) I broke down a couple times during the first week or two after birth, but since then I have been fine.
  

  

  Report0 Reply