April 2014 Moms

The Great Big Breastfeeding Thread

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Re: The Great Big Breastfeeding Thread

  • Carry on. Since you guys already know everything I'm sure no one will need the help of someone more experienced.
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  • @Mamamonzo I found that using lanolin to make the nipple shield stick was much better than water when I was using one with DD. It was a little more difficult for her to rip off.

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  • Sorry I'm mobile and posts are delayed.



    Married 3.14.09
    DS born 8.20.10
    MC 7.11.11
    DD born 5.24.12
    #3 EDD 4.02.14
  • purespark

    Interesting fact: Babies cannot be lactose intolerant - that condition is actually developed later in life. They can however have a milk allergy. Glad to hear your LO doesnt have that problem! It is a huge pain! (coming from someone with a Milk allergy, not related to the lactose!)

    Together Since 9/14/2008 
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  • I literally just nursed for three hours. He's 9 days old now.. is this cluster feeding? I'm assuming it's a growth spurt. My DD was not a good nurser, so I'm not exactly sure what to expect with this little guy. I switched breasts about every 20 minutes. I looked at Kellymom, but I wasn't sure if 3 hours was too much and if something is suddenly wrong?
  • This seems like a question I should know but one of my nipples is cracked. I've been airing it out as much as possible but now how do I feed on that side until it's heeled? Nipple shield?

  • chichi589 said:

    This seems like a question I should know but one of my nipples is cracked. I've been airing it out as much as possible but now how do I feed on that side until it's heeled? Nipple shield?




    Nah, don't use a shield. When my nipples were really bad I would try to get letdown or a good flow before I put baby on to try to avoid that vicious rapid shallow sucking that they do before the milk comes down. Or nurse on the other side first so babe isn't ravenous and the milk is flowing well.

    Otherwise, you just have to work though it. I remember that toe curling, tear inducing pain all too well. Hang in there....!

    Ditto this.



    Married 3.14.09
    DS born 8.20.10
    MC 7.11.11
    DD born 5.24.12
    #3 EDD 4.02.14
  • For hours...today, he slept from 2am-7am (with me on the couch; unlike DD, he hates the PNP).

    @AcaAwkward‌ - how do you sleep on the couch with LO? Is he on his stomach laying on your chest?
    Reason I ask is that last night DD would not sleep in her bassinet for longer than 15 minutes. She would fuss and cry until I picked her up - then would feed for a short amount of time and then would fall asleep on my boob. I'd wait for 10-15 minutes before putting her down to make sure she was really fully asleep and then she'd fuss 15 minutes later. I got about 4 hours of sleep last night and that's only because my DH held her for 2 hours so I could sleep a couple hours in a row.
    I was considering letting her sleep on me but I was nervous because she was on her stomach.
    Any advice is welcome. I'm already having anxiety about sleeping tonight because I'm scared it'll be a repeat of last night :-S
  • My local LLL chapter was a bit kooky. I went to one meeting when kiddo was little, but never went back. My hospital has a fabulous BFing support group that I regularly attended.

    I never avoided any foods while BFing. No history of allergies in my family. I did pay close attention to spacing intro of solids, but that's a discussion for 6 months down the road :)
  • Amsull324 said:

    For hours...today, he slept from 2am-7am (with me on the couch; unlike DD, he hates the PNP).

    @AcaAwkward‌ - how do you sleep on the couch with LO? Is he on his stomach laying on your chest?
    Reason I ask is that last night DD would not sleep in her bassinet for longer than 15 minutes. She would fuss and cry until I picked her up - then would feed for a short amount of time and then would fall asleep on my boob. I'd wait for 10-15 minutes before putting her down to make sure she was really fully asleep and then she'd fuss 15 minutes later. I got about 4 hours of sleep last night and that's only because my DH held her for 2 hours so I could sleep a couple hours in a row.
    I was considering letting her sleep on me but I was nervous because she was on her stomach.
    Any advice is welcome. I'm already having anxiety about sleeping tonight because I'm scared it'll be a repeat of last night :-S
    I take all the back cushions off so it is as wide as possible and shove our huge ottoman right next to it. I use some pillows so I'm sleeping at a slight incline on my back. DS sleeps on his back in the crook of my arm, swaddled. He does these crazy neck movements and I'm afraid he'd tumble off if he was on my chest.

    @Amsull324‌
    image
    DD 2/21/2012 & DS 4/1/2014
  • I don't think you need to worry about lo being on their tummy in that scenario, but couch sleeping is not considered safe cosleeping because of the risk of baby getting trapped between you and the back of the couch (neither is chair sleeping, and I did that a lot so I understand you do what you gotta do)
    Mama to a little girl born July 2011 and a little boy born April 2014! Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • How old is your baby? Milk usually comes in after a day or two, but sometimes it does take longer. Breastfeeding gets a loooot easier once your milk is in and then easier and easier the longer you do it. There's nothing wrong with formula or pumping and bottle feeding, but it's also awfully early to give up because you don't like it.

    You don't need to hand express or pump at this point, and especially not if you're making yourself sore!! Just keep putting baby to the breast. They're getting colostrum and that's all they need, and they're the best possible stimulation to get your milk to come in. Much better than the pump!
    Mama to a little girl born July 2011 and a little boy born April 2014! Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • @Rrrrrachel‌ @celticlullaby‌

    Yep, I know it's not ideal and definitely not advocating that anyone follow suit. He won't sleep anywhere else. I don't hold him between me and the back of the couch - he sleeps in the crook of my arm which rests on a heavy ottoman that is flush against the couch and covered with a quilt (zero chance of it moving and him sliding in between). Again, totally not my first, second, or thirteenth choice, but it's where we are for the moment.
    image
    DD 2/21/2012 & DS 4/1/2014
  • Like I said, I totally get it. We slept a lot in a chair with pillows on both sides to prevent any slipping. Just wanted to get it out there for other folks reading along.
    Mama to a little girl born July 2011 and a little boy born April 2014! Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
  • Amsull324 said:

    For hours...today, he slept from 2am-7am (with me on the couch; unlike DD, he hates the PNP).

    @AcaAwkward‌ - how do you sleep on the couch with LO? Is he on his stomach laying on your chest?
    Reason I ask is that last night DD would not sleep in her bassinet for longer than 15 minutes. She would fuss and cry until I picked her up - then would feed for a short amount of time and then would fall asleep on my boob. I'd wait for 10-15 minutes before putting her down to make sure she was really fully asleep and then she'd fuss 15 minutes later. I got about 4 hours of sleep last night and that's only because my DH held her for 2 hours so I could sleep a couple hours in a row.
    I was considering letting her sleep on me but I was nervous because she was on her stomach.
    Any advice is welcome. I'm already having anxiety about sleeping tonight because I'm scared it'll be a repeat of last night :-S
    I'm not a proponent of bed sharing, but the bed is safer than the couch. Babies get trapped more easily between you and the back of the couch.

    Did you try a swing, rock'n'play, or anything that vibrates or moves? Those might also work! Good luck, I hope you can get some more sleep tonight.
    I haven't tried those but that's a great suggestion.

  • Thanks @ColleenSwerb‌ & @mummyofsix‌ ! Ok no nipple shield lots of pain and air drying. Why do people stay away from nipple shields? Just curious. I had to use one for my left side because he was refusing my flatter nipple and I finally got him to take it without. I guess my question is what's the bad with nipple shields?
  • Are blisters on the upper lip okay? I noticed it after I fed him.
  • ksulliksulli member
    edited April 2014
    @joules40 said:

    Are blisters on the upper lip okay? I noticed it after I fed him.

    It's probably more of a callus- in the center, right? Very normal.
    *Married 10.10.08*
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    BFP#2:10.22.10=Avelin born 7.2.11
    TTC#2: 2.13 - BFP#3: 7.25.13=Kelsey born 3.31.14
  • @Jessieann1020‌
    I know @AcaAwkward‌ has mentioned that her milk took a really long time to come in with her first.
    I was HORRIBLE at hand expressing. Absolutely horrific. I would skip hand expressing for stimulation and just pump if it were me. But yes, skipping any kind of stimulation for a day or two will have an impact on your supply.

    It took 2 weeks for my milk fully to come in with DD - it was horrible! Bc she lost so much weight due to jaundice, we had to supplement. I would BF for 20 min, then feed pumped milk, then feed formula (we had a certain quantity we were supposed to give her; it could be made up of BM or formula or any combo) + pump for the next feeding session. It hurt like hell but nursing and pumping so often really helped stimulate my supply. I'd skip the hand expression and go with the pump or nursing at every feeding. Nurse for sure if you want to have the option of BFing since baby needs the practice at the breast. If you think EPing is more your style, pumping at every feeding should do the trick. But, yeah, you don't want to skip many sessions or your supply will tank.
    image
    DD 2/21/2012 & DS 4/1/2014
  • aronie82 said:
    How many times does it take of skipping a feed for it to mess up your supply. I want so much to sleep through one feeding but I'm worried I'll screw up my supply. Just one ugh I'm so tired.
    I think the bigger risk is engorgement leading to a blocked duct- ow! My LC always said as long as you match baby's intake within a 24 hour period you're ok. Can you try to pump after your last feed and then give that milk so you can sleep a bit? One thing though, if baby hasn't had any formula giving it once could backfire and make baby gassy/fussy. I'd try to stick with your milk if baby isn't already being supplemented.
    BFP#1 9/14/10 (EDD 5/21/11); no fetal pole 6w6d, 7w4d, d&c 10/8
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  • My daughter is a preemie. We were told to give her two fortified formula a day to help her gain weight. Well she is past her birth weight by over a pound now and I feel like I am just fattening her up. And then when I nurse her she gets frustrated almost like it's not coming out fast enough. I don't know how to describe except she is almost rooting with my nipple in her mouth and crying. So she's only nursing for about 15 minutes if that and she starts getting upset. Any suggestions?
    She's probably frustrated waiting for another let down. Try some breast compressions or hand expression to help stimulate the next let down or even switch sides. In the end letting her get that next let down is what you want because the milk in the second let down will have a higher fat content. Sometimes I would switch sides for a bit and then go back to the original side.

    I've posted about this on this thread before, but I did cut out the supplemented bottles with DS when he was around 40 wks adj. He actually gained weight better once my supply regulated to him and we EBF. I posted about checking weights frequently and working closely with an LC in making this choice. Hang in there!
    BFP#1 9/14/10 (EDD 5/21/11); no fetal pole 6w6d, 7w4d, d&c 10/8
    BFP#2 3/16/11, beta 138; 4/12 Baby/HB DS born 9/10/11 at 29w4d due to partial abruption and PTL
    Lilypie Third Birthday tickers
    BFP#3 8/19/13 Another boy! 17P, modified bedrest and Nifedipine helped us have a termie! DS2 born 4/19/14 at 38w5d.
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  • My LO is 9 days old and I've noticed that my boobs are much softer today than they were yesterday. Does this mean my supply is regulating or should I be worried that it is dropping?

    LO was really fussy last night and I nursed her every hour or so. I'm hoping she was just cluster feeding and there isn't an issue with my supply.
  • MissWhisMissWhis member
    edited April 2014
    @Ashleyahann‌

    Mine did the same thing about two days ago (she was 7 days old) and I briefly worried the same thing - was my supply dropping?

    Then the next day I stopped the crazy pumping schedule the LC had me on and started EBF and holy crap - I went up like 87 cup sizes and have been engorged ever since due to basically removing half of the amount I was doing before with nursing/pumping combined.

    So I'm guessing that softer boob moment I had was when they were adjusted to making that much milk. I miss it so much. As long as your baby seems satisfied after feeding I would try not to worry!

    Edit: My girl has been eating very hour or so for parts of the last few days, too, but immediately after eating she is full. She just gets hungry again soon. I know she's getting enough milk so I think she's just having a little growth spurt.
  • My LO is 9 days old and I've noticed that my boobs are much softer today than they were yesterday. Does this mean my supply is regulating or should I be worried that it is dropping?

    LO was really fussy last night and I nursed her every hour or so. I'm hoping she was just cluster feeding and there isn't an issue with my supply.

    OMG I cannot wait for that day. Holy rock hard porn sized boobs.
    *Married 10.10.08*
     image
    TTC #1 9.09 - BFP#1:2.18.10= missed m/c, D&C 4.16
    BFP#2:10.22.10=Avelin born 7.2.11
    TTC#2: 2.13 - BFP#3: 7.25.13=Kelsey born 3.31.14
  • How hard is it to learn to use a pump? I haven't even taken mine out of the package yet, but I also don't anticipate needing to pump for several weeks after LO arrives. Is this something I should be familiarizing myself with now, or is it pretty simple?

    BFP #1 May 20, 2013   
    MC June 27, 2013   BFP #2 August 2, 2013   Baby Boy born 4/25/14 (3 weeks overdue!)
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  • pineconey said:

    How hard is it to learn to use a pump? I haven't even taken mine out of the package yet, but I also don't anticipate needing to pump for several weeks after LO arrives. Is this something I should be familiarizing myself with now, or is it pretty simple?

    I'd say simple to use (at least my Medela is pretty intuitive!), but you might want to take it out of the box and put it all together now so you're familiar with all the parts!
    image
    DD 2/21/2012 & DS 4/1/2014
  • Help! In Pain! I didn't go through each page of this thread to see if there are any posts like this but I am in desperate need of advice! When baby first latches it literally feels like knives. My boobs are cracked and bleeding and I just can't get relief. Today it looks like my milk came in slowly but now my actual boobs and nipples just hurt constantly. What a bummer. Any advice on how to help them heal? The nurse said try organic olive oil instead of the nipple cream which I will try next. Is anyone else in pain?
  • Yes I'm doing a home birth- but I am blessed to live in a community with a lot of great BF resources!

    BFP #1 May 20, 2013   
    MC June 27, 2013   BFP #2 August 2, 2013   Baby Boy born 4/25/14 (3 weeks overdue!)
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  • @alohamel I agree with ColleenSwerb.  My LC recommended 2nd Skin Burn Relief Gel Pads when my nipples were in bad shape.  I would keep them in the fridge when not in use and the felt SO good to put on my nipples.  You can also rub some of your milk on your nipples, and let them air dry fully before covering back up.  I hope you get some relief soon.
    Chase was born 4/23/2011
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  • MissWhisMissWhis member
    edited April 2014
    @pineconey‌
    I was totally worried about pumping before she was born, but then due to her NICU admission I was suddenly pumping a few hours after her birth. It was surprisingly easy.

    The things I found difficult to figure out at first were:

    What is the correct size nipple shield to use?

    How much suction should I be setting the pump to?

    How do I know how long to pump for?

    The actual mechanics were simple, though.

    It couldn't hurt to take it out and learn how the parts fit together before you actually need it. I didn't anticipate pumping for several months and hadn't even purchased one - I ended up pumping every 3 hours, 24 hours a day for the first week.

    Edit, clarity: By "nipple shield" I'm referring to the part of the pump that goes over your nipple - not the nipple shields that some people use for nursing/latch issues.


  • @alohamel said:

    Help! In Pain! I didn't go through each page of this thread to see if there are any posts like this but I am in desperate need of advice! When baby first latches it literally feels like knives. My boobs are cracked and bleeding and I just can't get relief. Today it looks like my milk came in slowly but now my actual boobs and nipples just hurt constantly. What a bummer. Any advice on how to help them heal? The nurse said try organic olive oil instead of the nipple cream which I will try next. Is anyone else in pain?

    Sounds like LO has a bad latch. They should have the nipple and a fair amount of areola in their mouth. Their lips sorta turn out like making a fish face. A correct latch will help going forward, but while your nipples are damaged even a good latch will cause some pain. For them to heal, leave a little a am on them after each nursing session. Also let them air out a bit because if they keep too moisturized they'll stay soft and not quite healed up.

    if you have access to a LLL or LC it could help a lot. Good luck!
    *Married 10.10.08*
     image
    TTC #1 9.09 - BFP#1:2.18.10= missed m/c, D&C 4.16
    BFP#2:10.22.10=Avelin born 7.2.11
    TTC#2: 2.13 - BFP#3: 7.25.13=Kelsey born 3.31.14
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