The Great Big Breastfeeding Thread

Mrs.Kohalic17 · August 2014

I ended up going to see my LC & it turns out I needed a bigger shield since DS's mouth is bigger he was pinching me a lot. All is well now

I thought thrush at first but there wasn't anything in his mouth.

Emily041285 · August 2014

Mrs.Kohalic17 said:
I ended up going to see my LC & it turns out I needed a bigger shield since DS's mouth is bigger he was pinching me a lot. All is well now I thought thrush at first but there wasn't anything in his mouth.

Hmmm. We use a shield to nurse too. I never knew I should change sizes when she got bigger. My nipples have been hurting too, I just assumed it was all the constant abuse they take from nursing/pumping every three hours. I'll have to check into that.

Mrs.Kohalic17 · August 2014

I didn't really think so either but it was an instant improvement!

Rrrrrachel · August 2014

@knotty-girl‌ even if your breasts don't feel full there is milk. I promise. Even though it doesn't seem like it. Just keep nursing as much as possible, nursing is better for your supply than pumping. If you need a bottle of expressed milk here and there for a break it's nbd but unless they're not gaining or not soiling enough diapers try not to worry, they're getting enough.

CalinAZ · August 2014

Like PP, I'm suddenly experiencing a burning, painful nipple on the right side. Could be thrush (keep meaning to check LO's mouth but only think of it when he's eating and all milky) or just from eating a lot more often since we got back from vacation to our very hot home. Pain is reaching the point where I'm feeling like I may need to see someone. Who do I call? I don't really have a general doctor right now. The pediatrician gave me some nipple cream way back at our one week appointment, and there is a lactation consultant on staff there, or do I call my midwife?

Any advice?

Mrs.Kohalic17 · August 2014

I saw my LC & she was able to figure out the problem right away.

good luck I feel your pain (literally) I hope you get relief soon!

CalinAZ · August 2014

@MRSw26 thanks for the advice!

Dixon813 · August 2014

So I'm back to work and am not pumping as much as Liam is eating at day care. I don't think they're over feeding him (3.5 oz every 2-3 hours) but I'm just not keeping up. I know it's "normal" for your supply to take a dip, but it's disappointing.

I'm hoping that it might have to do with my stress level which will hopefully calm down a little as I get used to this new routine.

kmos816 · August 2014

Dixon813 said:
So I'm back to work and am not pumping as much as Liam is eating at day care. I don't think they're over feeding him (3.5 oz every 2-3 hours) but I'm just not keeping up. I know it's "normal" for your supply to take a dip, but it's disappointing.

I'm hoping that it might have to do with my stress level which will hopefully calm down a little as I get used to this new routine.

I was in the same situation when I first went back to work but it's been better- I do still have some off days. I have also been pumping after my DD was first thing In the morning to get a couple extra ounces and that has also helped. Stress can definetly impact it so try to relax while pumping- as hard as that can be!

sherks11 · August 2014

Stupid question... How do you know when to increase the ounces in your baby's bottle? LO is 18 weeks old and I make 3 ounce bottles for day care ( just started last week so bottles are new for me). She INHALES the bottle to the last drop which makes me wonder if she needs more but she isn't fussy or anything after which makes me think she's satisfied. Should I just try 4 ounces in a bottle and see?? Thanks ladies!

Vjlewis07 · August 2014

When will you introduce your LO to a sippy cup ? I have given my LO the avent 4+ months cup to play with and learn how to hold .. But not sure of this is even useful as he is EBF and I plan to do so for a year

Teresa1896 · August 2014

@Dixon813, it took my body a few weeks of pumping at work at set times (9/12/3) to get synced up and maximize output. Try not to be too hard on yourself- your body has been used to a baby's nursing style, not a pump, and they are different. :-)

Teresa1896 · August 2014

@celticlullaby‌, did the grandparents use the same bottle, bottle temp, etc? Since LO is used to a bottle I'd assume it was just a fluke. I would also say that a baby who's used to nursing to sleep at bedtime may resist a bedtime bottle instead.

Rrrrrachel · August 2014

Breastfed babies don't really eat more volume after a certain point. They will probably continue taking the same amount and the quality of milk changes to meet their needs. Once they start solids they will very slowly start needing less.

cjpell0 · August 2014

Vjlewis07 said:

When will you introduce your LO to a sippy cup ? I have given my LO the avent 4+ months cup to play with and learn how to hold .. But not sure of this is even useful as he is EBF and I plan to do so for a year

Our LO just turned 5 months on Sunday and he's been trying to drink out of our cups for a good week or two now. I plan on introducing one tonight with a teensy bit of water in it (less than .5oz or something) to see what he'll do. If he actually starts drinking from it, I'll start putting BM in.

Dixon813 · August 2014

celticlullaby said:

honeyzoo said:
I have a chest freezer with ~250oz of milk. Some of it is getting close to 4mo old. Should I start defrosting and use some for daycare bottles and freeze my new fresh milk for a longer life on my frozen milk stash?
You want to start rotating so none spoils, but it'll keep 6-12 months in a chest freezer, so you're not near the critical point. I'd probably start using a little of the oldest milk, but keep sending mostly fresh.

I've been pulling out a bag a day (3 oz) of frozen to mix with fresh.

Dixon813 · August 2014

Can I vent for a minute?!

I posted last week that upon returning to work, I haven't been pumping quite with Liam takes at day care.

This morning, get set up for my first pump and after 15 minutes of pumping, no let down! I was watching videos or looking at pictures, trying to relax, massage, etc. and nothing. When I went to pump 2.5 hours later my let down happened within a minute (which is normal for me)... So annoying!!!

Thanks for listening!

Rrrrrachel · August 2014

I guess I'm odd because if rather feed fresh milk and let the stuff in the freezer spoil. Or donate it.

Emily041285 · August 2014

@Rrrrrachel‌ the LC I saw before dd was born said to never use frozen milk and that a "stash" wasn't needed. At the time I thought it was very strange, but I never use frozen milk and the small stash will probably expire before I use it.

Rrrrrachel · August 2014

I never had a big stash either. I didn't make any effort to have one I just froze a little leftover milk each week. It was nice that I could keep sending milk to day care for awhile after I stopped pumping, though. Frozen milk is fine but I'm sure it's not as good as fresh. I'm sure it's nbd the way people are doing it but I always heard use the freshest non frozen milk first, then frozen oldest first.

kmos816 · August 2014

I still use my boppy and the cross cradle- trying to get more comfy in the cradle position. The hardest for me is she is so long and kicks all the time against the couch or chair!

lokimau · August 2014

We still use the boppy at home. Have NIP walking around the renfaire though

Dixon813 · August 2014

I use boppy at home if I'm in his room, but I don't (and haven't for awhile) take it to the couch. I've been using only cradle hold since he was a month - one day he started fighting cross cradle hard core.

When out in public, I find it easiest if I have a chair with arms or a table to rest my elbow on while holding him. He's only 12-13 pounds... Can't imagine what it's going to be like holding/nursing him down the road!

hordol · August 2014

I think I F-ed up my supply being back at work. I really only have time to pump once for a little less than 15 minutes on my lunch. I made peace with the fact my daytime supply would drop and I obviously wouldn't get enough to send to daycare so he would have some formula during the day. However I think my milk supply has dropped completely. I'm in my third week of work and I nurse about three times a day and pump once. My lunchtime pump session has only been yielding 2 oz this week. When I went to nurse before bed he just screamed at the boob forever. He always fusses at the boob before bed but I am usually able to finally get him to nurse. Last night I never could. Finally gave in with a bottle, thinking I would be really full next time I fed. He slept until midnight and my boobs were flat, but he seemed like he only wanted to comfort suck anyway. DH took the rest of the night wakings for me (he didn't give bottles though) and I woke up at 5 am to flat boobs after not nursing before bed and DS really only comfort sucking at midnight.

I'm really distraught. I was hoping I would be successful at least nursing before bed and in the mornings but it doesn't seem to be working out.

What would you do to get your supply up if you can really only pump/nurse 4-5 times a day?

LBStewart · August 2014

@hordol Did you say previously you are a teacher? Sorry if I'm mistaken about that. I'm also a teacher so I totally get your schedule not allowing for a lot of pump time at work. How long is your commute to work? I always pump on my way to work regardless of when I last fed LO. As for my one pump time at work, I find it more relaxing for me to leave my classroom and pump in my car. Otherwise I'm paranoid someone will walk in which effects my output form being stressed. I'm literally out the door with my students and I don't come back until the bell rings after lunch.

I think your best bet right now is to keep bringing baby to the breast as much as possible. I would consider nursing MOTN if possible. I think 4-5 times is a bit low especially if baby is frustrated he probably isn't nursing efficiently. Maybe taking a "nursing vacation" over the weekend and nurse as much as possible.

Have you started solids yet? This isn't the best idea, but I did start DD1 with cereal right at 4 months for her to get additional calories.

hordol · August 2014

LO does eat more than 4-5 times, but some of that is formula. I nurse 3-4 times a day and pump once and that is what he gets for breast milk.

I can only pump once because I'm a teacher and don't have a planning period. I teach two grade levels (5th and 6th) full time and 7th and 8th for one class. I'm at a private so they can do this. I have recess duty so my lunch is 20 minutes and with set up and take down that's about 13 minutes pumping before the kids get back to my room. I can't leave students unsupervised to pump because of liability and such. When I went back to work in June for one month before my summer, I did a pump before and after school but because I nursed right before and right after, that usually interfered.

I've been eating oatmeal for lunch and drinking a Gatorade right before pumping and today I managed 3 ounces. I also talked another teacher into doing recess for me today so I got to pump for 19 minutes. Too bad I can't do this everyday.

hordol · August 2014

Thanks @LBStewart‌. My commute is 10 minutes but I think I'll pump anyway. I usually get here early so I could probably sit in my car for an extra 5 min listening to the radio. When I did a pump first thing at school back in June I typically only got .5-1 ounce but I suppose the more I do it the more I will get, right?

Last night was just once but I usually nurse twice overnight. DH was on baby duty so I could catch up on sleep. When I said 3-4 times per day before I guess that was a little under, it's probably more like 4-5 (around midnight, 2:00am, 6:30, pump at noon, nurse at 4:00 and again at 6:30 before bed. It does vary though.)

I like the idea of a nursing vacation, I think I will take advantage of the long weekend and do just that!

hordol · August 2014

Yeah, we are less than 50 employees. It's not really that they are uncooperative, it's that we are way understaffed.

hordol · August 2014

Also, what do you do when baby starts developing a bottle preference? Nursing is just becoming very hard for is in general and he won't do it. He doesn't come home hungry and refuses to eat. I don't want to tell daycare not to feed him in the afternoon obviously, especially because the time I am able to pick up varies. But I couldn't get him to nurse until bed time and he was still freaking out about it. MOTN I nursed twice and he even fussed then when normally he just eats and goes back to sleep. I know I had milk because I could feel it. I think he is just starting to prefer the bottle but this breaks my heart! I'm not successful enough of a pumper. Has anyone dealt with this and got their baby back on the nursing bandwagon?

kmos816 · August 2014

hordol said:
Also, what do you do when baby starts developing a bottle preference? Nursing is just becoming very hard for is in general and he won't do it. He doesn't come home hungry and refuses to eat. I don't want to tell daycare not to feed him in the afternoon obviously, especially because the time I am able to pick up varies. But I couldn't get him to nurse until bed time and he was still freaking out about it. MOTN I nursed twice and he even fussed then when normally he just eats and goes back to sleep. I know I had milk because I could feel it. I think he is just starting to prefer the bottle but this breaks my heart! I'm not successful enough of a pumper. Has anyone dealt with this and got their baby back on the nursing bandwagon?

Maybe try a different bottle? And make sure to nurse on the weekends? Sometimes my LO gets fussy when eating after daycare too- I'm not sure if she just isn't hungry or if it's bottle preference as she nurses fine on the weekends and at night.

hordol · August 2014

Since LO has not been hungry after daycare, I have decided to pump on the way there. I pumped twice yesterday and actually got enough for a full 4-oz bottle!

Then I forgot to put them in the fridge and didn't notice until this morning when I opened the fridge to find them. Then I forgot to drink my prepump bottle of water and Gatorade. Apparently I am out to sabotage myself right now. I'm pretty upset with myself. TGIF.

Dixon813 · August 2014

hordol said:
Since LO has not been hungry after daycare, I have decided to pump on the way there. I pumped twice yesterday and actually got enough for a full 4-oz bottle!

Then I forgot to put them in the fridge and didn't notice until this morning when I opened the fridge to find them. Then I forgot to drink my prepump bottle of water and Gatorade. Apparently I am out to sabotage myself right now. I'm pretty upset with myself. TGIF.

It's awesome that you got 4 oz!!!!!

hordol · August 2014

Yeah it was nice! I was only 2 oz per pump but I'll take what I can get at this point.

hordol · August 2014

Trying to do a nursing vacation this weekend but LO is refusing the boob. He wouldn't take it before bed, but did take it MOTN, breakfast, and lunch. Since then he sucks for 10 seconds, then SCREAMS. Last night he screamed so much he almost lost his voice. It doesn't stop until we give him a bottle of formula and then he is as happy as can be.

I think it it both bottle preference and lower milk supply. I know working has screwed up my supply. He nurses when my boobs are engorged, but if they are not he gets so mad. Pumping to keep my supply up is only yielding about an ounce.

I'm just so sad. How do I get my supply up if he won't even nurse?

RedDawnsRevenge · August 2014

hordol said:
Trying to do a nursing vacation this weekend but LO is refusing the boob. He wouldn't take it before bed, but did take it MOTN, breakfast, and lunch. Since then he sucks for 10 seconds, then SCREAMS. Last night he screamed so much he almost lost his voice. It doesn't stop until we give him a bottle of formula and then he is as happy as can be.

I think it it both bottle preference and lower milk supply. I know working has screwed up my supply. He nurses when my boobs are engorged, but if they are not he gets so mad. Pumping to keep my supply up is only yielding about an ounce.

I'm just so sad. How do I get my supply up if he won't even nurse?

Maybe use an SNS to feed the formula instead of a bottle? He still gets to eat, you still get stimulation. Win-win?

LBStewart · August 2014

You could always meet with a LC. I'm sure this is beyond frustrating for you.

hordol · August 2014

I will have to look into an sns, always forget those exist. Perhaps finding a time to meet with an lc would be good too.

hordol · August 2014

He uses level one on Dr. Brown's and Tommie Tipee. Are those known for being faster?

kmos816 · September 2014

hordol said:
He uses level one on Dr. Brown's and Tommie Tipee. Are those known for being faster?

@hordol‌ I found the TT too fast for my LO; we switched to Lansinoh momma and I think it's much slower. My LO still sucks it down even when doing paced feeding but she has to work for it!

LBStewart · September 2014

hordol said:

He uses level one on Dr. Brown's and Tommie Tipee. Are those known for being faster?

We use the premie nipples for Dr. Browns. She definitely wasn't a premie (almost 10 lb at birth), but these are the only nipples that slow her down.

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