The Great Big Breastfeeding Thread

MrsMeatball41 · May 2014

How do you know the difference between supply not meeting baby needs or cluster?

thejewelster · May 2014

For those pumping for a freezer stash... How long do you pump for after feeding? I've been emptying the last breast fed for maybe 5-10 mins? Netting about an ounce only. I know it will get better (day 2) but should I be pumping both and for longer?

Holljade · May 2014

I pump both for 20 mins.

smashton14th · May 2014

MamaFantastic said:

hlm184 said:

MamaFantastic said:

it's official: THRUSH

tessa is beginning oral nystatin tonight and i'll get a Rx for my own nystatin nipple cream tomorrow. i am desperately hoping this quells the pain when she latches. tonight's session was like white hot pain for the first 60 seconds. ouch

I'm sorry, that's awful.

I started on nystatin two days ago and I've seen a huuuge improvement. Hopefully you do as well!

me too!! tonight i'm just going to use a bit of tessa's oral nystatin on my nipples to get a head start. by the time we got the diagnosis, it was too late to call in to my OB to get the prescription for myself too... so that will have to wait until tomorrow. here's hoping relief is swift and sweet

I hope you all feel better soon! I know the horrible stabbing pain that makes you wanna cry. This is my second time having Thrush this time around. I am currently on All Purpose Nipple Ointment. It started helping with the pain within a few uses. I hope you get some relief soon!

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

@MrsMeatball41‌ if baby's needs aren't being met they will have insufficient dirty diapers and poor weight gain.

mamahann · May 2014

I'm going back to work in 7 weeks and will be pumping during the day and BFing at night. Has anyone tried Freemie's (www.freemie.com) for pumping? They seem like an awesome idea and I'd love to be able to just stick them in my bra while I pump at work rather than put on a seperate hands free bra. Also any STMs have tips for making pumping at work and BFing at night be successful?

ksulli · May 2014

@Ashelyahann never heard of freemies, but I also never went hands free. I had no problem combining pumping at work and BFing at home on nights & weekends. I did have much more milk pumped on Mondays (after a weekend of BFing) than on Fridays, so don't be shocked if that happens. I was able to pump DD's daily intake in 3 sessions of about 12 minutes each (probably 20 away from my desk once you add setup & cleanup). I hope it works as well for you!

I also quit pumping and continued BFing nights for a few months, so if pumping is just not working going to formula for the day and BFing at night is still an option.

heids4787 · May 2014

@ksulli - this is great advice to hear! I have to return to work in 3 weeks (

( ) so I have to start making a game plan about storing milk and explaining my pump needs to my boss. Fingers crossed it works out!

ksulli · May 2014

@mborn24‌ I would take that as time to burp and switch boobs.

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

Yeah burp and switch boobs. It's also one of the ways babies encourage milk production.

snowbound · May 2014

One breast is always a little firm unlike the other which is usually soft. It's always like this, even after feedings. Any ideas?

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

One breast is probably way overproducing and not getting totally empty. Should settle down in a week or so.

mamahann · May 2014

@ksulli‌ that's encouraging to hear! My goal for EBFing is 12 weeks so anything beyond that is a bonus.

macynsnoop · May 2014

mborn24 said:
LO has this crazy thing he does, I'm pretty sure it's just "rooting". But he will nest his face down on my boob and move his head back and forth while just mouthing my nipple. It's very frustrating to him. It's like he's getting mad he can't get anything. He will eat about five minutes, pop off and root. Sometimes he'll hook back on sometimes not. Is this a sign to switch sides, or that side may not be letting down?
Or maybe he just likes to motorboat mommy's boobs....

This made me laugh! I have been saying the same thing about my little guy, motor boating the boobs! He does it all the time! Sometimes I can grab his little jaw & help him latch but most if the time he wants to do it himself & gets upset if I try to help. It is the craziest thing to watch! Of course I told the LC what he was doing & at every meeting with her he latches like an angel!

littlesocks · May 2014

Rrrrrachel said:
Yeah burp and switch boobs. It's also one of the ways babies encourage milk production.

Is this a way to signal the body to increase supply?
I went from boob to boob this morning and my LO kept doing this. I still feel like I'm struggling with my supply.
I'm 6 weeks pp. Does anyone know if it's too late for me to add a pumping session during the day to try to increase my supply (I'm trying everything else: mothers love more milk blend, more milk tea, oatmeal, lots of water, food, sleep).

littlesocks · May 2014

purespark said:
What do you ladies who are building a stash use to store it? I.e. what kind of bags? Hoping for product recs before I get started. Thanks!

I'm using the medela bags that I pump directly into.
They're sort of expensive but I heard the target brand is just as good. I might get those next time to save a few bucks

ksulli · May 2014

Storage: lansinoh bags are my favorite. Pump into a bottle & freeze in the bag.

@amsu324 you can always add a pump session to stimulate more supply. You probably won't get much at first, but it'll tell your body to make more.

maelic · May 2014

I just pumped for the first time after her 10am nursing session and got 3oz in 10 minutes. Holy crap!

She then woke up and dad gave her 1.5oz in a bottle and she conked right back out.

Thanks ladies, you saved my sanity! This makes me so happy I could cry.

allyandmike24 · May 2014

Yay @maelic! That's great news!

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

I store in honeysuckle bags.

MrsMeatball41 · May 2014

She is gaining great- and has plenty of wet diapers but hasn't pooped since last Tuesday. She has wet farts and doesn't seem in pain or constipated is why I was worried that she isn't getting enough to eat

hlm184 · May 2014

DH tried a bottle for the first time while I picked up lunch.. epic fail. We have a month to figure this out though.

heids4787 · May 2014

celticlullaby said:

purespark said:
What do you ladies who are building a stash use to store it? I.e. what kind of bags? Hoping for product recs before I get started. Thanks!
Lasinoh bags are my favorite, because they freeze flat.

Ditto on the Lansinoh bags! I pump into Medela bottles, refrigerate until cold, and transfer into the bags.

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

@hlm184‌ really truly try not to stress about it too much. I think most babies take bottles when they're at day care, even if they won't at home. Plenty of kids also don't eat much at day care and then make up for it later, and that's totally ok from a nutrition perspective, too (although a little hard on getting things done around the house

)

hlm184 · May 2014

Rrrrrachel said:

@hlm184‌ really truly try not to stress about it too much. I think most babies take bottles when they're at day care, even if they won't at home. Plenty of kids also don't eat much at day care and then make up for it later, and that's totally ok from a nutrition perspective, too (although a little hard on getting things done around the house )

Hah, we need it figured in a month because DH will be staying home with M for a weekend while I teach a class.

thejewelster · May 2014

Help! Lo woke up while I was pumping (an hour ealier than expected). Do I give him the pumped supply or the boob? Both are well drained!

AcaAwkward · May 2014

mamrotu73 said:

When LO is cluster feeding, do they also not sleep in between feedings? DS has been eating more often today, but what's killing me is that he won't take a nap inbetween. So no nap for me either and I'm getting nothing else done. It's not his normal gassy fussing after eating. He is just more awake and alert and doesn't want to be anywhere except in my arms. He is 3w1d, so I figured it might be a growth spurt...

Can you wear him and get some things done? that's what I do if DS doesn't want to be put down! Usually he ends up conking out in the wrap, too.

mamahann · May 2014

mamrotu73 said:
When LO is cluster feeding, do they also not sleep in between feedings?
DS has been eating more often today, but what's killing me is that he won't take a nap inbetween. So no nap for me either and I'm getting nothing else done.
It's not his normal gassy fussing after eating. He is just more awake and alert and doesn't want to be anywhere except in my arms.

He is 3w1d, so I figured it might be a growth spurt...

My DD is cluster feeding and sleeps but only short cat naps of 15-20 minutes then it's screaming until she's on the boob again. She's 5 weeks and I think she's going through a growth spurt/leap right now. Doesn't she know mama needs a shower?!

I also second wearing him. We desperately needed groceries so I went this morning and wore DD in a wrap. She was wide awake for a few minutes and then slept the whole time I was shopping.

khammond3 · May 2014

At what age do most babies stop nursing every 2-3 hours? My LO is 5 weeks Friday and the past 2 days she seems not as hungry as usual. 2 hours will be up and I offer the boob but she just sucks!

haziedaze · May 2014

Every baby is different- I say trust her and trust your boobs and don't worry about the clock. She'll let you know when she's hungry!

maelic · May 2014

When my girl cluster feeds she doesn't nap either, for six-seven hours at a time. It's super exhausting for both of us.

janice9821 · May 2014

mamrotu73 said:

purespark said:
What do you ladies who are building a stash use to store it? I.e. what kind of bags? Hoping for product recs before I get started. Thanks!
I'm using Lansinoh bags and an organizer by First Years in the freezer.

Lansinoh here too. So far, so good. I discovered they fit perfectly standing up in frozen waffle boxes though, so I skipped the organizer.

ksulli · May 2014

@thejewelster said:
Help! Lo woke up while I was pumping (an hour ealier than expected). Do I give him the pumped supply or the boob? Both are well drained!

I offer the boob- her sucking will stimulate more production which is what you're going for if you've introduced pumping for a freezer stash.

Teresa1896 · May 2014

I freeze the milk flat (in lansinoh bags) and then put the bags in bigger ziplocs, organized by month. The gift bag/stacking method never worked for me!

janice9821 · May 2014

Fussy britches is sleeping during her normal fussy time. Does this mean we are skipping fussy time today, or just postponing it? I'm scared.

ETA: wrong thread. My bad.

michaelad3 · May 2014

I'm battling engorgement again, and DD didn't nurse long enough to empty the breasts. What do I do? Wait it out? I haven't even opened my pump yet as she is only 2 weeks old. I tried to get her to nurse more, but she won't, and now she is passed out

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

You can pump or hand express to relieve discomfort (I keep a manual pump around for just that reason) but ultimately you just have to wait it out. I'm still dealing with engorgement and lo is 11 days old so I feel your pain! I've also woken up in puddles of milk a couple of times.

MadBloom · May 2014

MrsStanton87 said:
This might cause some eye rolls, but does caffeine pass through my milk? I've been reading conflicting articles, and am worried it's what's been causing LO to not nap well enough during the day.

I started drinking coffee daily 4-5 days ago and haven't noticed LO being extra alert after feeding. She actually napped awesome for me after my coffee at lunch! We got a solid 2 hours in!

zoopsiedaisy · May 2014

Today my LO (9 days old) started choking during bf-ing and spitting up after. We had to supplement for dehydration befire my milk made it in and this is what she was doing with the bottles. Is it coming too fast? I'm trying to give her some breaks now. Any other thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

heids4787 · May 2014

FTM, here, but I've learned to pop off LO once I hear her take some big gulps. I can't feel my let down, but this helps ensure LO takes a breather before too much rushes into her mouth. Other experienced moms have also suggested expressing some of your milk into a cloth after let down occurs, if you can feel it coming. Hope this helps!

ETA: @Heidiman‌

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