I may be jumping the gun, but are you planning to breastfeed?

montella1064 · March 2014

I will be breastfeeding and working full time after 6 weeks also. I plan to get my milk production on a schedule similar to my breaks at work so I'll be able to pump out a few bottles throughout the day while working to send to daycare the following day. Hopefully it all works out as planned and I won't have to switch to formula.

hullabalou · March 2014

Breastfeeding is definitely something I want to try to do, and if I am able to I will breastfeed until the baby self-weans. However, it is not something I will beat myself up over. My best friend had serious supply issues and could only BF for a few weeks, and she had serious guilt over it, which isn't fair to her or baby.

Athena8555 · March 2014

If you are a 1099 contractor then the company generally isn't responsible for paying time to breastfeed. For regular employees a company does not need to pay for breaks for breast feeding/pumping that are longer than 20 minutes. I hope this helps!

I am a FTM and I plan I breast feeding as well. Although I am a little nervous of how painful it will actually be :-/

abbyful · March 2014

Athena8555 said:

If you are a 1099 contractor then the company generally isn't responsible for paying time to breastfeed. For regular employees a company does not need to pay for breaks for breast feeding/pumping that are longer than 20 minutes. I hope this helps! I am a FTM and I plan I breast feeding as well. Although I am a little nervous of how painful it will actually be :-/

If the baby is latched correctly, it isn't painful at all. If it hurts, that means the latch is incorrect.

jessa1228 · March 2014

I plan to. I still have a lot of research to do. My doctor's office offers a breastfeeding class that I plan to take as well.

Allisonville · March 2014

I definitely plan on breastfeeding again. It's cheaper and easier (once baby gets the hang of it). There's the comforting and bonding aspect too, but I imagine that bottle feeding would be the same.

I luckily was very milky the first time around, and able to pump twice a day at work for 10 minutes each and get 12 or 14 ounces of milk total. Even so, I hated pumping. It's just a hassle, but worthwhile so I kept it up. I pumped in a supply closet. They put a lock on the door and I dragged 2 chairs in there, one to sit on and the other was my table. It worked fine, although one time the terminex guy picked the lock and walked it on me. Awkward!

Anyway, it comes down to what works best for your family. Breastfeeding worked for us. Hopefully it does this time as well.

jillybean7582 · March 2014

mrsodonnell12 said:

SweetMelissa5 said:
Also, at the risk of being a PW, can I just say that I am insanely jealous of those of you who were able to pump large amounts and build up a freezer stash? I was never even able to come close to keeping up with demand, but I would love to manage it this time around if I can.
I built up a huge freeze stash this time. Actually stopped pumping in december and I'm Down to one week of freezer milk at this point. Plus I donated 500 ounces.

With my first I had a small stash from maternity leave but was really always pumping for the next day.

My point is, it can be differnt with every baby!

I barely kept up with what I needed last time. I pumped about 18oz a day at work which was exactly what DS needed for daycare.

This time around I plan to pump throughout my 12 week maternity leave to hopefully get a decent jump start on a freezer supply. I had a huge over supply in the begining last time and leaked thru breast pads like crazy the first 8ish weeks but didn't pump at all so by the time I went back to work I was only producing what DS needed.

Pumping is usually less efficent than baby so even though you may be making enough for baby when you are actually feeding them yourself it might not be enough when you are pumping.

nonoemily · March 2014

I thought BFing was no big deal, a little uncomfortable at first and after a three day NICU stay where DS was fed donor milk I spent a week BFing him and then pumping to build up my production, plus all the herbs, etc. when my milk came in it came IN!

After that DS would not take a bottle, so I pumped, but it was a waste in the end cuz he wanted boob or nothing. We started offering him food at five months and I nursed him til 14months. One day he didn't nurse at all and after that I called it quits. I was ready to be done.

Nursing + bed sharing = sleeping. I win!

phdprocrastinator · March 2014

I BFed with DD, but my supply tanked around 4 months (confirmed by weighing baby before and after feedings). Fenugreek and pumping round the clock (in addition to feeding DD) didn't increase supply. After a very frustrating month, we started supplementing with formula. (Oh, and all that milk I had pumped when I had over supply in the early months? Turns out I have an enzyme that makes milk smell like vomit - even when frozen - so it was all trashed).

I felt terrible about this, I think even more so because everyone tells new moms that breastfeeding is natural and easy. Sometimes it's not.

Given hormones and PPD, I almost threw in the towel entirely. Luckily, my husband was more level headed and told me that we could just do both as long as I wanted. I ended up BFing until she was almost a year. Funnily enough, I continued to produce a small amount of milk/colostrum until just a couple months ago. Go figure!

This time around, I plan on starting to BF exclusively, but may start supplementing around 4 months. Formula is nice in that it means that someone else can take over and give you a break. (I guess pumping would lead to the same advantages if not for the whole vomit-milk thing I had going on).

k1911 · March 2014

@mrsodonnell12 How is it not that simple? My sister does both.

mrsodonnell12 · March 2014

phdprocrastinator said:
I BFed with DD, but my supply tanked around 4 months (confirmed by weighing baby before and after feedings). Fenugreek and pumping round the clock (in addition to feeding DD) didn't increase supply. After a very frustrating month, we started supplementing with formula. (Oh, and all that milk I had pumped when I had over supply in the early months? Turns out I have an enzyme that makes milk smell like vomit - even when frozen - so it was all trashed).

I felt terrible about this, I think even more so because everyone tells new moms that breastfeeding is natural and easy. Sometimes it's not.

Given hormones and PPD, I almost threw in the towel entirely. Luckily, my husband was more level headed and told me that we could just do both as long as I wanted. I ended up BFing until she was almost a year. Funnily enough, I continued to produce a small amount of milk/colostrum until just a couple months ago. Go figure!

This time around, I plan on starting to BF exclusively, but may start supplementing around 4 months. Formula is nice in that it means that someone else can take over and give you a break. (I guess pumping would lead to the same advantages if not for the whole vomit-milk thing I had going on).

Excess lipase isn't an issue unless your lo won't drink it. It won't harm them.

mrsodonnell12 · March 2014

k1911 said:
@mrsodonnell12 How is it not that simple? My sister does both.

Many women who supplement with formula end up with supply issues. You should research it extensively before making the decision. Just trying to be helpful.

morrkim · March 2014

I am still nursing my first, but I hope to wean her soon since I would like a break and I also don't want to nurse three at once. It will be difficult learning to nurse twins let alone add a toddler in the mix. When I needed to pump an office was provided. I just put a note on the door.

mslynn2012 · March 2014

I will BF this LO for as long as s/he allows. I exclusively BF'd DS until 9 months, but my supply tanked when AF returned. I completely dried up when I got my BFP.

Terrapantz · March 2014

I plan to nurse/pump. It's too expensive buying formula when breast milk is free and way healthier!

sunflwra · March 2014

I'm planning to bf. I go into it with an open mind though bc my daughter couldn't latch on her own for about 2 months and my supply took a hit because of it, so I had to supplement from day one with her. I'd love to try to BF almost exclusively this time but I have no issues at all with adding in formula if needed.

Marisajean01 · March 2014

I BFed DD for a year and she pretty much weaned her self. It was a struggle at first...she was an emergency c-section and my milk didn't come in for a week. Lots of pumping the first couple weeks and for 2 days had to supplement formula but we got through! I can't wait to do it again!

mander82 · March 2014

@lissydee‌ thank you!

I am going to start researching the whole pumping thing. My commute is only twenty minutes but I can take a break every two hours at work.

I figure I have six weeks to figure it out before I have to go back.

chauliodus · March 2014

I plan on breastfeeding. Cheap and good for baby! I work crazy hours though so it will be me and my pump a lot

lovelongdog06 · March 2014

I am hoping to as long as I'm able to! Can anyone comment on breastfeeding with small breasts? I know they say the size of the breast doesn't matter, but I keep looking down at my A cups and wonder "how??"

Maelara · March 2014

I was so sick last time I was pregnant my body didnt produce enough cells in my breasts. I gave it absolutely every I had but nothing would increase my supply. I was able to get a few OZs a day but N self weaned at 3 months and I had a really hard time pumping so formula it is! This time I hope and pray I get to EBF! Fingers crossed!

phdprocrastinator · March 2014

mrsodonnell12 said:

I BFed with DD, but my supply tanked around 4 months (confirmed by weighing baby before and after feedings). Fenugreek and pumping round the clock (in addition to feeding DD) didn't increase supply. After a very frustrating month, we started supplementing with formula. (Oh, and all that milk I had pumped when I had over supply in the early months? Turns out I have an enzyme that makes milk smell like vomit - even when frozen - so it was all trashed).

I felt terrible about this, I think even more so because everyone tells new moms that breastfeeding is natural and easy. Sometimes it's not.

Given hormones and PPD, I almost threw in the towel entirely. Luckily, my husband was more level headed and told me that we could just do both as long as I wanted. I ended up BFing until she was almost a year. Funnily enough, I continued to produce a small amount of milk/colostrum until just a couple months ago. Go figure!

This time around, I plan on starting to BF exclusively, but may start supplementing around 4 months. Formula is nice in that it means that someone else can take over and give you a break. (I guess pumping would lead to the same advantages if not for the whole vomit-milk thing I had going on).
Excess lipase isn't an issue unless your lo won't drink it. It won't harm them.

I know. I did the research. LO wouldn't drink it, and I couldn't blame her. That's actually how we realized what was going on. I had thawed some of my stash when we were had planned a trip about an hour away where there would be drinking. DH was going to drink, then feed her in the backseat if needed while I drove us home. She refused to take the bottle. Seriously, it smelled like vomit. We experimented for about a week and the milk I pumped ended up realizing that my milk only lasted a day before the vomit smell, which precluded storing it. We could have also boiled it, but this would take away all the nutritional advantages associated with breast milk. It only really became and issue when my supply tanked.

missnacholover · March 2014

lissydee said:

@missnacholover...I am going to assume since you are a gov't employee you should be okay. Most states have pretty good breastfeeding laws (which includes needing to express breast milk). What state are you in?

I'm in North Carolina. I googled but I didn't find much. I'll have to dig deeper!

missnacholover · March 2014

lissydee said:

missnacholover said:

lissydee said:

@missnacholover...I am going to assume since you are a gov't employee you should be okay. Most states have pretty good breastfeeding laws (which includes needing to express breast milk). What state are you in?

I'm in North Carolina. I googled but I didn't find much. I'll have to dig deeper!

eh, NC doesnt have as comprehensive of bfing laws as other states unfortunately. Here is a break down of each state's bfing laws

https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/breastfeeding-state-laws.aspx

I hope you have no issues finding a time and place to pump. Definitely talk to HR about this.

Thanks for the link. I'll definitely be talking to both HR departments (my company and where I have my contract). Hopefully we can work something out!

icaughtfire · March 2014

I'd like to try, but won't beat myself up if it doesn't work out. Like others mentioned, I'm not sure how pumping at work will work out, but I'll cross that bridge when the time comes.

MsMolly520 · March 2014

I was able to make it to just under a year with DS. We had no problems with latching or painful nursing (after the first week). But that's where it stopped being easy. I had supply issues and he had a dairy intolerance (I ended up cutting out all dairy in my diet). I took fenugreek to help supply and ate oatmeal every day. But I still ended up having to supplement and it was such a stressful time. He did a lot of comfort nursing (oh, did I mention he had extreme colic on top of all that?

) which is what kept us going. I have a lot more knowledge this time around and hope to be able to EBF this LO.

beatrixkiddo19 · March 2014

The plan is to BF. Like lots of you said, I'm going to give it my absolute best effort, but if it's too stressful or not working for us, I have no problem throwing in the towel. I really want to be able to BF because of the health and financial benefits, though.

Part of what I consider to be my best effort is to start now educating myself so I know what the potential hurdles can be. I bought The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding the other day, but haven't opened it yet.

Any STM BF-ers (hehehe. BF-ers.) have any other resources they would suggest?

MeghanCF · March 2014

I intend to. We'll see when we get there if it'll happen.

mbredin · March 2014

Delete d because I can't quote correctly

mbredin · March 2014

Sorry I just totally messed up that reply and the quoting. I wanted to suggest taking a breastfeeding class when your around 8 months pregnant. My husband and I did with the LCS at my hospital and other really helped.

lisaren · March 2014

For me, I needed that time after baby was born to learn how to hold them. The LC were good, but almost to pushy. When baby was first born just getting in warm shower with baby, or bath and letting baby nurse was always nice. I also loved my boppy. Life saver.

StaceWheeler · March 2014

I definitely plan to, I'm just not sure how easy it'll be because my husband and I recently started our own business.

wallygirl · March 2014

I was unable to exclusively breastfeed with my daughter. My milk never fully came in with her. The LC and my OB feel it was due to stress. She was born 2 days late on the day of my daddy's funeral and then she ended up in the NICU for 8 days. She was basically formula fed and supplemented with breast milk. I will be trying to EBF with this LO.

momtojad · March 2014

Yep, I am still breastfeeding my 1 year old and hope to tandem feed them.

mrsodonnell12 · March 2014

momtojad said:
Yep, I am still breastfeeding my 1 year old and hope to tandem feed them.

Me too!!

momtojad · March 2014

Did you notice any reduction in supply? Jad is still breastfeeding in the morning, taking frozen during the day and a bottle of WCM at night because I am only producing in the morn. I hope it last long enough that he won't forget the suck. I stopped pumping at work recently because I just couldnt' trigger a let down so my stash is almost twindled.

Kitty Holland · March 2014

Ladies, know your rights. Your employer must provide a clean, private area for pumping and the bathroom stall is not an okay option. Don't make this your problem or a reason not to BF. " Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148, known as the “Affordable Care Act”) amended section 7 of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) to require employers to provide “reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for her nursing child for 1 year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk.” Employers are also required to provide “a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public, which may be used by an employee to express breast milk.” See 29 U.S.C. 207(r). The break time requirement became effective when the Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010. The Fact Sheet and the Frequently Asked Questions below provide basic information about the law."

Kitty Holland · March 2014

https://www.dol.gov/whd/nursingmothers/faqBTNM.htm

heidiliz626 · March 2014

mrsransom said:
I am in the VAST minority (I seriously know like 1 other person in real life who didn't), but I will not & did not last time. Personal and work related reasons...formula is best for my family. I don't think it makes me a worse Mom for my decision & I refuse to feel bad about it this time around! My son is perfectly healthy & has only been sick a handful of times in his 5 year old life! I applaud anyone who does breastfeed though & I think it's great if you can!

Is it totally selfish of me to say I'm not because I just don't want to? I want DH to be able to feed baby without my help. I don't want chapped sore nipples/boobs. I don't want deflated boobs after bf. I don't want to pump at work or anywhere for that matter. My mom didn't bf and I turned out just fine.

Im not prejudice against people that DO bf. I just honestly do not want to.

mrsodonnell12 · March 2014

heidiliz626 said:

mrsransom said:
I am in the VAST minority (I seriously know like 1 other person in real life who didn't), but I will not & did not last time. Personal and work related reasons...formula is best for my family. I don't think it makes me a worse Mom for my decision & I refuse to feel bad about it this time around! My son is perfectly healthy & has only been sick a handful of times in his 5 year old life! I applaud anyone who does breastfeed though & I think it's great if you can!

Is it totally selfish of me to say I'm not because I just don't want to? I want DH to be able to feed baby without my help. I don't want chapped sore nipples/boobs. I don't want deflated boobs after bf. I don't want to pump at work or anywhere for that matter. My mom didn't bf and I turned out just fine.

Im not prejudice against people that DO bf. I just honestly do not want to.

Pregnancy changes your boobs, not bfing.

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I may be jumping the gun, but are you planning to breastfeed?

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