June '14 BFing/Pumping Questions Thread

diagonalley · May 2014

nutmegs8 said:

krptcmschfmkr128 said:

MommyP710 said:

Mease8 said:
In terms of building a stash, how long is the milk good for?!
5 days in the fridge, 6 months in the freezer

Preferred is 3 days in the fridge, not 5. And only if it's fresh milk. Thawed milk needs to be used within 24 hours.

If fresh milk sits in the fridge for 3-5 days, can I still freeze it?

Just asked a veteran NICU nurse and she said yes. We're going to be coming home with quite a bit so it'll go in the freezer.

rastrau · May 2014

Okay, I feel like this is a pretty stupid question - but what's the deal with nipple shields? Are they just for pumping? Is there some reason to use them when directly BF?

MrsP419 · May 2014

rastrau said:

Okay, I feel like this is a pretty stupid question - but what's the deal with nipple shields? Are they just for pumping? Is there some reason to use them when directly BF?

Nipple shields saved my nursing with DD. We had a TON of latch issues because I had inverted nipples. They just did not stick out as much as they needed to for her to get a good latch, and she had weight again issues as a result. I also had a lot of soreness. With the nipple shield, DD was able to get a good latch and get into a good nursing routine. We used them for probably about 2 months then weaned off them. Tip: make sure to get the proper size. I know it seems weird to measure your nips, but if the shield is too big, they can chafe. You can order them online in various sizes, or I think Target carries some in stock. I did not need them as much with DS; nursing DD helped pull my nips out :-).

Savvy122 · May 2014

rastrau said:

Okay, I feel like this is a pretty stupid question - but what's the deal with nipple shields? Are they just for pumping? Is there some reason to use them when directly BF?

@rastrau

My DS had a terrible time latching and he destroyed my nipples, so I used a nipple shield for a few weeks to a.) make it easier for him to latch and b.) give my nips some relief. They worked really well but it was difficult to wean him off of them.

diagonalley · May 2014

rastrau said:
Okay, I feel like this is a pretty stupid question - but what's the deal with nipple shields? Are they just for pumping? Is there some reason to use them when directly BF?

I use a nipple shield because DS had trouble latching otherwise. His mouth is small since he is a preemie. Hopefully he will grow out of needing it.

Mia081081 · May 2014

rastrau - I used a nipple shield from like 7 days - 14 days. Prior to 7 days, I was having a hard time getting DD to latch and finally had an in-home LC consultation. She gave use the shield. My issue was that DD would only take a bottle, but once she figured out there was milk in the boobs, we were able to wean her off them pretty quickly. I have one this time JIC we have the same issue. I will also be calling the same LC to come visit me in the hospital if I have any issues at all.

MrsP419 · May 2014

I have not read ALL the questions but I wanted to throw in some little tips. I nursed DS and DD each for about 13 months.

-Nursing really does look different for everyone. DD was SUPER hard and had a lot of issues. DS was easy. Both were 100% worth the struggle.

-Get a second opinion (preferably from a certified Lactation Consultant) before supplementing in the first couple weeks. I think some pediatricians and nurses push bottles/supplementing way too soon. It can take time to establish a nursing supply/routine, and until you hear the words "failure to thrive," you often (not always, but often) have a bit of room to learn and your body will figure it out. My DD had weight gain issues and did not reach her birth weight for a month. If I had jumped right to supplementing, she would have definitely preferred the bottle and not nursed. Under the guidance of a LC and with weight checks from the ped, I upped my nursing and we pushed through it. We never needed to supplement.

-Along those same lines, unless you are trying to exclusively pump (my heroes!) or build a stash for something (like returning to work), don't pump after every single feeding. Then you are essentially telling your body to produce for more than just your LO, and it can lead to oversupply. When I had DD, the nurses told me because I was a FTM, my milk would take time to come in, and I had to pump for 20 mins, each side, after every feeding. Well, my milk came in very quickly, and I had mastitis within a week. You don't HAVE to pump to establish supply, unless LO is having issues eating or gaining weight and needs to be on a bottle.

-So I know everyone has heard of Lanolin for cracked and sore nips, but the magic stuff is All Purpose Nipple Ointment. You need a Rx for this and it gets made at a compounding pharmacy (so you can't get it at CVS), but it is Ah-may-zing. If lanolin/lansinoh is not doing the trick, ask for this stuff.

-Nipple shields can be super helpful, but make sure to get the right size. It does make a difference.

-Kellymom.com is your best friend.

-I would say for my first, it took a good six weeks before nursing felt good and natural. If I depended on how I felt after 2 weeks, I would have given up. I encourage you to try to make the six week to 2 month mark before deciding if you hate it. Of course this would be different if you or LO is having any medical issues.

-With that said, nursing is not the end all be all. If you are miserable and totally hate it, there is NO shame in not doing it. I nursed for the bonding experience and because I like it, not because I think it is SOO much better for baby. I am not putting pressure on myself to exclusively nurse my twins and it just simply isn't for everyone. That is OK!

Pepper6 · May 2014

For any other clueless FTMs like me, look into seeing if your hospital offers a breastfeeding class. We just had ours last night and I found it be extremely helpful because I was pretty much going in blind. It also helped to have DH go with me because even though he can't really do anything to help me BF, it's good knowing that he knows what's going on and will hopefully be more supportive through it if I do end up having issues.

Ranada209 · May 2014

Maybe you guys can help me, I have two older boys and both were formula fed with not a single issue. I want to pump this time but still formula feed as a supplement. I do not plan to breast feed with my 13 and 10 year old boy and their friends around all the time plus we live at a ball field year around. Can I do that, just pump and still formula feed?

MrsP419 · May 2014

Ranada209 said:

Maybe you guys can help me, I have two older boys and both were formula fed with not a single issue. I want to pump this time but still formula feed as a supplement. I do not plan to breast feed with my 13 and 10 year old boy and their friends around all the time plus we live at a ball field year around. Can I do that, just pump and still formula feed?

I don't see why not! You may be able to pump without supplementing even, if you wanted to. Moms who exclusively pump are amazing. It can be time consuming and schedule-driven, but great!

Just wondering, though- in the beginning I think you would need to pump as frequently as you would need to nurse, and it can take more time initially (pumping, cleaning parts, feeding baby, etc). Would you abel able to escape your boys' friends frequently enough to pump? In my experience, nursing with a cover is more discreet than pumping sometimes.

Savvy122 · May 2014

Ranada209 said:

Maybe you guys can help me, I have two older boys and both were formula fed with not a single issue. I want to pump this time but still formula feed as a supplement. I do not plan to breast feed with my 13 and 10 year old boy and their friends around all the time plus we live at a ball field year around. Can I do that, just pump and still formula feed?

@Ranada209 You can definitely exclusively pump, but be prepared for it to be extremely time consuming. If you want to keep up with LO you'll basically need to pump every time he/she eats so you're essentially spending twice the time - the time it takes for LO to drink the bottle + the time it takes to pump from the breast.

hjl050308 · May 2014

This question isn't about breastfeeding, although I am hoping I remember how to do it and it's easy (I couldn't BF DS2 so it's been 5 years). I was wondering if anyone has had luck with finding bigger nursing bras (plus size)?

Kinipela7 · May 2014

We are going on a road trip (8.5 hour trip normally) when LO will be ~8 weeks old. Should I pump a stash before we go and feed her a bottle while on the road (someone else driving) or just stop when she needs to eat and nurse?

temursgirl · May 2014

Based on a friend's advice, I am thinking of taking my pump with me to the hospital, JIC it's needed and so they can help me use it if necessary. Does this seem reasonable? It's still in its package labeled "sterile." Should I sterilize it again? Is washing sufficient?

And about sterilizing: for pump parts, bottles, etc., do you sterilize all the time? Just when they're new? Periodically?

babygabe614 · May 2014

@hampire I am interested to hear what others say because I don't really have any knowledge on this and certainly no experience, but I have heard that eating certain foods (and thus transferring it to your LO via BM) can make them gassy/fussy. Same thing for triggering allergies such as gluten sensitivity.

Pepper6 · May 2014

@hampire, from what I've heard, it's only if you notice LO has any issues. For example, foods that make you gassy, can make LO gassy. In somewhat rarer circumstances, if LO is lactose intolerant, you'll have to cut dairy from your diet. Otherwise, the food restrictions are much less than during pregnancy, the only two that really stood out was to continue limiting caffeine (though you could have more than when pregnant) and fish high in mercury.

temursgirl · May 2014

@hampire and @babygabe614 I've heard similar to what @Pepper6 said. I am lactose intolerant and when my mom was BFing me the doctor advised her to limit her dairy intake because I was having a lot of digestive issues. I think if you have food allergies/intolerances in the family they might suggest being careful about that.

My friend's doctor told her to maintain a healthy diet. My friend chooses not to eat anything healthy. Your niece could be like that too?

I am concerned about getting proper nutrition and enough calories while BFing. Specifically, when my ILs visit I normally have to do without food a lot due to some weird issues in their family. Any suggestions on healthy yet stealthy food?

Savvy122 · May 2014

hampire said:

My niece (whose son is now 3weeksish old) told my mom that she wasn't breastfeeding because "you have to like watch what you eat and stuff". I wasn't aware of anything like this, besides getting hammered which is what a freezer stash is for. Anyone know of any bf diet restrictions?

This can be accurate but obviously depends on the baby and if he/she has any sensitivities. Lots of moms breastfeed without having to really modify their diet. On the other hand, I have a few friends who had to completely eliminate certain foods (mostly dairy) because their LOs had sensitivities.

MrsAMB07 · May 2014

@hjl050308I had a lot of luck with Bravado nursing bras. They were the best and most supportive I've found and come in larger sizes.

@Rastrau Your question seemed to be about what nipple shields actually are. They're not used during pumping, but for an aid when nursing. They're helpful for flat or inverted nipples when the baby is having trouble latching. They can be a huge PITA to wean from and can affect your supply, so they're more of a last resort, but in my experience we wouldn't have made it without them. In the beginning I was sure to pump a little after each nursing session to make sure I was completely emptying. They did slow down our nursing sessions and that was really annoying. Once DD weaned, it cut the length of each nursing session in half! Hopefully you're not someone who needs one, but they're a lifesaver if you are!

catsinawindow · May 2014

hampire said:

My niece (whose son is now 3weeksish old) told my mom that she wasn't breastfeeding because "you have to like watch what you eat and stuff". I wasn't aware of anything like this, besides getting hammered which is what a freezer stash is for. Anyone know of any bf diet restrictions?

Stuck in the quote box

I didn't limit my diet at all, except that I added coffee slowly to see how my DS responded to it (no problem at all). As you mention, I also never had more than 1ish drinks, but I was never a big drinker anyway, so it wasn't really a change for me.

Some people read a lot into baby's fussiness as being due to milk, gassy foods, etc, but I never did this. DS was just fussy and despite what I heard from many well-meaning friends and relatives, I never limited my diet. He eventually grew out of it and is now a happy toddler with zero food allergies or intolerances.

ChristineBaker23 · May 2014

emilyh107 said:
I have a question to the STM's(sorry FTMs)... I was really overwhelmed in the hospital trying to BF. The lactation consultants were constantly right there in my face shoving nipple shields and whatever else when DD wouldn't latch on. I remember crying because I felt like a failure because we just weren't getting the whole BF thing. How did you remain calm in the hospital when BF for the first time? I am hoping this experience will be different, but I'm honestly a little terrified again and I know that isn't good for me and the baby.

-Oh, I also am limiting visitors this time because every time I would try to feed someone would come barging through the door trying to hold my baby.

Hormones....

Uhghhh. I despise the lactation consultant I had last time. She kept pestering me to wake my daughter to nurse her. I tried and tried but she just wanted to sleep. Then once I was nursing she came poking and prodding and telling me do this and that and I ended up with blood blisters on each nipple. My solution was I just ignored the consultant and did what came naturally to me. Once I did that everything went smoothly. Your body will tell you what is best and if it gets to the point you feel you need help then ask. I firmly believe that your natural instinct is the best way to go. Don't be afraid to tell people to bugger off so you can nurse baby. It will take time for the two of you to get good at it and having one on one sessions is the best way to get there.

LauraMyLove · May 2014

A few things worth passing along from BFing experiences with my two LOs...

-BFing is one of, if not, the hardest thing I have done in my life...but it's also my most proudest accomplishment! I BF my DD for 15 mos and DS for 13!

-BFing was painful (like tears when LOs would nurse) for about the first 3 months (not as painful in the beginning the second time around, but still painful)

-despite the pain, I refused to stop and I'm so glad I didn't. The bond is amazing and I loved our special time together.

-I had cracked, sore, bleeding nips in the beginning for quite a bit. First time around I used lansolin but second time I was turned on to Mother Love nipple cream (sold at whole foods), which was a lot better. I also soaked my nips in salt water as per Nurse's recommendation and seriously...my nips were out 24/7 through my bath robe b/c it hurt to wear clothes!!

-get in touch with an LC sooner than later. I kept waiting, thinking it would get better but I wasted too much time and suffered.

-kellymom.com is a fabulous resource

-good luck to all the BFing mamas out there! Hoping I have nips of steel this time around!

jshrop · May 2014

Good question LB!

erind228 · May 2014

@emotionlotion‌, you don't have to, but I always took my babies out because they would fall back to sleep if I didn't.

Mia081081 · May 2014

emotionlotion said:
This may be an odd question but when you are doing middle of the night feedings do you take them out of the swaddle every time? Obviously there will be diaper changes, but it seems you wouldn't have to undo the swaddle every feeding?

Yes. My LC was very clear on moving DD to a lit room and unswaddling for feeding to help DD distinguish between eating time and sleep/pacifier time. Yes, it's harder in the beginning but it's better to get the full feeding in and have baby sleep longer than to have to get up every hour bc baby fell asleep before full. And you don't want them using your boob as a pacifier.

Also, diaper will usually need changing.

PressLove · May 2014

I've seen differing opinions and wanted some first hand advice. Did you nurse LO from each breast at every feeding? Would it be good to nurse one and pump one to build up a stash?

nunzchucks · May 2014

@hjl050308‌ I had a lot of luck with the Elomi brand (I'm 36H while nursing). If you are near a Nordstrom, they are a big help with fittings and carry all kinds of sizes.

@hampire I read a really interesting article on Kellymom about gassy babies as my friend is having an issue. They say most times, mom's diet doesn't affect gassiness. It is due to an immature digestive system. Check this out: https://kellymom.com/parenting/parenting-faq/gassybaby/

@presslove For the first week or two, DD only had a stomach big enough to nurse from one breast. I would say at 3 weeks, she was nursing from both breasts.

erind228 · May 2014

@PressLove‌, I always offered the other one, but usually baby wouldn't eat from it in the early weeks. At the next feeding, I would start on the breast that baby didn't take the feeding before.

katekat8721 · May 2014

Some of my BFing books say not to use lotion or anything on the nips. But mine are pretty dry right now. Do you think it's ok to put a lil' somethin' somethin' on them since I'm not BFing?

steprozz · May 2014

@katekat8721‌ I regularly use vitamin e oil on my nips. makes them nice and soft

I think you should be ok

edit tag

katekat8721 · May 2014

Thanks! @stephross88

diagonalley · May 2014

katekat8721 said:
Some of my BFing books say not to use lotion or anything on the nips. But mine are pretty dry right now. Do you think it's ok to put a lil' somethin' somethin' on them since I'm not BFing?

The LC here said you can use olive oil. Maybe try that?

MrsRahl · May 2014

@katekat8721‌ ftm here so no experience but from what I have read coconut oil (like the kind you cook with) is fine. Loaded with vitamin E and from other research it says despite nut being in the name, (which it is not a nut) extremely few people are allergic to it. I planned on also using it as a natural diaper cream as well which a lot of crunchy mom's on here have mentioned in the past. I run my whole body down with coconut oil every day after I shower and love it

ETA it also is a natural antifungal that also helps with yeast issues as well.

hjl050308 · May 2014

@LilNunz1, thanks for the suggestion. I actually was looking at those today on line. I do have a Nordstrom not far from my house. Looks like I'll be stopping there this weekend.

katekat8721 · May 2014

Thank you guys! Between the VitE, olive oil and coconut oil my boobs are going to be fantastic

deedee830 · May 2014

Sorry if this has been asked, I'm still catching up on this thread. Just wondering, could having big nipples make it more difficult?

HTBaby13 · May 2014

@Babywear‌ I would definitely recommend breastfeeding at lunch Schedule if you have that option . Pumping is a pain. You get to bond more with your baby, And you'll produce more milk than you would if you just pumped. Babies are smart I bet the baby will learn that that is the time for the feeding and will adjust to it. I was able to do this with my child And consider myself lucky for it. Good luck .

Mia081081 · May 2014

kaceymarie said:
i just got my breast pump. it comes with size 24mm breast shields. if they don't fit do hospitals give other sizes out or will i have to order them?

I had to order them. If you have a Medela, they are about $9 on amazon. I just got my 27mm, which are much more appropriate for my national geographic nipples.

erind228 · May 2014

kaceymarie said:
i just got my breast pump. it comes with size 24mm breast shields. if they don't fit do hospitals give other sizes out or will i have to order them?

You should also be able to find them at Target, Walmart, or any other store that sells baby items.

RaeJ004 · May 2014

kaceymarie said:

i just got my breast pump. it comes with size 24mm breast shields. if they don't fit do hospitals give other sizes out or will i have to order them?

I'm on Kaiser, so that might be different, but they supplied me with shields that fit. When I had to use a nipple guard on one side they also supplied me with those. All free of charge.

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June '14 BFing/Pumping Questions Thread

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