The Great Big Breastfeeding Thread

JNova78 · May 2014

purespark said:
Same here, @Ooopsbaby14‌! I was even regular during pregnancy, but since giving birth my GI situation is all weird.

Following this issue too! I still have 2 weeks until my 6 week appt, so I haven't asked my doctor yet. I am taking fiber supplements and stool softeners and it's still not a good situation. I never thought about breastfeeding! Wonder if that's part of the issue

snowbound · May 2014

What's the difference between mothers milk tea and EAMBs milkmaid tea? Which do you use? Did it work for you? I started drinking the milkmaid tea but someone recommended mothers milk instead.

MrsZ0811 · May 2014

This might have been asked already but how long should i wait to buy nursing bras? i have a couple tanks but i'm really feeling the need for a bra for going out. (awkward wedding situation yesterday)

i am 16 days pp.

littlesocks · May 2014

@hbell12‌ I don't know what the difference is but the pediatrician said I should use Mother's Milk tea to help my low supply. I try to have 2-3 cups a day and it does make a difference for me.

snowbound · May 2014

Thanks @Amsull324‌! Where do you buy it?

littlesocks · May 2014

hbell12 said:
Thanks @Amsull324‌! Where do you buy it?

At first I got it from whole foods but you can order from amazon. I got 6 boxes for about $22 which was way less than at whole foods. Plus, you'll go through the boxes fairly quickly if you have 2-3 cups a day

Husker20 · May 2014

Went for my 6 week check with my dr and she started me on a progesterone only bc pill which she said would not effect my supply. After only 4 days on it I noticed a significant drop in my supply. I have stopped it and now I am back to normal again. Anyone else have this issue and did you try another pill? I am scared to try anything else

macynsnoop · May 2014

@MHusker20, well crap, glad you posted this. Mine prescribed me the progesterone only pill too & said the same thing, I haven't started taking it yet tho. I'm nervous to start something with hormones when mine are still so out of whack, would hate for it to affect my supply too!

Husker20 · May 2014

Typically it's the pills that have estrogen that cause the problems. I researched the pill she gave me and it states it very rarely cause supply issues...so hopefully it won't effect you!

JNova78 · May 2014

DD is four weeks old tomorrow and I need a hair cut. I want to introduce the occasional bottle and decided to begin today. I just pumped (fifteen minutes) after her first morning feeding. Imagine my disappointment to only get 1.5 total ounces (most of which came from the right boob). What gives? Is this normal? Shouldn't there be more? Also, when should I try again for more - after the next feeding or wait until tomorrow morning? Will I ever be able to leave the house again?? Lol

JNova78 · May 2014

LalaMama81 said:
1.5 oz soon after nursing at 4 weeks is great. I wish I got that much! If you just want enough to get out occasionally, just squeeze in a pump here and there when you can. Once a day is plenty.

Thank you. I hope that didn't sound bratty, I just had no idea what to expect. Doctor said to give her 2-3 oz in a bottle, and I just figured I'd get that in one pump. I'll keep at it!

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

½-1 ounce is Normal, so you're doing great!

Emily041285 · May 2014

I've been supplementing and pumping for a few days now due to some ppd. Now that I feel like I have everything under control I've been nursing dd more. I'd like to switch to just pumping and nursing like I had planed to when I went back to work. (Just a little early). We've nursed twice today and both time she spit up after. She has never really spit up before. Coincidence or an issue from the formula?

Emily041285 · May 2014

Also, I only get 3 oz each time I pump to replace a feeding (I pump every time she eats or close to it) is that going to be enough to make it to my 6 month goal or should I start trying to bring my supply up?

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

Could be either but either way is probably nbd

Dixon813 · May 2014

meg.eliz1 said:
I have been on the mini pill for a little over a week and haven't noticed a change in supply. if you want something hormone free you could try the copper IUD.

This... I've been on a full week and haven't noticed a change. Maybe start some mothers milk tea or fenugreek?

littlesocks · May 2014

Do any of your LOs seem like they snack more throughout the day rather than eating meals?
I'm not sure what to tell our caregiver when it comes to feeding with a bottle.

Manda+panda · May 2014

Bump

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

The rule of thumb is 1-1.25 ounces per hour. At first start with small bottles (2-3 ounces) so milk doesn't get wasted. Talk to your dcp about how tobottlefeed bf babies, too. Read up on paced feeding.

Emily041285 · May 2014

Dumb question of the day: I mismanaged my stash in the fridge and have almost 30 oz expiring today. And it is of course downpouring all day today and I have no special milk freezer bags. Would you feed her all bottles so you don't waste the milk (and pump to replace) or freeze the milk in something else? If I can avoid the rain with her I'd like to, but I guess I could run out.

Dixon813 · May 2014

Emily041285 said:
Dumb question of the day: I mismanaged my stash in the fridge and have almost 30 oz expiring today. And it is of course downpouring all day today and I have no special milk freezer bags. Would you feed her all bottles so you don't waste the milk (and pump to replace) or freeze the milk in something else? If I can avoid the rain with her I'd like to, but I guess I could run out.

Can your SO or a family get bags for you? I'd find a way to get bags and freeze.

smushi · May 2014

LO's poop last night smelled like... popcorn. Totally uncharacteristic. Color and consistency were normal. I had water, cheeseburger, watermelon and pineapple, and guacamole for dinner. Just a dumb question I guess. It's never had a strong smell, but his whole nursery smelled like popcorn. Any ideas why?

Emily041285 · May 2014

He left for work already and won't be home until after 11. These are the times I wish we loved closer to family! I might just have to brave the rain with her, she already has a cold though and I don't want to make it worse. I'm so mad at myself for not paying attention. I'm going to search through all my collections of samples. I have to have gotten at least one sample of bags!

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

I would just freeze in something else. Do you have any jars or anything? Even ice cube trays.

Emily041285 · May 2014

Ice cube tray I can do. Quart size freezer bags ok? That's what I was going to try.

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

Freezer bags aren't recommended but I can't remember why, like if tips just because they're not sterile or because they're more likely to leak or what.

Emily041285 · May 2014

I have mini Tupperware containers I think I'll try that. If I freeze them today and use them this week that should be fine right? I can run to target later this week for the real deal and freeze a different pump to replace it. Does that make sense?

Mmk724 · May 2014

How old is your LO and approximately how long do they nurse each time they eat? Mine is 5 weeks and he eats between 15 and 20 min each time whereas he used to spend 30 to 45 min eating. Do they get more efficient as they get older?

hlm184 · May 2014

Mmk724 said:

How old is your LO and approximately how long do they nurse each time they eat? Mine is 5 weeks and he eats between 15 and 20 min each time whereas he used to spend 30 to 45 min eating. Do they get more efficient as they get older?

Mine has been - at 7 weeks he's frequently down to 10 minutes or so.

haziedaze · May 2014

I'd freeze in ice cube trays and then store in freezer bags or tupperware. So dump out the cubes once frozen and put a new batch in the ice cube tray. Freezer bags would be too large so could lead to wasted thawed milk. They may not be as leak proof also.

Emily041285 · May 2014

haziedaze said:
I'd freeze in ice cube trays and then store in freezer bags or tupperware. So dump out the cubes once frozen and put a new batch in the ice cube tray. Freezer bags would be too large so could lead to wasted thawed milk. They may not be as leak proof also.

That is a fantastic idea! Thanks!

LBStewart · May 2014

Emily041285 said:

Dumb question of the day: I mismanaged my stash in the fridge and have almost 30 oz expiring today. And it is of course downpouring all day today and I have no special milk freezer bags. Would you feed her all bottles so you don't waste the milk (and pump to replace) or freeze the milk in something else? If I can avoid the rain with her I'd like to, but I guess I could run out.

I'm not sure what type and how many bottles you have, but you can freeze in the bottle. Sometimes I freeze in the 2.5 oz Medela bottles. Just make sure you don't have them full to the top. Milk expands when it freezes.

khammond3 · May 2014

I am on the mini pill bc I am breast feeding. I do pump maybe every other day one time in the morning to have a small back up stash. I was under the impression( and bc the information on the pill said so) that as long as you take it at the same time everyday and still nursing around 8 times a day that it is effective. Well today I had my 8 week pp check up with a doctor I have never met and she said I need to go on something with estrogen? I asked if it would affect my supply and she said no? I have always heard the complete opposit... Any thoughts? What should I do?

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

She's wrong. Estrogen interferes with prolactin, which is why it's not recommended if you're breast feeding.

khammond3 · May 2014

Rrrrrachel said:
She's wrong. Estrogen interferes with prolactin, which is why it's not recommended if you're breast feeding.

That's what I thought as well. Should I just stay on the mini pill?? I am not wanting to get pregnant for another 2 years and my husband is not a fan of condoms or pulling out. I just want to make sure it's going to be 100% effective lol. My doctor that gave me my c section said it is effective then this lady today said the opposite. Ugh so aggravating

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

Well nothing is 100%, and the mini pill is less effective than other forms. For bf friendly you basically have the mini pill, depo, the implant, or an iud. IUDs are usually considered most effective and mini pill least effective of those options. Mini pill is still pretty effective, though, if you use it right, which it sounds like you are.

khammond3 · May 2014

Rrrrrachel said:
Well nothing is 100%, and the mini pill is less effective than other forms. For bf friendly you basically have the mini pill, depo, the implant, or an iud. IUDs are usually considered most effective and mini pill least effective of those options. Mini pill is still pretty effective, though, if you use it right, which it sounds like you are.

Yea your right. Well hopefully mini pill will work bc I do not want any of the other forms. Oh and thanks for always answering! Your awesome

hordol · May 2014

This may be a stupid question, but what do you do if you don't pump enough at work to leave for your baby the next day? Do you try to find extra times to pump at home? Supplement with formula? I go back to work on Monday and don't have the best track record with the pump...most I have gotten was 4 ounces BUT that was after not having fed for 5 hours and pumping for 30 min. Typically if I skip a feeding and pump after 3 hrs I only get 2 ounces, and DS seems to like 3-3.5 when he gets a bottle. I'm a teacher so I can't leave my students unsupervised and can't pump all that often, but I'm aiming for 3 times (around 8, 12, and 3 cause I know that's what will work with my schedule.) based on what LO has been eating during my work hours, I will need at least 12 ounces I believe, but would like 15 just in case. Cause of my pump issues, my freezer stash is pathetic (if I pump without skipping feedings I get less than an ounce, which I know is normal but I haven't been able to build much of a stash then.) what would you do in my situation? I'd like to only go to formula as a last resort.

LBStewart · May 2014

hordol said:

This may be a stupid question, but what do you do if you don't pump enough at work to leave for your baby the next day? Do you try to find extra times to pump at home? Supplement with formula? I go back to work on Monday and don't have the best track record with the pump...most I have gotten was 4 ounces BUT that was after not having fed for 5 hours and pumping for 30 min. Typically if I skip a feeding and pump after 3 hrs I only get 2 ounces, and DS seems to like 3-3.5 when he gets a bottle. I'm a teacher so I can't leave my students unsupervised and can't pump all that often, but I'm aiming for 3 times (around 8, 12, and 3 cause I know that's what will work with my schedule.) based on what LO has been eating during my work hours, I will need at least 12 ounces I believe, but would like 15 just in case. Cause of my pump issues, my freezer stash is pathetic (if I pump without skipping feedings I get less than an ounce, which I know is normal but I haven't been able to build much of a stash then.) what would you do in my situation? I'd like to only go to formula as a last resort.

I'm also a teacher and this was a concern of mine as well when I had DD1. (I'm not going back to work with DD2 until August) I power pumped every day during my morning commute which really helped me. Also, DD1 didn't eat as much when I was at work as I expected. Typically, she would eat 8-10 oz total, but there were some days when she would only have 4oz (huge nap in the morning, bottle, then afternoon nap until I picked her up). She'd nurse a TON during the evening to make up for it. Some call this reverse cycling. I always pumped after she went to bed as well.

Rrrrrachel · May 2014

I was a teacher and pumped 2-3 times a day and it worked out. I would add an extra pump if I didn't get enough, either after bedtime or even better early in the am.

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