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Breastfeeding
how do you manage time and life with BF? and more new mom questions...
I dont know if I worded that question correctly. My baby is only 6 days old, and currently in NICU for a couple of more days so I'm at home pumping. I pump every 3 hours for about 15 minutes on each breast My milk is slowly coming in as of yesterday and today I was able to get a little over an oz so that was great. I am supplementing with formula though considering she is in NICU.
Question is, how do you function if you have to feed/pump every few hours and you are out? You BF when you are out? What if you are not out with LO and its been over a few hours? I'm just trying to figure this all out and how you guys do it because it IS time consuming!
Also how STRICT is your diet? Is it as strict as pregnancy (no lunch meat, no diet drinks, etc?)
Thanks!
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Re: how do you manage time and life with BF? and more new mom questions...
I did the same thing while LO was in NICU, it's much, much easier when LO comes home/you can BF directly vs. pumping. I would make my trips/errands as short as possible, shop online, take DS with me on errands and leave right after he nursed, and bring a nursing cover so I could feed him anywhere while we were out. In the begining when I was new to BFing, I'd bring a bottle of EBM because I was self concious about NIP. It was such a hassle and I'd end up engorged, so I would NOT recommend that. It's also helpful to have a sling/carrier that you can BF in so you have your hands free. I've BF with DS in a Mei Tai and with a nursing cover on top while walking in DC
fun times. Hope you get to bring your LO home soon!
ETA: As for my diet, I went back to eating everything I ate before. Except around 4 months DS developed a milk protein allergy so I cut out milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt. At 6 months, the allergy faded and I was able to re-introduce dairy back into my diet with no problems.
I learned to nurse in public pretty early....it's very easy as they are portable, always at the right temp, etc
I would occasionally take a bottle, but DD never would take a bottle from me or if I was around so I never really got into that habit.
I am very lax about my diet....nothing bothers my kids really except a few random things. I definitely eat lunch meat, drink coffee, have a glass of wine now and then, etc. Breastfeeding is a lot more relaxed than pg for me.
As time goes on your baby will nurse less frequently and eat quicker. In the beginning for me it was every 1 1/2 to 2 hours and she would eat for 40 min. Now at 3 1/2 months, she eats every 2 1/2 to 4 hours during the day depending on if there are long naps mixed in and wakes up once at night to eat. She also only takes 15 to 20 min to eat each time.
If I have to go somewhere, I just feed her and head out right away, or feed her, play a little, then head out. Like the other poster said, short trips. Keep trips under 2 hours and close to home if possible. I do public feedings here and there but not too often. Mostly I plan. If I"m going somewhere by myself and my husband is watching her I still keep trips under 4 hours because your boobs won't last much longer than that and have breastmilk in the freezer he can feed her.
Hope that helps!
Keep up the pumping and use all you can to increase supply --- pump all the time, oatmeal, fenugreek, etc. A crying baby will make you feed more often.
When I go out, I wait till I feed him and then leave. I live close to everything so I can get a lot done. I figure each place is a half hour. Sometimes if he gets hungry, I will pull over and feed him in a parking lot away from other cars if you are concious. I was in Sam's last week and he woke up in his car seat and was very hungry. I went to the optical waiting room and asked permission. I fed him there and was on my way. It was great. I am always keep in eye out for a great place to nurse to help alleviate NIP.
I start out by trying to change and feed DD2 right before we leave to go out, so she's happy for the longest possible amount of time. If she gets hungry while we're out, I BF her. No biggie. Usually I do it in the car, because I have a toddler and that's the easiest way to keep DD1 contained while I'm dealing with DD2.
It works out just fine and it's second nature now. I'm almost always with DD2 (I'm a SAHM), or else I pump and leave DH a bottle or frozen milk. I'm rarely gone more than 2-3 hours at a time anyway.
My diet is not strict at all. I can eat anything I want. I'm continuing to take my prenatals and DHA supplement.
You might want to see if your hospital has a BFing class you could take or a lactation consultant you could speak with if you have more questions or need help. Good luck!
DD1, 1/5/2008 ~~~ DD2, 3/17/2010