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D.C. Area Babies
breastfeeding/pumping question(s)
I have many, some are probably completely ridiculous and Im sure most have slipped my mind, but let's start with these:
1) Do you have to or do you sterilize the collection bottles everyday, after every use, weekly? How often is necessary or is washing them fine and then sterilizing every so often?
2) regarding bottles: same as above
3) this is an early one for me but when you went back to work, how much did you know you needed to give the caregiver. Did you pump for days ahead and tally what intake was?
4) Have you felt/feel that sometimes breastfeeding is just tedious? Things are going well for us, but some days, or nursing sessions, it feels like such a chore (for lack of a better phrase right now). When I remember to, I grab my kindle and read to the LO while he nurses and that helps some. I actually told my husband the other day that I cannot imagine having to do this for multiple children. Any tips?
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Re: breastfeeding/pumping question(s)
2. I only sterilized bottles before I used them. After that I just washed with soap and hot water.
3. We gave LO a couple of bottles every week (I recommend you start doing this now so he gets used to bottles and doesn't refuse them later), so I had an idea how much he'd take in a bottle. There are also some online calculators you can use to figure out how much LO should be eating per feeding.
4. It is tedious at the beginning because newborns take so long to nurse and they eat every 2 hours. I watched a lot of Netflix and read a lot of books at the beginning. They get more efficient eventually. I kind of miss the old days now. I had much more down time.
1 and 2: only sterlized before 1st use; wash with soap and warm water after each use; for pump parts, I refrigerate b/w pumping sessions at work and DH washes all the baby stuff and pump parts each night by hand.
3. I think 3-4oz every 3-4hrs is the norm but after a week or so, you'll know...at 1st you'll probably send too much but then will figure it out
4. yes yes yes! As pp said, at 1st you can get a lot done while nursing, but around 4mo of age, babies become very distracted nursers so you must nurse in a quiet dark place; my LOs never became very fast nursers so I went from nursing while watching TV to nursing in a dark quiet place w/ nothing to do! I would often fall asleep in the glider! A couple of months ago I got a smart phone which has helped a little but I can only use it if DS nurses while asleep, otherwise, he sees it and wants it! I also find nursing #2 a lot harder b/c it takes time away from #1. I am now weaning and that's one of the MANY reasons I can't wait to stop (he's 12.5mo)
good luck, you are doing a graet thing by proving BM for your baby!
I"ll just skip to #4 and say that Yes, nursing is tedious and tiring, especially the first 3 weeks. I'm not sure how old your LO is, but after this, it usually gets much easier. In the beginning it takes so long that you practically have no time between sessions (by the time you burp and change and play for a bit, it's time to feed again!). But there IS light at the end of the tunnel. It'll become so easy and natural, baby will just latch up and nurse easily as long as you both don't have any major problems.
I remember my nurse suggested to me at the hospital that as soon as baby starts fussing for food, get yourself situated. Find a comfy spot, make sure you have water and a snack next to you, and a book/tv/phone/etc to keep you company! Don't just rush to pick up the baby and then realize you forgot this or that, then you won't be able to put them down and you might be bored/thirsty/uncomfortable for the next 20-30 mins.
For night feedings, nursing while laying down helped me SO much, but I only "discovered" this technique about 6 weeks in.
You can do it, good luck!
It does feel like all you do is nurse for the first 2-4 weeks or so. I barely remember doing anything else. I just parked myself on the couch, had books, the remote, water glasses and snacks within reach. It was tiresome, but also great, because as pp said, it gave me some downtime. I actually ended up reading quite a lot during maternity leave while I nursed. Now that I'm back at work, and LO is so distracted while nursing, I don't ever have time for reading or TV, it seems.
Now that LO is 5 months old, he nurses quickly and because he gets distracted we have to either nurse in the glider in the nursery with lights low, or in bed snuggling. with the lights low. Occasionally he'll nurse longer, and it's actually nice.
Just remember that sooner than you think, he'll be nursing one day and he'll smile at you from the boob. It's the sweetest thing to see a little smile peek around while he's eating. It reminds me that we have this time that is just ours and it's really special bonding time.
1. Sterlizing: once when we got them, per the instructions. Other than that, we just wash and dry.
2. ditto
3. I have a very unique flexible work situation and LO works with me, so I pump very little and am not much help on this.
4. BFing was pretty overwhelming until LO was about 10 weeks old. We had all sorts of BF issues, but we eventually got them worked out and now BFing rocks. It is so convenient. At 5 weeks, I learned to nurse in a wrap and that was hugely freeing. I encourage you to try out a La Leche meeting. You will find that you are not the only person feeling this way and get tips for your specific frustrations.
More Green For Less Green
How do you nurse in a wrap? I have a sleepy wrap that we both love but can't figure the in's and out's of nursing in it
try youtube, you should be able to find an instructional video or 2
1. i sterilized before the first use, and not after. i just wash with soap and water.
2. same as above.
3. introduce a bottle around 6 weeks. sooner than that can cause a preference for the bottle because it is easier to establish and continue flow from the artificial nipple. regardless of when you introduce, use the smallest flow nipple you can, to ensure that baby retains a preference for your nipple. 4-6 oz per feeding is normal for infants. it is wise to have extra milk stored in the freezer. don't store too much, as your milk adjusts based on what your baby currently needs, so if you are sending last months milk, you are giving baby last months needs, as well. freezer milk should be for unexpected interruptions to your pumping schedule. i think i also read on kellymom.com that BM loses some of its properties when frozen, so i always try to give baby fresh milk. it can also stay in the fridge for up to 7 days, so i never freeze friday's milk for monday.
4. i may not be much help here, as i really enjoyed this time to do nothing! i either caught up on a tv show i like, or i napped, or i just enjoyed the time to sit and think and have no other responsibility other than enjoying bonding time with my babies. my current nurser is quite a squirmer, so much of our time is spent with me corraling her back into position! i think she'd nurse upside down if i let her!