Lots of breastfeeding questions

MeganBrian · July 2010

I have a few questions for all the pros!

1. David spits up after every feeding-sometimes projectile. He often eats very fast and I can see milk spilling out of the sides of his mouth. It is like he can't keep up with the milk flow. Any way to slow him or the flow down? Should I be worried about all the spit up? He does seem frustrated and grunts right before he spits. (He is gaining weight, 6 pounds now-came home at 4-15)

2. He goes about 3 hours between feedings (nursing on-demand) My boobs fill up very fast, get engorged-making it harder to latch and I am leaking a ton. I try to hand express for a second before he nurses and that seems to soften my breast a bit so he can latch better. When will my supply even out? I feel like I am always wet...going out of the house and wearing "real clothes" is starting to seem intimidating.

3. Favorite nursing bra that doesn't cost a ton?

4. Favorite wrap/carrier to nurse in? I'm thinking of getting a ring sling, I cant figure out how to nurse with my wrap.

Thanks ladies!

MarknCalsMommy · July 2010

MeganBrian:
I have a few questions for all the pros!
1. David spits up after every feeding-sometimes projectile. He often eats very fast and I can see milk spilling out of the sides of his mouth. It is like he can't keep up with the milk flow. Any way to slow him or the flow down? Should I be worried about all the spit up? He does seem frustrated and grunts right before he spits. (He is gaining weight, 6 pounds now-came home at 4-15)
You're probably just an excellent producer. If he's not spitting up at other times or irritable in general, it's probably just an oversupply issue. You can try pumping off a little bit before feeding him to eliminate the original fast let down and see if that helps.
2. He goes about 3 hours between feedings (nursing on-demand) My boobs fill up very fast, get engorged-making it harder to latch and I am leaking a ton. I try to hand express for a second before he nurses and that seems to soften my breast a bit so he can latch better. When will my supply even out? I feel like I am always wet...going out of the house and wearing "real clothes" is starting to seem intimidating.
You will even out soonish normally...within a month or two from my experience. Though if you do the method above, you can be exasperating the problem a little, so make sure you express as little as possible to solve the issue.
3. Favorite nursing bra that doesn't cost a ton?
My cousin recommended skipping nursing bras, and she was right IMO. Just go shopping for a regular bra, and practice pulling it down for nursing to see if it'll work. I just found the Bandini from Hanes, and I think it will be an awesome nursing bra, at least for sleep and casual...maybe not for everyday.
4. Favorite wrap/carrier to nurse in? I'm thinking of getting a ring sling, I cant figure out how to nurse with my wrap.
I never found one that worked great for me...I never did own a ring sling though (Hotsling, mei tai, and Ergo are my carriers-all of which I enjoyed at diffferent times for other reasons) and I picture that one as easier. I've also heard the Moby is great, but if you're struggling with a wrap, then maybe not.
Thanks ladies!

hamilton.ja · July 2010

1. I would see if getting past let down before latching him on by hand expressing or using a hand pump could help with him choking on the milk. It might help the spitting up but I am not 100% convinced they're related since you say he projectiles and that is really ONLY associated with reflux or pyloric stenosis. He could spit up from getting too much milk too fast but it wouldn't be projectile if that was the only cause.

2. Yes, you'll even out. E is like that and the first few weeks I got engorged easily but its much better now. Now I only have trouble if she goes really long periods at night.

3. My favorite nursing bra right now is $$. I like the Bravado bliss I think it is called - the one with the lacy bit at the front.

4. I haven't figured out how to nurse in a carrier yet either but haven't tried a sling. I feel like you'd have to have nursing shirts to be able to do that.

Dobie_Mama · July 2010

1. Ditto the other girls on the expressing past let down, then latching him.

2. You will even out. Unfortunately, mom brain took over and I can't remember when that was for us, but you get there.

3. I didn't use real nursing bras. I used Hanes All Over Comfort bras ... some I bought clips for at JoAnn's and converted to nursing bras. Some I just left as regular bras and popped my boob out of. It's pretty easy, with a wireless.

4. The MT was easiest, for me.

roundtheworldgirl · July 2010

MeganBrian:
I have a few questions for all the pros!
1. David spits up after every feeding-sometimes projectile. He often eats very fast and I can see milk spilling out of the sides of his mouth. It is like he can't keep up with the milk flow. Any way to slow him or the flow down? Should I be worried about all the spit up? He does seem frustrated and grunts right before he spits. (He is gaining weight, 6 pounds now-came home at 4-15)
We had this problem. I was advised to hand-express a little beforehand, and to only feed one side at a time. I don't know if you should necessarily worry about the spit up, though in our case, it was a precursor to major colic. We learned much later that DD was allergic to dairy - I wonder whether she still would have spit up as much, had I cut it out of my diet.
2. He goes about 3 hours between feedings (nursing on-demand) My boobs fill up very fast, get engorged-making it harder to latch and I am leaking a ton. I try to hand express for a second before he nurses and that seems to soften my breast a bit so he can latch better. When will my supply even out? I feel like I am always wet...going out of the house and wearing "real clothes" is starting to seem intimidating.
It will even out. It took a few weeks for me.
3. Favorite nursing bra that doesn't cost a ton? Well, Bravado nursing tanks are pricey but they are TOTALLY worth the money. I'm cheap, but I really recommend them. They allow you to NIP without showing your stomach (which made me more nervous than showing my boob), they are supportive, and as an added bonus, they smooth out the belly bulge and love handles, making clothes look better. I had two with DD and I just ordered a third for this time around.
4. Favorite wrap/carrier to nurse in? I'm thinking of getting a ring sling, I cant figure out how to nurse with my wrap.
I was never good at this, although I did manage to do it in my Moby a few times when she was very small.

Thanks ladies!

babyluv617 · July 2010

1. Declan did the same thing. Try nursing laying down or nursing with him laying belly to belly on top of your like in a recliner.

2. It will even out. Might be a bit, like 3 months or so but it will.

3. Not sure. Looking for the same. Considering just going with the Bravado Bliss though it's pricey.

4. To nurse in the wrap I had to slide him down a bit then pull my bob upward to get it in his mouth.

Poonico · July 2010

1. As long as he's gaining well, don't worry about it

It sounds like you have a fast flow and that can be hard for some babies (especially little ones). I had the same issue with baby G. Oh my gosh, I got puked all over for months until she was able to handle the flow. She never seemed bothered. I was cover, but she was happy and gaining weight like a champ

2. Maybe try getting him on in between? Or close to when you think he might be getting hungry.

3. I'm not sure of a budget friendly one, but I am loving my Bravado Bliss. *loving*

4. I've never mastered nursing in a carrier

Sorry If this is no help!

iris418 · July 2010

i nurse in my ring sling it is very easy and most slings have a long enough tail to use as a nursing cover!

wingedbride · July 2010

Check out eBay for nursing bras. I got new ones for half the price! I agree with others about expressing until let down. I had the same problem. I use my hava ring sling for nursing. It has two padded rails, a nice padded shoulder and the rails are easily adjustable because unlike other ring slings the rails don't get twisted inthe ring so you always know which is top and bottom. I even use this in the grocery store. I don't know what I would do without it. I have an ergo and mei tai too and cannot nurse in either.

Adb6283 · July 2010

1 & 2) Right around 2 - 3weeks old babies tend to go through a growth spurt - after that your supply will even out. Gianna was spitting up like crazy at 2 weeks - she would eat too much and it seemed like she was trying to expand her stomach and increase my supply. It got better after a few days. I also introduced the binky at 4 weeks to help with the comfort sucking. Slowing him or the flow is harder - I've seen some folks pump a little before or manual express a little first, but that might increase your supply at this point, so not sure if I'd recommend that.

3) I love the $15 motherhood maternity ones - they are a little padded which helped me with containing small leaks. For sleep/night, I love the Gilligan O'mally ones from target - both the bras and tanks.

4) I haven't done that, so no help there. I have a moby and it seems like it would work, but G doesn't like to be covered like that when nursing.

crackerjackprinter · July 2010

Ditto everyone else on the first two questions. As for the nursing bras, checkout breakout bras. TOTALLY worth the $ for the good measurement. I'd email them for sizing help once your supply evens out. Until then, you could use sports bras and pull them down or up accordingly. No sense in buying a nursing bra until you even out in case you go down. Sports bras will at least fit even after you go down.

I like ring slings for nursing myself. There are lots of videos on youtube. I got mine from snuggybaby. They have a website at snuggybaby.com and on Etsy. It shipped super fast and is my favorite carrier right now.

MrsBlayne · July 2010

1amd 2 seem to have been answered well. My favorite nursing bras are bravado not bliss but I don't know what they were called) and a cotton microfiber lightly padded one from motherhood. The motherhood one is a little less coverage so I can flaunt my new cleavage Smile

. I also have sleep nursing bras from motherhood that are good for night and around the house. As for the moisture issue, for disposeable nursing pads I like lansinoh. I totally think nursingbras are worth it. I also have glamourmom nursing tanks which are pretty supportive. They come on babysteals from time to time. I just got my ring sling so I haven't tried it for nursing but I like it in general and it seems like it would work well. It is called sling ezee.

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